Choice for new car

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Wed 21 Feb 2007 22:12
Choice for new car - cmbdon
Hi


Time to get a new car , I have looked around and taking into account my budget (apprx £2000 ) and my choices are narrowed to the following :

Vauxhall Vectra (01 ) plate petrol 83,000 on the clock
Volvo S40 (do they do these in Diesels? )
Saab 9-3 or 9-5 (again looking for diesel model )

Looking at Volvo and Saab for safety reputation as well which is important to me.

anyone any thoughts or experiences on any of these models?

cheers all

Cmbdon
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Wed 21 Feb 2007 23:53
Choice for new car - stunorthants26
Yes the S40 came as a diesel. Personally id choose the Volvo as I have a soft spot for one although look at the small petrol engines as they can be nearly as economical.
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Thu 22 Feb 2007 11:31
Choice for new car - Brian Tryzers
The Saabs are much the nicest cars on your list but not in diesel form. The 2.2 TiD engine is a really noisy, rattly old thing and does nothing for the civilized ambience of the car. I had a 1996 900 and a 1998 9-3 in 2.0 petrol form and the 9-3 in particular was a delight. By 2001 you could have it with the 150 bhp 2.0 LPT engine for a bit more oomph in the higher gears - the 130 bhp non-turbos I had were quick enough but needed revs to get them moving. Both typically gave me about 33 mpg. Get one in Cosmic Blue with the honey-coloured velour seats and no wooden dashboard inserts and I think you'll be very pleased.

The 9-5 is likeable too, especially in estate form, but I'm not sure you'd get a good one for £2,000. Or you could ask James Ruppert, who'd probably tell you to get one of the last of the old 900s instead - complete with sighing power steering. I like the 9-3, though, and those who sneer that "It's a Cavalier underneath" are missing the point in a big way - it's a far nicer thing to own and to live with, and full of touches that make you glad they took the trouble. And once you're used to a Saab, a column-mounted ignition lock in anything else just seems to get in the way!
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