Favourite brand of affordable car?

Whenever you watch top gear they always show you cars that the average person can't afford. I was just wondering what people's own preferences were for their own cars/use. I own a Toyota as I always feel they're reliable although not that stylish but I wouldn't mind changing it for a BMW three series or Audi A5. But I've never been to keen in buying Peugot's renaults or Mercedes for some reason. Which car brand has the best image/cars/range?

Mini coopers are relatively cheap but seem to be held in high regard.

The mrs has got a fiat 500 which is a pretty cool car, maybe a little girly.

I don't have a car as I've no need for one, but if my circumstances change I'd like an Audi a5 or a BMW 5 series. Only problem with these cars is that they are common so you need to get a nicely spec'd one to stand out.

I prefer my bike anyway, it's faster than cars in rush hour.

I have a VW Golf Estate and I would recommend it to everyone. Great car.

Mini Coopers are expensive for what you get.

Fiat 500 is a great little car, particularly if you get the Abarth.

But, if you are actually asking about 'affordable' rather than just 'whats your favourite car brand' then Kia has got to be in with a shout. Couple of people I've known own one have always raved about them, can get them really highly spec'd for the price of a base model of comparable car from the major brands. Badge holds zero status, but if that isn't your issue then they're the way to go.

I have a Chrysler Grand Voyager and can wholeheartedly recommend it. Particularly if you enjoy cars that have the turning circle of a cruise-liner, the acceleration of Neil Ruddock and the fuel consumption of a F-15 fighter jet. If those are the aspects of a car that you are looking for, then go get one.

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:I have a Chrysler Grand Voyager and can wholeheartedly recommend it.  Particularly if you enjoy cars that have the turning circle of a cruise-liner, the acceleration of Neil Ruddock and the fuel consumption of a F-15 fighter jet.  If those are the aspects of a car that you are looking for, then go get one.

 Are you being sarcastic at all Tino?

ps - How's that Culture Cup coming along?????

The Womble wrote:

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:I have a Chrysler Grand Voyager and can wholeheartedly recommend it.  Particularly if you enjoy cars that have the turning circle of a cruise-liner, the acceleration of Neil Ruddock and the fuel consumption of a F-15 fighter jet.  If those are the aspects of a car that you are looking for, then go get one.

 Are you being sarcastic at all Tino?

ps - How's that Culture Cup coming along?????

Slightly pal, slightly! I do have 4 kids though so it serves a purpose. Although I have another one due in February so I may have to upscale to a Greyhound coach.

I have cleared my PM box, got some questions lined up and made a spreadsheet to keep the score. I am going to send out first two questions shortly.

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

The Womble wrote:

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:I have a Chrysler Grand Voyager and can wholeheartedly recommend it.  Particularly if you enjoy cars that have the turning circle of a cruise-liner, the acceleration of Neil Ruddock and the fuel consumption of a F-15 fighter jet.  If those are the aspects of a car that you are looking for, then go get one.

 Are you being sarcastic at all Tino?

ps - How's that Culture Cup coming along?????

Slightly pal, slightly!  I do have 4 kids though so it serves a purpose.  Although I have another one due in February so I may have to upscale to a Greyhound coach.

I have cleared my PM box, got some questions lined up and made a spreadsheet to keep the score.  I am going to send out first two questions shortly.

Blimey, and I thought it was tough with 1!!! We have another due in April but I don't think we will need the coach just yet.

The Womble wrote:

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:I have a Chrysler Grand Voyager and can wholeheartedly recommend it.  Particularly if you enjoy cars that have the turning circle of a cruise-liner, the acceleration of Neil Ruddock and the fuel consumption of a F-15 fighter jet.  If those are the aspects of a car that you are looking for, then go get one.

 Are you being sarcastic at all Tino?

ps - How's that Culture Cup coming along?????

It's not........

TopHat24/7 wrote:

The Womble wrote:

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:I have a Chrysler Grand Voyager and can wholeheartedly recommend it.  Particularly if you enjoy cars that have the turning circle of a cruise-liner, the acceleration of Neil Ruddock and the fuel consumption of a F-15 fighter jet.  If those are the aspects of a car that you are looking for, then go get one.

 Are you being sarcastic at all Tino?

ps - How's that Culture Cup coming along?????

It's not........

Bite me, TopHat.

 

sikhlion wrote:Whenever you watch top gear they always show you cars that the average person can't afford.

This is why I don't watch it any more. It was great when it was just a half-hour show reviewing cars the viewer could actually buy. Now it's just three blokes having jollies at the licence fee-payers' expense.

Anway, my first car was a purple P-reg Nissan Micra. It wasn't a desirable car at all, but it was cool in its own way and the only time it ever let me down was when I was on holiday and my dad started it, moved it a few metres and turned it off again. When I got home, it wouldn't start - something to do with the spark plugs being damp or something. Other than that, it started first time every time and got me through a couple of bad winters with no problems at all.

The other week I bought a V-reg Ford Cougar. I'm not sure how desirable that is either, but it does everything I need, has everything I need, and the boot is huge for a coupe - plus the rear seats fold down. If I'd looked at an Audi or a Beemer of a similar age, mileage and spec I'd have had to pay quite a bit more, and there are just so many of them on the road. I like the fact that I'm driving a car you don't see that often. Plus being a Ford it'll be reliable (fingers crossed!) which is the absolute main thing I want from a car.

I have two... Both gifts. My uncle gave me his 2009 BMW 320i as a gift five months ago & my dad bought me a 2012 Ford Focus for my 18th. Dont normally use the Beemer, as despite the claims, fuel consumption is a b!tch. The Focus drives like a dream in any case, though I want to trade it in fr the 2008 ST model, which is my favourite car.

Anyone own a Kia? The Optima seems like a dream on a budget.

Some of the newer Kias look awesome. Also, their adverts make a big play of how Kia drivers' testimonies sell their cars for them. If you were getting complaints about the cars you made, you wouldn't put out an ad like that.

I like the way Skoda go about advertising themselves. They just point quietly to the awards their cars have won and let the buyer decide if they want to be a badge snob or not. The Skoda Citigo is a Volkswagen Up in all but name and it's cheaper, so why would you buy the VW?

Owning a Kia is probably a bit like going out with a practical woman. Everything you need to happen will happen, all very routine and slightly boring.

I do like the look of the new Kia's, as well as the Citroen DS range and the new Skoda Octavia VRS is very cool-looking IMO.

Of the cars I've driven, which include a range of Fords, Vauxhalls and Hondas, the one I've enjoyed most was a 2008 Honda Civic. Good performance, pretty comfortable (though the suspension was a little hard on rough roads), decent space for a car that size and good mileage, given the engine (2 litre turbodiesel) - averaged over 45mpg in the 4 years I had it. Plus absolutely nothing went wrong with it...

Also made a few trips in a company Toyota Prius but the less said about that, the better...