We need to replace our yaris 1.3 SR. It has been totally reliable and delivers 40mpg in the city.

It will do around 8k per annum, an our requirements are:

4 or 5 doors
At least 30+mpg
Less than 80k
Must have FSH
2005 onwards
Ideally not something you see everyday eg BMW 320d.
Something "fun" and / or "sporty"

The short list is fronted by:

Alfa 159 (2.2 petrol or either diesel)

Followed by:

Fiat Bravo Sport (150 petrol or diesel)
Focus ST
VW Golf GT (170bhp 1.4 petrol or 2.0 diesel)
Seat Leon FR (petrol or diesel)
Honda Accord or Civic 2.2 diesel

What are your thoughts on the list?

Can you think of anything else?

Seat Leon 2.0 TDI FR

They still look modern and they look nice. They're 170bhp so nippy in standard form but they respond very well to a remap (230bhp I think) so quick and still economical. There is also a 2.0ltr petrol Leon FR which shares the same engine as the Golf GTI but judging by your requirements I thought the TDI made more sense.

Excellent idea. Added to the short list!

What's wrong with the Yaris

Mazda6 MPS. I reckon they're great cars if you can tolerate the 4 pot noise and silly short gearing. Not sure on the mpg, but it's got to be better than a Focus ST...

Nothing but it's too small, a family is looming! If we kept it the coupe would be the "family" car!

MPS is not a bad shout, off to check their facts and figures.

Ok the maza is out for two reasons firstly unless we find a car registered in the first 2 months of production it's in the £445 tax bracket, and secondly the wife doesn't like the look of it. To be honest the second point has a greater weight than the first!

It's the Alfa in the lead followed by bravo and golf / Leon. I think the focus will get dumped as its be the most expensive to run of the choices of far.

Keep them coming though!

Honda Accords are always a good bet for a family runabout.

Little bit over on the mileage though!

Leon FR tdi has injector issues - SEAT will replace them for free only if they go but when they do you lose all power and it tends to be on the motorway...

Also particularly susceptible to DPF issues if usex on short journeys. I wouldnt buy another unless it was the later revised engine (2009).

Yep that one got the nod, cheers Phil. I'd missed the civic as well.

Thanks for the info on the Leon Jim, I'd not heard of those injector problems.

If we buy a diesel I think the dpf could be an issue!

So get the petrol! I have the later 210PS 2.0TSI, but in a different VAG. The earlier one might not be quite as good, but it comfortably gets 30+ mpg for me.

My biggest problem with the Leon is the interior. It's a bit Marmite.

The original petrol FR is a good shout if you don't need the economy. They're quite a bit cheaper than a Golf GTI with the same (197 bhp) engine and still look good.

I was expecting to hate the interior but I actually found it really nice, comfortable and functional despite the lack of style.