As Oldtoffee, and whatever you do avoid automated manual or twin clutch gearboxes if you want a nice drive and a long trouble free and costs effective life from your car.

I tend to agree with the others. With your mileage you should go for a petrol engined model with a full automatic. Also agree that in general use 41 mpg seems very unlikely. What is your current Toyota? I could see a Starlet doing 41 mpg or more on a long run but not in general day to day running. I would choose the Focus over the Astra as in MHO Ford quality has gone up and Vauxhall’s down in the past decade.

Thanks for all the replys.

I tend to agree with the others. With your mileage you should go for a petrol engined model with a full automatic. Also agree that in general use 41 mpg seems very unlikely. What is your current Toyota?

Its a Carina hatchback, actually 16 years old, 41 mpg according to parkers, don't know what it actually does in real life. I'm surprised that 16 years on, (quoted) mpg hasn't gone up at all.

So the general consensus seems to be to stick to (smallish?) petrols. Take the ford focus as an example, in good condition, would consensus be to look for a higher mileage (eg 50000) newer example or much lower mileage, maybe 4-5 years old?

Also been looking at hybrids, prius/civic, obviously have higher mpg and lower tax, are they worth going for?

Edited by carbon on 09/08/2013 at 14:01

A Toyota Prius - auto and bulletproof reliability and cheap or no tax - seems ideal..Ideal for city driving. And cheap to service...

Edited by madf on 09/08/2013 at 16:33

Looking at a 09 civic hybrid for £8k, 30k miles. Any issues with these that should be known about?

Only the amazingly ignorant comments you'll receive from Clarksons disciples and other fatheads, recent post on another forum puts cost of new Hybrid batteries @ £10k @ 6 to 10 years..;)

Enjoy it.

I haven't tried a Civic hybrid, but the road tests say they're quite slow. A Prius would be livelier although you don't buy hybrids for outright acceleration!

I point you to the 2011 film 'Horrible Bosses', a badly-titled yet amusing movie:

Detective Hagan: Do you want to explain why you were doing 61 in a 25 zone? One block from the victims house. Just moments after he got shot dead.

Nick Hendricks: I was drag racing. I'm a drag racer.

Detective Samson: You were drag racing.

Nick Hendricks: [nods]

Detective Samson: In a Prius.

Nick Hendricks: I don't win a lot.

Edited by Bobbin Threadbare on 14/08/2013 at 15:50

Is that true or are you joking? Would the batteries need replacing, if so, I guess that would be quite expensive.

Yes i was being a little sarcastic, hence the smiley.

I suppose eventually the batteries could need replacing, but you've got more chance of finding Lord Lucan than someone who's had to fork out for a set, many of these cars are in taxi use now and covering colossal mileages with no problems.

It would appear that if you ever needed a reconditioned set they would cost about the same as a clutch on a modern car.

What smiley? I can't see one!

''Hybrid batteries @ £10k @ 6 to 10 years..;)''

note the ;)

...--:))))

No reply, but the answer is obviously "Yes". I'm glad I asked though, because I would never have guessed. All this time, I thought I was reading messages from PC or mobile phone users with poor keyboard skills!

Sorry, GB. You play such a big part on here it's hard to imagine that you can do a job as well.

I'm not offended by your text speak - I just didn't understand it. As I say, yesterday I did learn something new.