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5K on a car
rjbrookes - 28/9/06 at 08:20 PM

Girlfriends got 5K to spend on a car after slightly smashing up her old (well 54 plate) one....

She wants a small thing, 3 door (or 5 if the front seats allow easy access to the rear - unlike her old focus), practical, cheap to run service, reliable and diesel (mpg!)....

So where would you put your 5K?????



Russ

nib1980 - 28/9/06 at 08:23 PM

new shape Micra.

But I'm biased

Rich_T - 28/9/06 at 08:27 PM

Anything by VW or Audi. I too am biased.

zilspeed - 28/9/06 at 08:28 PM

Skoda Fabia

(Honest).

((Really)).

rjbrookes - 28/9/06 at 08:31 PM

some good ones there.....thanks

keep em coming......


plenty of biasedness about tonight


Russ

Simon - 28/9/06 at 08:51 PM

ZR tdi

ATB

Simon

Catpuss - 28/9/06 at 09:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nib1980
new shape Micra.

But I'm biased


Or get one of the previous models (the post noddy car) in black. They look like a hurst for circus dwarves

Catpuss - 28/9/06 at 09:47 PM

If its an economical diesel I'd avoid a Renut or Pewgot. The last few I've had on rental for work have been worse than some petrols for economy and I'm a very conservative driver.

greggors84 - 28/9/06 at 10:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nib1980
new shape Micra.

But I'm biased


You dont work for them do you?

By your location im guessing you could do.

JackNco - 29/9/06 at 01:40 AM

Audi A3?
Golf?

Or u could almost get one of them korean things brand new for that. although i wouldnt.


most things fit in to the description uve given us?

Does she want performance?
boot space?
Hatch or boot?
RWD/FWD/4x4?
Looks important?
Age important?

akrallysport - 29/9/06 at 04:37 AM

In my book, anything VW/Audi... but I'm very biased as I own a Vento TD and my middy project is based on a VW 1.6TD lump.

[Edited on 29/9/06 by akrallysport]

Johnmor - 29/9/06 at 06:04 AM

Diesel Lowcost!!!!???? why.

Sorry

Reliable and economical cars.!

If you intend keeping it for a long time then go for something that has all the depreciation in the first couple of years.
I have done this for the last 15 years, buy it at auction, then kill it (25000/year), and throw away.
Not ethical for a car enthusiast but financial sense, never loose more than a few hundred pounds a year

Best result was from Citroen. You could get an almost new C3 diesel. Keep it for 3/4 years and still get a couple of grand for it.

VW /Audi are nice but overated and you pay over the odds when you buy and you would be buying something a few years old.

Just a thought, most modern cars are of similar reliability compard to a few years ago as most manufactureres are linked, dont be blinded by the Hype or ancient history.!!!

rjbrookes - 29/9/06 at 06:37 AM

[





Does she want performance?............OH NO!!!!
boot space? - enough for shopping, shoes, petrol can and a small suitcase
Hatch or boot? Hatch....thats the only thing she has decided she really wants!
RWD/FWD/4x4? Fwd
Looks important? yes cos i have to drive it! i am 6"3' too...she dont really care..
Age important? I reckon 2-3 years and nothing over 5.

VW - golf/polo - great but over priced i think, but good soild cars. think she likes the Fabia (vw family...but cheaper)

She is looks mostly at a Korean thingy of some form - purely price....but i am not too sure!

will be car hunting later to day if i finish work early if not tomorrow

thanks

Russ

[Edited on 29/9/06 by rjbrookes]

[Edited on 29/9/06 by rjbrookes]

ch1ll1 - 29/9/06 at 07:09 AM

buy a locost

JonBowden - 29/9/06 at 07:32 AM

Three year old Toyota Corolla
Mother in law has one - quite nice to drive and its a Toyota so nothing ever goes wrong (honest)

David Jenkins - 29/9/06 at 07:43 AM

Just make sure that it's got a full service history - Toyotas will last forever, but only if they get their regular servicing. Their styling is generally unexciting, but they're often quicker than you'd expect if you get the bigger engined options (e.g. 1300 for a Yaris, 1600 for a Corolla). The handling is decent and predictable, spares etc. are generally quite cheap (unlike Honda), and they keep their value quite well after the initial depreciation.

