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I am considering buying a car to keep at my holiday home in France. I know I could continue renting but I’m spending about £2,500 pa on that, plus what the rest of the family spend when they go there. The second hand market in France demands crazy prices eg a 4 year old but very clean Peugeot 206 with 60,000km at €8,400 (£7,300). However, I can get a new Opel Agila Enjoy 1.0 petrol with aircon for €9,500 (£8,260). It seems to me that it would be better to buy new and benefit from a manufacturers warranty than risk a second hand car with perhaps a 3 month dealer warranty for the sake of £1,000. I mostly need it for local running around with the odd round trip of 200 miles or so. It must be able to carry two adults and three grandchildren but not much luggage. Nothing flashy, it doesn’t need to have brilliant roadholding abilities. I don’t need satnav or MP3 players and Bluetooth, etc.

Asked on 12 September 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
For short runs this engine in the Agila/Splash is okay. I thought it made more sense than the 1,248cc FIAT diesel engine in them. Test and video test of the Agila 1.0 litre with Suzuki Splash badges at www.honestjohn.co.uk All have upright seats and a clever, quick folding rear seat. But check that you can actually own a car as a non-resident in France. Unless foreigners are resident in Spain for tax purposes, they can no longer own a car there.
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