Help sought from someone more knowledgable about used cars

[Pixiew]

Hi guys
Newbie here sorry for crashing the forum. I only have £2.5K to spend on a car, have a Y reg 1.2 16v Clio (65k miles) to sell or trade in. The Clio just isn't big enough for my teeny new baby it's difficult getting her ca***at in and out of 3 doors and her pram doesn't quite fit in the boot!
Ive always liked VW Golfs, need a 5 door one. But they hold their value so much that I can't afford anything much newer than my Clio and mileage is higher.
My dilemma is to either go for something sensible like a Vauxhall Meriva or get an older Golf (2001/2002)
I just don't want a really boring car, I like quite a nippy one.
I took a 2002 Jeep Chevrolet for a drive the other day it was really nice I was suckered in by the leather interior and American styling.
However I've been advised against as parts will be expensive not to mention fuel.
I like the Mercedes A class But my local mechanic says they can be a nightmare with the need to take the whole engine out to get to parts.
I don't know what to go for!
Many thanks for reading this gigantic and very Boring post!!

[VidalBaboon]

Toyota Corolla. Boring, no more boring than any VW Golf, interiors are really well screwed together. Reasonable turn of speed for what it is and they don't go wrong. Ever.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

To prove how reliable thay are, my parents are running our old 1.6T3 (similar to that in the advert above. It's now got 175k miles on the clock and i'm fairly sure it still has the same oil in it from when I gave it to them nearly 4 years ago It's still going strong, even with black treacle for lubrication.

Edited by VidalBaboon on Thursday 26th April 13:47

[Pixiew]

Good response, thanks for your reply. Never considered a Toyota. Will take a look at autotrader now..

[trig9k]

You will get a lot for your money if you buy a Saab, the 93 is a good do it all car, 4 doors, large boot for prams and there's various states of tune availible to suit from non turbo to light pressure to full fat turbo and then theres lots of tuning option


Think they look smart for not a lot http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=saab+9-3&amp...
you can even go topless for your budget http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-SAAB-9-3-AERO-210-B...

BTW the my wife drive's a Saab 9-5 Aero estate this is another good option http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=saab+9-5+aer...


PS
when we had are first child I sold my sports car and brought an old Saab 9000 as a stop gap and it was soo good I've had 7 more since

Edited by trig9k on Thursday 26th April 16:08

Edited by trig9k on Thursday 26th April 17:05

Edited by trig9k on Thursday 26th April 17:23

[Munter]

VidalBaboon said:

Toyota Corolla. Boring, no more boring than any VW Golf, interiors are really well screwed together. Reasonable turn of speed for what it is and they don't go wrong. Ever.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

To prove how reliable thay are, my parents are running our old 1.6T3 (similar to that in the advert above. It's now got 175k miles on the clock and i'm fairly sure it still has the same oil in it from when I gave it to them nearly 4 years ago It's still going strong, even with black treacle for lubrication.

Edited by VidalBaboon on Thursday 26th April 13:47

In a similar thought. Honda Accord? Ones in budget seem to be quite high on miles.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3752823.htm
Plenty of space. 2.4 for a bit of "shove".

I've no experience of them. But I would go Japanese every time with your budget.

[Pixiew]

Really good to get some responses thank you. Some cars I never considered being mentioned. Do you think it's not worth paying for a Golf?

[VidalBaboon]

Pixiew said:

Really good to get some responses thank you. Some cars I never considered being mentioned. Do you think it's not worth paying for a Golf?

Not really

Edited by VidalBaboon on Thursday 26th April 22:20

[Pixiew]

Is this a rubbish car?? Mixed reviews online


http://m.gumtree.com/2006-chevrolet-lacetti-1-6-sx...

[snowmuncher]

Pixiew said:

Ive always liked VW Golfs, need a 5 door one.

You like Golfs but don't want to pay Golf prices - have a look at a Skoda Octavia mk.1

Its it a Golf (literally - same parts, same build quality), with a Skoda badge and a much bigger boot.
Enough room for buggy + loads of other stuff.

Range of engines options - the best being the turbo diesels or turbo petrols models. A 4x4 turbo petrol model in both hatch and estate form too.

Much more car for your money than a Lacetti

[oblio]

I have a Golf. When we change it we will get a Polo. Not a huge difference in the cars imho except the price!

