I don't know much about cars, so i thought i try you guys to see if any one can help. My first time on this forum.
I have no experience in buying cars or know about cars, i always had a company car. Now i need to buy my own. I'm looking for a diesel car, because i do around 30,000 miles a year. I'm not sure what to buy, new or nearly new, what make or model? Is diesel right for me or not? So many questions. I would say i need a 5dr Focus to Mondeo size since i have a family. Cheap to run & repair.
Can someone please point me in the wright direction.
Company cars I've had are Mondeo & focus.
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Company cars I've had are Mondeo & focus.
Did you like them?
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What's your budget?
How long to you intend to keep the car?
At 30,000 miles a year, diesel sounds like a good idea.
Skoda Octavia 1.9 Tdi would probably be a good choice. They are not too expensive, big enough for a family, and generally do very well in owner satisfaction surveys. People I know who own them are very happy.
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Hi Tally - I was faced with the same dilemma some years ago. As a word of caution, any minute now you are going to be met by the the tooth sucking Ford diesel hating doom brigade. However, all I can tell you is that out of 35 cars, 6 of the last 10 I have had were Ford diesels. Not one of them ever let me down. The other 4 included a BMW, a Renault, a Volvo and a Citroen. They all broke.
If you like Mondeos and Focuses you will go far to find a better value / usefulness package.
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any minute now you are going to be met by the the tooth sucking Ford diesel hating doom brigade.
Exactly, I hate them.
Over the 5 or so Focus TDCi's we've owned, plus the ones I've driven at work, I've never been so unhappy with the mean time between failures compared with any other car I've owned past and present.
They just won't break! My local Ford dealer is there twiddling his thumbs all day! A shameful lack of contribution to the local economy on the part of Ford engineers.
;-)
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Mike Farrow
Edited by mfarrow {P} on 18/12/2007 at 21:19
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A good indicator of what is reliable is what the taxi drivers run - Skodas around us!
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On that basis [taxis] the Peugeot 406/407 would get my vote. They all seem to have them!
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A good indicator of what is reliable is what the taxi drivers run...
So that'll be an FX4, then :-)
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The reason for the popularity of Skoda as Taxis is that they are covered by the manufacturers warranty - a use that's specifically excluded by most manufacturers.
We have a fleet of Focus MK2 Diesels at work. Very nice to drive, well finished and generally reliable, had some problems with ECUs and Wiper control units when they first arrived though.
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If you have been happy with fleet type cars then stick with them. If you can get an 18 month old ex fleet car either at a dealer or at an auction you will be paying much less than new and you will still have the balance of the new car warranty. Seeing as you are honest about not knowing a lot about cars you should get an expert to assist. (There are heaps of people out there who fancy themselves as experts but are not.)
Decide on the model you want and then think about contacting Joe Dowd to buy one for you at auction. Many other back roomers have done that and if you do a forum search you will see many satisfied customers. Doing it that way will give you the best value for money. Once you have got the car service it exactly by the book and give it the best care and attention. You should get ten or more years out of it if you look after it. I have found that to be the cheapest way to run a car.
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Hi all
sorry I've been Christmas shopping today, just finished.
1) Did i like my company cars (Mondeo/Focus)?
YES.
2) How long do i hope to keep them?
Well i hope 3 to 5 years if 2nd hand or Longer if New.
The makes i was thinks around are Ford, Skoda, or a Vauxhall.
Ford Mondeo or Focus, Vauxhall Astra and also have look at the skoda's.
After thinking about it last night, I thought, probably best to buy a 2nd hand or as expat said, get a fleet car. That sounds good, but how do i go about it, what should i look out for.
See if I'm going to be doing 30,000 miles than i though i could at least change the car every 3 to 5 years.
Is it just me or do lots of people have difficulty in make the right choice.
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Well, I'm guessing that you know what the Fords are like. Pop into a dealer and have a look at the other cars on your shortlist - Skoda, Vauxhall, or whatever. Test drive them to see if you like the way they drive.
If you are going to buy 2nd hand, you could do a lot worse than follow expat's advice and contact Joe Dowd at www.auctioncarbuyer.co.uk/AuctionCarBuyer-Home.htm
That way, you should get a good 'un at a fair price.
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Thanks I'll try Joe Dowd.
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If you're buying 2nd-hand, there's a lot to be said for a Ford, as they lose their value quickly from new (through there being lots of them around). Go for a Focus or Mondeo 2.0 TDCI according to the size you want - or as suggested an Octavia (also 2.0 diesel).
