I nearly bought a Colt about 3 years ago ... twice I arranged a demo in an auto and the dealer let me down - twice, and they wern't exactly local to me.
I gave em the finger in the end :-D
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I gave em the finger in the end :-D
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In fairness the guy I have been dealing with has been a star. I have tried to wrong foot him, but I can't and to be fair the little big car has all the toys and ticks a lot of boxes. We are going to have another poke around on Saturday then next week take the demo out for the day. Will report soon as.
Cheers M
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According to the sales staff one of whom is brilliant and one is so up himself (I thought I had walked into a Volvo showroom) the gearbox is 'shared' with the 'Evo'. Slightly stronger though I imagine.
Where they being serious?
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The gearbox is 'shared' with the 'Evo'. Slightly stronger though I imagine.>> Where they being serious?
Yes, I guess they were, in principle of course.
MD
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Well, have gone and done it. Shaken hands on a new AMT Colt in white. Mrs. Devon drove it, turned her nose up as she always does at anything new (different), then drove around the local trading estate 7-8 times, started grinning. Went back to the dealer and she said yes.
It's actually a cracking little car and using the 'box manually (tiptronic) produced wonderfully smooth changes. The Auto' side of things has to be worked at to get the smoothest changes, but it can be done.
Will be signing on the dotted on Monday and am putting the old Volvo 850 GLT auto' in for scrappage. Will keep you posted.
Regards....MD
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Well done guv'na - I'm pleased for you ... pleased you didn't go down the Hyundai route.
Pity about the old Volvo workhorse, but it may well start a new life in Szczecin by all accounts ;)
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Make sure you take the servicing package Martin and if you're going to have it long term take the extended package too.
You'll not have any issues with the Colt, they have done something about the interior on the new model and that that the downside on the pre-facelift one. My 3 year old Colt rattles like an old bus inside but the reliability and MPG is amazing so I'll be keeping it for a few years yet.
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Make sure you take the servicing package Martin and if you're going to have it long term take the extended package too.
Thanks for that Carl. We have taken the servicing package as suggested. We were not offered nor have we seen it anywhere, the extended package that is. However we would be very wary of parting with that if it could not be re-couped if we decided to trade in at say three years.
One that note we think that we may trade in at nearly three and 'go again', but of course a lot can happen in that time!
What would this car be worth now if it was almost three years old, 10-15k miles as a trade in against a new one? Any thoughts out there as a rough guide.
Very best regards...............Martin.
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Thanks for that Carl. We have taken the servicing package as suggested. We were not offered nor have we seen it anywhere the extended package that is. However we would be very wary of parting with that if it could not be re-couped if we decided to trade in at say three years.
www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/colt/msp.asp explains the "MSP Top-Up"plan, you can actually buy it later when its required, which is rather nice.
What would this car be worth now if it was almost three years old 10-15k miles as a trade in against a new one? Any thoughts out there as a rough guide.
Not sure Martin, check out auto trader. However if you bought it at the right price then Mitsubishi Colt's loose very little in cash sums, it'll beat any VW in depreciation.
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Pity about the old Volvo workhorse but it may well start a new life in Szczecin by all accounts ;)
Apart from being incredibly tatty it hasn't missed a beat in ten years. Auto box can be a bit temperamental and slow when cold, but everything else works. A bit gutted to see it go AND there are 2 new tyres on the rear, less than 200 miles. If they're any good to anyone local to here and they can give me 2 other wheels and legal tyres (that fit) then they would be welcome to them. Same probably goes for any other bits. ABS pump anyone??
Weep weep..........MD
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Mrs. MD getting twitchy this morning about signing up for the Colt, citing small boot and probably dangerous in a rear ender. I guess that's going to be the case in any small vehicle though.
I can't seem to find anything else so well equipped at the money. Any thoughts anyone??
MD
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I can't seem to find anything else so well equipped at the money. Any thoughts anyone?? MD
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Hyundai i20 / i30? Longer warranty, conventional auto box, standard ESP and multiple airbags. IIRC the Colt only has front bags and no ESP.
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Hyundai i20 / i30? Longer warranty conventional auto box standard ESP and multiple airbags. IIRC the Colt only has front bags and no ESP.
All true but it's also down to money. The Colt is a very pleasing car and not as small as you think. I am 17.5 stone and Mrs. MD is cuddly too. There are no shoulder rubbing issues at all and the head height is brilliant.
The outlay to include the servicing package , 1st reg fee, road tax and 4 mud flaps is £8,614.00 including scrappage. Can that be beaten given the specification??
Oh my, I don't know.
I guess if we don't get on with it, it should resell within 6 months at close to the 8.5k..............shouldn't it?
