after new car...

hi folks...guess you're aware of my car woes of late...I had to buy a cheap car about 6 months ago, well, it's MOT is due on the 24th so I took in 2 weeks early on saturday thinking that it would fail...anyway it did - minor things really, a dodgy handbrake cable and a leaking exhaust...I'm sure the mechanic must have prodded the exhaust as within an hour of me leaving I heard a rattling sound and it turns out that the exhaust was trailing along the ground I managed to tie it up but now it sounds like a boy racers car...sigh...

I've decided that paying the 100 quid or so isn't worth it so I've gonne spend around 1-1500 on a second hand one...

basically, I want a 1.6 - 2.0litre with - something like a new model (r reg onwards) peugeot 306...

I'm still not sure whether to get a small car or something bigger like a mondeo / vectra..?

any advice grateful - what cars shoukd I go fo, and which ones to avoid?

cheers

p.s. what do you think I should with the old one..?? I'd be happy if i could get 50 quid for it...would a dealer go part exchange..?
put it on ebay and hope that someone will buy..? - I'd of course list all the issues etc
what a scrap yard give me a bit of cash..? - it's got 3 new tyres...

 

Stick the old one on ebay, I killed my old Matiz (needed a short-engine change, cost of £1k+), stuck the car on ebay and got nearly £700 for it, considering it would only have been worth £1500 fully working I was amazed!

 

what a feckin' pain - I've been looking on auto traders website for cars - but because the actaul magazine comes out every 2 weeks (new edition comes out this thursday) - the websites cars are listed for the same period!! now, I've been ringing up for cars and they've said that it had gone ages ago...how naff is that?

I may as well not look on that site until thursday morning...sigh...

does anyone know any good sites to look on..?
I've tried ebay (of course - but no local cars) and fish 4...but they don'y have a great selection...

 

Try www.adtrader.co.uk and www.fish4.co.uk

They are normally more up to date

Andrew

 

Avoid early Vectras (N-R) these were shoddy and suffered electrical problems. Mondeos are great cars but apprantly a new clutch is an engine out job so make sure the clutch works, the clutch should be good for 150k though even with heavy use.

Mondeos sized cars are cheaper than 306 size cars on the used market because they cost more to run.

 

For that money... I'd go for a mitsubishi carisma, 98-99 with average mileage, 1.6 or 1.8GDI. It will run and run. No, it won't be exciting, but it will start each day. Otherwise 98 Toyota Corolla 1.3, similarly dull but worthy.

 

You would get a Nissan Almera GTI easily for less than a grand these days - 2.0 16v engine and great handling, very reliable. A bit bland, but thats why they are so cheap.

 

what about a - 2000 W Reg FIAT Marea 115 16v ELX ?
1200 notes...

edit - this one -
http://www.popularcarsales.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=13349&pageid=2

 

yeah, I'm seeing one of these tomorrow - tho, don't think it';s a GTI - it's a local dealer anbd it's only arrived at his today...

not sure about the engine size tho - as I drive 500 miles a week just now!

 

or theres this peugeot 306 - http://www.virtual-showroom.co.uk/s...://WWW.GLASSINTERNET.COM/CSS/NISSAN-STYLE.CSS

the only think that puts me off is that it's had 5 owners...should I be worried at that?

 

With 306 make sure the gaskets ok, head gasket failures are quite common on them, probably because they are drivers cars and tend to be driven hard (or that they are French).

 

Anything Japanese will run and run, Nissan, Toyota or Mazda are top bets for reliability, Honda too if you can afford any of them. I wouldn't touch anything French from bitter experience, and I've had bad experiences with Fords and Vauxhalls. I'd look for a Nissan Sunny or an Almeira or a Toyota Corolla

 

yeah, my existing car is a h*tty fiat...lol...will see how I get on with that nissan tomorrow morning...

tho, I do like 306's tho - I had an old model prior to writing it off!

 

306's are good cars providing you buy with care. I know two people who have paid more than £1000 for one only to end up in the scrappy a year later. Both were head gasket failures which required full skimming etc.

Both ironicaly were the 1.9TD unit too.

The Almeras are supposed to have good a chasis but they look so boring.

Personaly I would just have done with it and buy a Morriss Marina

 

Carisma is probably amongst the blandest and dynamically dullest cars out there if the motoring press is to be believed, even the more upmarket Volvo based on the same platform was panned....surely within the budget you could get say, a Nissan Primera?

Sure its just as dull to look at, and it'll be about as reliable, but a bit better to drive.

 

Primera would be good too. AT's comment says it all about Peugeots though. 2 ending in the scrapper after a year.

 

yeah, i like this one too -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4613189835&fromMakeTrack=true

expect it'll go about 800...interesting...

 

surely begs to be awarded for the most irony applied when naming a car?

 

not the greatest to look at but very good value for money, good performer and v reliable. Good rec.

 

If you havent been inside a Primera be warned approach the interior in fear. they arent the most tasteful. The GT is a good car no doubt, but the interior is a horror story on wheels.