This is just a bit of fun, but might be useful to me when I next want a car. What's the most appropriate car for a woman just past middle age to drive which I can buy in the U.K.  It might have to be secondhand as I can only spend up to about £7,500 (thats roughly $13,850 - I think - for the benefit of those in the U.S.). I don't need to drive fast and I would be using it mainly for pleasure and going shopping, etc.
I'd love to have your suggestions.
Louise

Sporty car.

Everyone needs one of them and you can usually find them at used places because the people that buy them use them for a year or until the manufacturer's warranty is up, then trade in for a new one that is more stylish.  I found a 3 year old Jaguar for under 10 k (Canadian) once.

Thank you for starting the ball rolling Tay.
Sporty car? Jag? I don't think I can imagine me driving one (LOL) and with the price of petrol (gasoline) in England plus our obsession with environmental pollution it might be a car I'd regret buying!!
Best wishes and thanks, Louise
NEXT!!!!!.......

A bicycle with a basket and a bell you can ring.

If you are looking to be eccentric, that is.

Quote from: Thundra on July 21, 2007, 01:32:25 PM
A bicycle with a basket and a bell you can ring.
If you are looking to be eccentric, that is.

On a similar theme how about a nicely restored early 60's Morris Minor 1000, or Morris Minor Traveller (estate / station-wagon with the timber framing !) .....

Citroen 2CV ....  Messerschmitt mid-50's micro car (the one I would love !) ... Issetta bubble car ... Glas Goggomobil ... early VW Beetle ?

If you're boring and sensible and "safety" is an issue, guess its a small and pretty Peugeot, or one of the small Japanese offerings from Honda or Toyota ....

If its for city use only a fairly new "Smart" is easily in your budget with 70 mpg potential.

If you need style, then it has to be a 4 year old smaller BMW ... or ultimately the Audi TT ('99 180ps models within reach) ... but forget Porsche Boxsters !

Laura x

Quote from: Thundra on July 21, 2007, 01:32:25 PM
A bicycle with a basket and a bell you can ring.

If you are looking to be eccentric, that is.

Why yes, shades of "Miss Jean Brodie" methinks. Except she was Scottish!
Louise

Posted on: July 21, 2007, 10:29:02 PM

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Quote from: Laura Eva B on July 21, 2007, 02:17:21 PM

On a similar theme how about a nicely restored early 60's Morris Minor 1000, or Morris Minor Traveller (estate / station-wagon with the timber framing !) .....

Now you're really talking Laura. That would really suit my style.

Quote from: Laura Eva B on July 21, 2007, 02:17:21 PM
If its for city use only a fairly new "Smart" is easily in your budget with 70 mpg potential.

Laura x

There's a few Smarts around here with lady drivers, and I live in a rural area....that's a positive maybe!
Thanks, Louise.

Louise, if I may be quite bold, forget for a moment what an "English Lady past middle age" SHOULD drive and what the OTHERS drive.

What do YOU want to drive?

If you could have ANY car YOU wanted, what would it be?

Quote from: Tay on July 21, 2007, 08:59:08 PM
Louise, if I may be quite bold, forget for a moment what an "English Lady past middle age" SHOULD drive and what the OTHERS drive.

What do YOU want to drive?

If you could have ANY car YOU wanted, what would it be?

Well Tay, A Mercedes convertible would be wonderful, something I'd love to have, but for the same reasons as the Jag it would be impracticable. In any case I don't want to draw attention - I'd hate to get a reputation like I'm the "transsexual with the convertible" do I?! I also liked Laura's suggestion - a Morris Minor - but as they are old fashioned it would need regular maintenance and I'm no good at that. So probably what I'd really like is something very ordinary and reliable - a Toyota Yaris springs to mind, lots of girls have them and I might just get a secondhand one with the money I have available. We'll see.
Thanks, Louise.

Umm I would get a Ford Fiesta the new one or even a Kia it depends on what car you drive now... I can help you out if you give me a bit more info.. I'm pretty clued up on cars!

Quote from: Kiera on July 22, 2007, 08:36:43 AM

Quote from: Jaston on July 22, 2007, 06:37:36 AM
Umm I would get a Ford Fiesta the new one or even a Kia  . . .

Yuck Jaston! We've got a 2005 Ford Focus I'm trying to talk the SO into getting

RID OF!

Very little miles, 11g US too much? (transatlantic shipping included! )

Sinclair C5

Go-on...

Quote from: Pica Pica on July 22, 2007, 05:00:55 PM
Sinclair C5

Go-on...

I'll have to check but I think we've already got one in the cupboard under the stairs....no, sorry, it's a Sebo,
Louise

You can pick up a 2004 Ford Mustang for under $10,000. And that is power locks, V-6 that gets almost 30 miles per gallon, yet still has a lot of power, power windows, automatic transmission, cd player, A/C, power steering, power brakes, visor mirrors, sport wheels, rear spoiler and fairly cheap to insure. Plus they don't break down much and don't cost a lot to have worked on. And if all that were not enough, most seem to be driven by middle age women.

Love always,
Elizabeth

Id go for a saxo 5 door
if you want a more sporty look the 3 door

the saxo is a great little car and is quite fast for its size and engine  defo worth a look

Quote from: lighting on July 23, 2007, 06:49:59 AM
Id go for a saxo 5 door
if you want a more sporty look the 3 door

the saxo is a great little car and is quite fast for its size and engine  defo worth a look

And they are quite cheap (er...I mean good value) too. I don't need fast though, we haven't got a motorway for miles round here, mostly winding country lanes with a few single carriageway A-roads, not much scope for getting up speed. Come to think of it most of the drivers are old women like me - you know the sort, the ones that don't bother to signal until they are actually making the turn! Always lots of cushions and a huge handbag on the passenger seat. And they always seem to have a dog in the car. And they listen to The Archers on Radio 4.
Yes, that's me (except for the dog that is)!
Thanks for your suggestion, Louise

If it were me, I'd probably get a Moris Minor.  Or an MG B.  Maybe something bigger like a Ford Prefect.  Definitely not a "black Maria."

My cars at the moment are an old 14 year old BMW M3 covertable for the summer and an Audi S6 for the winter.......

Quote from: Berliegh on August 14, 2007, 03:44:52 AM
My cars at the moment are an old 14 year old BMW M3 covertable for the summer and an Audi S6 for the winter.......

The BMW looks great and you probably look perfectly femme behind the wheel! A bit too expensive for me to run though.
Now let's see your Audi. Oh go on!
Louise

FAB 1.

I just bought a 07 Saturn/ion. It was 14,000 and I like it. I also have,which my wife drives is an 05 Toyota camry, with everything on it. Leather seats everything. We paid 20,000 for that one. Nothing fast, just cars to go around town in and we take the toy on vacations, nicer ride.
Sheila