Thanks again...........MD
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Martin, I hesitate to give you advice at this late stage. I know you have thought this through very carefully and thoroughly explored your options. All I can offer is some personal experience. My wife traded in her then three year old, highly reliable but very high mileage Mondeo estate for a brand new Ka five years ago. She loves the little car and is quite at peace with it being more than adequate for her needs but has often said she regrets giving up the larger, more comfortable and practical car. It may well still be the right decision for you to move to a low maintenance, no worries sort of car. I think, for what it's worth, that you might be better to have something which is more the type of size you are both used to even if that means buying a used one. My wife still nicks my car whenever she can.....
Sorry, that's no help at all really is it ?
Good luck with whatever you decide !
H
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Martin I hesitate to give you advice at this late stage. I think for what it's worth that you might be better to have something which is more the type of size you are both used to even if that means buying a used one. H.
I've been through all this and it's now doing my head in to coin a sad, but popular phrase. There always seems to be bargains when ya don't want one doesn't there? I have just been scanning Auto Trader and the prices that some dealers are asking are beyond belief. I know there are deals to be done and I bargain as hard as everyone, but I am getting twitchy now too.
I would have a Mondy tomorrow, but Auto is required and I have no faith in Ford auto boxes. Grrrrrrrr.
Thanks.........M.
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Well, the other side of that coin is that the little Ka has been a very low cost chunk of motoring convenience for five years. No fauts, no warranty claims, utterly reliable and indeed good fun to drive. The Colt you have your eyes on should probably give you a similar service plus a trouble and worry free period. That in itself must be worth something I guess.
Equally, when it comes time to replace my wife's car she is clear that she will go back to a larger vehicle. It's not that she "needs" one. She just prefers the versatility and feeling, if nothing else, of solidity and space.
It's normal to have second thoughts I suppose and for most people there is no such thing as the perfect car. At least if you go with the Colt you shoudn't have to think about it again for a while !
Having said all the above, I think I have more or less the perfect car for my purposes in the form of my Mondeo diesel estate but that probably just reflects the mundanity of my existance !
Go with your gut feelings. They are as likely to be right as anything......
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Go with your gut feelings. They are as likely to be right as anything......
Cheers HB
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Oh! and I think I forgot to say that Mitsi are providing 50% interest free finance for 12 months. Another little touch methinks.
Cheers all.....Martin.
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Yeah, well ... we all think like that at times MD, when was the last time you were 'rear ended' (answers on a post card!)
I used to drive a tank (Volvo 240GLT) a few years back, but since then I've had a Clio, Focus and now have an Almera.
I remember a few years back, a work colleague of my wifes was driving from Bodmin to Launceston on the A30, and she was hit by a Mercedes head on!
She suffered minor injuries which surprised me because *I know+ that is one car not to be in if hit by a Merc ...
Peugeot 106 :-(
Does your wife regularly have children on-board?
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Does your wife regularly have children on-board?
Never..MD
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MD ... just to throw a spanner in the worx, we are almost neighbours as I live in God's 2nd home country (his main home being Yorkshire)
I've purchased my last 3 cars from a dealer in Callington which is not a million miles from the Tamar.
They specialise in low mileage one owner cars and come most highly recommended.
I'll give you their website, but they usually have far more cars than are actually shown.
www.alanjgimblett.co.uk/pages/catalogue.php
I have no relationship *WHATSOEVER* with this dealer - apart from being a 3 times very satisfied customer.
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MD ... just to throw a spanner in the worx we are almost neighbours as I live in God's 2nd home country (his main home being Yorkshire) I've purchased my last 3 cars from a dealer in Callington which is not a million miles from the Tamar.
Thanks Perro I have just had a quick look at the site and that old Mitsi Carisma may have done management proud and at that price. However the deal is now done as of an hour ago and I am starting to relax. Haven't been so stressed for yonks. Delivery late September. Never had a new car before, only vans and motorbikes.
By the way...God lives in DEVON.
Thanks to you and to Humph for your words of wisdom and to everyone else who contributed.
Best regards...........Martin D.
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>>> By the way...God lives in DEVON. <<<
Oh, well - he gets everywhere since they dueled the A30 at Goss Moor!
All the best - Perro (the dog)
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Genuinely pleased for you Martin. Hope you and your wife enjoy the car when it arrives. Sounds like you got a good car and a fair deal.
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 10/08/2009 at 17:58
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Popped in to the Dealer yesterday afternoon, JUST for the Ayatollah to sign the V5 saying the old Volvo was going for scrap and I got mugged, right there in the showroom. I had £350 removed from my person and nobody did a thing other than laugh............
..................I can't believe I agreed to Metallic, but it did provide P&Q for about ten minutes I suppose.
How they can justify it I don't know.
Morning all....MD
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You didn't let 'em talk you into the miracle application as endorsed by motoring show presenters down to their last £illion whilst there did you?