I also have a Saab 9-3 'vert and I can recommend that One of the best cars I have ever owned. I use it as my daily commuter and long trips hols/weekends away. Genuine 4 seater - will hold 4 adults in comfort.

[xkrG]

I find most german cars pretty dull, but when viewing the new golf in the showroom last month i literally fell asleep standing up, so basic.

Anyway check out things like this A3 1.8T http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3729075.htm

Used to have one of these http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3854813.htm

If my taste is too high for insurance how about these:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3786936.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3666255.htm

Ok I cant stop looking at the faster stuff http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3765817.htm

This one is the winner = http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3825437.htm

[xkrG]

Pixiew said:

Is this a rubbish car?? Mixed reviews online


http://m.gumtree.com/2006-chevrolet-lacetti-1-6-sx...

This is wrong, just wrong

[Bomber Denton]

A Skoda is good value on a budget but the Golf IS better. It has to be. Better build quality and refinement.


Smart option? Civic.
Looks reasonably good, drives well, hardly ever go wrong, good residuals.

[chimtvr]

whats a jeep chevrolet?
they're 2 different manufacturers
golf mkv is a very good car my sister has a 2ltr at 210k and its as good as new
in over 20 years as a mechanic I would only buy german as an everyday car. every jap or italian car I've worked on is made of cheap metal and bolts rust and sheer.
Saab is well built but with saabs demise parts are going to get tough to get hold of
Skoda or seat is a good call

[snowmuncher]

Bomber Denton said:

A Skoda is good value on a budget but the Golf IS better. It has to be. Better build quality and refinement.

LoL - don't seriously believe that do you ?

The cars made by the same robots, under the same management, with the same staff training courses, with the same quality control systems, with all mechanical parts coming the same factories, which are located throughout europe and round the world.

The only part of a Skoda actually made (vs assembled) in CZ are the doorcards.

[Pixiew]

Brilliant responses. Thankyou.
I meant Jeep Cherokee! Sorry must have has Chevrolet on the brain!
I like the Corolla but cant find many for sale round here same with the Skodas (in Plymouth)
It's funny people have different preferences, some recommending German cars and some saying Japanese, guess its what your experiences have been with them.

I'm not keen on estate cars, not sure I'd be great on the spatial awareness with the length having been used to small ones. Just saw this, is it too good to be true... Or cheap because it's actually not a good car? http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/daih... £ 875

I love the corolla someone posted a link to above the black one but it's 3 door I think and 1000 miles away in Derbyshire
I'm a bit fussy with colours, only ever really go for black or silver.... I'm a nightmare

[Munter]

I know I said go Japanese.

But I really liked my Focus.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[Pixiew]

Thats a good buy, really low mileage. Wonder why it's so cheap?

[Munter]

Pixiew said:

Thats a good buy, really low mileage. Wonder why it's so cheap?

Only one way to find out!

[chimtvr]

Pixiew said:

Brilliant responses. Thankyou.
I meant Jeep Cherokee! Sorry must have has Chevrolet on the brain!
I like the Corolla but cant find many for sale round here same with the Skodas (in Plymouth)
It's funny people have different preferences, some recommending German cars and some saying Japanese, guess its what your experiences have been with them.

I'm not keen on estate cars, not sure I'd be great on the spatial awareness with the length having been used to small ones. Just saw this, is it too good to be true... Or cheap because it's actually not a good car? http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/daih... £ 875

I love the corolla someone posted a link to above the black one but it's 3 door I think and 1000 miles away in Derbyshire
I'm a bit fussy with colours, only ever really go for black or silver.... I'm a nightmare

It's important to note my views on cars are from repairing them not owning and driving them as an owner people can get very attached to particular makes as a mechanic I fix whatever comes through the door, Jap cars are very reliable but when they break (which all cars do)Jap stuff is really expensive and hard to repair as bolts break and the general metal quality is crappy. french cars are worse I think this is due to nissan and renaults cooperation and so citroens need to compete with lightweight economy manufacturing. the plastic body panels of french cars after 3-4 years get brittle and shatter at the lightest bump.
german cars are built for autobahn use and therefore built to cope with sustained high speed driving so they are built tough, they are heavy and solid therefore not as economic as other makes but reliable and will last for years
as I said my opinions are based on repairs not ownership non german cars may be great to own I just know build quality.