Alfa Giulietta.

Congratulations to SteveieB and Fisherman's Bend - it's an A1. 5-door A1 Sport 1.4 TFSI to be precise.

We were looking around and getting together a shortlist with a view to changing around March. Poole Audi (much keener to sell than Yeovil Audi) have a special stock-shifting offer on at the moment, and we thought we'd go and look at an A3. SWMBO fancied a little more space than there is in her Mini, so we'd thought that the A1 would be too cramped.

Not at all: she found the seat suited her better than the A3 and even the higher-up Q2 (and the Q2 being a new model isn't being discounted). And to drive it was exactly what we want - much nippier from low revs than the Mini and what seems like a good balance between ride and handling. It's in stock somewhere in the UK so delivery should be weeks rather than months as for a factory order, which we wouldn't have minded.

Because we were both so happy with the A1, we went for it before trying too many others. But we thought seriously about:

VW Polo - would be a 1.2 and the PCP deals would cost as much if not more than for the A1 (probably because A1s hold their value better); and I have a rooted objection to VW's stingy one-year breakdown cover when Audi, SEAT and Skoda all offer three.

VW Up - the new 89 bhp turbo version, but I asked two dealers to let me know when a demonstrator was available but neither has.

Renault Captur - new 1.2 manual - same lack of response from two dealers. Maybe it really isn't in yet. We tried a 1.5 diesel: great driving position but not a ball of fire. Some very tacky trim inside.

Mini Clubman - a bit big and definitely too expensive - and after six Minis SWMBO is ready for a change!

SEAT Leon - smaller than the A3 and I think we'd have liked it, but we didn't get round to testing one. Same applies to the Fiesta 1.0, but residual values and rumours abourt problems with this engine are against it.

The A1 ticked the boxes and then some - so we feel fairly confident we've got it right.

Thanks to all for being interested enough to guess.

Edit - we didn't try any Peugeots or Citroens: although HJ speaks highly of the 1.2 petrol engine, I'm not prepared to buy any car which makes you fiddle with a touchscreen to change the temperature inside the car. Dangerous.

Edited by Avant on 11/12/2016 at 21:38

Indeed it's the 125, Skidpan: very lively in that little body. You can get the 150 but only in S-line trim which is otherwise mainly cosmetic apart from even stiffer suspension and lower-profile tyres, neither of which we wanted.

If we'd gone for the A3 we would have had the 150, almost certainly. A Polo would have been next to look at - but I don't think I'd have got as good a deal as with the A1. We're starting with a PCP which we may pay off at some point if we can afford it, and Audis hold their value better than VWs so you get a better deal.

SWMBO doesn't like automatics so the A1 is a 6-speed manual; therefore no worries about 7-speed DSG. (I hadn't realised it weighed so much more - interesting.) I like my automatic for long jourmeys and in traffic, but for local running I too prefer a manual.

I'm not sure what we'd have done if SWMBO had wanted an automatic. TC autos are pretty lead-footed when coupled with engines under 2 litres (at least in my experience - anyone is welcome to disagree); and I wouldn't trust a dual-clitch transmission unless I could guarantee that I could afford to change the car within 3 years.

Maybe a Leaf or Zoe would have been worth a look - but resale values are horrendous.

Congratulations Avant. A happy SWMBO is rare gift indeed. You should now be basking in the reflected glow of several million house points!!

Cheers Concrete

It's difficult .... couple of months ago I test drove the Peugeot 308, I too did not like the way the touch screen operated, much prefer one touch buttons that can be adjusted by reaching out the arm and knowing where they are without having to look and check what is being done .... but the 308 does come with a proper spare wheel, and two rear foglights / reversing lights not singles that do half the job and look stupid .....