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I have been gathering information from this forum for the same reason, not that I am looking to change at the moment as my XM is still servicable. The conclusion I have reached so far is that common rail diesels are not nearly as durable as the older ones. Although there are plenty of you out there that have never had any problems with common rail, there seem to be an alarming minority that have, and when you do it can be very expensive. If you are buying a new car, get the one with the best guarantee, if a secondhand one, a pre common rail one: Peugeot 406 1.9 or 2.1 td, Xantia, or a VW or Audi 1.9 td. As for me I'm sticking with my XM 2.1 td, I am able to repair that if it goes wrong! My previous one had covered nearly 300k when I sold it and was still going strong.
Peter.N.
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I've heard few good things about the Audi A3/A4 diesel. I can't afford a new one, but I'll have a look at 2nd hand.
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I've heard few good things about the Audi A3/A4 diesel. I can't afford a new one but I'll have a look at 2nd hand.
Now you are talking, you will love these.
My 27350 mile Focus TDCI needed nearly £1000 to repair a DMF fault. I sold it to the garage, for not very much, with the fault. I am now in the market for another car for my wife, it will not be a Ford diesel.
Have a look at all the Ford diesel posts on this site, 'hey would you punk?'
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Have a look at all the Ford diesel posts on this site 'hey would you punk?'
My Ford diesels have been great, the bestest things in best land ...so there !
Ched ? Mike ? are you there ?
Help me here ! Ah cannae hold 'em for long !
Ched.....Mike.......?
;-)
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>>I've heard few good things about the Audi A3/A4 diesel<<
A few is about right - there aren't that many good things to say about these cars.
:-)
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>>Cheap to run & repair.
No diesel will be cheap to repair - if the worse happens. The modern injection systems are technical marvels, but eye-wateringly expensive. And you also have a turbo to worry about. Watch out also for big service bills, like timing belt changes.
You could look for something made in the Far East with a long warranty.
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So many makes & models to choose from, no wonder people get all confused.
Are diesel cars more expensive to repair & service than Petrol?
Most people have suggested Ford Focus or a Mondeo. I'm gathering information on this cars as well as an Audi, Astra & of course Octavia.
Cars from Far East with a long warranty, I'll have to have a look at them too.
Are this worth buying 2nd hand?
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If you are looking at second hand and keeping for 3-5 years, and also do 30k miles per year then in 5 years that's very high mileage. Regardless of marque you might want to buy second hand but change sooner.
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Hello all,
After looking at lots of cars. I would like to get some of your opinions on Hyundai new Getz, i30 & Kia's Cee'd. for me or my wife. I do 30K a year & my Wife who does around 12k - 15k a year.
My Questions are, Are this cars reliable? What do you think of them? Are they worth the deal & why are they cheaper than others?
1) Getz, 1.5 CRTD 5dr, £8595.00, 5 year warranty, unlimited mileage.
2) i30, 1.6 CRDI Comfort 5dr, £12,995, 5 year warranty, unlimited mileage. 0% interest
3) Kia, Cee'd, 1.6 CRDi S 5dr, £12,295. 7 year warrenty/100,000 miles.
Also when should you buy a car to get a better deal?
Thanks
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what would the cee'd be worth in years time if you had to sell? I bet if you had a focus & Cee'd the Focus would sell first. I bought cheap once & it was worth zilch within the first few months so then you get stuck with it to get your moneys worth. Think of coverage of dealer ships as well. Kia have had some serious issues with there CR & once the car gets a few years old 3K on an injection system tends to make them scrap. The Sorento's used to suffer & the dealers would blame contamination so it aint just fords
Doc
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Hyundai i30 for me - not driven it, but it looks nice and having had a Hyundai previously, the warranty is excellent. However, do be aware that some times parts can be in short supply so you may need a courtesy car (in summary - mine was off the road for 12 WEEKS, and Hyundai UK gave me a hire car for that time)
In terms of depreciation - 5 years/150K will kill any cars value!
Depends on your dealer network tho' - what part of the country are you in?
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what part of the country are you in?
luton
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I wouldn't have the Getz. It's not a great car anyway, the interior particularly, and is about to be replaced this year, making it not a great deal.
I would normally say the Kia Cee'd. However, the model you've selected is the 89bhp version of the diesel, and I'd go for the more powerful one driving all those miles a year, and in terms of resale - also the cee'd is a big car...that said the reasons I would generally select the cee'd over the i30 is that it supposedly handles better and I know it has the more attractive interior. Personally I also prefer the styling.
The i30 wins on these three by virtue of the engine.
HOWEVER, note that What Car? publishes target prices that are supposedly achievable, and yours at notaby above those.
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Hi Tally
Haveing lost 2 cars in the recent floods I have just purchased by auction a 2004 (dissabilty)C-max with only 6500 miles on the clock,I recomend this route
shula
E320 Coupe
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