Car recommendation... for my Mum

Car recommendation... for my Mum

Author
Discussion

Zombie

Original Poster:

1,591 posts

198 months

My Mum currently has a 2006 Brera 2.2 SV. She's owned it from new and it is wearing its 60k miles badly. To misquote Indiana Jones, it's age, not the mileage.

It's not been unreliable, in fact it has been the opposite but my Dad and I are b both fed up with repairing it. In the last few years it's had a timing chain, front subframe, rear suspension arms and subframe, a gearbox rebuild (Vauxhall M32) springs and dampers, pealing lacquer repainted, sills repaired... Most of it has been preventative maintenance as we're both a little fastidious when it comes to cars but the front subframe wasn't and it really wasn't cheap to fix as my Dad ended up buying a new one from Alfa.

The problem is neither my Mum, mad Dad or I can come up with an idea for a new car.

It needs to be;

1. Unconventional, i.e. not BMW, VAG, merc Ford or Vauxhall. And not a s**ting Peugeot!

2. Around 3 years old or less

3. Relatively pokey, less than 8 sec to 60.

4. Petrol

5. Not a super mini

6. Long term reliable. So no stupid small capacity, forced induction engines that are going to break. Also not a car that is perceived to be reliable, but isn't.

7. Good looking and not an angular aggressive, airfoils everywhere with a stupid hamburgler grill type (so again, not a BMW)

8. Have 4 or 5 doors

9. Good residuals

10. Easy to drive - the less things binging and squawking the better, manual is OK, no stupid touch screens controlling everything.

11. Budget of I haven't got a clue. Something sensible, so 20k. ish.

The best we've been able to come up with is a Mazda 3.

ETA to the list, based on suggestions that are appreciated, I'm just working for difficult Clients...

12. Needs to fit in a normal parking space (2.4m x 4.8m)

13. Preferably not a soft roader SUV pretend 4x4 thing. Despite her car being permanently and inexplicably covered in mud, my Mum doesn't go off roading.


Edited by Zombie on Friday 28th June 23:59

Silenoz

870 posts

156 months

Hyundai i30 N?

matrignano

4,457 posts

213 months

Kia stinger

Zombie

Original Poster:

1,591 posts

198 months

matrignano said:
Kia stinger


I think I need to add, fits in a parking space easily.

Despite being described as a mid-size saloon by wiki, it's 4830mm long. A standard parking space being 2.4 x 4.8m

Boringvolvodriver

9,125 posts

46 months

Slightly tongue in cheek but looking at the list of requirements, then a unicorn might be the answer!


On a serious note, Ford Puma ST?

matrignano

4,457 posts

213 months

jag Xe?

Zombie

Original Poster:

1,591 posts

198 months

Boringvolvodriver said:
Slightly tongue in cheek but looking at the list of requirements, then a unicorn might be the answer!


On a serious note, Ford Puma ST?
I don't think anything on the list is that unreasonable? But I do see your point and I think it speaks of an issue in terms of what manufacturers are currently producing. Is it a car or a computer that happens to be a car festooned with look at me lights, grills, gills and spoilers.

Zombie

Original Poster:

1,591 posts

198 months

another one for the list, not a bloated SUV. Just a car please.

FamousPheasant

542 posts

119 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Another Alfa? A giulia would fit most your criteria.

Whataguy

894 posts

83 months

Saturday
quotequote all
A Lexus IS300h saloon? I'd considered one myself.

You can pick one of the last ones up only 4 years old and under budget.

Should meet many of the requirements, and reliable so you get a 15 year warranty on the hybrid battery pack if you use mains dealer servicing.

It's just a plain hybrid, all you do is fill up with petrol and don't plug in.

Summit_Detailing

1,936 posts

196 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Mazda 3 was the first thing I thought of..hmmm

Civic?
IS300h?
Kia Ceed / Hyundai i30? - appreciate this would be 1.5T
MINI Cooper S 5dr?
Corolla?

MrGTI6

3,173 posts

133 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Megane RS300? Available as a manual or DCT.

You can just about get one for £20k.

DodgyGeezer

41,048 posts

193 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Mercedes CLA
Audi A3 saloon
Kia ProCeed

Om

1,840 posts

81 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Unfortunately you are in boring SUV box territory at that age/price etc. As mentioned above the Alfa Giulia should just be in range at that price/age, or how about a Focus ST?

matrignano

4,457 posts

213 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Not necessarily, there are plenty of saloons that are not Merc/BMW, Audi...

Jag XE, Volvo S60, VW Passat/Arteon, Mazda 6 etc

trevalvole

1,123 posts

36 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Toyota Corolla with the 2.0 litre petrol hybrid engine, though perhaps not interesting enough. A Honda Civic Hybrid is more interesting, but looking at the sub-forum there seems to be one or two issues with them, mainly the steering.

ZX10R NIN

27,857 posts

128 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Zombie said:
My Mum currently has a 2006 Brera 2.2 SV. She's owned it from new and it is wearing its 60k miles badly. To misquote Indiana Jones, it's age, not the mileage.

It's not been unreliable, in fact it has been the opposite but my Dad and I are b both fed up with repairing it. In the last few years it's had a timing chain, front subframe, rear suspension arms and subframe, a gearbox rebuild (Vauxhall M32) springs and dampers, pealing lacquer repainted, sills repaired... Most of it has been preventative maintenance as we're both a little fastidious when it comes to cars but the front subframe wasn't and it really wasn't cheap to fix as my Dad ended up buying a new one from Alfa.

The problem is neither my Mum, mad Dad or I can come up with an idea for a new car.

It needs to be;

1. Unconventional, i.e. not BMW, VAG, merc Ford or Vauxhall. And not a s**ting Peugeot!

2. Around 3 years old or less

3. Relatively pokey, less than 8 sec to 60.

4. Petrol

5. Not a super mini

6. Long term reliable. So no stupid small capacity, forced induction engines that are going to break. Also not a car that is perceived to be reliable, but isn't.

7. Good looking and not an angular aggressive, airfoils everywhere with a stupid hamburgler grill type (so again, not a BMW)

8. Have 4 or 5 doors

9. Good residuals

10. Easy to drive - the less things binging and squawking the better, manual is OK, no stupid touch screens controlling everything.

11. Budget of I haven't got a clue. Something sensible, so 20k. ish.

The best we've been able to come up with is a Mazda 3.

ETA to the list, based on suggestions that are appreciated, I'm just working for difficult Clients...

12. Needs to fit in a normal parking space (2.4m x 4.8m)

13. Preferably not a soft roader SUV pretend 4x4 thing. Despite her car being permanently and inexplicably covered in mud, my Mum doesn't go off roading.


Edited by Zombie on Friday 28th June 23:59
i30 N Line hybrid, with a fair chunk of warranty left too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406040...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405109...

Kia XCeed First Edition as above but a slightly higher seating position:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403217...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406070...

Ceed GT Line S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405109...

Civic Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406190...

A500leroy

5,227 posts

121 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Head over to infinity.

Niguy

162 posts

29 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Skoda Octavia

Alfa Pete

415 posts

229 months

Yesterday (03:39)
quotequote all
Mazda3 is a good shout.
I’m on my second.