I am selling my 307 and would welcome any recommendations on what car to buy next please?
Requirements please:
Diesel
£4-5K
I prefer the style of VW, Audi, Merc, BMW type cars
Reliable
Reasonable boot space (Hatchback or Estate, don't think I want a saloon though)
5 doors
Had 110 BHP before so would like similar feel if possible
(Dream car is a 2002+ Yellow Beetle but the diesels seem to be above my price range at the mo - £7K ish minimum).
Many thanks for any suggestions.
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Few questions
1. What's your current car
2. What finance package will you be buying through
3. How many miles a year do you do?
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Wow quick service, Thanks.
1) 307 D Turbo Hdi 110 69K on the clock. 03 reg 5 doors (selling because it is costing too much money with problems - although loved the style and my prev comp car which was the same - just must have bought a duffer, so fed up now!).
2) Cash (0% credit card deal) - presume that is classified as cash?
3) 10 K (half pers/half biz)
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1) what are you expecting to get for it?
2) i.e. 100% borrowed?
3) self employed? own company?
eBay item 160307652577 not in canary yellow, but something like that?
Edited by Mapmaker on 13/01/2009 at 16:41
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Umm
1) Would like £4500 but more like £4000 maybe less :o(
2) Yes all on a 0% credit card
3) My own Ltd company (car will be owned by me not the company)
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oops just seen ebay comment too - will now check...
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I'd go for an Octavia over any of the makes you've listed, much more car for the money.
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Thank you - Is an Octavia only a saloon style - in which case I may check out the Fabia instead - is it comparable please?? Many thanks.
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Thank you - Is an Octavia only a saloon style -
Its a hatch back and is larger than the Fabia.
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Thank you for your reply - If I am honest I don't like the look of the Octavia. Sorry I know that is not what is important when buying a car! Thanks anyway. Fabia looks better. I just need reasonable boot space for my job (i.e not Ford Ka size!) not necessarily a big car over all. Cheers
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Thank you for your reply - If I am honest I don't like the look of the Octavia. Sorry I know that is not what is important when buying a car! Thanks anyway. Fabia looks better.
At the end of the day, its what you like that matters... there are many cars i don't like the look of either and wouldn't buy for just that reason... having said that my current car, a Roomster, is certainly an aquired taste!
I have had two Fabia Estates (both the Mk1 versions which went from 2000 to 2007 and would be in your price range), for a total of 6 years, and had only one problem, the only extra bill in 100000 miles of motoring other than servicing/consumables was a electronic steering box costing £145 on the earlier one and which they have now sorted, I understand.
If you can find one, the Estate is much more flexible than the Hatchback and very little bigger, and the 1.9TDi engine is a real beauty in that car, if a little noisy!
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Yes like that - I would just be nervous buying from Ebay as I managed to buy such a duffer from a garage with test drive. Great price for my 307 but did not foresee the problems, could have just been unlucky but fingers feel burnt !
For Beetle - 2002 + (better handling than b4 2002), Air con (500 built without, found this out on HJ!), CD (lots have radio/cassette), sunflower yellow and diesel.
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I would just be nervous buying from Ebay
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A frequent suggestion here on the forum - employ an "aution buyer"
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Thanks for comment. What is an auction buyer please?
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Thanks for comment. What is an auction buyer please?
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A small company thar specialises in obtaining for a customer (you) a defined vehicle from an auction.
They take out a whole load of hassle. They buy on quality using their experience.
They obviously charge a commission.
I have not used one but others here have.
e.g www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=68...2
Joe Dowd :-
www.auctioncarbuyer.co.uk/About-AuctionCarBuyer.htm
They are country wide.
Obviously the tighter the specification of the car the more difficult it may be to find one
or longer to wait.
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Thank you, great niche, I will bear this in mind if I go down the auction route.
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>> Thanks for comment. What is an auction buyer please? >> A small company thar specialises in obtaining for a customer (you) a defined vehicle from an auction. They take out a whole load of hassle. They buy on quality using their experience. They obviously charge a commission. I have not used one but others here have. e.g www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=68...2 Joe Dowd :- www.auctioncarbuyer.co.uk/About-AuctionCarBuyer.htm They are country wide. Obviously the tighter the specification of the car the more difficult it may be to find one or longer to wait.