You know the stuff, 1 thin coat @ £299 protects against all known and extra terrestrial hazards for at least a week..;)
Mind you you'll have loads of dosh to spare after keeping the faithful Volvotank fed and watered regularly.
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You know the stuff 1 thin coat @ £299 protects against all known and extra terrestrial hazards for at least a week..;)
Morning GB. Thanks for your encouraging words of wisdom this time of the morning, I love you too. NO. Is the answer to the product you refer to. In fact it was never mentioned, but I am in no doubt that Mrs. D would/could be talked in to it if I managed to slide off for a pint, if you get my drift. She has spent 30 years with a tight (cautious) and crafty git and still I reckon she'd get 'turned over' all too quickly.
Mind you she is quite cute in other departments (careful lads) as she said of the metallic blue,, "You didn't fight too hard did you? You don't really like the white do you?" Guess what? She knows me so well.
Thanks for your undying support in my hour(s) of need!!
Off now to see a fat b****...................Another Labrador pup to be. Never mind the colour, I guess I won't get to name it either!!
Cheers.................Martin D
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Dear Me Mods. B itch is a reference to a Female canine. Calm down.
Reg's.............MD
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Well done with your new purchase Martin. I have done 28K miles in my 1500cc turbodiesel Colt AMT and never had a problem with it, so reliability for me has been spot on. It is a belting little car and goes like stink when I ask it too, a real wolf in sheeps clothing and very economical.
The AMT does have a quirk of pausing for a while when you ask a lot of it. i.e. when cruising slowly up to a roundabout and almost stopping, if you then decide to floor it to 'make good progress' it can pause for a second or so until it decides what gear it needs. Takes a little bit of getting used too, but my advice is to learn to trust it, it will change down and move you as requested.
Since I bought mine, my daughter has also bought a 1.3 AMT Colt and has no issues with hers either.
Good Luck.
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Since I bought mine my daughter has also bought a 1.3 AMT Colt and has no issues with hers either. Good Luck.
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Thanks for those encouraging words.
Regards............Martin
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Ah a Labrador eating machine....forget what i said about money to spare.
My Golden pup consumed enough for a pack of wolves and once ate £80 in cash that someone posted through the door in an envelope, her teeth must have been hurting after chewing the carpets, furniture, bed, door frames and anything else that took her fancy.
Keep thinking about getting another pooch, musn't show swmbo any chink of weakness, she'll be out like a shot and get one, so i'm keeping schtum.
.;)
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My Golden pup consumed enough for a pack of wolves and once ate £80 in cash that someone posted through the door in an envelope her teeth must have been hurting after chewing the carpets furniture bed door frames and anything else that took her fancy.
The current youngster wasn't too bad. 1 shoe, not mine thankfully. various 'bits'. Oh! and 2 thermostatic radiator valves! (Still attached) 10k to keep a dog for life they say. We must be nuts. Cheaper than a young horse (Colt) though. (Motoring link)
Reg's as ever....MD
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The current youngster wasn't too bad. 1 shoe not mine thankfully. various 'bits'.
Should have got a cav king charles - we have enough trouble getting ours to eat dog food, never mind anything else. And that's good quality expensive stuff!
Very good in the back of the car though (motoring link).
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When younger, a Mate's Parent's had one of those things. A lot of them came/come from Puppy farms and are really badly (in)bred Pooches. This one was always a bit twitchy and one day it just turned and removed half of her top lip. It went ballistic. It was then put down.
MD
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What happened to `ordinary dogs` that used to roam around - sometimes with their mates, tongues hanging out? Have they all died out?
You used to motor past them and think I wouldn`t mind a dog like that and you could get one for free off someone down the road when their dog had pups.
Now it`s £800 and you`re terrified it`s going to peg it in the night.
"Ethel, can you still hear breathing?
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What happened to `ordinary dogs` that used to roam around -
Agree completely with that OR.
The overbred things now around are about as much use as modern kids, can't eat this, can't do that, can't have pup's normally, can't do normal movements, their hair matts up or falls out or has to be cut or permed....generally useless except as a nice little earner for vets or doctors in the case of kids..;)
Give me Martin's eating machine Lab anytime, proper dog them.
Motoring link..these interbred things can't jump up into the back of a pick up either, when did you last see a farmer lifting a collie into his landie?
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I used to have an Alsation as teenager, it had a shed of its own outside and roamed freely through a large garden that had many trees.
One frosty morning we got up to find it lying stretched out on on ground outside its shed covered in frost. Of course, first thought was that it had died there, but no, it aroused itself with surprise as we touched it.
It had just nodded off outside the previous evening and frost had formed on its thick coat. It used to howl with rage at cars coming down the drive and try to rip out their tyres.
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>>It used to howl with rage at cars coming down the drive and try to rip out their tyres.
Must have been Cross Ply's
Sorry, oh! so sorry.....................Martin D
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