In about 2-3 months my wife wants to purchase a new car to replace her extremely reliable 1992 Daihatsu Charade TD which she has owned since new.
Two cars are currently on her list:
VW Polo 1.2 S 5 door
Toyota Corolla 1.4 T2 5 door
Both are approximately £11,300 (you have to add about £1000 to the Polo to bring it up to the spec of the Corolla)
We have driven the Polo and are impressed with the build and the drive of it. However, the 3 cylinder engine did sound slightly course.
We have sat in the Corolla and we are very impressed with the layout and the overall build quality, but we have yet to find a garage who have a 1.4 to test drive.
We intend to keep the car for approx. 5-8 years.
My heart says the Polo, but my head says go for the Corolla!!!
If anybody has any views, they would be very welcome.
Perhaps you may have another suggestion - our criteria is as follows:-
5 door small hatch
Safe
Reliable
Good residuals
Approximately £11,000
Thanks
Jason
PS - Do you think the VW Golf 1.6 S is worth an extra £1000 at £12,190
If you're going to keep it that long, then I'd say the Corolla is the best. It's unlikely to ever break down, and friends I know who have Toyotas swear by them, especially the service they get from the dealers.
And I would have thought that the Corolla was in the same class as a Golf.
If that is the case, then you are really saving a great deal with a Toyota model - compared to the eqivalent VW model with extras to make up the same equipment levels.
If you really want the Polo, then remember that the Skoda Fabia is virtually the same as the new Polo. It has had the benefit of a few years experience to iron out any problems, and has won the What Car Best Small Car awards for two years. I would choose the Fabia.
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