I would thoroughly recommend Joe, I've been using his company for about 6 years and my wife and I have bought 10 cars in the that time (I do a lot of miles so need to change about every 9 months or so).
Looking at HJ's auction reports I would think that at the moment you could get pretty much whatever you wanted!
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Keri
sorry for al the questions, why diesel? you need to do a lot of miles for them to make financial sense, and you limit your choice by having to buy another diesel.
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Thats a bit of a sweeping statement, AE, and I would dispute it strongly, especially with cheap cars when the price difference between petrol and diesel is neglegable and the mpg can make quite a difference...
I agree that all possiblities should be explored but diesel can make sense even for a low mileage car...
For what its worth if you like the VAG stuff, try the Seat Leon, good looking and comes with VAG diesel or petrol engines...
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Thanks for all comments so far. No probs re questions.
Diesel because I used to do a lot more miles and hope to in the future (1st year of new business) - also my boyf's car is a petrol so we always took mine for the long journeys, although he is now getting a diesel this month so eliminates that I suppose.
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For this price range and the inclusion of reliability then I think the Corolla is the best bet.
But me thinks you are drawn to the force of the VAG and other German brand badges and don't seriously want reliability over that.
But at least you know what you want which is good.
Edited by Pendlebury on 13/01/2009 at 16:57
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Thanks - I will get searching - my first car was a Corolla (Ahhh... If I only I had known about Cam belts back then!) and the recent ones don't look too bad. A few people have also mentioned the Corolla as being reliable.
I do want reliability, which in my friends and parents experiences seems to come from those type of VAG (?) and German cars but another friend has a new-ish Corolla and loves it (only had it a year though).
The force is strong though .....:o)
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If reliability is your overriding parameter, then probably choose oriental. But nearly all marques are pretty reliable these days, so unless you can tell the difference between your chances with 99.8% and 99.9% reliable, probably go for the style you like and buy from a trustworthy source (if you know one) and don't choose on the basis of a marginal £50 to change.
By the way, cambelts on Peugeot 207 diesels are meant to last over 100K before being changed.
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I do know where you are coming from - the force had me for years and years - I only mention the corolla as an option as clearly they modelled the profile on the Golf with the large C pillar etc and it may suit your needs.
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Yes - good idea thank you. Will have a look at what's on offer.
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Ford Focus - the sensible choice.
Handles like a dream, corners on rails, no car has more direct steering.
1.8 and 2.0 litre diesels pull like a train, they're cheap and there's plenty around.
As I said, it's the sensible choice - or am I being one of those repetitive Focus owners?
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That's OK I am just glad no-one has mentioned the Mondeo yet! Phew.
Thank you - the Focus certainly seems to get the thumbs up in the reviews on HJ.
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It will be a firm ride after your Peugeot, so have a drive in one if you're serious.
Focuses are not the most refined, so listen out for noise in general and road/tyre noise in particular.
They are also quite a 'heavy' drive - the power steering is not that light and the brakes need a bit of a push.
Other than that, you'll not get much more driving fun in a practical package for your money.
Get a good one and it will go on forever -150k plus is not uncommon.
Edited by ifithelps on 13/01/2009 at 19:20
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That's OK I am just glad no-one has mentioned the Mondeo yet! Phew.
I can't part my wife from our Mondeo estate these days. She is though, by her own admission, quite strange. A keen and very skilled driver though, I have to say.
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"or am I being one of those repetitive Focus owners?"
Never! However I restrained myself from recommending a diesel Focus because I've not driven one.
Miss K, I don't know nuffin' about diesels but I wish you the best of luck with whatever you choose. It's shame your Peugeot's decided to play up so much. Only an 03 plate too. Hardly even "oldish" in my book. Heed the advice of these people, they jknow their onions.
