Used small family hatch with a tiny bit of character - £15k

[blueST]

I've been out of the used car buying market for a good few years, so am a bit out of touch really. My Wife needs a do-it-all hatchback (not too small) to replace her 15 year old, 130k miles W169 A-Class.

I'm looking at a pretty strict £15k budget, 4-5 years old max, petrol, manual and low miles. Performance is not really a consideration as long as it cruises ok loaded up when we go on holiday. I don't mind looking at a private sale. The key thing is, having had a very very dull car for years, she'd like something with a bit of style/character/class this time, whatever that means. Also, while her Merc was never fashionable it has proved to be very high quality and everything works on it to this day, plus we keep our cars a very long time by modern standards, so something well made too.

Having done a bit of browsing, the Mini Clubman (F54) with the 1.5 petrol looks appealing. I don't know too much about them, but they seem to be quite well regarded, and not having the engine issues of earlier models.

So, any thoughts, what else should be on our agenda?

[pb8g09]

Kia (Pro) Ceed?

VW Golf
BMW 120i
BMW Active Tourer 225i xdrive (ones I see for sale seem to be to be very highly specc'd and very nippy)

[blueST]

pb8g09 said:

Kia (Pro) Ceed?

VW Golf
BMW 120i
BMW Active Tourer 225i xdrive (ones I see for sale seem to be to be very highly specc'd and very nippy)

Cheers.

Kia wouldn't get through the shortlist, for no other reason than the name!

Not considered the BMW, so will take a look at those. i assume much of the running gear is the same as the Mini

Golf might be too bland, but I'll float that idea too. I vaguely recall some of the smaller engines are to be avoided (oil consumption?)

[Whataguy]

The 1.5 / 150hp engines in the golf are decent - they're available in other VAG group cars too.

[LankyFreak]

non-sporty modern VW Golfs have as much character as weetabix in water...

I like the Mini, like you suggested.

[jdoubleu]

Mazda3 is a bit more interesting and lesser seen generally. It used to be the SEAT Leon was a bit more interesting than the Golf, but I think the latest ones are perhaps a bit less so.

[ro250]

What about a W176 A Class? It's an entirely different beast to the one she currently has (which is a polite way of saying they look good!)

[Whataguy]

LankyFreak said:

non-sporty modern VW Golfs have as much character as weetabix in water...

I like the Mini, like you suggested.

Mine was a 1.5/150 match edition which came with some kit from the gti/r - most important being the electronic limited slip differential.

You also got the lap timer and g meter for trips to the shops.

I've had the 1.5/150 engine is a troc without the differential and that just span its wheels on wet roundabouts.

[blueST]

jdoubleu said:

Mazda3 is a bit more interesting and lesser seen generally. It used to be the SEAT Leon was a bit more interesting than the Golf, but I think the latest ones are perhaps a bit less so.

Mazdas always look sharp when new, but don't age well to my eyes. They seem to suffer with body corrosion at a relatively young age as well.

[blueST]

Whataguy said:

LankyFreak said:

non-sporty modern VW Golfs have as much character as weetabix in water...

I like the Mini, like you suggested.

Mine was a 1.5/150 match edition which came with some kit from the gti/r - most important being the electronic limited slip differential.

You also got the lap timer and g meter for trips to the shops.

I've had the 1.5/150 engine is a troc without the differential and that just span its wheels on wet roundabouts.

I've had a quick look on Autotrader and our budget would gets a very low mileage 70-plate Life trim like this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024092644... There's quite a few available, but the colour choice isn't half dull. I have an affinity for Golfs having had a mk2 and mk3 in the past, but these really don't get me very excited.

[ZX10R NIN]

A220 AMG Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410185...

308 GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408092...

Cupra 290:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409254...

FR Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409254...

Q30 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409224...

[blueST]

Thanks, I'm trying avoid anything too overtly sporty for insurance reasons and I'm minded.to avoid very low profile tyres too for kerbage reasons. Mileage wise I'm looking at sub 40,000, ideally sub 30k so we aren't immediately into Cambelt change and other big bill territory.

[Silvanus]

blueST said:

pb8g09 said:

Kia (Pro) Ceed?

VW Golf
BMW 120i
BMW Active Tourer 225i xdrive (ones I see for sale seem to be to be very highly specc'd and very nippy)

Cheers.

Kia wouldn't get through the shortlist, for no other reason than the name!

Not considered the BMW, so will take a look at those. i assume much of the running gear is the same as the Mini

Golf might be too bland, but I'll float that idea too. I vaguely recall some of the smaller engines are to be avoided (oil consumption?)

Its just called the ProCeed not (Pro) Ceed or Pro'ceed, like the old model

[CrippsCorner]

blueST said:

Thanks, I'm trying avoid anything too overtly sporty for insurance reasons and I'm minded.to avoid very low profile tyres too for kerbage reasons. Mileage wise I'm looking at sub 40,000, ideally sub 30k so we aren't immediately into Cambelt change and other big bill territory.

From ZX10R's suggestions, you can get the Pug GT 'Line' rather than the full fat GT, or the 1.4 FR rather than 1.8/2.0 which still look the same but are more insurance friendly.

[Jimjimhim]

Renault Megane GT might be a good bet.

[blueST]

What are Renault like for long term durability? I have a Dacia with a lot of Renault bits and it all feels a bit brittle. The fundamentals seem decent, but all the stuff attached to it seems less good.

Speaking of Renault bits... My eye has been drawn to the Merc A180 of 19/20 vintage.

Need to get out and actually have a look at some of these things.

[Skodillac]

Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC.

[p1stonhead]

M135i?

Or maybe even an m140i in reach?

[blueST]

Wouldn't pass the classy/stylish criteria I fear

[Skodillac]

I see. Lexus NX?