Thank you. What are Kia's like for servicing and parts, ive heard they are expensive.

Ive also the SAAB 9-3 1.9td on list to check out.

The road tax was also quite high and despite what people on here say I do not belive it is as economical as the diesel cars.

No one has said that - it is economical for a petrol - the diesels are not as economical as expected.

I have the Ford Mondeo 59 plate Titanium X and i absolutely love it.Its the 2.0 diesel which is smooth,reliable and quiet.Do not buy the 1.8 diesel.

I get 38mpg around town and 54 mpg on the motorway.The road tax is £175.

Servicing costs me £120 for a minor service and £200 for a full service.

The Titanium X is within your budget and has all the toys.Heated leather seats,6 cd sony stereo with DAB radio,cornering lights,voice control,bluetooth,electric folding mirrors, etc.

I am 6 foot 4" tall and with my drivers seat set at a comfortable postion i can get out and get in the back behind the drivers seat and still have inches of leg room infront of me.

The boots are huge.

I would highly recommend one!.

Dacia even though tempting, is very budget. Holding 3 x 45kg dogs with a key opening boot is not what I would want. Even though I currently drive a Shogan full spec, it has had its downfall and is on 245k miles, however the boot layout holds 3 harnessed dogs secure.

After much consideration, safety also comes into it, with children also in the vehicle and I think I may miss the high up view.

So it looks like my husbands Defender 110 will do me for now until I really can put my finger on it. (he prob treat himself to a motorbike).

Many thanks for the input really appreciated from other car owners.

:-)

My experiences with diesels, even over low annual mileages has been fine, the savings have been woth having.

Examples.

BMW 118D. Owned 5 1/2 years, 37,500 miles. When we bought it we also considered the 118i petrol, the 118D was a much better drive. Over the 37,500 miles I saved about £1800 in fuel and £400 in RFL. Insurance and servicing were the same. New the car was £350 more than the 118i but when I traded it the walue was £600 more, another £250 better off. Total savings about £2450.

Kia Ceed SW 1.6 CRDi. Owned 3 1/2 years (so far) 35,000 miles. in those 35,000 miles we have saved about £1800 in fuel and about £200 in RFL. Again Insurance and servicing are the same, total savings about £2000. When we bought the car it was about £1000 more than the petrol, now its valued about £1100 more than the petrol, no difference. So in 3 1/2 years we have saved about £2000.

But when I bought my Seat Leon last year I bought a petrol because the projected sums simply did not work in the diesels favour. Added to that was the simple fact the petrol was a better drive. Fuel savings were expected to be approx £700. RFL savings was only £10 a year. Diesel was £2000 more than the equivalent petrol and on the previous models the diesels appeared to keep only about 1/2 of that value at best. So in 5 years and 35,000 miles I would save about £750 and loose £1000 in extra depreciation. Diesel was also in a higher insurance group but servcing was the same. As I said the figures did not work.

Basically I make my decisions based on the facts and not on the prejudices that other people may have.

Correct.

Latest fiat Doblo also worth consideration.