David

speed8 - 29/9/06 at 08:20 AM

Toyota Yaris... fairly unexciting but can be fun if pushed. Fits all the criteria except diesel but they're pretty economical anyways. You can pick up a 2004 version for less than 5k.

ETA: Just checked the trader and there are dealer cars on an 05 plate for 5k with under 10k miles.

[Edited on 9/29/06 by speed8]

nib1980 - 29/9/06 at 08:30 AM

quote:
Originally posted by greggors84
quote:
Originally posted by nib1980
new shape Micra.

But I'm biased


You dont work for them do you?

By your location im guessing you could do.




maybe, depends who asks, and why......

Coose - 29/9/06 at 09:24 AM

I know it doesn't fit the bill at all, but what about an MX5? Before you laugh, OIOI who ocassionally sticks his head in here has one as well as his 215bhp VX Westie and says it's great! (seriously!)

rjbrookes - 29/9/06 at 09:35 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Coose
I know it doesn't fit the bill at all, but what about an MX5? Before you laugh, OIOI who ocassionally sticks his head in here has one as well as his 215bhp VX Westie and says it's great! (seriously!)


i love her dearly and would fear for her life in a slightly sporty car.....good idea but not for her........thanks anyway...

i am favouring Yaris, Fabia or 307/206

russ

StevieB - 29/9/06 at 09:36 AM

My MX5 was excellent! Nearly as good as the Elise, but I didn't get ridiculed as a hairdresser with the Elise!

Look at a 12 month old Toyota Aygo - excellent cars, great MPG (even as petrol) and they're Toyota's so will never break

Don't get a French car - they're made of tin foil, and they keep sacking English people from their factories.

[Edited on 29/9/06 by StevieB]

whitestu - 29/9/06 at 09:56 AM

From my experience I'd avoid anything by VW - very dodgy build quality these days.

StevieB - 29/9/06 at 10:04 AM

Too expensive as well!

Have a look at Smart Roadsters - cheap to buy and run (50mpg) sporty but not fast (hence why I sold mine!) and built by mercedes, so good quality fit and finish all round.

Coose - 29/9/06 at 10:09 AM

quote:
Originally posted by StevieB
Too expensive as well!

Have a look at Smart Roadsters - cheap to buy and run (50mpg) sporty but not fast (hence why I sold mine!) and built by mercedes, so good quality fit and finish all round.


And they come complete with scissors, hair clips and perming solution!

David Jenkins - 29/9/06 at 10:09 AM

I don't know about 'these days' - my daughter has a Golf GTi that's a few years old and I haven't been hugely impressed, considering the huge difference in cost between that and my Yaris. Loads of niggly little design issues that annoy me (horrible coloured lights for the dials, for example - blue numbers, red needles), lack of cubbyholes for the driver's stuff, and so on.

I also had to take the battery out last weekend as it was knackered - that was an entertaining task (NOT!) and I lost a fair bit of skin off my knuckles in the process. I'm not looking forward to putting its replacement back in this weekend.

If I was spending that sort of money, I wouldn't buy one of those...

David

StevieB - 29/9/06 at 10:34 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Coose
quote:
Originally posted by StevieB
Too expensive as well!

Have a look at Smart Roadsters - cheap to buy and run (50mpg) sporty but not fast (hence why I sold mine!) and built by mercedes, so good quality fit and finish all round.


And they come complete with scissors, hair clips and perming solution!


Words hurt

Coose - 29/9/06 at 10:45 AM

quote:
Originally posted by StevieB
quote:
Originally posted by Coose
quote:
Originally posted by StevieB
Too expensive as well!

