Two Faced

[Clivey]

OK: Imagine you have a family of four and associated luggage etc. that you want to be able to ferry in comfort with 40+ mpg economy, BUT you also want a car that'll be entertaining on the right road. Will it be:

Alfa-Romeo 159 1.9JDTM Turismo 4-door
Technical Specifications: http://www.alfaromeo.co.uk/cgi-bin/p...y=831403640000

Notable Features: Cruise Control, Climate Control, Single CD-Player with radio controls on steering wheel, "Alfatex" upholstery, Chilled armrest compartment, Turbo pressure gauge, 16" alloy wheels, Trip Computer, 6-speed manual gearbox, Saloon bodystyle

Honda Accord 2.2 i-CDTi Sport 4-door
Technical Specifications: http://www.honda.co.uk/car

Notable Features:

Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi (150BHP) Elite 5-door
Technical Specifications: http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/vx/configu...TechnicalSpecs

Notable Features: Leather upholstery with heated front seats, Satellite Navigation with dashboard mounted CD-changer, Climate Control, 17" alloy wheels, Trip Computer, 60/40 Split rear seats with "load through" facility, 6-speed manual gearbox, Hatchback bodystyle

Volkswagen Passat 2.0TDi SE 4-door
Technical Specifications: http://www.vw.co.uk/new_cars/passat_...engine_id=1205

Notable Features: Electrically adjustable driver's seat, Velour upholstery with "load through" facility, Single CD-Player with MP3 compatability, Rear air vents, Semi-automatic Air Conditioning, 16" alloy wheels, Trip Computer, Automatic Handbrake, 6-speed manual gearbox, Saloon bodystyle

[IBrake4Rainbows]

......Entertaining? out of that lot?

Gotta be the Alfa. if only for the sheer beauty of the thing.

[jediali]

The Alfa ranks way ahead in driver appeal both on the road and as a soulful car, but its pricey. The honda is the best package in my opinion as a family car..but wheres the new mondeo! It really is a fantastic car apparetly.

Why these four?, the way i see it:

- family D segment = mondeo, passat, vectra, primera,..
- compact executive = 3 series, C calss, X-type, IS, 159...

[Clivey]

The Alfa ranks way ahead in driver appeal both on the road and as a soulful car, but its pricey. The honda is the best package in my opinion as a family car..but wheres the new mondeo! It really is a fantastic car apparetly.

Why these four?, the way i see it:

- family D segment = mondeo, passat, vectra, primera,..
- compact executive = 3 series, C calss, X-type, IS, 159...

Good question, and one I would have asked. The answer comes in this form:

I'm looking to buy used in about 6 months' time. At the current rates of depreciation, these four cars will all cost less than £13k with less than 20k miles on the clock.

The new Mondeo's only just been launched, so it hasn't had the chance to depreciate yet, and I don't like the previous generation version at all (I travel in one as a taxi most days, so I know what it's like)

[jediali]

Good question, and one I would have asked. The answer comes in this form:

I'm looking to buy used in about 6 months' time. At the current rates of depreciation, these four cars will all cost less than £13k with less than 20k miles on the clock.

The new Mondeo's only just been launched, so it hasn't had the chance to depreciate yet, and I don't like the previous generation version at all (I travel in one as a taxi most days, so I know what it's like)

i see, good point, i would say the accord still. But what about..

family of four

Is there anything you need to get of your chest or is this wishful thinking

EDIT: I am in a similar situation myself. Hoping to get my first career job soon and hence a better car. But i'm not thinking 4 door, more driver orientated coupe/roadster options insurance allowing. I will probably ask opinions on my options in due time.

[Clivey]

Is there anything you need to get of your chest or is this wishful thinking

Lol. OK, basically with my Dad being a driving instructor, he has a Mini One D for his instruction car, Mum has another that's also a stand-in for Dad's incase anything goes wrong. This leaves me with the "biggest" car in the family - currently a Vauxhall Corsa 3-door...that's a Corsa for family of four...See the problem?

[cmcpokey]

EDIT: I am in a similar situation myself. Hoping to get my first career job soon and hence a better car. But i'm not thinking 4 door, more driver orientated coupe/roadster options insurance allowing. I will probably ask opinions on my options in due time.

i would recommend a mini for that.. that was my position, and it has sufficed beautifully.

to the question at hand, it would be the alfa hands down. so so pretty.

[Cotterik]

considering the fact that having 3 more people in the car pretty much kills any of the performance the cars originally had

I'd have to go with the alfa. The other 3 cars would fit well in a dull urban driveway. But the Alfa puts a real smile on anyones face. Its beauty is worth the money if anything.

[Clivey]

considering the fact that having 3 more people in the car pretty much kills any of the performance the cars originally had

I'd have to go with the alfa. The other 3 cars would fit well in a dull urban driveway. But the Alfa puts a real smile on anyones face. Its beauty is worth the money if anything.

Luckily I won't have to carry the rest of the family all the time, then ...believe it or not, it's the Vectra that's actually the fastest car here in a straight line!

[jediali]

Your the only car enthusiast i know that favours the vectra. no offence intended but the 2 key reasons its bought is keen pricing and fleet deals...not driving fun. If i had to get a vectra but didn't want the image asscociated with it i'd get a 9-3.

[Clivey]

Your the only car enthusiast i know that favours the vectra. no offence intended but the 2 key reasons its bought is keen pricing and fleet deals...not driving fun. If i had to get a vectra but didn't want the image asscociated with it i'd get a 9-3.

If I "favour" the Vectra, why have I made this thread and poll? Notice also that I haven't voted. I think it's a good car, that's all - just like the other "contenders" here...

...if I wanted a Vectra and didn't want the image associated with it, I'd get a 159 . Same chassis and engine.

[Ferrer]

If I "favour" the Vectra, why have I made this thread and poll? Notice also that I haven't voted. I think it's a good car, that's all - just like the other "contenders" here...

...if I wanted a Vectra and didn't want the image associated with it, I'd get a 159 . Same chassis and engine.

Yes on the same engine, no on the same chasis. 159 uses the Premium platform and Vectra the Epsilon.

[jediali]

Yes on the same engine, no on the same chasis. 159 uses the Premium platform and Vectra the Epsilon.

1) good to hear from you after what seems a short break

2) thanks for backing me up on something i didn't know

[Ferrer]

1) good to hear from you after what seems a short break

2) thanks for backing me up on something i didn't know

Thanks for the welcome, I needed a break...

Basically the Premium platform was going to be used by GM (Saab) as well, as it was developped jointly in the period when Fiat and GM were allied. It was first going to be a longitudinal rear wheel drive platform, but Saab insisted that it had to be front wheel drive. Even so it's said that Premium is logitudinal engine capable.

But in the end GM (Saab) pulled out because it was getting to expensive to develop and produce and with the Fiat-GM split Alfa Romeo was left with pretty much what was a bespoke platfomr for them.

On the other hand the 9-3 has the Epsilon platform, which means is based on the Vectra, as does the Fiat Croma. All bear Fiat-developped diesels, but only the Croma has the 200bhp 5-cylinder, and the Saab has recently introduced a 180bhp twin turbo 4 cylinder, which in the Fiat Group will be premiered by the Lancia Delta, but with 190bhp.

[my porsche]

Well I think they are all going to be awfully boring to drive, so I'll go on looks, which in this case goes to the Honda with big grey wheels.