Car choice... comments welcome

[Ivan]

Take the Saab or Volvo.

Did some calculations on that list...
The results:
[*]Small Peugeots with large engines have AWFUL fuel economy (a 1.6 engined 206 has MPG values quite close to the ones for the Saab which has 2.0 liters, a turbo and is almost 1,5 times heavier)
[*]Basically all small cars with an engine that gives reasonable highway performance (over 1300cc) have above average fuel usage.
[*]You can't find a decent (year and mileage) small sized car under 10k euros... which is the starting point for the bigger ones also... Given the fact that i'll probably will change to a larger car whitin the next 3 years, it might be better to start with a large one from day 1.

[ATI_7500]

Basically all small cars with an engine that gives reasonable highway performance (over 1300cc) have above average fuel usage.

Define "highway performance".

Left lane, 200kph?

[FiGHtA_PiLoT]

I've never liked the little Euro cars, so maybe go for something bigger like what Heretic said, a Volvo.

[Ivan]

Basically all small cars with an engine that gives reasonable highway performance (over 1300cc) have above average fuel usage.

Define "highway performance".

Left lane, 200kph?

Highway performance means: being able to overtake trucks safely... basically having a decent 80-100 acceleration whitout getting the idea that the car is falling apart.

Basically the only problem with the Saab is the insurance price... as it has a turbo (every Saab should have one...). Monthly insurance costs are about 20 euros more than the rest because the calculation simply adds a price factor for having a turbo no matter what type (this one has the LPT turbo that mainly serves to expand the peak of the torque curve all the way down to 2500 rpm)

[ATI_7500]

Highway performance means: being able to overtake trucks safely... basically having a decent 80-100 acceleration whitout getting the idea that the car is falling apart.

Well, my Fabia can also do that, even though it only has a 1.2l engine.