Thanks to everyone who has replied so far
My current car is a Mondeo 1.8 petrol - a car I have always loved (have had 4 of 'em + 1 x Focus), but with retirement looming (a) I need better fuel consumption than 35mpg (b) less road tax (c) cheaper insurance (d) I want to buy new as this will probably be the car to last me out and the Corsa carries a 100,000 mile warranty (e) purchase cost
Despite the better reputation of the Skoda, I don't like them and don't consider myself mature . Likewise I don't like the styling of the new Siesta. I certainly don't want a motorbike as I spent 13 years riding them in my yoof then had a prang in a car which has limited my ability to ride them. The death rate among born again bikers is something I don't want to add to
Keep the info coming - even if it doesn't help me it interesting to see what people are thinking/using

Not a Vauxhall person myself last 7 cars have all been Japanese but what I would consider doing is looking at the insurance comparison websites and getting idea's of what different models cost before making up your mind.
Of the European manufacturers I think VW group(VW, Skoda, Seat) are all reliable and share the same drivetrains.
One other thought consider the boot size, because if you want to get timber etc for baseboards etc in your retirement.
I can just get a 1.8m length of timber in my car(It is a city car) but it does mean only 1 passenger and they have to sit behind me.

Quote from: Oldman on January 11, 2013, 12:35:07 PM
Not a Vauxhall person myself last 7 cars have all been Japanese but what I would consider doing is looking at the insurance comparison websites and getting idea's of what different models cost before making up your mind.
Of the European manufacturers I think VW group(VW, Skoda, Seat) are all reliable and share the same drivetrains.
One other thought consider the boot size, because if you want to get timber etc for baseboards etc in your retirement.
I can just get a 1.8m length of timber in my car(It is a city car) but it does mean only 1 passenger and they have to sit behind me.

Baseboards all built so no issue there
I also prefer 4/5 door to 2/3 door as, I am led to believe, insurance is cheaper because in case of an accident the rear passengers can get out. Can anyone confirm this through experience? (Not an accident, the insurance )

Also look out for fixed price servicing - my wife got 3 years on her Polo for £250.  Also consider petrol vs. diesel carefully.  If you are doing a low mileage then petrol is likely to be cheaper.

Paddy

I've always found white ones to be good although some blue ones drive quite well.      

  


Paul

Quote from: whiteswan on January 11, 2013, 02:15:18 PM
I've always found white ones to be good although some blue ones drive quite well as well.      

I think you're right, I drive a blue car and it's pretty good whereas one of my colleagues has a white one and thats not quite as good. 

Cheers

Neal.

Quote from: whiteswan on January 11, 2013, 02:15:18 PM
I've always found white ones to be good although some blue ones drive quite well.      

Think I may have to lock this topic as I was thinking white

Quote from: Calnefoxile on January 11, 2013, 02:46:36 PM

Quote from: whiteswan on January 11, 2013, 02:15:18 PM
I've always found white ones to be good although some blue ones drive quite well as well.      

I think you're right, I drive a blue car and it's pretty good whereas one of my colleagues has a white one and thats not quite as good. 

Cheers

Neal.

... and you can't find them after it's snowed!   

Quote from: daveg on January 11, 2013, 03:10:13 PM
... and you can't find them after it's snowed!   

At least it doesn't show up when those evil seagulls and pigeons have had their way.......

I lug a lot of stuff around, including layouts etc. I have had my 1998 Volvo V70 (the exhibitor's friend!) for 10 years now, with no plans to change it. When it does finally die, it'll probably be another one!

The only Corsa I ever drove was an old 4 gear one so can't really comment but I would strongly recommend the website Honest John. I would generally take what he says as read.

Were considering a similar change and for me, the Honda Jazz is favourite. I have a 55 Civic that Ive had from new (last of the old shape) fantastic car, cant fault it in any area.

Driven many 12 plate Vauxhalls (Astra and Corsa), VWs (Polo), Skodas (Fabia, Roomster), Hyundai (i20, i30), Kia's (Cee'd) and a couple of Peugeots (208 and 207 CC!!) at work this year.

Done many many motorway miles and lots of in town commuting in them all and for my money the Vauxhalls were the best of the lot.

I am a big fan of the blue oval (got one of the blue special edition Fiestas, don't like the new shape ones) but the new Vauxhalls were a real nice surprise in terms of fit, finish and toys. They were all rentals so I got just about every trim level you could imagine, but I would choose a bogo Corsa over a Polo all day long.

The Astra's were my fav, but not the small petrol engines as they just had no poke at all. Big engine Diesels (2.0 liter) with auto box and cruise control make 180 mile drives fly by.

Big surprise of the lot were the Kia. Second only to the Vauxhalls in terms of the fit, feel and finish inside and if you can live with the image, they have some incredible warranties these days.

I personally would avoid the 208 like the plague. Silly interior and a steering wheel so small I nearly lost it!

Very sorry if anybody has a 208

Skyline2uk

Quote from: michael on January 11, 2013, 06:36:08 PM
The only Corsa I ever drove was an old 4 gear one so can't really comment but I would strongly recommend the website Honest John. I would generally take what he says as read.

Were considering a similar change and for me, the Honda Jazz is favourite. I have a 55 Civic that Ive had from new (last of the old shape) fantastic car, cant fault it in any area.

Good suggestion using HJ as a sounding board. You can look at the reviews, many are videos and then if you want you can email a question and get a brief but honest answer.

Happy hunting let us know what you decide. I'm a sad old petrol head who now drives a Peugeot - (it's OK -ish) Jags are my first love - had 4 and ran them till you needed a 2nd mortgage to fill up.

Dave G

Hi

Maybe slightly at odd with previous posters. I got a L reg Astra in 1996. Great car, only one breakdown whislt I was driving it (water pump). It had 100k miles on it in 2003 when my Father was diagnosed with cancer and I put another 10k on it over the next few months as it was a round trip of 100 miles to see him then use it as a a removal 'van' when we cleared the house.

I fell heir to his car, an N reg 1.6 Ford Escort Ghia with 21k on the clock (he only used it to get his weekly shopping plus a few other short trips!). My partner was looking for a runabout so she took the Astra (or Asterix as she called it) and I took the Ford.  OK 40 mpg if you were lucky in Urban driving but after a few years it developed elecrtrical faults which meant the battery would go flat overnight, or even if you left it sitting for 30/40 mins while shopping (yes, I went through around 3 new batteries before I found out if was the car!). Also it got the the stage you couldn't start it without strapping a booster pack across the battery then when you turned off the ignition the engine would keep running, even with the key in my hand!

Astrix keep plodding until last summer when he failed the MOT due to corrosion on vital areas of the bodywork.

118k on the clock, one major breakdown, engine still good.

I now have an '05' 1 litre Corsa - no problems apart from a recent water leak which floods the rear passenger footwell! Probably just a seal so my local garage should sort it. 45 to 50 mpg on local trips, around 55 plus on longer journeys.

The 'other half' bought a Vauxhall Agila in the Summer last year, seems a good car so far.

My vote would be Vauxhall...