Our Mini is dead - but don't know what car to get now...

Well we've just bought a new car and ended up with a Toyota Auris, it's really roomy inside, like a tardis, 18 months old, comes with everything except leather interior (it's a t-spirit) and was £8200.

Other cars in the running were Honda Civic, BMW 1 Series (the ones with leather interior look really nice), Audi A3 and I liked the Mercedes B Class. Most of those were too expensive unless we bought slightly older or with more miles though. Hence we got the Auris which was still comparable in price but we managed to get a pretty good deal on it.

I had a mini and loved it but needed to get something more practical, so got a Seat Leon FR. For me it is sporty, small enough but yet ten times easier for me. Having serious computer probs just now or I would write a bigger reply!

Beetle?

Mercedes A Class?

Thanks Sunset. SIL has an Auris, which I think looks really practical, so may runt hat by H.

I have an issue with BMWs, H for some reason doesn't like A3s (despite the fact we've got an A4 which he loves [shrug]), and hadn't thought about the Merc - shall look into it...

Thanks Nicky - our next door neighbour has a Seat, again I think it's nice and sporty, but H doesn't seem too keen for some reason (probably purely because he doesn't want the same car as the neighbours [sigh]).

Flump, H wouldn't have a Beelte - "girl's car". Not sure what else you're trying to say ?

If i'm honest I think the Auris looks a bit of a 'grandad' style car, the SR version looks better, it has the little spoiler bit on the window but the T-Spirit has everything, climate control, cruise control, sensors for the rain/light so it will automatically put wipers/lights on, I really don't have to think at all which is good ?

Ooh, ooh, get a Fiat 500.

think they're *slightly* smaller than a Mini, non? ? V cute though!

Yes sorry about my multiple stuttery posts Carrie - blimmin Hitched! Anyway, I was trying to say 'what about a Mercedes A Class?'

My first thought was a Golf as well - we just sold our mini as we were starting to have problems with it and have got a Golf r32 instead (I would have gone for a normal Golf though tbh, I keep getting people trying to race me at the lights)

Depending on budget but you could also consider;

Suzuki Swift

Toyoto Yaris

Ford KA or Fiesta

Alfo Romeo 147

Annabel.

Thanks everyone.

H has test driven a Civic this afternoon, but thought it was clunky (although good price); he likes the look of the Merc B class, so thta might be a possibility (although I suspect it would stretch us financially...), and is still uncertain on a Golf - probably mainly becuase the dealer didn't have any available in our price range, and it was a big jump in prices.

Sorry Flump - saw your edited post after I'd posted ?.

Fiat 500 would be great, but I don't think we could get me, my 6'4" H in plus our 2 pre-schoolers...

Sorry, blooming Hitched won't let me see other responses, but I'm going to look through and have a lookie on What Car mag as well.

Thanks everyone!

i'm getting one! the convertible, i am stupidly excited. (it is smaller than the mini and really has no boot)

It might be worth checking what other VW dealers have available if you're keen on the Golf. I got a 1 year old VW back in December (Polo though), and shopped around between a few dealers, and also negotiated a reasonable discount. And my brother recently bought a 2 year old Golf from the same dealer and negotiated a good discount.

We have similar issues with ideas of prestige ?

We have gone a bit leftfield and are probably getting the new Prius when it comes out at the end of the month. I'm yet to be convinced by the ecological aspects but it's super cheap on the company car scheme.

Otherwise if you get the right Leon it goes like stink. We also considered a Golf. When we were looking for my small car we also looked at the Yaris and apparently the Fabia is fantastic (but I suspect MrC will have a similar reaction to MrH if you mention the word Skoda ?)

Ginge, you lucky girl! I sooo want one, they're purty.

I'd try and get a Golf and maybe go for one a little older but with less miles if you can find one in your spec and price range. I love my GTi and H who works in the motor trade and has driven loads of different cars from Minis to Ferraris thinks it's nicest day to day car he's ever driven.

Why leather as it is a £1,500 option from new as the cloth seats are very good esp on the higher spec'd models.

Don't know about the prestige, but I love the Mazda 3. I sat in the latest one last week and it was fab. Very sporty looking and roomy while being small/med sized car.

H has an issue with anything Japanese, I think (depsite the fact they always come top for reliability and VFM).

Hazel, I'm so glad I'm not alone. Last night when we were discussing it, he wouldn't commit to anything, and I kept asking him what cars he liked (in a "if you could have any car" kind of way), and he STILL wouldn't answer, but mysteriosuly declared "they'd be too expensive".

I think we should go for a Golf too - I love how they look, when H had his he adored it, and it ticks all the boxes.

My father also called tonight out of the blue to say he'd recently released some funds from long term deposit, and if we wanted a cheap loan, he could provide one for us, which opens the field up even more. Very. very lucky (although also win win, I guess - he'll get a better rate than in a bank, and we'll get a better rate on a loan). And my boss gave me the number of one of our clients who sources prestige cars at good prices - he always gets my bosses cars (and he's got some great cars - the most recent one was £4k cheaper than a dealer). So hopefully, things are looking up...

And leather because it wears sooooo much better than cloth, is more comfortable with age, and is wipeable (very important with 4 sets of sticky fingers in the back seats...). Worth every penny.

If you are allowed to, could you mail me with the details of the car person? I understand if you're not allowed to though. ***********@*****.**.**

Mr Mal is after an Audi A4, but would consider a BMW or a Saab also

The Golf is our backup plan if the new Prius turns out to be pants. The only problem is that we're supposed to be downsizing to save some money but I just know MrH would be swayed into buying a beast of a Golf with all the options which would save nothing ?

Mal, if it's ok, might just see how it goes with my effort, and if he seems happy, I'll ask if I can pass his name onto you. : )

Hazel - H & I are both suckers for a twiddly option (you wouldn't believe some of the stuff on the Audi - but it was a demo car). H has no regard for the environment, so a Prius isn't even in his mindset...

MrH only tempted by Prius because it's so flipping cheap on company car scheme ?

I know your H is looking for a 'prestige' brand but if you are considering a Golf I could whole heartedly recommend a Skoda Fabia. We've just bought one here (the estate version) and it's so lovely to drive. Plus if you go to a Elegance model you get things like parking sensors which are great. And the absolute plus for me is the boot space. It may be a small family car but it's got stacks of boot space.

Probably doesn't fit your brief because it's not prestige, but I love our Mazda 3. We have the sport model to get the twiddly bits. It's fab to drive and very comfortable. We had an MX5 beforehand and and this is almost as quick but more practical.

NotJapanese is a hard one, because you can get some really cool cars: Toyota Celica, Corollas with a high spec, Nissan Almera.

Is the Volkwagen Scirroco too much for your needs?

Thanks everyone. As I suspected, it looks like we're plumping for a Golf GTI - in some respects, it's the easy option - we know we both love them, and as we need a car super-quick, it helps to take trawling around garages out of the question.

We've seen one that ticks all the boxes (leather, diesel and automatic - not too many of those around) fairly nearby, so we're going to try to see it today for a test drive. If it's a go-er, I think it'll be the one...

You've all been a big help, and have rightfully confirmed that my H is a fussy car-snob ?

I lurve my seat leon (FR TDi, with BTCC kit). It's just reached 3yrs old, and I still love it as much as the day I bought it. It goes like the clappers, and has kicked arse on many cars on roundabouts. I highly recommend tem. So much so, my uncle has one, so too does H's cousin (along with BTCC kit), and H's other cousin has the old shape Leon FR.