car help.. please! :)

Theres a strong possibility that in the next 2-8 weeks Im going to change jobs.

If I do this, I wont have a company car anymore, and I will need to get a bank loan and buy something second hand.

I've been a company car driver for six years, so am a little out of touch.. perhaps if I give a bit of criteria, you could help me draw up a shortlist?

The idea is to go to a car auction, with an absolute top budget of 2k (not much I know). If I spent less, I'd be happier.

1) Its got to have a modern body shape, as I will be seeing customers, and I dont want to look like I didnt spend much. If it looks ''chav'' or cheap, or not business like, I wont feel confident seeing customers in it.

2) Mileage will be high - estimated 20,000-40,000 per annum, so it will have to have a lot of life left in it.

3) Not godawful MPG for reason number 2.

4) A bit of poke about it, I need to get past slow moving lorries fast on B roads quite a lot in my travels. ( I lurrrvveee sports cars, but Im trying to be sensible)

5) Diesel would be good to keep the MPG high.

6) must have 4 seats. 4 doors prefered, although not essential. Hatch back prefered to saloon (? maybe) but that depends. I just like the space in the back.

7) Comfortable on long (and I mean 6-10 hour) journeys.

8) Reliable, and not kings randsom for parts when it needs it.

9) I'd love an automatic (cruise control would be bliss, but I dont expect it.

10) air-con is pretty important for the summer, I dont want to be sweaty when seeing customers.


I really dont know what I can get for my limited budget.

Could I get a Ford Focus for that cash?

This shape of Ford Scorpio looks very highly specified and cheap (because its ugly I know) but could I get a recent fully specced one for the cash?



A modeo seems sensible, again - the design has been around for a long time, so an older one wont show its age too badly (could I get an ST24? )


So, can ye help?

NB

If I could afford them, a mitsubishi FTO, or an Alfa 156 would be on the wishlist - maybe in a year or 2.......mmmmm

Chris

 

Have you considered the Megane II? It's extremely popular here. You will either love it or hate it (funny shape), and you'll have to choose either diesel or automatic (as far as I know they don't mix these options).


Cheers

 

For £2k ??? Doubt it somehow . Unless someone bought one and then realised how damn ugly it is and wanted shot of it quick! (I have an original Megane BTW, much better looking ).

 

Yes you're right. I did not realize the budget was 2K ...

And you don't see how ugly it is when seating in it ...

 

Very true! Do you have one?

Chris - Sounds to me like you're asking rather a lot for £2k, but I know next to nothing about cars so I'll be very interested to see if people can come up with the goods for you.

 

Yeah, I drive one, but I know nothing about cars. It's only my third car in 30 years. The first one I kept 6 months. The second one 20 years ...

So no wonder I like it, it's so much better than what I had before

If only audio had made as much progress in 20 years ...

Cheers

 

Know what you mean Sir G. the car I replaced with my Megane was an 18 year old Metro. Improvements included being able to drive on the motorway without my arms getting tired due to the steering wheel vibrating so much!

Sorry Chris, I'll stop distracting your thread now.

 

Have a look at this...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9844&item=4513201521&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

The Ford Scorpio's are not too bad, most people don't realise just how cheap they are so they look the part, they are usualy fully kitted out too. However they are built in the USA and have large engines so fuel econemy won't be too good. I am not sure if they have any diesel engines options but I am guessing they will be the older generation and a tad crude.

£2K won't be enough to buy a decent focus, the minimum you will probably need to spend is £3k. I don't think £2k will buy an ST24, but £2k should be enough to get a decent 1.8/2.0 mondeo with reasonable kit, however mondoes usualy have high milleage and the clutch replacement requires the engine to come out, so if you buy a manual be prepeared to need a new clutch sooner rather than later.

You can get good cars for £2k, but if you're going to be doing 40k miles a year then they won't go on for ever. However my uncle once had 1.8 Ford Siera which had done 420k miles.

The Ford Scorpio's are apparantly very durable so can easily cope with your milleage, I just don't think they will be too good on MPG. My dads 1.6 Zetec engine is still running like new at 80k, so I think Ford engines are pretty durable as longs as they have been driven and serviced well.

