Looking to buy my first car for a decade. I'm looking for something small enough to park easily, robust, non-plasticky interior, economical, reliable, comfortable for long trips - and I'm thinking that a Polo fits the requirements, albeit at a price. Specifically I'm looking at the super economical one -Blue emotion or whatever it's called.
Anyone got a better idea?
Fabia or whatever the same in Seat is ?
Polo is not that much smaller than a Golf. We've got a 1.6 Bluemotion that can be very economical if you want it to be. Get a Match spec and it's fully loaded with toys.
I picked it up from Glasgow and drove straight down to Chester - it was a lot easier/comfortable than I expected.
MPG in excess of 60 is easy given the right sort of journey (i.e. not country lanes where even then it's easy to do over 50mpg).
I was in a similar situation, I had a Tiguan but needed to change it. I test drove the 1.2 Diesal Polo Bluemotion,, lovely car but the fourth gear was too high thus I was forever changing down to third. I decided to buy the 1.4 GT Blue - it has a 1.4 turbo charged petrol engine. The GT Blue has an active engine management system so if you are cruising it runs on two cylinders. I was tempted by the manufacturers mpg claims - on a run from Bakewell to Derby (down the A6) I got 65 mpg; same journey going over the hills I got 55mpg. The other benefit is the annual VED is £20 per year. Mrs W has a VW Up - really good mpg, ideal for journeys around town although a little basic
drove an oil burning polo as a hire car a few months ago. weighty old block up front combined with soft suspension didn't really inspire. felt surprisingly plasticky inside and current polos are about the same size as a mk2 golf, bordering n a mk3. the up!s i've had - 3cyl petrol i believe, have been a hoot, and feel lively and bowl along very well.
this all assumes we're taking newish.
Spearmint softmints are quite nice but they're gone too quickly.
Do you need room in the back for bikes? No? Ok then a Smart ForTwo CDi or MHD, if you do you can buy a rack for them.
(I've owned Smarts and they are Ace, I've also carried bikes in them and had a rack too)
I like the Up!
Test drove one last year when mum was buying a car and thought it would be great for her (especially with the emergency braking thingy!), although they can be a little basic. Not sure I'd want to do a regular longish trip in one though.
Mum bought a Mini in the end which was wrong for her, but whatever. She died in December (not mini related) and we now have the Mini. Looks cute and MrsSB loves it, but the fact I can't open the boot without stopping the car and pressing the button on the 'key' drives me mad!
Without reading the thread...
Lifesaver?
I like a long-sleeved tee, one of those ones with a contrasting arm colour.
Take a look at Seat too. I had an Ibiza as a hire car a while back and really liked it. I had a Leon a few years ago, very pleased with that too