Have a look at Smart Roadsters - cheap to buy and run (50mpg) sporty but not fast (hence why I sold mine!) and built by mercedes, so good quality fit and finish all round.


And they come complete with scissors, hair clips and perming solution!


Words hurt


What you really mean is 'harsh, but true'!

iank - 29/9/06 at 10:48 AM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
I don't know about 'these days' - my daughter has a Golf GTi that's a few years old and I haven't been hugely impressed, considering the huge difference in cost between that and my Yaris. Loads of niggly little design issues that annoy me (horrible coloured lights for the dials, for example - blue numbers, red needles), lack of cubbyholes for the driver's stuff, and so on.

I also had to take the battery out last weekend as it was knackered - that was an entertaining task (NOT!) and I lost a fair bit of skin off my knuckles in the process. I'm not looking forward to putting its replacement back in this weekend.

If I was spending that sort of money, I wouldn't buy one of those...

David


Had one in Canada, quality can depend where it was built, (Germany or Mexico IIRC for the Golf at that stage) Quite liked the blue instrument glow, but agree about the servicing - the bulbs on that model were a dealer fix for some reason, and they used to blow every 10k miles or thereabouts.

Quite fancy an Octavia TDi as the next car - lots and lots of miles have nearly killed the Rover 200.

StevieB - 29/9/06 at 10:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Coose
quote:
Originally posted by StevieB
quote:
Originally posted by Coose
quote:
Originally posted by StevieB
Too expensive as well!

Have a look at Smart Roadsters - cheap to buy and run (50mpg) sporty but not fast (hence why I sold mine!) and built by mercedes, so good quality fit and finish all round.


And they come complete with scissors, hair clips and perming solution!


Words hurt


What you really mean is 'harsh, but true'!


What I really mean is if I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

chockymonster - 29/9/06 at 11:09 AM

quote:
Originally posted by rjbrookes
i love her dearly and would fear for her life in a slightly sporty car.....good idea but not for her........thanks anyway...

i am favouring Yaris, Fabia or 307/206

russ


A 1.6 MX5 is a great little car, my wife had one for a year before we swapped it for a 1.8. It's a very rewarding car to drive if you push it but also easy to drive slowly.

I'd avoid the 307 like the plague, the last firm I was at had 4 as company cars, one was off the road for 7 months with a clutch problem. They all had unreliable electrics and were always going wrong. They were swapped for Focus TDcis and they were fantastic.

The MX5 is a perfectly safe car. My wife was rearended by a car doing 30, she was stationary. MX5 needed a new bumper and a rear wishbone, the car that hit her (Yaris) just crumpled.

chockymonster - 29/9/06 at 11:09 AM

quote:
Originally posted by rjbrookes
i love her dearly and would fear for her life in a slightly sporty car.....good idea but not for her........thanks anyway...

i am favouring Yaris, Fabia or 307/206

russ


A 1.6 MX5 is a great little car, my wife had one for a year before we swapped it for a 1.8. It's a very rewarding car to drive if you push it but also easy to drive slowly.

I'd avoid the 307 like the plague, the last firm I was at had 4 as company cars, one was off the road for 7 months with a clutch problem. They all had unreliable electrics and were always going wrong. They were swapped for Focus TDcis and they were fantastic.

The MX5 is a perfectly safe car. My wife was rearended by a car doing 30, she was stationary. MX5 needed a new bumper and a rear wishbone, the car that hit her (Yaris) just crumpled.

Coose - 29/9/06 at 11:31 AM

quote:
Originally posted by StevieB

What I really mean is if I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!


Tee hee! I'm just grasping an open opportunity to prod with a pointy stick!

I'll second the 307 view - I had one as a company car for a couple of years and although generally I liked it, it had a few problems. They're reknowned for the indicator stalk breaking, but the worst one was whilst driving through a ford that wasn't even halfway up the wheels I hydraulic locked it! Mr Peugeot thought it would be a great idea to put the air intake at the bottom of the bumper, so drive through a deep puddle and that's it, game over!!!! It was off the road for 10 weeks and I dread to think how much it cost to fix.....