The biggest car error I made was having my P-reg Saxo's head gasket replaced at a cost of about £850 when it was 5 years old. It had done 45k miles. Apparently Citroens are worth a punt now but it'll be a few years before I go French again. Probably means I'm now missing out but hey, so what, I drive A 9 year-old focus and it rocks. Like ifithelps say's it's not the most refined car in the world but mechanically it's proved to be very solid indeed. You can also afford to eb very choosy as there are tons about.
Repetitive? Me?
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Ford Focus - the sensible choice. Handles like a dream corners on rails no car has more direct steering.
Whilst it may have the best handling in class, there are a lot of cars outside of the medium hatch bracket that have far far better steering.
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Try and get a test drive of:
Skoda Fabia estate
VW Golf hatch or estate
Audi A3 Sportback
SEAT Leon
Toyota Corolla
Ford Focus
Honda Civic (old shape)
and see which you like. The first four of these will have the same 1.9 diesel engine; in the Golf and the A3 you can get one with 130 bhp which goes like a bomb.
You could also think about a Mercedes A-class but the diesel is excessively noisy.
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>>>>..Reasonable boot space
>>You could also think about a Mercedes A-class but the diesel is excessively noisy.
and IMO the older A class boot is tiny.
see HJ's reviews
www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm
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Thanks so much everyone - great suggestions.
I think I'll get some test drives sorted out, that will no doubt eliminate a couple quite quickly (once tested a new Vauxhall Astra for a comp car - so noisy it was a no straight away). My boyfriend is looking for an A3 Sportback - so I'll test drive when he does and get some others arranged too. Will also read all the reviews for each car on HJ.
Thanks for all the ideas - looking forward to looking now instead of being overwhelmed!
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I have a 54 plate Honda accord estate executive diesel its booked at around £3.5k trade you should get a good one retail for around £4.5k lovely cars has just about every extra known to man and should last years.
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Andy,
We've been looking for a medium size family diesel car at £4-5k since Dec and gone round in circles. By chance just been offered a 54 plate Honda Accord Diesel esate for about £4k and it does look the business, it's a sport CDTi with half leather. Not a car I'd thought of... can you tell more about how you get on with yours.
David
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The Pug 307 is a very nice car especially with the HDi (when it works properly). One thing I would say is be careful you don't throw the baby out with the bath water. If you like the Pug (albeit you don't like its current problems) then it may cost less to stick with it and persevere unless it's a total lemon. A good independent may be able to sort it out for you for a reasonable price, perhaps less than the cost to change. All of the money you have spent on repairs could now be of great benefit to somebody else. That said I know an unreliable car is a pain in the butt, so I can understand you wanting to get rid, and if you were thinking of changing anyway...
I agree with other posters that the VAG 1.9 is one of the best and least fickle of the diesels out there albeit a little less refined than some of the others. I've heard the newer VAG 2.0 has had a few teething problems.
The focus TDCi is also a great car IMHO, but has a very similar engine to the Pug.
I do around 30,000 miles per year, and I went down the petrol route. My fuel bills are a bit higher, but as HJ points out diesels can cost a fortune to fix when they go wrong. I've also found that diesels tend to be much harder on the front tyres. I would note that petrols tend to be much more thirsty around town and when cold so if you do lots of short trips around town the diesel may still be better.
I'd also advice you to avoid ones with DPF particulate filters. These seem to be a right pain on many cars.
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Thanks for comments - I think I have a lemon though. Dual Mass Fly Wheel apparently needs doing (Pug dealer had intake of breath and quoted £1200), and NOW there is a knock when I turn the steering on corners!! (Already fixed intake pipe after breaking down, wheel bearing 'went' whilst away for work, FAP filter and sensor replaced, Temp sensor replaced, motor for squirty stuff replaced.....anyway enough already!).
What does IMHO stand for please? And VAG please? Useful advice re diesels and petrols. Very much appreciated, thank you.
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What does IMHO stand for please? And VAG please?
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In My 'Umble Opinion.
Volkswagon Audi Group. - includes Skoda and SEAT.
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David, my '55 plate Accord Tourer 2.2 diesel is on about 82k, and I'm buying the car at the end of a PCP agreement.
