Looking to buy a car

[alkit]

Hi,
I'm going to be looking into buying a car.
I have around R80 000 to spend.
I'm looking for a hatchback, sporty guy's car.
I have R80 000 to spend. Most important are the safety features (airbags, ABS, remote locking etc), and then fuel economy/servicing/insurance must be reasonably priced. Lastly, I'd like it to also be quick on the initial pull-off so that I can turn into road/cross stop streets without having to wait hours.

So far I've tried a 2005 1.6 Corsa and I LOVED the drive. I had to reject it because it had no ABS brakes, which is an absolute must for me.
I also tried the 2005 Renault Clio 1.4 vavavoom, and hated every second of that drive.

So for R80 000, what would you recommend?

PS- I see the new shape corsa 1.3 DCTI has been discontinued, why?
Also, would you recommend it? I know it is a bit out my pricerange, but it's got great safety features and is so cheap on fuel! But will it move with a 1.3 engine?

 

[adamr]

a polo hatch 1.4 round lights

 

[xrapidx]

Or a golf 4 GTI - or TDI.

 

[fxit_man]

New or used?

Oh i only saw the 2005 now..

Not sure if these have ABS or not:

Ford Fiesta 2007 1.6 - http://search.autotrader.co.za/www/...t=5&SUBMIT.x=34&SUBMIT.y=3&id=200932186012732 But watch out.. that seems awfully cheap for such low mileage

Alfa 147 1.9JTD - http://search.autotrader.co.za/www/...=5&SUBMIT.x=46&SUBMIT.y=12&id=200932186011821

Audi A3 1.8T (turbo) - http://search.autotrader.co.za/www/...urce=&county=3&sort=5&SUBMIT.x=14&SUBMIT.y=14

BMW 318ti : http://search.autotrader.co.za/www/...ource=&county=3&sort=5&SUBMIT.x=34&SUBMIT.y=1

 

[alkit]

yeh, but I was told that insurance on golfs/polos is very expensive, to the point where some insurance companies won't even insure them. So not worth having a VW if I need to pay tons every month extra to insure it

 

[Fazda]

yeh, but I was told that insurance on golfs/polos is very expensive, to the point where some insurance companies won't even insure them. So not worth having a VW if I need to pay tons every month extra to insure it

Whoever told you that is smoking their socks or heard it from a mate who was smoking socks at the time!!

I have NEVER had to pay a bigger premium on any of my VW's, and I have always had one in the garage!!

You might be charged extra on a GTi because of the perfomance story, but that is it. You can get a beautiful TDi (2002/2003) for that sort of price.

 

[alkit]

New or used?

Oh i only saw the 2005 now..

Not sure if these have ABS or not:

Ford Fiesta 2007 1.6 - http://search.autotrader.co.za/www/...t=5&SUBMIT.x=34&SUBMIT.y=3&id=200932186012732 But watch out.. that seems awfully cheap for such low mileage

Alfa 147 1.9JTD - http://search.autotrader.co.za/www/...=5&SUBMIT.x=46&SUBMIT.y=12&id=200932186011821

Audi A3 1.8T (turbo) - http://search.autotrader.co.za/www/...urce=&county=3&sort=5&SUBMIT.x=14&SUBMIT.y=14

BMW 318ti : http://search.autotrader.co.za/www/...ource=&county=3&sort=5&SUBMIT.x=34&SUBMIT.y=1

THANKS!

I can't get BMW or Audi as I know that parts/servicing costs fortunes.

What does it cost to service and Alfa Romeo?

 

[hyperian]

I'm also looking for something like that.

Also check out the astra mk4 - they stopped making them in early 2005 i think. The astra hatch looks really awesome, and comes with 4 airbags, impact tensioning seat belts, abs, side impact bars, power steering, electric everything etc. The older astras of the same shape (before 2003 i think) only came with dual air bags instead of the 4. The 1.8 produces a decent amount of power and is also relatively economical too I think it got 4/5 stars in the euro ncap rating.