Cars!

My friend, who is quite petite has just bought a Toyota Yaris. Room for children but there isn't much boot space if you need to cart a lot of stuff around.
Ford Focus are quite good too and come in different styles like two door sporty or estate which takes a large dog.
It depends what you need to put in it really. Personally I'm quite happy in our 4x4 XTrail. It's a big car but you sit really high up and can see both front corners and it has a snazzy rear facing camera so you can see exactly where you're going backwards too! (We tow a caravan so need something chunky)

I bought a Mercedes A150 because I wanted a car that I could sit high up in, and the sloping bonnet allows full view past the steering wheel. Totally reliable and it's sturdy, loads of boot room and fits plenty of grandchildren in, but it's not a large car.

I had a Clio and my feet were cramped together, kept pressing the brake instead of accelerator, Peugeot 206 was a bit frail and low slung.

I love my Honda Jazz, I am on my third. It has imaginative storage, good vision and I feel that, despite being only 5ft 3in, I am perched quite high for a good view. I always have rear parking sensors which give me confidence. On my last car there were front ones too, but they bleeped so often that I tended to ignore them!
A friend got rid of her new Corsa as it had a bad blind spot because of the A post. She couldn't see oncoming cars when rounding a bend.
I hope you find something to your liking.

The common thread so far seems to be for a higher car (so much easier to get in/out of) with a slopping front. The slope can be a bit unnerving to start with but once you get used to how far out you stick it's much better than the old dining table bonnets.

I like my Renault Clio. As a hatchback its more roomy inside and the "boot" seems bigger than many. I can also rake the seat higher so I can see over the steering wheel instead of through it!

I like my Nissan Qasqai (can't be bothered to check the spelling) It has a glass roof that means it is very light inside. And, as mentioned before - the glass is strong enough to take the weight of a bear. I can confirm that no bears have crashed through the roof while I have been driving it.

We've always had Polos and they have given us good reliable service - our latest is an automatic and it is is brilliant.

Men and their cars! - hmm. We always register our cars in my name and I am fully involved in the choosing; which isn't a great feat as we have had virtually the same for years!

Registering in my name started because, on one occasion when we needed to buy a new car, I researched buying it on the internet and found a really good deal - about £1000 less. I went to our local VW dealer with a print-out of the offer and said that if they could match it, I would buy it from them instead - and they agreed!!! My OH would never have had the nerve, so it finished up in my name, and they all have been since.

PS But don't forget that for many men a car is not a means of getting from A to B, but an extension of a failing organ!

I love my Nissan Micra and it reminds me if I leave the lights on or whatever when I am about to exit the car.The boot also holds a reasonable amount. When it needs to be replaced, I think that I will buy another.

I would love an electric car at some time in the future. And today in a car park in Coventry I saw about a dozen recharging points for these cars. I wonder if in years to come this will be the norm?

I'm also 5'3" and that's the problem with the current car, it feels as if I sit too low and it's fiddly to change the height of the driver's seat. Shysal I'll make sure of that. Mishap (1) I like your research strategy. (2) [my lips are sealed]. Will check out some of the suggestions!

I love my very reliable five door Corsa. It has a roomy boot and with the rear seats dropped it can accomodate an amazing amount. Previous car was a Vectra which had a long bonnet. I was dubious about changing to a short sloping bonnet but soon got used to it.

Luckily I don't have a problem with who chooses our car as DH doesn't drive

My favourite is a Berlingo, it has the most comfortable passenger seats. My sister is on her third. Jeremy Clarkson seems to like it too so it obviously appeals to men as well.

I have a Mini, fun to drive, like a go cart on country lanes but hard suspension! bigger than you think. Looks cute.

We have just bought a new car and spent quite a long time deciding what was most important to us so perhaps this list will help:

Is fuel economy important - if it is and you do a lot of mileage, get a diesel. Automatics use more fuel than manuals. There is a huge variation between different cars.

How close is the nearest dealership? You don't want to have to travel a long way for a service

Do you want one which is higher off the ground?

How much do you want the car to think for you? The more gizmos the more you will pay.

What is your budget?

Do you want it right away or are you happy to wait for it?

Do you need a large boot?

How often will people be in the back? Do you need room for child seats and adults?

Do you really need 4 doors?

Do you live somewhere where a 4 x 4 would be useful? They use more fuel?

Is the cost of car tax important?

Do you want to buy one made in the UK?

These points helped us make a decision and we are happy with the one we made.

Berlingos have good all round visibility, something that I miss in modern day cars. I once bought a car from my son. I couldn't reach the accelerator pedal properly and it was just a small pice of metal; I felt too low down and the seat didn't adjust. I hadn't tried it before I bought it from him. I'm sure it's what made the arthritis in my knee much worse. It finally started cutting out and the garage couldn't get to the bottom of what was causing it. I'm sure it's one of the reasons why I lost my confidence driving. If only I tried it out first.

I also tend to avoid new models of cars as they often seem to have design faults that will need ironing out. We bought a new Metro years ago that was the first of it's kind and, when they phoned up to see how we were getting on with it, my ex [who was an engineer] spent about an hour telling them all the things that was wrong with it.

Sorry can't resist
A motorbike is the way - complete freedom, the wind in your face, the best folk in the world to chat too at the coffee stops - and only half the cost for tyres

Motorbike? I cannot for the life of me understand the appeal. [shudder]
As for cars, I've only ever had two (Fiesta and a Peugeot 306) and my current car (shared with husband) is due to be replaced this year, but it will probably be next year before we actually get around to it. It will probably be another Peugeot and (second-hand) price will most likely be the deciding factor along with fuel consumption.
My son's girlfriend has just won a £9000 car in a competition and has decided to keep it, rather than sell it on, as she assumes it will be the only time in her life that she will have a brand new car.

I have been left some money and as my car is 21 years old I thought it is a good time to buy a nearly new car. I have so far tested 2 Kia’s a ford puma and a Toyota Yaris which my son has said would be a good car to buy. I have always had old manual cars, and the Yaris is automatic and a hybrid, I can’t seem to decide , but as the MOT runs out the end of June on my old fiesta, time is not on my side. Any advice would be welcome.

Getting a car is a major financial decision

Couples usually choose the car together

Is this the first time he makes such a big unilateral purchase without your input?

Have the 2 posters above seen the date on the OP. June 2013

I have a VW ID3 electric. It is solidly built, a very comfortable smooth ride, with a good turning circle. I get about 200 miles from a full charge. That takes about 30 minutes in our local Sainsbury's car park while doing the shopping.

Hadn't seen this was an old thread. How times and cars change!