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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2014 19:37:37 GMT 1
I have no luck at all with second hand cars (head gaskets, clutches) so wanted to turn to my esteemed B&A colleagues for advice.
I have around £1500 - £2000 to spend and ideally would like something as new as possible that will last me a good couple of years... It needs to be cheap to run (insurance, fuel, tax etc) and cheap to put right if and when it does go wrong. I do about 6000 miles annually, so not a heavy user...
any advice gratefully received!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2014 19:39:31 GMT 1
I have a 2006 Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 sri, with built in satnav, that has 6 months left on warranty and just had an engine rebuild if your interested. pm me if you are
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2014 19:40:57 GMT 1
That's a bit too big for me, Downie... but thanks for letting me know
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2014 19:46:24 GMT 1
it falls in your money bracket, but what style of car are you looking for?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2014 19:52:45 GMT 1
Sorry - no bigger than an Astra really I'd say... should have said earlier
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Post by El Presidente on Apr 14, 2014 20:04:03 GMT 1
Brands, I would head for Seat or Skoda (VW Audi Group (VAG)) - however, the 'nearly new' may be too pricey. Kia seem to be coming along nicely. Take a look at the What Car website looking at past 'Car of the Year' and JD Power surveys to help guide you. Sadly though, even with the most experienced eyes you could always end up buying a lemon - but research helps you avoid them!
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Post by Matster on Apr 14, 2014 20:04:34 GMT 1
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Post by thesensationaljt on Apr 14, 2014 20:07:04 GMT 1
www.xpolicecarcentre.co.uk/used-cars
I bought a 10 reg Astra from here. Really pleased with it. Don't worry about the miles, it doesn't mean anything.
Well worth splashing out a bit extra. Road tax £125.00, about 60 mpg, service history, etc.
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Post by ThrobsBlackHat on Apr 14, 2014 20:33:28 GMT 1
Get yourself a very popular car, then spares are easily got from eBay/scrappy
My 2003 focus is top notch, barely had anything more than a service in 5 years
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Post by TheFoz on Apr 14, 2014 20:39:53 GMT 1
I used to have a VW Polo 1.2 (04 reg) bought it for £2000 and sold it for £2000 two years later. Held it's value well, was cheap to insure (insurance group 2) and was extremely reliable.
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Post by champagneprince on Apr 14, 2014 22:21:03 GMT 1
Went to Roger Hotchkiss and bought a Mazda 3 for £1600 (06 year) one year ago. I thought it was a bargain at the time and it's been going great, no problems whatsoever. Spares used to be expensive apparently but that's offset by not needing them too often and they're less pricey nowadays as they've become more popular.
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Post by shrewinjapan on Apr 15, 2014 3:34:07 GMT 1
In my experience Japanese cars rarely have mechanical trouble. That said I currently have a 2.0 petrol VW Bora (which is essentially a Mk IV Golf in saloon form). Was about 9 years old when I got it, though very low mileage (had only done about 20,000 miles!). Cost the equivalent of about £2500. Have been using it absolutely trouble free for about two-and-a-half years now (similarly to you, about 6,000 miles a year) and it is a lovely car. The only drawback is that it is a thirsty beast, but if you were able to get a slightly newer and/or smaller engined model Golf or Polo I think it'd be a decent choice. However, assuming the used market in the UK to be a bit more expensive than here, I guess a £1500-2000 budget restricts you to pretty old cars whatever the make.
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Post by highlandshrew on Apr 15, 2014 7:20:07 GMT 1
As others have pointed out, if reliability is top of your list then look at Japanese makes like Honda or Toyota or the VAG group. Definitely keep away from older Vauxhalls (sorry Downie, a Vectra with a re-built engine tells me all I need to know), anything French (unreliable electrics, brakes, running gear, etc. - this advice is from someone who used to be responsible for a small fleet of Renaults, but they were run on contract hire with maintenance) and anything that has been modified unless you know 100% who did it and why. Go for a mainstream model - the more cars there are the cheaper the parts when they go wrong. You don't mention fuel, but don't be afraid to look at diesel - a modern engine which is regularly serviced should be capable of well over 150,000 trouble free miles and will deliver about 20% more miles per gallon (on average). You don't mention style, but 5 door hatches are probably most popular although saloons can often be cheaper to buy as there is less demand. Check out used car reviews on WhatCar or AutoCar (they will highlight what to look for when viewing) and if you aren't confident that you know what to look for then get someone who is to come with you or consider getting an independent survey done (this will cost a fair bit but could be an investment). If it was me I would be looking for a Honda Civic 1.7 CDTi (Diesel) with full service history and tidy bodywork (£125 road tax and 56.5 mpg average). I wouldn't be too bothered about clock mileage, particularly if I was only planning to do 6,000 miles per year.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 12:31:55 GMT 1
Thanks to all of you for your replies.
What do people think about Fords? Ka, Fiesta, Focus?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 12:40:48 GMT 1
Ka, dont touch with a barge pole, fiesta are ok and focus are good
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Post by shrewinjapan on Apr 15, 2014 12:48:21 GMT 1
I rented a Ka once and concur with Downie, it wasn't very good at all.