Generally it has held up very well indeed, with few signs of ageing. Shift into 3rd gear is not as smooth as it was, and there is some slight drivechain shunt, but much less than my previous couple of cars have had at lower miles. Honda have extended the warranty to 4 years for £250 including the breakdown cover, which seems like a good deal to me.
The car has not been without significant problems (search the forum for more details) but overall I'm happy. It's comfortable, powerful, and suits my needs well. They are thirstier than an equivalent VW group PD diesel, but they are also much more refined.
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Hi,
I am a regular reader and not so regular poster, but thought I would chuck my thoughts into the mix :-)
I have had both a Leon and a Skoda Fabia (vRS) and would highly recommend them both. The Fabia was the best car I have ever owned, v.ecnomical, and extremely rapid! Also looks nice with the sublte body kit, and there is a suprising amount of space in the car and the boot.
The Leon I had was also a very good car, bit bigger than the Fabia and if anyhting felt better quality than the Golf I have now.
And most importantly they are both available in Yellow (Ovni and Lemon respectivley)!
Both should be available for under £5k easily i would have thought. Look for a Leon SE 130 in yellow if you dont fancy the tastier TDI 150 Cupra. The SE 130 is a bit of a wolf in sheeps clothing. :-)
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Thanks - Leon and Fabia keep popping up so think I'll test them just to see how it goes. Yellow is reserved for 'my' Beetle. Thank you for comments, very helpful.
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>>Dream car is yellow Beetle, but the diesels are above price range.
So go for a petrol. You don't need a noisy oil burner. And you don't need to put up with driving a Focus/Mondeo/Fabia rather than your classy Beetle.
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I have had mine now 6 months done some 25k miles it now has 98k and I have changed a headlamp bulb plus oil and filter changes at 8k intervals it is superb,mine has the full leather electric heated seats, sat nav etc never use either.Bullet proof chain cam engine lovely to drive and extremely good economy I am getting around 43mpg.Nothing out there to touch them for the money.
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I think the Leon is a nice handling and very spacious car and even the boggo 105 bho 1.9 TDI feels quite lively. Worth a look if you can find one at this price. Fabias with the 1.9 (100 or 130 BHP) engine are real little fliers and offer great economy as well.
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Miss K, if your dream car is a Beetle, then get it. Anything else will then be "temporary" until you get the Beetle.
My wife has wanted a Beetle all her life, she has done all the collecting models etc etc and then eventually last year she got one, a 53 plate diesel and she loves it to bits. Until her test drive she had never actually been in a modern Beetle! She was so scared in case the test drive would put her off the car as this was a dream finally being realised and would have been devastated if it turned into a nightmare.
She still loves the car (I hate it for what its worth), and just the other day she remarked that "every time I drive Benji (!), he makes me smile!! In fact things are so bad I was actually able to get her a car accessory for her Xmas and she loved it (chrome eyelids).
There are a few Beetle websites which would be of great assistance, try newbeetle.org for a starter.
We paid £7500 for the car last April, this car had been sitting for almost 9 months and had started at £8995.
Go on, you know you want to!!!!!
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If you go on the Autotrader website and do a search for yellow beetle diesel, there is a 2003 one for £5400 that has had its cambelt done (a £400 bill).
Or there are several petrols but stick with the 1.6 rather than 2.0.
Don't know where you are in the country, and don't know how to post links to individual autotrader items! Sorry!
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tinyurl.com/7jl3vn there it is! (Bobby, right click on the page, and then click on properties. This will bring up url. Paste that into tinyurl, and then you're your own nephew...)
Private seller, so worth £200 for the AA man to have a look at it if you don't know what you're doing.
As the trade-in price according to Glass's is
Excellent condition: £4340
Average condition: £3910
Below average condition: £3500
I should think you ought to get it for less than they're asking ("ono" they state).
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We have a Polo Tdi Sport for sale 3 Door, Silver (100bhp) 2003(52plate) Mot Till 21/12/09 Silver immaculate inside usual stonechips outside. paint coming off tailgate release handle(Error in paint process?). Currently 63000miles. Full service history(not main dealer) Cambelt changed Feb 08 at 52000m. We bought ex network Q 3.5 yr ago. My GFriends car. She has now got a co car. Looking for £3k. Location Southern Scotland
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Thanks Loskie. I need 5 doors (unless it's a beetle of course!) and I am M4 corridor.