 

That looks very nice, especialy when you consider that car would have been around £25k in 1995.

 

a 2 liter scorpio will struggle with fuel economy and overtaking. take a look at older audi a6's (100's) or vauxhalls 2.5td omega. if i were you chris i'd be looking at the latter. decent engines from bmw - without the stigma of bmw ownership and parts that cost pennies. you may need to go over 2k if you want a low miler but from an auction you should be ok.
another one to look at is hyundai's sonata - had one, very solid - no image but never let me down. there's a big kia too which may have been bollocksed by depreciation andf be ripe for the plucking now.
also older volvo 850 t5's may be in this price range now too.....
cheers


julian

 

I would second the Omega suggestion, dirt cheap, well built and reliable.

 

i'd third the omega.
crackin used buy, v v cheap for what you get for the money. large, effortless mileage eater.
Although vaux parts are extreamly expensive and so is dealer servicing, but at that age, you wont be using the dealers

 

looks like an Omega then. (do you get free Omega cables?!?! )

the one below looks good.. and even cruise control too!. I'd need 1/2 the mileage though. Im sure I'll get that if I look carefully.

Well, I know what to look for in forthcoming months.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9858&item=4514127950&rd=1&tc=photo

 

The omega should do the job... but there are some other slightly less common options that will fit the bill...

1) Mitsubishi Galant 8th generation.



Looks good, reliable, auto is superb and the car is drastically undervalued in the used market because of lack of buyer awareness. Downsides are so-so mpg (the 2.4 direct injection is the best) and highish insurance cost. Parts and labour aren't the cheapest, but if properly maintained it shouldn't go wrong. I bought mine at 69k and put 20k on it in a year without a single day off the road nor a single failure to start first time, etc. Cruise control, foglights, abs, alloys, sunroof or aircon. All are standard fit. Early ones should come in around £2k.

2) Skoda Octavia



Ignore the jokes from the unenlightened, this is a superb car. They're unbreakable (why do you think they're used as taxis?), and offer a cheaper way into VAG's TDI engines (if that's your thing...). Plenty of room for 4 adults, and a huge boot in either the hatch or estate. Early cars will be coming into your budget.

3) Vauxhall Signum.

Complete budget buster, but you might think about taking out a longer term car loan for one of these. The Omega's replacement, they're a good car but people haven't got the idea yet. Consequently used values are horrific, with the car losing 50% of purchase price in 1 year and 10k miles. Pick up a 2.0DTi for £10k. However, even with the big losses in value seen so far, don't be sure that they've bottomed out...

4) Peugeot 406



Repmobile extraordinaire. It's french so it will be comfy, but bits may fall off now and then. HDis are popular so probably too expensive, but earlier diesels are definately in your price range.

5) Vauxhall Omega

On the subject of this one... Look out for the 2.5 diesel. This is the old BMW tds engine, which is pretty bulletproof. Generally the car is reliable, but watch out for RWD antics in the wet. If it's snowing then you really want to watch out. Used values poor because it's a big vauxhall.

 

Of those above, I'd go for the Skoda. It's basically a re-badged VW Passat so will last forever.

 

If you can find an Octavia it's a superb car. I love mine to bits, it's a bit spartan, but better built than my mates Passat, and more reliable too. Mind you that Scorpio looks good value........

 

You might also want to add a large Saab to your list. Depreciation is horrendous, so may be able to find one in your budget, but usually have loads of kit and go on forever.

 

Thanks for all the ideas.

My sister has a very old and reliable Saab - they bodywork is like new after 10 years. I dont think they do a decent diesel in my price band, so I'd ruled them out.

An Octavia would be great - but aren't they too new?

Im really liking the sound of a 2.5litre turbo diesel BMW engine at the moment. Surely reliable, good MPG with a bit of poke.

 

Saab have come out with a couple of decent (well, in context... I hate all of the d-word) diesels of late. Their 2.2 TiD has come into wider usage elsewhere in GM's range, and the 3.0 V6 diesel has a decent rep (although I'm not sure whether this originated with Saab or with Isuzu).

Another decent car is the Subaru Legacy, but they've got a bit of a cult following and used values are reasonably firm with no diesel option. They do not go wrong though. Like... ever.