Hi guys, I've got a friend who needs a new car sharpish.
He's got a budget of around about £500 and so far his eye has been caught by A 1995 Rover 214 SLi with the half leather interior and alloys etc.
The one that he's most interested in though is a Saab 9000 2.0 Turbo CSE. It's a 1993 model with supposedly a full history, new brakes, and a recent Turbo. It's got 8 months test but no tax and is up for £500 no offers. Obviously we're aware that the tax takes the car up to nearly £600.
I've read the CBC breakdown and it seems reasonably favourable, but there wasn't much mention of the 2.0 Turbo model, which I suppose is a good thing in a way!
Just wondering what people's opinions are on this particular one, as I have to say that I'm quite impressed that such a large, smart looking car can be had for so little, but I have no idea what to watch out for, and suspect that he may leave himself liable for some huge bills with this car over the next 6 months.
I should probably add that he needs the car ideally to last about 6 months before he can look at sorting another replacement, and he can't really afford for much to go wrong with whatever he buys.
The other contender is a 1996 Escort which I know the some of the history of as it's been in my family for the last couple of years.
Any suggestions appreciated!
Blue
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Rover 214? K-series. Say no more!
Saab 9000 Turbo. He has checked the insurance right???
I'd check out the price of ZX's - 1.9D ahould be available at that price easily.
Any car only costing £500 is at risk of needing more money than it's worth spending on it at any time, and should be considered throwaway, unless you're handy with the spanners. Even then the parts cost might be marginal (eg our £300 ZX TD needed £200 of parts to sort the rear brakes). A long MOT might be an indicator, but nothing is guaranteed!
Pity, £500 is never going to stretch to the one-size-fits-all Mondeo TDCi.......!
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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No, he hasn't checked the insurance yet, which I did say might be a killer.
At this price it would just be TPFT cover anyway, so we're hopeful that he shoul be able to afford something...
A bit more searching on Autotrader has thrown up a 1995 Mazda Xedos 6 2.0 for £400, with leather etc. I'm starting to think that if he goes for a big car this might be a *much* more sensible proposition (although maybe not as attractive to look at or drive as the Saab, but at this price who cares?)
Mazda parts and repair costs are OK aren't they? The review on CBC breakdown was pretty favourable of the 24V 2.0 engine I thought...
Blue
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Tempting as the Saab is, I would probably stick with the Escort.
Inevitably something will go wrong on one of them at some stage (unless you are lucky) and it will be cheaper and easier to sort on the Ford than the Saab, great car though it is.
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Generally large cars which are cheap are cheap for a good reason, that reason being a combination of:
High insurance costs
High repair and running costs
On the other hand, if you can deal with those you therefore get an absolute bargain.
Your mates situation doesn't seem like the ideal one to deal with those things though, perhaps better sticking with the less exotic in that position.
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I ran a 9000 to 135K miles in 4 years. It had regular services and brake disks. Nothing else. Totally reliable. (2.3turbo16v, was not driven gently)
My parents have a saab 900 bought new in 1994, only has 100K miles but has had nothing but servicing, new rear shocks and the removal of the aftermarket immobiliser they fitted when they bought it.
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Rather have the Saab than the Rover or the Escort anytime. I've had 2 & apart from minor niggles both were solid performers. On the insurance front it depends what 2.0 turbo it is. If its the LPT (low pressure turbo 130bhp,) insurance won't be that expensive on TPFT, I was £450 comp with 1yrs NCB. The full blown 2.0 turbo has 175 bhp. Only faults I had with them was intermittent C/L issues & a replacement exhaust. Most Saabs of that age are around £300-£700, no more than a £1000 for an impeccable one. If he is only having the car for at least 6mths, take the Saab & a 6mth policy & enjoy.
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The Saab could/should be reliable though any small fault will be pricey, the Rover has not got the best reputation though if it is healthy it is good to drive and the 1.4 suffers least from the HGF, you see a lot around. However for a budget motor the Escort with known history would probably take my vote.
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Thanks for the replies guys, he's just had the insurance quotes come through and the Mazda and Saab are both out.
He's currently paying about £40 or £50 per month on a Micra (which will be gone next Monday, hence the rush), his insurance co. want £101 per month for the Saab and £120 or something stupid for the Mazda. They only want £61 for the Escort 1.6 LX that he has the chance of.
It may not be as nice as the Saab by a very long chalk, but at least we know it will get him from A to B in one piece and is only a tenner a month more than his current Micra.
Now the tough question is whether to go for the mechanically decent but cosmetically shabby Escort that I know is for sale, or go for a cosmetically better one with better spec for a bit more money, but then we don't know how it is mechanically. I think I'd personally be more tempted with the cosmetically shabby one seeing as it has a more known history than anything else he can buy, and at this price range that must count for a lot. (I know how the plastic rear bumper was cracked for example :)
Will of course let you all know how we get on, we think we'll go looking at them in the flesh tommorow afternoon.
Blue
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I would be more tempted by the cosmetically decent one. If it has been lokked after cosmetically it is quite likely to have been looked after mechanically, and if better specced will be nicer to own. I had a 1.8lx and was very plased with it as my 1st company car. Put 80,000 on it with never a problem.
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Thanks for the input everyone, just thought I'd update you that he did manage to get himself sorted.
The family Escort deal didn't come off as we couldn't reach a good middle ground on price, and there were some alarming warning signs about the nice looking Escort ("I'm selling the car for a friend...")
He ended up qith a 1994 Mondeo TD LX with an indicated 115K but true mileage more likely to be about 150K. It's tidy enough for what he paid for it, the engine is whisper quiet for a diesel, still has plenty of pull (for a 1.8TD anyway) and it doesn't smoke.
He paid £375 with 10 months MOT and 3 months tax.
Think it should give him some reliable service, touch wood! :-)
Blue
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