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Next Car Decision
Daddylonglegs - 13/11/09 at 06:45 PM

Evening all,

My youngest had his Megane overheat on him a few days ago. To cut a long story short, headgasket, probably warped head, cost nearly as much as he paid for the car to fix it so he's after another motor.

What is the concensus? He either wants to get a Peugeot 206 (another french car so a bit nervous!) or a VW polo. He can manage around £1500-£1700.

Advice gratefully received.

JB

maartenromijn - 13/11/09 at 06:50 PM

Normally Peugeot is much better (more durable) then Renault.

afj - 13/11/09 at 06:51 PM

get down the auction and get a 5 year old mondeo

eddie99 - 13/11/09 at 06:56 PM

£1500 gives what, 6 locosts?
VW polo, fiesta, that kind of thing

MikeRJ - 13/11/09 at 07:11 PM

Please not a 206 , they have barely a single redeeming feature other than availability and relative cheapness. Must have taken some planning to go from one of the best hatches ever to one of the worst in a single model step.

Polo will be a better car, though likely to be a bit older/higher mileage than a 206 for similar money. Also might want to look at the Fabia and Seat Ibiza, both based on the Polo platform. Fiesta is also hard to beat in this kind of market.

tomgregory2000 - 13/11/09 at 07:16 PM

DO NOT GET A 206

I had to drive one back from cardiff to southampton, it was cr*p, the ride is cr*p, the engine is cr*p, the interior is cr*p, the driving position is cr*p, its just all cr*p

Steve G - 13/11/09 at 07:18 PM

For that price i'd look at something Japanese myself to be honest

R1minimagic - 13/11/09 at 07:20 PM

I agree, can get a really decent Japanese car for £1500

l0rd - 13/11/09 at 07:23 PM

I am sure you can help him change a head with another one.

It all depends on maintenance of a car.

I have had 3 renaults. I would still buy a renault. I would never buy a peugeot or a german car.

COREdevelopments - 13/11/09 at 07:25 PM

i would go for a polo. surely owning a megane would put you off buying another french car for life.

Rob

britishtrident - 13/11/09 at 07:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by R1minimagic
I agree, can get a really decent Japanese car for £1500


You can't get anything decent for lees than 2k since scrapage came in --- gone are the days of hordes of cheap Micras at auction.

britishtrident - 13/11/09 at 07:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by COREdevelopments
i would go for a polo. surely owning a megane would put you off buying another french car for life.

Rob


Polos ain't what they used to be but still good, 206 is probably better in some aspects, Ford are pretty good.
Good Toyotas and Mazdas are sought after which pushes the price up..
Good Rover 25/45s can be found and they are cheap and easy to fix but buying needs some care.

A Vauxhall will be likely to have engine top end problems, Fiats electrical problems and head gasket, Renault-Nissan best avoided for a whole pile of reasons these days.

rusty nuts - 13/11/09 at 07:50 PM

How about learning how to change a head gasket, he could then sell the car and put a bit more towards another one?

franky - 13/11/09 at 07:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
quote:
Originally posted by R1minimagic
I agree, can get a really decent Japanese car for £1500


You can't get anything decent for lees than 2k since scrapage came in --- gone are the days of hordes of cheap Micras at auction.


That couldn't be further from the truth.

Its not like everyone is buying a brand new car is it? Thats like saying everyone who's got a car worth less than 2k has traded them in for a new one. Most people must know they could get 2k off a new car when the scheme isn't running.

1.5k will get you a great Jap car. I brought a honda civic vti for that not too long ago. I'd avoid 206's like the plague.

Steve G - 13/11/09 at 08:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
quote:
Originally posted by R1minimagic


You can't get anything decent for lees than 2k since scrapage came in --- gone are the days of hordes of cheap Micras at auction.


I dont agree either. In the last 6 months i have seen 4 nice cars for £1000 to £1500 bought by mates. Toyota MR2 mk 1 (off here), Honda Civic 1.5vti, Honda Accord 1.8S, and a Toyota Avensis. The last 3 were all 2000 / 2001 and none had over 80k miles.

Ben_Copeland - 13/11/09 at 08:13 PM

Stay away from anything french. Renault, Citroen, Peugeot.

Cheap nasty electrics.

Toyota for reliability, fords,etc for drivability. Anything jap for allrounder

mcerd1 - 13/11/09 at 08:13 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
Also might want to look at the Fabia and Seat Ibiza

I have to agree with that....
I had a test drive in a cople of Ibiza's recently - one was a w reg (older square shape one) it felt better than most cheap little cars I've driven, but still a tin box on wheels (I quite like that though )
the other was a 53 plate newer shape and I was really surprised how good that felt (despite the 1.2 engine)
but i should add both of these were low milage ones and were asking a bit more than you budget


but having spent the last 3 months looking for cheap small cars for family and friends I've decided that all the cheapest cars are the big ones that young and inexperiencesd drivers can't get insurance for - so a mondeos etc. arn't out of the question (30 second search on autotrader comes up with: click )


[Edited on 13/11/09 by mcerd1]

Davegtst - 13/11/09 at 08:15 PM

Don't be fooled into thinking because the VW is German it's better. In my experience the 206 is far more reliable. My wife owned a 206 for a few years and it turned out to be a very reliable, comfortable and cheap little car. Go for a Japanese car if you can and steer well clear of anything Rover has every touched.

morcus - 13/11/09 at 09:03 PM

The only electrical problem my 205 had (And it was a serious one, ignition amp) was the only part of the car stamped, Bosche Made in Germany.

206 is good if you get thew 2l deisel, all the rest are rubbish. put the money down on a new car, you'll save in the long run and don't need to worry about things going wrong.

Andybarbet - 13/11/09 at 09:58 PM

Another vote for SEAT here, i had an 'S' reg cordoba coupe (basically a polo saloon but with 2 doors not 4) it was a fantastic car, well built and bullet proof.

My dad bought it off me and it is still spot on reliable.

austin man - 13/11/09 at 10:07 PM

Fiestas, Focus, Golfs Lupo's VAG group all offer decent cars I run a Golf 1.8 Turbo build quality better than ford, or peugot.

There are plenty of sub 2k cars out there

dont dismiss Seats or Skodas at the right price they are after all VW's with a better specification

R1minimagic - 13/11/09 at 10:23 PM

What about a nice Volvo...

Daddylonglegs - 13/11/09 at 10:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by R1minimagic
What about a nice Volvo...




Take yourself outside NOW and give yourself a good beating with the nearest tree branch!

R1minimagic - 13/11/09 at 10:57 PM

What's wrong with a R reg Volvo in a nice fetching brown metallic?

Ninehigh - 14/11/09 at 02:21 PM

Tell your lad if he fixes the head (gasket should be cheap, and the top should really be available anywhere) he can sell it and you'll go look for an Evo or Scooby

Otherwise get a Volvo estate and stick a big mattress in the back, passion wagon!