After my rantings and ravings about how great my R32 was, I'm now going to the other extreme and almost certainly getting... A new Vauxhall Astra Estate 1.9CDTi (150PS) Design (a few posh bits in it) Wife and I like the look of them, are unimpressed with Audi and VWs latest offerings (apart from the top of the range stuff) at nuts prices, hired one a while back and thought it was very good and have found one with over 3k off list. We need a workhorse for a couple of years whilst setting up our business and spending well over 20k on a Passat (well made but pants handling) seems daft. I'll return when I get another fast VeeDub or Audi in a little while (aiming for a mk5 R32/36)!
GTiWale - Most powerful Focus (I've tried them) is a 143bhp 2.0 petrol or 134bhp diesel. Like them but need a wee bit more poke. The Astras in gear times (0-60 in about 8.5 - Not too shabby) are also very good indeed. Until the new ST comes along, Astras are the quicker option - I'm not interested in status any more.
Diesel's are the way forward. And you are right, you'd probably pay an extra 3 grand to get a VW of the same spec as the astra. New VW prices are terrible for what they are.
Capn - Agree. It's quite refreshing to look out of the VW/Audi bubble I've been in since I've been driving and realise there are some good cars out there for a shed load less which handle better and are as well built. Also found the Vauxhall service superb, unlike VW and Audi. I'll get another VW/Audi soonish but not until I can fully justify a really pokey number.
I reckon you cant beat an astra estate as a workhorse, unless you need a bigger car then an E class estate. You'll never actually like either but you cant kill them with regular abuse, they're dirt cheap, anonymous, you can get bits anywhere always sell second hand. With the saving you could get a nice Mk1 golf now while they are cheap....
Bought one. Brand spanker, 3.5K off list but got a Design (lots of toys and we'd have to wait over 10 weeks for an SRi!) with sight and light pack. Silver lightning (grey/silver), Estate, 1.9CDTi 150PS. Not thrilling but I think it'll do the trick for a while!
Are you sure?! My brother had a focus estate as a courtesy car recently, and emailed me this: Piccy - check the quality sometimes you get what you pay for.
Just like you all to know I will NOT be wittering on about how good my mpg is, yet still ebing convinced I can race anything! I will accept my dullness and save up for an RS6/M5/Evil machine.
