Talk about having your cake and eating it.
Mind you the DS3 is a pretty tidy little car too.
Be sure to check out 'What Car' reviews. Good site, helpful reviews, unlike say, Top Gear, they review things people give a **** about.
Citreon DS3
Vauxhaul Astra
It's funny, but the DS3 is the Top Gear car of the year. What Car is good for the
boring sensible nuts and bolts stuff, true. I had my sensible head on when I picked my last car (a Focus in Doom Blue) and have been feeling empty for the last 3 years when I drive it.
It's a good car, but I worked in the motor trade in a former life and was used to all sorts of machinery sitting on my drive. We drove whatever had tax on it, be it a 15 year old Fiesta or a Merc, a Range Rover or a manky farmer's Ford Pickup. 3 years with a box which started every morning but was completely anonymous and with an engine which wouldn't pull a soldier off yer sister (so to speak
) got to me.
With my sensible head on the DS3 (or new Fiesta) is ideal in most areas but I'll only find out about my biggest fear once I drive one in the next few weeks - ease of access. I'm 6' 1" and, lets just say, am not as mobile as I once was so getting in and out can be a bit of a problem.
Something Astra-sized will cut that problem out. It's handsome but not as cutting-edge stylish as the Citroen or even the Fiesta but, with my non-sensible head on, it's got 70bhp more than the DS3 and Fiesta diesels.
Mark - I've leased the last 2 cars and this one will be the same. Basically I'll be paying much the same for the car above (list price £21k if you were to buy it) as the bottom of the range model at 5 or 6 grand less retail price. The only explanation I can think of in these Tough Economic Times is that few people would spend their 21,000 on a mass market small-medium hatchback so there's loads of them unsold, hence the great offer on leasing.
I shall keep MoFo posted!