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Should I buy a Giulietta?
Hi I will be buying a car at the end of the year. My last two cars have been Hyundai i30s I'm off the road for a year due to epilepsy. I have a 2& half hour round trip to work. We have 2kids ( 12, 10 ) Was just reading up on a few cars. So here is the list of cars I am thinking about which one would you think? 1. Ford Focus I never really was a ford lover however was impressed by the reviews also some of my friends have spoken very highly about them. 2. Alfa Romeo because I am off the road I would like something different & special. I like the look of the Giuiletta it's a fab sport looking car. 3. Audi A1 this again looks a lovely car reviews read good. I am looking for a 1.6 diesel with good bhp and very economical to run 4. Citroen DS3 I like the shape and the look of this again however because we have two kids I would 5door. I don't know how reliable this make of car is. 5. Opel Astra yet again a car maker I don't know much about. Are the parts expensive? Do they feel strong & solid another feature I would like to have in my new second hand car. 6. Hyundai i30 better the devil you know it doesn't excite me any more. I know it's a good solid performer and very good on fuel. So I am just looking for expert opinion on each of the above cars. If you could put them in order that you would buy them. Cheers thanks
Our answer:
Hi Ger,
Well, first off let me wish you all the best with your recovery and I hope you're back on the road soon. As for your car choices...
The i30 is, as you say, the safe choice - sensible, reliable, long warranty and you know what you're getting into. As you also say, not exciting. Let's keep that one in reserve, just in case you feel like having a safe fall-back.
The Focus is a good choice. They're well made, reliable, comfortable and really, really good to drive. The new 1.5 TDCi diesel is really good but the only potential problem is the cabin space - the rear seat might be a bit tight for those growing kids.
For reasons of space I'm going to count out the DS 3 and Audi A1 too. Lovely cars both but too small if you've got stretchy-limbed kids to put in the back.
The Astra is a really good option. The latest model is really well built and fantastic to drive, has lots of space and the only potential shortcoming is the fact that the fuel tank is small so with that two-and-a-half-hour round trip, you're going to be refuelling a lot.
Which brings us to the Alfa Romeo. First off, they really are reliable cars these days, at least on a par with the likes of Ford and Opel, so you can put that worry out of your mind. There's good space in the back and boot, the cabin has been improved in the past couple of years and both the 1.6 and 2.0 diesel engines are punchy and frugal. I think if you want to treat yourself to something really memorable, something you'll look at on the driveway and remember how gorgeous it is, then go for the Alfa. It's not quite as good to drive as the Ford or the Opel, but it's got bundles more character.
So I'd say go for it, and keep the Astra and the i30 as safe options in reserve if you get cold feet.
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