Choose me a hatchback

I want to sell the MX5 and get myself a hatchback.

Requirements
1.4-1.6 engine, Sunroof, mileage under 3 figures, under ?3k.

Choices
Pre wedge Civic
Ford Focus Mk1
Peugeot 306
Peugeot 307
Volks Golf
Audi A3

Ive driven a Focus regularly and while the engines are pretty good, the seats are bloody awful. No support in them and looking at those for sale, they all seem to be the same.

I have discounted Fiats & Alfas because theyre renowned for big bills. Same goes for Rover/MG really as the Head Gasket problem is always looming.

Anyone with first hand experience of the above for a daily runabout? Im probably only going to be doing around 5k a year with the occasional long run camping or whatever. Trying to keep the costs down so that I can spend the cash on more bikes/new bikes

Seat?
Skoda?

[G]

306 will be terrible with that little engine, you could try a 106 Gti or Rallye though....amazing fun and pretty damn quick aswell

My last 2 cars have been Peugeot 306s. Both N reg, but the new xsi is much more fun to ride.. that sort of says it all
The older cars probably have more boot space and it suits me as have transported washing machines and even easily get 4 bicycles sitting vertically upright in the back/boot with wheels off.

If I had more money I'd have gone for the A3 (next car) and I think prices will drop soon when the new shape comes out.

You're right about the Alfas, my friend trying to sell her's soon as it's been no end of headaches recently.

[JamesMio]

As a particularly shameless plug, my sister's selling her 1.4 Honda Civic Sport (pre-wedge shaped)... V Reg, nothing wrong with it but she's just moved to Australia!

Originally Posted by robchester

I have discounted Fiats & Alfas because theyre renowned for big bills. Same goes for Rover/MG really as the Head Gasket problem is always looming.

Rovers/MGs post 2001 don't suffer any HG problems. It's a complete myth that it's a fault of the engine design, the K series is actually a stunningly simple concept, brilliantly executed but let down for a number of years by a cost-cutting measure introduced not by Rover but by the engine-building sub-company. A simple matter of plastic head locating dowels causes 99.9% of all the HG failures as the plastic weakens and allows the head to move.

Because of the all-alloy design of the motor and the way it's put together with very long bolts holding the entire engine together, the head on a K series is, relatively speaking, quite loose when the engine's cold.

A 2002 onwards vehicle would have the K series with metal dowels fitted, which don't suffer from the problem - problems on these engines normally result from ill-informed owners have the HG done 'just in case' normally by a non-main dealer who doesn't fully understand the complexities of the K series - quite often this work results in a less reliable engine.

Anyway, that's the boring information bit over.

Just don't buy a Renault. Personally I'd stay away from the Peugeots as well, but that's just because I know of a company who ran a fleet of 307s and they were only marginally better than the Renaults my work ran, which cost us a quarter of a million quid in downtime in six months.

I'd also suggest looking at the Nissan Almera - dirt cheap to buy and run because it's dull as ditchwater, but a very well put together reliable motor if you don't want a babe-magnet.

Also consider Skoda Fabia or Octavia. Octy represents cracking value in this sector (unless you're a badge snob in which case you won't even consider it). and for 3 grand you can pick up plenty of them, which will be well specced and reliable. I know of a taxi firm in Newcastle who ran one of the Mk 1 top spec vRS models with the 1.8T VW/Audi group engine which covered 330,000 miles in two years with nothing more than routine servicing.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by robchester

Ford Focus Mk1

drove one for several years, can't say i ever had any complaints about the seats - other than that it's a bigger car than you expect, much more spacious than you'd think and a laugh for a family hatch in the twisty stuff. of the two choices you've given definitely get the 1.6, i had that one and compared to the 1.8TDCi i have now it was gutless, the 1.4 would be a chore i reckon. both the focuses (focii?) have been mechanically solid, had a couple of minor electrical glitches and the infamous leaking windscreen seal but nothing major.

[fizzwheel]

I'd stay away from Golfs and Audis with small petrol motors in them, They are heavy cars and you'll have no performance and you'll end up caning it on petrol as you'll flog the guts out of it to get any decent speed out of it. Also on your budget your looking at older generation cars so the milleage is going to be high..

Liz has a 1.4 W Reg Skoda Fabia, its a great little car, but its gutless and drinks petrol on long journeys...

Aye the reason I picked those few is because cosmetically, I like the look of them, and either way or another, theyre in my budget.

Ive driven focus' for the past 2 years (albeit the 1.4) and yes it is gutless but has a great chassis. I only thought that the seats had no support as they dont have decent firm side bolsters to give you that comfort.

I had a 1.8 Rover 200 from 98 a few years back and ran it for about 18months. In that time I had a lot of trouble with a leaky sunroof and then suffered HGF. THere was no warning, the water level had been checked and all of a sudden it just went. I suspect that a fault in the cooling system may have led to the water loss initially. Unfortunately I have found that the MGZRs in particular are pretty poorly built inside. They dont have the solid feel that the 200 had. Maybe a 25 around 2001 might be a better buy...

James, PM me with some more details about that Civic..... Im particularly fond of Japanese cars

Originally Posted by Dan

Rovers/MGs post 2001 don't suffer any HG problems. It's a complete myth that it's a fault of the engine design, the K series is actually a stunningly simple concept, brilliantly executed but let down for a number of years by a cost-cutting measure introduced not by Rover but by the engine-building sub-company. A simple matter of plastic head locating dowels causes 99.9% of all the HG failures as the plastic weakens and allows the head to move.

Not quite, but nearly. The Landrover gasket and dowels are far superior, but I have a TF which has a design flaw; the thermostat is poorly located due the the mid-engine installation and this can cause problems contributing to HGF. But otherwise you are correct, the K-series is a great engine, and cheap for parts etc.