Compact car showdown - which one to get

Quantum Theory said:
New V40 hatch is awesome... Pricing starts at R280k. Not bad actually.
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The Volvo V40 sounds/looks very nice, might add this one to my list as well... Maybe i'm gonna wait a bit longer for a demo/2nd hand v40 for a cheaper price. The only thing with Volvo is, is its resale value, i've seen they are very poor... but again it means i can get one for good price :D
 
The Elantra has a five year warranty and a good reliability record, which should make it cheap to run. The latest Consumer Reports long term reliability survey is out and the Ford Focus came out as one of the ten least reliable cars. This may make it more expensive in the long term, especially since one of its main party tricks is dumping gearboxes.

After driving the Ford and the Elantra back-to-back it was obvious that the Ford had better handling, while the Elantra had better driving characteristics for the normal daily travelling. It also is one of the few cars that has an auto box worth considering.

Also drove the V40. This is probably the nicest hatch to drive in this price range. It is a Ford Focus with some modifications, so there is a chance that the reliability thing may catch up with it (be careful when buying second hand). There is also the legendary Volvo trade-in value if you are buying new.

Now go out and buy a Civic.
 
Get a Chery and throw it away the day after the warranty expires. Lady down the road has one. Not bad except the brakes packed up (leaking wheel cylinders and frayed pipes) after 11 months. Very economical though - 3.9 litres/100km
 
chrisc4290 said:
Get a Chery and throw it away the day after the warranty expires. Lady down the road has one. Not bad except the brakes packed up (leaking wheel cylinders and frayed pipes) after 11 months. Very economical though - 3.9 litres/100km
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:erm: how can you recommend that??
 
franvren said:
Elantra - good performance for a 1.8l engine and good fuel economy, it's also very smooth and quite... On topcars website they managed to get 0-100 in 7.8 secs .... that's very impressive! Also nice features
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I own the automatic and saw that 0-100 in 7.8 secs as well. Must have been the manual. Still pretty fast but closer to 9.

For a 1.8 petrol it's fuel economy is great. I mentioned the other day that in heavy traffic (William Nicol and the like) I get about 9.2l / 100km. Following that I did some careful driving (not complete granny driving) and got it closer to 8.7 l / 100km. On open road you obviously get a lot more and at times the car feels quite fast!

Features in abundance. iPod (old connector), USB for radio, park assist etc. Of all these cars it is probably the best equipped.

One complaint: it's fuel tank is too small for my liking at 45l.

If the Focus had the same level spec at a price closer to the Hyundai, I would take the Diesel version with it's 60l tank.
 
garyc said:
The Elantra has a five year warranty and a good reliability record, which should make it cheap to run. The latest Consumer Reports long term reliability survey is out and the Ford Focus came out as one of the ten least reliable cars. This may make it more expensive in the long term, especially since one of its main party tricks is dumping gearboxes.

After driving the Ford and the Elantra back-to-back it was obvious that the Ford had better handling, while the Elantra had better driving characteristics for the normal daily travelling. It also is one of the few cars that has an auto box worth considering.

Also drove the V40. This is probably the nicest hatch to drive in this price range. It is a Ford Focus with some modifications, so there is a chance that the reliability thing may catch up with it (be careful when buying second hand). There is also the legendary Volvo trade-in value if you are buying new.

Now go out and buy a Civic.
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:D
 
From your list I would eliminate the Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0... Hyundai Elantra is a good looking car, I suggest you take the Hyundai, Ford and Mazda out for a test drive...

Not sure what your budget is but personally I would recommend the VW Jetta/Golf 6 TSI... economical and powerful... I drive the Golf (90kW version) I get an average return of 6.7l/100km for fuel consumption in combined driving conditions...
 
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fluent said:
From your list I would eliminate the Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0... Hyundai Elantra is a good looking car, I suggest you take the Hyundai, Ford and Mazda out for a test drive...

Not sure what your budget is but personally I would recommend the VW Jetta/Golf 6 TSI... economical and powerful... I drive the Golf (90kW version) I get an average return of 6.7l/100km for fuel consumption in combined driving conditions...
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But then he'd have a VW :erm:
 
garyc said:
The Elantra has a five year warranty and a good reliability record, which should make it cheap to run. The latest Consumer Reports long term reliability survey is out and the Ford Focus came out as one of the ten least reliable cars. This may make it more expensive in the long term, especially since one of its main party tricks is dumping gearboxes.

After driving the Ford and the Elantra back-to-back it was obvious that the Ford had better handling, while the Elantra had better driving characteristics for the normal daily travelling. It also is one of the few cars that has an auto box worth considering.

Also drove the V40. This is probably the nicest hatch to drive in this price range. It is a Ford Focus with some modifications, so there is a chance that the reliability thing may catch up with it (be careful when buying second hand). There is also the legendary Volvo trade-in value if you are buying new.

Now go out and buy a Civic.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this info!
 
chrisc4290 said:
Get a Chery and throw it away the day after the warranty expires. Lady down the road has one. Not bad except the brakes packed up (leaking wheel cylinders and frayed pipes) after 11 months. Very economical though - 3.9 litres/100km
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Lol?! Eish
 
Qwikslver said:
But then he'd have a VW :erm:
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I've never owned a VW in my life but I must say the Golf 6 for example the diesel bluemotion. Most economical most refined out of any on that list.

I would never buy it because its more expensive and everyone has one but still you shouldn't knock an amazingly good car just because you don't like it so I'd recommend it.
 
Hamster said:
I own the automatic and saw that 0-100 in 7.8 secs as well. Must have been the manual. Still pretty fast but closer to 9.

For a 1.8 petrol it's fuel economy is great. I mentioned the other day that in heavy traffic (William Nicol and the like) I get about 9.2l / 100km. Following that I did some careful driving (not complete granny driving) and got it closer to 8.7 l / 100km. On open road you obviously get a lot more and at times the car feels quite fast!

Features in abundance. iPod (old connector), USB for radio, park assist etc. Of all these cars it is probably the best equipped.

One complaint: it's fuel tank is too small for my liking at 45l.

If the Focus had the same level spec at a price closer to the Hyundai, I would take the Diesel version with it's 60l tank.
Click to expand...

I agree, if only there was a 2.0 tdi Elantra :D
 
fluent said:
From your list I would eliminate the Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0... Hyundai Elantra is a good looking car, I suggest you take the Hyundai, Ford and Mazda out for a test drive...

Not sure what your budget is but personally I would recommend the VW Jetta/Golf 6 TSI... economical and powerful... I drive the Golf (90kW version) I get an average return of 6.7l/100km for fuel consumption in combined driving conditions...
Click to expand...

Thanks for this info! I'm also throwing the Lancer away... looks like nobody really likes that car... I have test driven the Elantra and Focus (still have to do the rest)... The Elantra felt more roomier inside (but less sportier feel) than the Focus. The layout of the interior inside the Elantra looks much better set out and easier to control (I didn't like the cubby hole of the Focus) but then again i liked the looks of speedometer on the Focus more. The exterior of the Elantra also looks nicer IMO. Then it was quieter driving the Elantra on the road (engine and road noise).... So the Elantra wins here
 
Lancer! It looks so sexy and it is an excellent car. Plus it is rather unique and you do not see many of them on the road which makes it even more special.
 
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