n/a - Used Car Advice?

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Wed 12 Oct 2011 21:05
n/a - Used Car Advice? - EU Roller

Hi guys,

I am just trying to get some advice on which type of used car to get. I will do my best to describe my situation and what i'm after in a car. I already have some specific criteria that I want met, which i'll also list.



My situation/needs:


- Driving all around the UK/EU - so want something very reliable (am willing to spend a little more for reliability and quality)

- willing to spend anywhere from £2000 up to £3500 (maybe £3750 at the very most)

- possibly would want 4wd if I could get/find it for the price range im willing to spend in

- as i'll be driving around quite a lot, fuel economy would be ideally quite good, but if there are reasons for a car being perfect for my other criteria, although not having the greatest economy, im still keen to hear about it




Criteria I have already decided is a must:


- under 80K Miles if petrol OR under 110K miles if diesel

(i could be wrong about these figures, but just assuming that anything much more than this for these engine types, and you're going to start having more parts breaking down etc...)

- Manual transmission

- estate body

- don't really like Japanese, but if I am totally wrong in terms of what im looking for, I guess I could be convinced

I was thinking about an Audi A6 estate, or thereabouts, but am not sure after reading that they are not the best in terms of service costs, etc..

Oh, and right now, the main way that I am searching for potential cars to buy, is via Gumtree.

Thanks very much, I really appreciate any suggestions or help you can provide : )

Thanks,

Nick





Edited by EU Roller on 12/10/2011 at 21:06

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Wed 12 Oct 2011 22:17
n/a - Used Car Advice? - Bobbin Threadbare

I am just going to suggest the estate version of my own car; I drive a hatchback 2005 Mazda 6 TS (petrol). The servicing is cheap, the tax is middling, insurance is quite low (I am in my 20s) and nothing has gone wrong with the car in the 15 months I've owned it (or ever; previous owner gave me all the receipts for everything!). It's quite economical and it has a really awesome BOSE sound system in it (this has spoilt me for other cars as the stereo won't be half as good...)

For your budget you can get some very nice examples (the first one is actually quite a beast in the horsepower and acceleration stakes!)

Examples:

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20113841712...p

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20112840302...p

Mine has almost 95k on the clock and I'd have another for sure. It's got a good driving position (no bad back or numb bum from long drives) and it behaved well in the snow. I can get an entire single bed in the boot with the seats folded down so goodness knows what you can fit in the estate version.

The pre-57 plate diesel ones are common rail engines with no troublesome DPF so they might also be worth a look.

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Wed 12 Oct 2011 22:54
n/a - Used Car Advice? - EU Roller

Thanks so much for your reply Bobbin!

This looks pretty damn good for the money, low mileage, etc...

I am in Belfast, and found this one on Gumtree in my area:

www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2005-mazda-...2

which looks very tidy for just 2K!

I will definitely consider this as one of my choices, thanks very much again for your input!

Nick

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Wed 12 Oct 2011 22:57
n/a - Used Car Advice? - EU Roller

I'm gathering a DPF decreases power? (I have never heard of one until now)

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Wed 12 Oct 2011 23:13
n/a - Used Car Advice? - Bobbin Threadbare

A DPF is basically a sort of catalytic converter which forces the exhaust gases through rather than just allowing them to flow through a filter.

The downsides to the diesel particulate filter are that if the car doesn't get a good long run at a reasonably high speed (you've got to get up to about 600°C to 'regenerate' the DPF), cack starts to stick to the filter and it clogs up. A gunked-up DPF can shed particles which damage the starter motor of the car (some are magnetic and the starter motor attracts them). Then you've got to pay a lot of money to have all of that fixed.....

Mazda didn't get their DPFs quite right, which is a shame as the petrol models are brilliant. Other makes don't necessarily suffer the same problem but I've heard of Mondeos etc having this issue.

That is a nice example you've found there though!

Edited by Bobbin Threadbare on 12/10/2011 at 23:16

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Thu 13 Oct 2011 00:06
n/a - Used Car Advice? - bathtub tom

You don't say your expected annual mileage?

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Thu 13 Oct 2011 12:56
n/a - Used Car Advice? - EU Roller

right, sorry.

Not really sure, as really I'm just going be driving around Europe, exploring, and just using it for normal day to day use. I wouldn't say that I'd be looking at doing more than 1000 miles per month, as everything is fairly close together in EU (relatively speaking - im Australian)

Id say under 15K per year though I think

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Thu 13 Oct 2011 21:09
n/a - Used Car Advice? - galileo

A DPF is basically a sort of catalytic converter which forces the exhaust gases through rather than just allowing them to flow through a filter.

