Okay
My car 'died' on the M4 early yesterday morning (possibly you passed the smoking heap?)
Just been told its a new engine job and that puts the repairs at more than the cars worth.
So I want to get a good runner that eats motorway miles in some type of comfort - Im thinking of getting a car to last me for this job and then will sell on in 2009 and buy a car that I can research etc. Right now I just need wheels!
I have a budget of between £3 to £4k (dont need finance)
Need to deal within this week (currently have car hire)
I am currently doing 500 miles-ish per week and will be for the next 5 months or so so that will be 10 to 12k miles added to the clock.
Im on here basically as my car died before its time (72k on the clock) and I wasnt even beginning to look for another so now I need to rely on someone pointing me in the right direction.
HELP ;)
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Sorry to hear your news. Perhaps something like this would be good:
www.autoquake.com/vehicle/inspid=4091
I have no connection with autoquake and have not bought from them, but they have been well reviewed in the press.
you can buy online and have the car delivered, which must be a big advantage in your circumstances.
Good luck!
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2003/2004 VW Bora 130 TDI, pick one up with 1 company owner, 90-100K on the clock, full VW service history for under £4K. Nice spec, good reliability, good spares availability and most importantly 50mpg easily.
You should find one somewhere locally.
If you aren't a badge snob - Skoda Octavia TDI, Seat Leon TDI basically anything from the VAG group of 1.9TDI engines. They might not be overly refined, but they are basically sound.
I speak from a quite clearly biased view - my 04 Golf 150bhp diesel is now on 134K...
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If you've got to have wheels now, then the only choice is open Autotrader, type in your postcode and budget and see what comes up locally. You just want something with 1 owner, history, and in good condition, with a decent sized engine to swallow the 500miles/week. When you need to get mobile, you can't be too picky about the make/model/colour - just buy on condition.
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I'd second the Bora. 2 mins on Autotrader finds an 03 plate SE TDI 130 with 99,000 miles for £3,800. There are others in the same ballpark too. At least one of them has to be worth buying.
With the VW PD's, just watch out for sharks trying to pass off the early 2000/2001 115PS models as 130's. Loads of people do this, and it's very annoying, not to mention misleading. The 130 is a much nicer engine than the 115.
Cheers
DP
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Another vote for the 1.9PD engine! I have an A4 TDi 130 that has now done 143,000 miles. Up until recently I was doing 7-800 motorway miles a week and it hasnt missed a beat. It easily achieves 50mpg and in my opinion one of the best diesels made - effortless power and ultra reliable for a modern diesel.
For 4K you can take your pick with what car to have it in, Golf, A3, Octavia, Passat etc. I wouldnt be put off by high mileage either if its got a full service history and been run on the correct oil.
Out of interest, what has just gone bang?
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Just to echo and add to other comments (including my own...), look for a 100K one company owner ex-lease vehicle. This should have been correctly serviced, with oil changes etc.. been done, no worries (or rather less) about it being clocked (my Golf could be wound back to 50K quite easily).
Let us know how you get on...
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Or spend £795 on the Mondy in Classifieds.
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How can I check about the oil?
(bang was a 2001 x type jag 2.5 SE - a real money pit - in fact just paid £300 on friday (sob) to replace the n/s/f window motor - never even got to use it) 4 months ago it was £600+ for 4 shocks etc - 10k service intervals come round fast and were never short of £500+ (with all the extras) - TERRIBLE build quality - will never ever buy jag again - I know you will all say 'its a mondeo' but please dont be rude to mondeo's).......will miss the comforts though........ :-(
Im trying to get a direct email into TOP GEAR to see if they want to help me blow it up !
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Look at the "car for 3k" thread currently running.
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Got to echo the calls for a VAG 1.9TDI.
I (stupidly) sold my Golf Mk 4 1.9TDI 5 or so years ago when it hit 100K. Cue salesman in dealership sucking his teeth. Dont know what I was thinking, it wasn't the most satisfying car in the world to drive but it was very comfy and always returned in excess of 50mpg.
I think I fell into the trap of thinking that 100k was some sort of sound-barrier for cars. Hair-brained. I see from a DVLA check that its still on the road!
tt
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Loads of Rover 75 diesels in that price bracket. Great motorway mile muncher, loads of extras and comes with the BMW M47 diesel engine at a price far less then any BMW with it in.
Take a look at one, it might just surprise you.
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>>Loads of Rover 75 diesels in that price bracket. Great motorway mile muncher, loads of extras and comes with the BMW M47 diesel engine at a price far less then any BMW with it in.
I can vouch for the 75. Mine was traded in with 230,000 miles on it and apart from a dodgy crankshaft sensor that had a mind of its own in the end it ran very well!
There is the ZT as well to consider if you want to swap the wood for aluminium! YOu will get a lot of car for your money and it will likely be newer than some of the other suggestions. Enginewise I prefer my PD I have now to the M47 however I did only have the low powered 116bhp M47 in mine rather than the 135 so not really comparing like for like in power terms. The M47 is a smoother engine although it seems to suffer the same as most common rails in that they are not as frugal on fuel and my average was about 5mpg less that what I get now
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What about a Volvo S60 D5?
There are a couple of sub100k milers available in your budget.
Only thing to look out for on pre2003 models is make sure the injectors have been replaced as they can leak and leave you with a 1500GBP bill.
Solid, fast and mid 40's mpg easily achievable.
Insurance is pretty good too.
No need to sell in 2009, just run it until the wheels fall off for work and buy something fun for private use.
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Forgot to add, if getting on for 8 years or 96k miles insist on the cambelt being done as part of the sale.
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