The classic Volkswagen Beetle design is well loved and has students and enthusiasts scouring their local car shops, always on the lookout for those in good condition.

In 1994 a new Volkswagen Beetle was released with a more modern and sleek design that although had many critics, was generally well acclaimed. In the UK alone 68,000 have been sold and over a million worldwide. The cars are especially a popular choice for women and members of the gay community.

Now the Volkswagen Beetle is back! The new design is much closer to the look of the original and it has a whale-tail spoiler and expansive separate wings. When the car finds its way to car shops and showrooms everywhere early in 2012, customers will have the choice between a 1.6 litre turbo diesel engine or a 1.2 or 1.4 litre turbo petrol engine (a 2.0 litre petrol engine will then be released later in the year).

The dashboard has been redesigned to resemble the original car, including features like a flush fitted glove box on the facia and elastic straps instead of pockets on the doors. A new Volkswagen Beetle will be available for between £15,000 and £25,000 and has a top speed of around 140 MPH, with acceleration of 0 – 62 in 7.5 seconds.

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With the Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus both permanent fixtures on the Top 10 Selling Cars with Europeans as new car purchases, it should be no surprise to find they are both popular with used car purchasers as well.  The Focus is considered a compact family-style car while the Fiesta is a mid-class supermini.  If the model does not matter to the purchaser, then the used Ford Focus ranks over the used Ford Fiesta because of Euro NCAP safety ratings.

Used Ford Focus Offers Other Pluses Over Used Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta falls into the mid-class supermini category and is regularly the favourite used car choice for UK residents.  The Fiesta is easy to drive, cheap to run and boasts low prices for both spare parts and servicing costs.  However, it also has an uncomfortable driver’s seat which becomes unbearably uncomfortable on a long trip and at high motorway speeds, the cabin noise level increases appreciably.  More importantly, the Ford Fiesta – until the 2008 model – does not provide enough airbag protection and, because of that, rates only 3 out of 5 stars for adult occupant safety.  It improved slightly in 2002 ratings with 4 out of 5 stars, but in 2008 Euro NCAP rated the Fiesta 5 out 5 stars for adult occupant safety, 4 of 5 stars for child occupant safety and 3 out of 4 stars for pedestrian safety.

However, since 2004, the Ford Focus has rated 5 out 5 stars for adult occupant safety, 4 out of 5 for child occupant safety and 2 out of 4 stars for pedestrian safety.  In addition, the lowest rating for adult occupant safety, since 1999, has been 4 out 5 stars for adult occupant safety and 4 out of 5 for child occupants.  Because the Focus falls into the compact family category, its interior outdoes the Fiesta and it provides excellent handling along with good passenger comfort.

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If there were prizes for ingenuity, Mercedes would certainly be up for an award with their Mercedes B-Class model. It seems the company saw a big enough gap in the market to develop a stylish, effective and practical hatchback, an ideal option for thirty-something’s who refuse to resign themselves to mediocre family cars.

The B-Class comes in various guises, a 1.5litre, 2litre and the 2litre diesel CDI; with 140bph on tap and average fuel consumption will vary considerably between the various editions. For long hauls, the B-Class will also not let you down on comfort, but unless you’ve got the radio cranked up to eleven, road rumble and wind noise will make for a fairly loud journey.
 
Sleek on the outside it may be, at least for a hatchback that is, but what shines on the surface isn’t necessarily a good indication of what lies beneath. As much as the front and rear seats of the B-Class will provide plenty of comfort for family breaks, the manufacturer seems to have turned a blind eye to the quality of the plastic, which can make this vehicle seem more like a child’s toy, a real shame considering that the car performs so well in most other departments. Space-wise there is sufficient leg room for both front and back passengers and in the boot there is an impressive 540litres plus of storage space, although having the capability to fit so much in could be a blessing in disguise when planning your next camping trip.

If you’re the lucky one sitting in the driver seat, the responsive handling of the B-Class will be a real treat. It is easily one of the most versatile all-rounders on the road today and will be just at home on the city streets, as it will in the fast lane of the motorway.

Of course, being able to brag to your friends that you own a Mercedes is not something that will come cheap, but another feather in its cap is that this is definitely one of their most cost-effective models. Starting at £16,940 and topping out at £24,240 for the 2litre CDI, this would be a wise option for anyone looking for a plain-speaking but stylish car, with the added bonus that speed need not be compromised for the sake of sensibility. There will always be cheaper and just as reliable alternatives, but unlike the B-Class, they simply won’t have that extra little something.

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