Ok, I have the coupe as a weekend car/I use it for work 1or 2days per week, we have a passat b6 tdi140 as a family car (the mrs uses it for the schoolrrun etc) and I'm looking for something to use everyday.

Criteria for the new car as follows

10k budget max, though 8 would be ideal.

Must have reasonable economy as I commute 40miles every day plus I travel for work regularly too.

Has to be quick enough to put a smile on my face.

So far me & the mrs have come up with

Alfa giulietta 1.6-2.0 diesel.
Punto 1.6 diesel 120bhp

Open to suggestions.

You're looking at a car to do 120 miles per week in?
That's only about £24 even in a petrol car.

The depreciation on a £10k car will be much much higher, so I'd suggest you get the diesel thing out of your head and buy something you really want.

A TVR would do it for me, and it wouldn't depreciate.

would you really spend 10k on a punto ? and as much as i like the look of the Giulietta there not reported to be the most reliable cars on the planet,

how bout something along the lines of fiat 500 abarth or Porsche boxter or honda s2000 or even something nice and relaxing like a cheap volvo s60 d5 , or even a audi a5 , mixed bag i know but so much choice

It'd be used 3-4 days a week by myself for work, but I travel to other sites most weeks too (in Dorset and Shropshire) so likely to be covering 300-500 miles a week.

Whatever I buy will need to seat 5 people, as I have 2 kids and a third on the way.

The mrs has always fancied a convertible but they're all 4 seats at best.

I wouldn't spend 10k on a punto. The thinking behind that was to spend 6k on a 59reg, and then buy a ducati 999 with the change

8K and it's yours > CLICK ME

Plus, there is the estate version for a growing family

Nice shout Phil.

Although I know someone with a 54 plate 150bhp one of these for substantially less which is largely the same car cosmetically both inside and out, add a tuning box and you'll see 180bhp.

How about a chipped Multipla Joe?

Alfa gt 1.9 jtdm 16v cloverleaf?

170bhp

150bhp.

But if you insist on spending your 8-10k, well here's two:

Skoda Octavia VRS CR 170, again which can be had in estate form, and for most of the £10k budget if you exclude this dealers significant margin - see this:

VRS CR Linky

Seat Leon FR Tdi 170 - in all manner of lairy colours, such as this which is easily doable around the £9k mark

Leon FR Tdi linky

Both can be tweaked to around 200 readily enough.

Joe, talk to me...

Or, be the 'lord of the manor' with this > wafting along

I am not, nor will ever be, a fan of any Lexus. This one sits right at the top of the vulgarity tree!

Pipe down now Jeeves!

The lexus is bloody awful.

Saab looks nice.

I'm not set on spending all my cash, on the contrary - the more Ican hold on to the better.

I was thinking about just running the coupe every day Illivedriving it and iit'snot bad on juice. Winter would dissolve it though, and I don't have time in the morning to be arsing around with frozen locks, handbrakes, door seals.

This could be an option? Click

The vrs is nice, but too much money. 10k us absolute top limit.

Hence the talk to me request - I could find one in your budget?

Loving the Lada Phil, stunning!

Spend less...maybe a alfa 147 jtdm.. We have an early one and its fantastic.

I'd missed that bit, may drop you a Pm next weekend. I won't be actually shopping for another week or so.

You are bloody miles away though aren't you Dan?

That can easily be accommodated Joe! Fire me a Pm when you are shopping