StevieB - 29/9/06 at 11:39 AM

I had a 307 that was made of spit and bus tickets - soggy to drive, leaked like a seive (cabrio version) and was so impressive I kept it for a toal of 3 months before finally losing my rag and getting rid of it!

All rench cars are bad because they try and sell better than BMW levels of kit for less than Ford prices - something has to give way, and it seems to be the overall quality - plenty of shiney toys, but they all break too quickly!

You have to go German or Japanese if you want well engineerd cars that will last the course (my step mum had a bad crash in a Toyota Corrolla which totalled the car, but she was absolutely fine because of the safety cell and crumple zone engineering put into the design)

Marcus - 29/9/06 at 02:02 PM

"Look at a 12 month old Toyota Aygo - excellent cars, great MPG (even as petrol) and they're Toyota's so will never break

Don't get a French car - "

But aren't they French anyway? - Peugeot 107, Citroen C1 etc....

StevieB - 29/9/06 at 02:08 PM

True, but I'm fairly sure Toyota were the lead in the design, since they were the ones who made a big deal about how they've constructed the car so uniquel, and the French cars just sort of slipped quietly onto the market.

I might be wrong though

David Jenkins - 29/9/06 at 02:09 PM

Sadly, Toyota Yaris's of 'X'-reg and onwards are likely to be French as well (apart from the 'specials' like the T-sport).

David

JackNco - 29/9/06 at 02:09 PM

what about one of the new VW beetles? VW - So german reliability
beetle - so she will love it
get a black one n u wont look like a complete ass driving one
n i bet u wont los e much on depreciation?

What u think?

John

StevieB - 29/9/06 at 03:11 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JackNco
what about one of the new VW beetles? VW - So german reliability
beetle - so she will love it
get a black one n u wont look like a complete ass driving one
n i bet u wont los e much on depreciation?

What u think?

John


Any car with a flower vase built into the dash cannot be driven by a man!

JackNco - 29/9/06 at 03:14 PM

lol thats what i always said about it. but it is gonna be ur GFs car, i asume u have ur own car?

maybe if u get a pink one with flowers ?

mawmaw - 29/9/06 at 05:32 PM

we have a fabia vrs, goes like stink and does 45 mpg, slightly over your price range but more lowly models are fab value and v cmfy on a run as well

coozer - 30/9/06 at 10:27 AM

Brand new Punto at Stoneacre, no deposit, 5 years interest free.

Cracking deal. Interest free on all thier second hand cars as well.

Failing that get her a bus pass or a push bike.

rjbrookes - 30/9/06 at 11:18 AM

quote:
Originally posted by StevieB
quote:
Originally posted by JackNco
what about one of the new VW beetles? VW - So german reliability
beetle - so she will love it
get a black one n u wont look like a complete ass driving one
n i bet u wont los e much on depreciation?

What u think?

John


Any car with a flower vase built into the dash cannot be driven by a man!


Very true! ............

rjbrookes - 30/9/06 at 11:20 AM

quote:
Originally posted by coozer


Failing that get her a bus pass or a push bike.


trust me...........she is a lot safer in a car then on a push bike! (even if it was french!)


russ

rjbrookes - 2/10/06 at 10:26 AM

looks like it will be a Peugeot 1007, 1.4HDI slightly over budget (7.5k) but she likes it so what can you say! 05/55 plate, blue with 6k miles.

I personally think that its the right car for her, seems to fit all the criteria, only bad thing is its over her budget.
thanks

russ

iank - 2/10/06 at 10:32 AM

+50% is only slightly over budget
Hope she likes it.

rjbrookes - 2/10/06 at 12:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by iank
+50% is only slightly over budget
Hope she likes it.


when i spend slightly over budget....ie on kit car... she moans!

they all walk on water this female lot!


Russ