Which car?

[iCraig]

Right out of the following cars which would you go for?
Basis on experience please etc.

Ford Focus 1.6LX 1999 - T Reg
Nissan Almera 1.4 Ambition 1999 - V Reg
Vauxhall Astra 1.7DTi 2001 - Y Reg.

Which as stated above would you go for, if going for all of the following: handling, economy, cheapness of insurance and reliability etc.

I'm in the market for a new car you see, I did have another car lined up, but it turned out to have a very chequered history on HPI and decided the day before picking it up not to go for it and got a refund.

I'm replacing a Skoda Octavia 1.8T, and really want something that does more than 30mpg all the time. And the above cars are all in my price range and what I like etc.

Cheers,

Craig.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Personally I don't like diesels, so that would count the Astra straight out.

Leaves the Focus and the Almera. Focus seems to have a better reputation.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[KevTM]

Out of the list I'd chose the Focus. Hate Vauxhalls and the name 'Ambition' for the Almera basically says it all

[iCraig]

[mooserx]

Id choose focus, after owning 2 i rate them highly. The astra is ok but the turbos tend to fall to pieces internally. I wouldn't have the almera on the grounds that its a 1400, so would be a little gutless, i currently drive a 1400 and its slow as shit.
____________________
TL1000r-handful.

[MarJay]

Focus out of that company without hesitation.

The Almera will be as breathless as they come, and the astra has three things wrong with it.

1.) Its an Astra

2.) Its a Vauxhall

3.) Its a Diesel.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[iCraig]

[.Chris.]

If you want economy then the Astra diesel will win hands down, if you want something remotely fun to drive get the Focus. I drove a TDCI old-shape Focus and I thought it was a great car.
____________________
Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Kickstart]

[Robby]

Focus. It's the only good car in your list.

The astra may be better on fuel, but it'll cost you way more than the fuel saving to keep fixing it, and you will have to keep fixing it.

1.8 focus is better though, more power and better fuel burn. That old 1.6 zetec engine always did burn more fuel than the 1.8.

[Jrod]

At least driving the focus won't wind up with you wanting kill yourself from the daily monotony as they drive fairly well.

[Finglonga]

No brainer, got to be the Focus.
____________________
Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Flip]

I've owned a Focus 1.6 (07 plate), great car to drive. It was heavy on the fuel though. If I was to have another I'd go for the 1.8 for the extra poke. My brother has one (02 plate) and it's pretty quick.

1.4 Almeras (*sp) practically stop when you turn the air con on. Gutless little things.

The Astra? I don't think anything under a 2.0 turbo diesel would be worth having.

[Suitor_Stu]

the Focus, purely because of the question mark.

[neatbik]

The Focus. Ive got one, it handles well, its comfy, its well built, etc etc etc.

[MarJay]

Craig have you noticed that you never take the advice we give you on here anyway, and then you almost always end up hating the car that you've bought.

If you buy the astra you'll hate it.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[pablouk]

I would of thought the Astra would be the quickest of the lot. Turbo diesels are good for point and squirt, just no fun to drive. I voted Focus all day long. Great fun to drive in the twisty bits.
____________________
Keeping The Nation Pissed
Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight. ~Benjamin Franklin

[Dom_]

I used to love high revving cars before I got my diesel.

It's so easy to drive quickly, good on fuel and it doesn't sound like it's being ragged when your ragging it which is good if you put your foot down in traffic, you don't look like an arse for thrashing your car.

Once insurance allows ill get a new shape M3, but if I chose a second car it would definitely be a diesel.

[BenR]

None. Fiat stilo or citroen C4 FTW.
____________________
Current bikes: suzuki RG125UN wolf. Yamaha MT-07

[dgo1212]

if it was a tdci i'd have said the focus,however it's not so i'd say the Astra,the days where diesels were completely gutless have long gone,unfortunately so has the reliability of them.Cant you test drive both cars and see which one you prefer?

Ignore the diesel haters,ask anyone whos owned a 20v turbo petrol golf and a gttdi golf which one they prefered and i bet they hated the petrol

[NSR Mick]

None of the above get a Golf TDi.
____________________
If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[dgo1212]

[iCraig]

[iCraig]

[MarJay]