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Post by highlandshrew on Apr 15, 2014 15:52:33 GMT 1
Ka, dont touch with a barge pole, fiesta are ok and focus are good Says the man who owns a Vauxhall Vectra! I have been involved in buying a couple of Ford Ka's for family members - nothing wrong with them if they have been well serviced and you look after any body work issues (they are very prone to rust around the filler cap and rear wiper). Mechanically they are pretty sound - the 1.3 petrol engine is not particularly efficient or refined but is proven technology and should be good for 120k + miles.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 16:34:31 GMT 1
Ka, dont touch with a barge pole, fiesta are ok and focus are good Says the man who owns a Vauxhall Vectra! I have been involved in buying a couple of Ford Ka's for family members - nothing wrong with them if they have been well serviced and you look after any body work issues (they are very prone to rust around the filler cap and rear wiper). Mechanically they are pretty sound - the 1.3 petrol engine is not particularly efficient or refined but is proven technology and should be good for 120k + miles. see, assumption is the mother of all **** ups, I am selling a Vectra, I own a BMW, I have a car garage where I buy and sell cars!!
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Post by highlandshrew on Apr 15, 2014 16:45:19 GMT 1
Says the man who owns a Vauxhall Vectra! I have been involved in buying a couple of Ford Ka's for family members - nothing wrong with them if they have been well serviced and you look after any body work issues (they are very prone to rust around the filler cap and rear wiper). Mechanically they are pretty sound - the 1.3 petrol engine is not particularly efficient or refined but is proven technology and should be good for 120k + miles. see, assumption is the mother of all **** ups, I am selling a Vectra, I own a BMW, I have a car garage where I buy and sell cars!! Sorry, I had 'assumed' it was against board rules to advertise on here. My mistake.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 16:45:33 GMT 1
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Post by atcham jack on Apr 15, 2014 16:50:25 GMT 1
i have a 12 year old daewoo matiz. bought it second hand 6 months old in march 2003. large car for only 896 cc, cruises on motorway at 85. about 50 to gallon. so far reliable. now worth £350-400 but more than that to me. daewoo became chevrolet and matiz superceeded by chevrolet spark ugh.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 17:00:27 GMT 1
see, assumption is the mother of all **** ups, I am selling a Vectra, I own a BMW, I have a car garage where I buy and sell cars!! Sorry, I had 'assumed' it was against board rules to advertise on here. My mistake. I was not advertising....... no need to get all tetchy!! Someone asked about a car, and I said I had one in his price bracket.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 17:04:45 GMT 1
that car books at
poor condition 1000 average condition 1450 good condition 1900
make sure you hpi if interested, but seems a bit pricey if only part service history
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Post by thesensationaljt on Apr 15, 2014 17:14:04 GMT 1
see, assumption is the mother of all **** ups, I am selling a Vectra, I own a BMW, I have a car garage where I buy and sell cars!! Sorry, I had 'assumed' it was against board rules to advertise on here. My mistake. It is. Downie should know better.
This post sponsored by Anusol. Get rid of the seven year itch. Anusol, ahhh, that's better.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 17:20:09 GMT 1
that car books at
poor condition 1000 average condition 1450 good condition 1900
make sure you hpi if interested, but seems a bit pricey if only part service history
Thanks, Downie I've got it down to £1350. Any thoughts anyone on the car - seems good to me with decent miles, condition etc
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Post by atcham jack on Apr 15, 2014 17:22:36 GMT 1
i am hoping for a lottery win so i can recreate the 1960's. from 1963-1975 i drove pre war austin sevens. then you could pick one up for £50. now it is between £3000 and 35000 depending on model, year and condition. i have my eye on one £5500, but need £5400 lotto win.
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Post by The Shropshire Tenor on Apr 15, 2014 19:02:22 GMT 1
The Honest John website is a good source of info about motoring matters. It includes model by model information of what to look out for on used cars.
Not sure a diesel is a good idea for your mileage, only get one if it doesn't have a DPF.
All modern cars are good, trouble with used is that you don't know how they've been driven and maintained. For that reason I buy from a reputable dealer as you get a warranty and are protected by consumer legislation.
Luck also comes into it. My daughter bought a 6 year old Renault Clio and ran it for 6 years with no problem and a mate had a Citroen Picasso that did 120,000 trouble free miles before he sold it, so French cars aren't all bad.
If buying privately an AA check is a wise investment.
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Post by smurf on Apr 15, 2014 19:18:57 GMT 1
Look mate forget all this Boll!!s if it has Tyres or TITs it,s trouble...
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Post by El Presidente on Apr 15, 2014 20:53:46 GMT 1
that car books at
poor condition 1000 average condition 1450 good condition 1900
make sure you hpi if interested, but seems a bit pricey if only part service history
Thanks, Downie I've got it down to £1350. Any thoughts anyone on the car - seems good to me with decent miles, condition etc Honest John is a great site. Have a look at the review on Whatcar - www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/used/ford/fiesta-hatchback/summary/23676-5Hover the mouse over the numbers on the picture of the car and it advises you of potential common faults. Good thing about the focus, generally, is that it is cheap to maintain. A 1.3 will be ideal for city running, and for low mileage in particular. Nothing wrong with '1 careful lady owner' but do check who that lady owner is. Not being ageist, but I've seen a lot of lovely cars which have been driven by OAPs - they usually have ragged clutches, gearbox's can be ropey as they've gone everywhere either at max revs in the wrong gear; or hill starts in 3rd. Services tend to be missed too. But the bodywork looks great as their husbands wash the car every day to get away from the wife; and that is usually the only time the car leaves the garage. Anyhow, enough of my OAP insults. I don't want the old and bald of B&A to happy slap me.
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