Volvo or Audi or something completely different

[choculala]

I have a 2007 Mini at the moment and am looking to trade up to something with more doors and space. We are having a baby and the mini is just too small and annoying for getting a baby in to. I have really enjoyed owning it and ideally would like something that still has a bit of character but isn't going to be a headache. Budget is around £6k, ideally lower but could go a bit more for the right thing.

I have been looking at A3's 2008 -> 2012 e.g.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A3-1-9-TDi-Sportba...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101288...

And Volvo V50's 2008 -> 2012 e.g (Sadly the other volvo I was going to link to has just sold but it was £5k 2.0 D3)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101228...

Which would you choose between these or is there something else I should consider that would be a better choice?

Thank you

[Jamescrs]

I'd probably be looking at a Mk3 Focus estate at upto a 5k budget as a decent family car. You will get one in titanium spec.

I would avoid the Volvos based on personal experience. I had a V60 on a 61 plate and the electrics failed me in numerous areas. A guy I work with had a V50 of similar age and he had numerous issues and has sworn never to buy a Volvo again as a result.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Alfa Giulietta Veloce 170

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012187...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012187...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103049...

Focus Titanium X 180 the Focus will be the best steer & it's also a good practical car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006059...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101268...

Zetec S Estate 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102259...

Zetec S 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103069...

1.6T 308 Allure haggle hard & you should get it for you budget 155

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102249...

Seat Leon FR 200

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101218...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102179...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103079...


1.6T Astra SRI decent steer & 180bhp

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008152...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102129...

1.4T newer shape Astra 150 SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102229...

[choculala]

Thanks a lot both of you - will have a look at the focus and the alfa which I hadn't considered at all - are Alfa's reliable-ish now?

Quite like the look of this one which is nearish me: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103029...

The seat looks a bit too on the racer side for me, and I need to get over the badge snobbery with vauxhall

[ZX10R NIN]

The Alfa's are as reliable as anything else out there, here's an opinion of someone who has one:

The Giulietta in 170bhp 1.4tb form is plenty quick enough to be fun, and they're reliable cars as long as they get serviced properly. Our 2010 Giulietta is up to 120000 miles now and still runs and drives beautifully. The 1.4 Multiair engine is brilliant, it's very smooth, plenty of torque at low rpm, and - unusually for a turbocharged four - sounds quite pleasant as well.

Our car needed bottom arms and drop links around 100k (replaced these myself), front springs, shocks and top mounts around 115k (done by a garage as I loathe and fear spring compressors!). Engine has required nothing beyond regular servicing. Tailgate wiring loom is a known weak point on these cars, it's a £70 part and replacement DIYable if a bit fiddly.

The Multiair units have been known to fail on early cars, this is almost always related to oil. Preventative measure is to use the correct (albeit quite expensive) Selenia oil, service at 9000 rather than 18000 miles, and clean/replace the Multiair unit inlet strainer each time. Again all servicing has been DIY, generally a doddle other than having to undo about a million bolts to get the undertray off and access the sump plug!

[choculala]

Sorry a bit of delay in replying to this. Thanks for that detailed report - on the look out for an Alfa but struggling to find one nearby that fit the bill

I have seen this Focus Zetec 2015, which I like the look of. Complete car buying novice so not sure if there is something really obvious I am missing or anything I should be wary of:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103120...

[Ntv]

choculala said:

Sorry a bit of delay in replying to this. Thanks for that detailed report - on the look out for an Alfa but struggling to find one nearby that fit the bill

I have seen this Focus Zetec 2015, which I like the look of. Complete car buying novice so not sure if there is something really obvious I am missing or anything I should be wary of:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103120...

Looks good to me. Facelifted with the Sync 3 screen makes a big difference.

The 1.0 125 engine is generally well reviewed. Should be a really nice drive.

[choculala]

Apologies about reviving an old thread. The baby arrived and completely scuppered any time I had to sort the car... So I am now urgently back on the search for an estate less than 7k and have seen this: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105142... and wondered if anyone had an opinion, experience with this model. Seems on the expensive side but...so do all used cars at the moment. Planning to go and have a drive but concerned it's going to be slow / under powered.

