Folding Bikes - POPAL folders? - buying opinion needed

Hi! I wanted for a long time a folder (Brompton has got straight to my heart for the folding size) but I do not afford to pay too much for one (at least not just in one shot). And since I would travel in about 2 weeks in Brussel / Liege I was doing a little search for shopping in the area.

My starting shopping budget is on the low side (max 300 eur) and my options are:

Invest in a new bike low in options and upgrade it later on
Buy an affordable bike, like this POPAL1 (http://www.bikefactory.nl/categorie/vouwfietsen/16/) and POPAL2 (http://www.fietskopen.be/fietsen/vouwfietsen/vouwfiets-popal-f205-volledig-aluminium-champagne)
Buy a second-hand "good" bike

So I need your opinion regarding to all these options. I would go the second-hand way (http://www.recyclo.org/ is this kind of a shop) with a good bike.

What I am looking at a folder:

folding size
speed
ability to go well up-hills (lots of in my area)

Thanks!

Between the two, I'll pick the POPAL2, because it has more gears. But a second hand good bike is a good choice too, depending on how "good" is going to be.

Man, trying to read the Flemish is a trip! But without specifications (preferably in English), including folded size, it's pretty hard to judge them.

I like 16" wheels, and I don't like derailleurs, so I'd go with a Popal1, and upgrade the rear hub to the new Sturmey Archer X-RF8w hub. That might make a pretty good bike.

yes. probably a good used one will be a better choice since you're thinking of upgrading later. also keep in mind that a good used folder has a better resale value compare to a regular folder.

Well, thanks for your replies. I found that Popal (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://www.bikefactory.nl/categorie/vouwfietsen/20/) (here with the google translation) is a Dutch brand, though I don't really know how well it is known to the folders community.

I also found a nice SH Birdy (R&M) at about 750 eur nearby Brussel, and I would really be into it if I wouldn't have some restrains: first the price (I know is not much for a well maintained Birdy) and second I've read that there are not too many choices for upgrading gear & tyres (18"?).

To hell with restraint, hop on that Birdy and ride it home!
Live once, be happy. :D

To hell with restraint, hop on that Birdy and ride it home!
Live once, be happy. :DYes, but that will set me at more than double the budget. If it would just me I wouldn't think twice, but with a wife and a 6 months old angel at home it is pretty difficult to jump over the above mentioned budget without some (veryveryvery!!!) hard talks.

I found also a shop which sells Dahon Mu UNO at about 450 eur. Questions:

is the price ok?
is Dahon Mu UNO's gear upgradeable?
Thanks!

Hello again! Had my trip in Belgium and I ended up with a brand new lovely Dahon Mu P8. Had a ride with it in Brussel already, packed in a samsonite hard case in about 30 minutes (got few unimportant scratches) and I already borrowed to my wife for a short ride around our area. Her reply was:
Now you should get a bike for yourself, too!And now a pics with my little 7 months old who already enjoys it :giver:

[QUOTE=anophelus;9102526]...And now a pics with my little 7 months old who already enjoys it

Cute baby.

The bike also looks good. ;-)

Kam