"I don't want to spent more than £4k and I'd like a car which meets the following criteria:"
==> I paid £2601 for the wife's Peugeot 306 1.8 SR Sedan, with genuine fourteen something thousand miles, on an 'M'. Fully comprehensive insurance with £75 excess, in her name with one year's NCB, and with me as named driver, is £400pa. Third party was nearly as much, so not worth the saving.
1. Reliable
==> Thirteen months down the line in our custody, totally! Has redefined my impression of Peugeots in this regard: This is the first we have owned, yet previously I wouldn't even look at them. It was only the price and known history of SWMBO's 306 that got the bum in the seat, and we're glad that it happened.
2. Reasonably satisfying to drive
==> Terrific fun. Somehow manages to have pin sharp reflexes, and at the same time a very supple, comfortable, ride. 175/65x14 Michelins have grip beyond what they ought, probably helped by the suspension set up. 1.8 8v motor is very flexible, and whilst not hot hatch quick, surprisingly pokey. Averages 34 MPG with what is probably a fairly average mix of journeys. Excellent standard fit stereo, with tremendous feeling of 'space' when listening to FM. Electric front windows and sunroof. Brakes have very good feel.
3. Not much wider than the Golf (5'6") as I have a narrow garage
==> 5' 5" with the (easy to fold, we do it every night) wing mirrors folded in.
4. Unlikely to get nicked - it will be spending a lot of time in station carparks.
==> It's a Peugeot! It also has a keypad-disarmed immobilizer which is apparently very good.
What don't I like?
The body appears to have excellent anti-corrosion protection, with not even a hint of rust, anywhere, including on careful scutiny underneath. The paint however scratches just by looking at it!
I have a long upper body, and find the headroom very marginal, even with the (very comfortable) driver's seat wouond right down. In fairness, I find this with most cars equipped with a sunroof.
Gearbox is a snick-snick joy to use, apart from a reverse gear that often baulks. Solution is to go back in to first, let the car creep forwards an inch or two, then try again.
Conclusion?
I fail to see how totally reliable budget motoring, with more than a smattering of fun, can get better than this.
Good luck with whatever you buy.
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I fail to see how totally reliable budget motoring, with more than a smattering of fun, can get better than this.
It can - with a 306 XSi or a Xsara VTR :) Just as good handling as yours, but they have the sports trim, more kit, better looks, etc :) The Xsara VTR 1.8 Coupe also has a much nicer interior, climate control and rain sensing wipers. And a 1.8 16v engine :)
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Thanks for these suggestions. I must admit I hadn't considered a Peugot or Citroen - was thinking solely Japanese. And the 323 was a big oversight.
At the risk of sounding like a complete Luddite, I think I might be happy to settle for base models - current car doesn't even have power steering and I'm very happy with wind-down windows. I'm also very easily pleased re "fun to drive": I really like the way my Golf steers and handles and would be very happy with only a little bit more poke. Had been thinking that the Corolla on my original shortlist might be a bit lacking in the fun to drive stakes but the others might satisfy my rather meagre ambitions!
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A Honda would be reliable and they drive well.
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From exchange and mart you can get a xsara 2.0l 16v VTS for £4000. 20-40000m R-S reg
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306 XSi definitely a good choice - can get then from about £2k upwards. Mine's been reliable so far, good fun, reasonably quick, lovely ride/handling, fairly understated, reasonable insurance, etc etc.
Mk2 Golf is a nice car to drive, i've not driven the Japs you mention so can't compare, other than to say that in comparison to the Golf, you woulnd't be dissapointed by the Peugeot.
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Thanks for the suggestions. I must admit that I do like the look of 306s and I've heard they are lovely to drive. I might end up going Japanese purely because I'm keen to maximise the odds of getting something reliable.
I popped down to a local dealer this morning and he showed me a couple of 'P' and 'R' reg low mileage cars (ie, 35-40,000). I was under the impression that low mileage on older cars is potentially bad news as it means that they have been used for lots of short journeys. Have I got hold of the wrong end of the stick here? Does having a full service history reduce the likelihood of short journeys causing problems?
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I briefly owned a 98 R Xsara 1.8 16v, and although I didn't like the tacky trim and rattles, it was a hoot to drive.
The chassis was great around corners, and as Rob the Bus will confirm, was very fast in a straight line with the pedal to the metal. Mine was an SX version, so was easy to lose in a car park.
Go on, do it!
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>>and as Rob the Bus will confirm
Consider it confirmed! Oh the fun I had on Euxton Lane, Chorley in that car. I just couldn't believe how fast it was.
As DB says, do it!
Cheers
Rob
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We've had a 106 Rallye and a 406 HDi, the 106 was a frantic hoot but the servicing costs, especially for the 406 weren't funny. The 106 was a year old and the 406 was brand new but the Peugeot dealers seemed to have an inflated idea of 'reasonable servicing costs'. Worth checking out before you buy - phone around and get the 10,000 and 60,000 mile service costs from a few manufacturers?
Gareth
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What about another Mark 2 Golf ? In the back pages of VW enthusiast mags you'll find one or two reputable VW independents advertising Mark 2s with lower mileages and for less than you're willing to pay.
Alex
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Hmm. The suggestions I'm getting are real eye-openers. I had harboured an impression of the Backroom as populated by cost conscious, risk averse, reliability obsessed types (like myself actually!). To be honest, I think that what I really want is a nice reliable little run around - if I were to go for a 2 litre Xsara or XSi I might find myself having lots of foot to the floor, chuck it round bends fun and who knows where it might end?!
Interesting idea about the Mark 2 Golfs though - If I could find one that had sorted out the carb problem I might consider it. There's something very liberating about driving a very old car (I quite often ding mine when squeezing it into the garage and it doesn't matter one jot). I seem to remember TheGRowler enthusing about hamnering around in an old Civic.
Just to pick up on the low mileage point again - does low mileage for age always equal lots of short town journeys (and therefore bad news)?
Pete
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Gareth - I'm sure almost any franchise dealer can make regular servicing look expensive. The HDi car has a 12000-mile interval with little to do that you can't do yourself - oil & filter, air & fuel filters, etc - and once out of warranty, coolant and brake fluid every few years. Of course if something goes seriously wrong, another story ...
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If I were in your position I'd do one of two things.
Either
buy another Mk2 Golf in good nick and keep yours for spares (space permitting) or strip it for useful bits and scrap the rest
or
buy a Japanese car for around £4k. I'd prefer younger with higher miles (if well serviced), than older with the same mileage.
I understand lots of people have reliable French cars but the odds are much better buying Jap. For me, for an everday car, it must start and stop with boring reliability and bits mustn't fall off. Everything else is optional.
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