[imck]

Congratulations

I hired one of those for a Week in 2015. Only a few Miles on it.
Nice to drive. Being overly critical, I though it lacked a bit top end when pressing on.

Preferred the 1.4T in the Vauxhall (Opel) and Seat 1.5T in other hires.

Focus much nicer than various non-turbo 1.4/1.6 Hires of similar size.
Definitely worth having a look and drive.

[Wagonwheel555]

choculala said:

Apologies about reviving an old thread. The baby arrived and completely scuppered any time I had to sort the car... So I am now urgently back on the search for an estate less than 7k and have seen this: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105142... and wondered if anyone had an opinion, experience with this model. Seems on the expensive side but...so do all used cars at the moment. Planning to go and have a drive but concerned it's going to be slow / under powered.

Ive never driven one but I can tell you know its going to be underpowered.

[Jamescrs]

choculala said:

Apologies about reviving an old thread. The baby arrived and completely scuppered any time I had to sort the car... So I am now urgently back on the search for an estate less than 7k and have seen this: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105142... and wondered if anyone had an opinion, experience with this model. Seems on the expensive side but...so do all used cars at the moment. Planning to go and have a drive but concerned it's going to be slow / under powered.

I had a non estate version as a hire car a few years ago when they were new, around town it was perfectly acceptable, it is a lottle under powered in my experience, I don't remember exactly but I think around 100bhp?

They are well put together and will do the baby carrying duties and all the extra stuff you need very well, if you aren't looking for performance it will probably serve you well

[LightningBlue]

Jamescrs said:

I'd probably be looking at a Mk3 Focus estate at upto a 5k budget as a decent family car. You will get one in titanium spec.

I would avoid the Volvos based on personal experience. I had a V60 on a 61 plate and the electrics failed me in numerous areas. A guy I work with had a V50 of similar age and he had numerous issues and has sworn never to buy a Volvo again as a result.

The V50 is a totally different car to a V60, it’s on another platform and uses other parts. My S60 hasn’t been perfect but generally has been fine. Underneath a V50 shares a lot of Focus parts and engines, so it doesn’t quite make sense to say avoid the Volvo and buy a Ford of that era. I’d get the Volvo because the interior is a lot nicer, but could probably get a V60 at the OPs budget

[LightningBlue]

Something that hasn’t been mentioned is how many miles is the OP doing? I wouldn’t touch a diesel if mainly doing town miles, doesn’t make a lot of sense these days with them falling out of favour with councils and the issues that can be had with DPFs unless the annual mileage is quite high.

[choculala]

imck said:

Congratulations

I hired one of those for a Week in 2015. Only a few Miles on it.
Nice to drive. Being overly critical, I though it lacked a bit top end when pressing on.

Preferred the 1.4T in the Vauxhall (Opel) and Seat 1.5T in other hires.

Focus much nicer than various non-turbo 1.4/1.6 Hires of similar size.
Definitely worth having a look and drive.

Thank you!

I went to have a look and it was nice but weirdly felt a bit too big for us, which is strange as it's marginally bigger than the hatchback version. So I think I am going to looking at hatchback focus or equivalent. I have been looking for a 5k titanium spec near me (Edinburgh) but seems like the budget is going to need to increase as there isn't really anything near that.

We are doing mostly small trips around town, with longer trips 4/5 times a year. No commute or anything like that so I have been solely looking at petrols.

[ZX10R NIN]

choculala said:

Thank you!

I went to have a look and it was nice but weirdly felt a bit too big for us, which is strange as it's marginally bigger than the hatchback version. So I think I am going to looking at hatchback focus or equivalent. I have been looking for a 5k titanium spec near me (Edinburgh) but seems like the budget is going to need to increase as there isn't really anything near that.

We are doing mostly small trips around town, with longer trips 4/5 times a year. No commute or anything like that so I have been solely looking at petrols.

Congratulations on the new arrival here are some localish options:


Giulietta Veloce 120

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106023...

Astra Elite 115

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102199...

SRI 115

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105253...

Mazda3 Venture 105

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105212...

Civic ES 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104010...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105283...

[choculala]

Thank you - going to have a look at the Civic (blue one) I think.

Also quite tempted by this: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105273... which is going to be bigger than the focus but looks great.