A gunked-up DPF can shed particles which damage the starter motor of the car (some are magnetic and the starter motor attracts them). Then you've got to pay a lot of money to have all of that fixed.....

Bobbin, I am curious to know how particles from a DPF get into a starter motor. Are you sure this comment didn't apply to DMF's ?

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Thu 13 Oct 2011 22:45
n/a - Used Car Advice? - Bobbin Threadbare

Bobbin, I am curious to know how particles from a DPF get into a starter motor. Are you sure this comment didn't apply to DMF's ?

Yes, the metallic particles from a DMF are a problem for starter motors BUT I have read reports about particles from a DPF getting into other parts of the car as it is situated quite close to the engine. Some of those are metallic. I am still googling to see if I can find where I read this. It may well have been a combo of both on one vehicle (a Mondeo springs to mind) and I might be confusing myself. Nevertheless, the DPF is acquiring a bad rep on some marques of car. Where's unthrottled when you need him? He usually knows this stuff!

EDIT: I have googled. It seems to be Vauxhall Zafiras. The DPF and starter motor and also the EGR valve all crap out at the same time and these issues seem to be interrelated. Puts me even further off Vauxhalls anyway.

Edited by Bobbin Threadbare on 13/10/2011 at 22:56

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Thu 13 Oct 2011 01:15
n/a - Used Car Advice? - Avant

I agree with Bobbin about the Mazda 6, provided that you go for a petrol one like hers. There have been horrific problems with some Mazda diesels.

If your mileage going to be over about 15,000 a year you should consider a diesel: one of the best is the 1.9 TDI is VWs, Skodas, Audis and SEATs. An Octavia estate with this engine would be a good buy.

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Thu 13 Oct 2011 06:20
n/a - Used Car Advice? - 1litregolfeater

Most taxis seem to be diesel Skodas now, so if you buy a secondhand one, know what you'll get?

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Thu 13 Oct 2011 12:59
n/a - Used Car Advice? - EU Roller

So you have a good opinion of Audio estate's for my purposes then? is this speaking from your own experience, or have you just heard good things about them?

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Thu 13 Oct 2011 13:30
n/a - Used Car Advice? - Bobbin Threadbare

My father-in-law drives an Audi A6 Avant 2.0 TDI. It's like being inside a living room; it is so comfy and it's so quiet you can't tell it's a diesel. The estate shape is a massive car. The only downsides are the high servicing and parts costs. Tax isn't cheap either, and they seem to put a little extra on the insurance of those who drive Audis and BMWs!! Having said that, he's quite badge conscious and he really likes driving it (he does a high mileage).

If you're only doing 1k miles a month, a petrol would suit you fine I reckon.

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Thu 13 Oct 2011 14:18
n/a - Used Car Advice? - EU Roller

When you say the servicing and parts costs are more, how much more generally are you talking, like say the the comparison with the service costs of a Mazda 3?

Also, any idea of the tax of an Audi compared to the Mazda?

Thanks for your continued help : )

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Thu 13 Oct 2011 14:43
n/a - Used Car Advice? - madf

My Audi A4 tdi cost c £250 per 10k service plus whatever work needed doing.

So all in all, maybe around £500 per visit.? An A6 would cost more... and if near London where rates are higher, a LOT more..

Cheaper than Mercedes though...

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Thu 13 Oct 2011 15:09
n/a - Used Car Advice? - Bobbin Threadbare

My Mazda's last trip to the garage cost me £190 for the MOT, servicing and an air-con top up. I've never needed anything fixing but a dead headlight bulb!

I have just googled the road tax and they're about the same; Audi have so many trim levels and gear box types I wasn't sure what would make the best comparison. Depends what you get; there's a 2.0TSI which is Band J and a 2.0L TDI multitronic etc etc which is Band G. Some are in Band M!!!

Edited by Bobbin Threadbare on 13/10/2011 at 15:13

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Thu 13 Oct 2011 17:31
n/a - Used Car Advice? - dieseldogg

VW Sharan, Alhambra or Galaxy, pull the back seats out & plenty of room in the back to sleep on a properly flat floor, diesels are easy on juice too.

Been there, done that.

Should be good to 200,000 with minimal maint issues except the A/Con

I am biased in this opinion mind.

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