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Thanks Andy - what car are you talking about please?
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Thanks, I have already started looking that way now as it could just be possible :o)especially as my boyfriend is getting a bigger diesel.
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The above message was in reply to Mapmaker suggesting I look at Petrol.
And in reply to Bobby G (and Mapmaker) my situ is similar to your wifes - always wanted one and when it gets closer I almost get scared it won't live up to the dream. I have test driven the new ones twice and was hired one for a birthday weekend jaunt too! It has the same smile effect for me. It's ridiculous I know.
I think you are right, anything will be temporary till then. I had a comp car for 8 years so no option and when I got my own car last year it was in a rush and no time to look properly at the dream options. I resent chucking money at a car I don't love and won't have forever. If I get a Beetle I plan to just have it till it dies as it's the car I want.
I have stalked all the yellow beetles in the country it feels but was put off this one as it is private - but if I get it for less then its worth the £200 to get it checked - great approach. There is a petrol W reg one near home for £2995 (dealer) so I am going to see how it is - I have read that prior to 2002 the handling is not as good so would prefer 2002+ but if I can't tell the difference it may save me some money. But will also check out diesel and 2002+ to compare.
I am curious about your 1.6 rather than 2.0 comment - please explain why?
Thanks so much for all your comments, everyone, it's really helping me with my decision process - lots to think about and will report back when I have tested some of the suggestions throughout this thread. Thanks for Beetle website - haven't come across that one so will check it out.
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Miss K, re the 1.6 / 2.0 query, probably best to search for more info. When we were looking for a Beetle we were advised to get the 1.6 or diesel and we picked the diesel due to mileage and economy.
I believe the 2.0 has had various issues over the years and also, obviously, is less economical and probably more tax.
I think part of the issue may well be that the majority of people who buy Beetles do so for the shape and the car, and not necessarily for the engine or top speed / acceleration etc so most are happy with the 1.6.
More info can be found on Beetle forums.
Re buying private, don't be put off about this. Read up on your Beetles and then speak to the sellers. If they share the same knowledge then the chances are that they are Beetle-lovers as well and will have treated car well. The one in the advert has just had a timing belt change, with that should also have came a water pump change (it won't have needed it but its easier to do at the same time rather than later so many do the two combined). You could check receipts and talk to the garage who did the work. I must admit it is strange to spend that amount and then sell straight after, however it may well be, like many of us, they have realised that they need to sell some assets to make some money to pay the bills!
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The 1.6 is quite a good unit, the 2.0 is surprisingly slow and thirsty, but I believe both are quite reliable.
Did VW sell the 1.8 20v petrol (or turbo version of same) in the beetle? That engine is a peach. I had a Golf 1.8T and it went like stink, pulled like a train and gave me around 40MPG!
As I previously mentioned, I prefer petrol even though I do quite a lot of miles each year. With diesel being quite a bit more expensive than petrol now, I'm not convinced there's much difference. My 1.8 petrol Mondeo works out at about 11p per mile for fuel (if not driven like a lunatic) on mixed driving and longish runs.
Just think how much petrol the price difference between the petrol vs diesel model would buy.
Things like high pressure fuel pumps and injectors on diesels are also much more expensive than their petrol counter parts (e.g fuel pump for petrol typically <£200, fuel pump for common rail diesel typically £1000). Petrols also don't have FAP/DPF filters and things like dual mass flywheels, and are generally less complicated. Less complicated = less to go wrong = simpler to fix = less money.
At the end of the day, I do like the VAG diesel because it's quite robust, and I'm not totally anti-diesel, but if you see a beetle you like in good condition keep an open mind and don't rule it out just because it's petrol. Look at the total cost of running the car and you shouldn't go far wrong.
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If you are set ont he Beetle, and will not being doing huge mileages, how about a 2.3 V5 Beetle? Should be available cheaply now and prob notthat more expensive to run than the 2.0 petrol (which a friend has in a Golf Cabriolet, and drinks petrol at the same rate my 2.8 V6 Golf did!
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