car searching

**bella** · 10 Mar 2003, 22:21 (Ref:532099)

me and my dad and a lad at work are looking for a car for me. they're looking in the small to mid size range, at around £5k-8k (it'd have to be something pretty special to make it worth 8k though).

so far they found a 2.8 (!!!) litre vr6 golf 1995 reg. 60k (that's 2 years mileage for me...) on the clock, asking price just over £5k. my basic objections were:
1) it's ugly
2) couldn't afford the fuel
3) it's too old

what sort of thing would we be looking at for that sort of price? it has to be top spec (for optimal resale value apparently - it won't reach that point, i'll run it into the ground).

as a form of guidance, my dream new car is a clio 1.6. i won't touch vauxhalls with a 10 foot bargepole.

Bluebottle · 10 Mar 2003, 22:26 (Ref:532106)

You could buy several really good Duttons.......

.........I'll get my coat.

rdjones · 10 Mar 2003, 22:28 (Ref:532110)

How about a nice Rover 25

, nothing wrong with them and mine is quite nippy

woodyracing · 11 Mar 2003, 01:39 (Ref:532289)

how about a nice Toyota MR2? pleny of them around for that buget, ok its small inside, but its a sports car

or how about a Seat Ibiza Cupra Sport? (gotta be in Kiwi yellow).

sss · 11 Mar 2003, 07:25 (Ref:532428)

nissan micra, air con, power steering, auto etc etc

gfm · 11 Mar 2003, 08:55 (Ref:532461)

Bella, the first thing I’d do is grab a copy of Top Marques and take a look at what’s available. The choice is huge. It boils down to what you fancy, what’s practical and how you see yourself.

The world is your oyster. Looking at sober stuff, something like a C class Merc/BMW 3 Series are rock solid motors that will hold their money well. If you go below 1800 cc, you’ll enjoy decent mpg but tiring performance (no go, frantic motorway). If your insurance will stand it, there are some super small hot hatches. The Peugeots 306 are great, even the Turbo Diesel. There are so many others.

No doubt the males around you will check out the car’s history and traces of accident damage. Do walk away from anything which is not 100%. Keep to middle of the road colours and specs. Anything ‘unusual’ will be difficult to sell again. That VR6 is a great car – wind it up and watch it go, but very thirsty and expensive to insure.

Buying from a main dealer with warranties does wonders for a good night’s sleep, but will cost a serious wedge more.

Do tell us what you plump for.

Airhead · 11 Mar 2003, 08:56 (Ref:532462)

Buy a poxy little Honda and take your motorcycle licence.

Then, buy a Ducati!

Be the envy of your friends, be superior to any bloke that takes your fancy. Get into it.

Dave Brand · 11 Mar 2003, 09:09 (Ref:532470)

Quote:

Originally posted by bella
as a form of guidance, my dream new car is a clio 1.6. i won't touch vauxhalls with a 10 foot bargepole.

You've answered your own question, haven't you?

You want a 1.6 Clio......you can afford a 1.6 Clio.....so buy a 1.6 Clio!

If you can afford what you really want (& can afford the insurance!), go for it - anything else will only ever be second best. Never let anybody else choose a car for you - you're the one who's got to live with it; choosing a car is an emotional, not a rational, decision!

Lee Janotta · 11 Mar 2003, 12:41 (Ref:532580)

Your dream car is a 1.6 Clio?

Kids these days...

**garcon** · 11 Mar 2003, 13:04 (Ref:532600)

Top Marques won't be much use - it deals with prestige/sports over £8k.

Autotrader is worth a look...

How about this truly tasteful item...

2002 RENAULT CLIO 1.2 16V Dynamique 3dr Hatchback
Met paint, 17" BSA Alloys, MS kit, Lowered, C/C, £'s of ice, Alarm, E/W,C/L. £8000 ono. 10000 miles.

**garcon** · 11 Mar 2003, 14:07 (Ref:532685)

Quick look at autotrader - yes I'm at work, yes I'm bored, yes I probably should've been a car dealer

- shows up quite a few late previous model Clio 1.6 RSi's and a few current model 1.6 Dynamique's etc. at around £7.5 to 8k

You can afford your dream new car, all be it one that's upto a couple of years old...

The Golf VR6 was a fine car, but it's old, front heavy, very thirsty and a fortune to insure.

ss_collins · 11 Mar 2003, 17:41 (Ref:532921)

buy somthing interesting bella not just another Identikit hatch, the best suggestion I've hear here is a dutton. Or you could get a McCoy custom made for about 1.5k.

Bluebottle · 11 Mar 2003, 21:29 (Ref:533190)

Quote:

Originally posted by ss_collins
the best suggestion I've hear here is a dutton. Or you could get a McCoy custom made for about 1.5k.

Thanks Mr Collins!!
Come and find us on the D.O.C. stand at Stoneleigh and have a beer or ten!

gsr · 12 Mar 2003, 10:32 (Ref:533656)

Quote:

Originally posted by AMoffat
Buy a poxy little Honda
Then, buy a Ducati!

You will be struck by a bolt of lightning for that slanderous comment...

Honda = World Champion !!!!!!!

Bluebottle · 13 Mar 2003, 22:17 (Ref:535481)

Quote:

Originally posted by ss_collins
buy somthing interesting bella not just another Identikit hatch

Have a look at the 'Classifieds' on this site :

http://www.quantumowners.com/

My wife is looking at buying a Quantum H4 to use as a commuting car, more fun than your average Fiesta!

**bella** · 13 Mar 2003, 23:16 (Ref:535545)

now my dad's got it in his head that i've always wanted a golf and the words 'clio 172' actually were 'golf gti'. although my mum reckons he was looking at a 1997 gti with leather seats. if 1997 is old body shape i'm not touching it with a 10 foot bargepole.

i thought about a mazda girly wagon, but it's just not practical enough. nor is a dutton. a mate of ours had one and he had to sell it because it was just too silly...

i'm not allowed anything not built like a brick outhouse because apparently when i crash i need as much help as i can get. every damn second sentence is '...when you crash'. thanks for that dad.

insurance isn't an issue. since it's going in my parents/their company's name it's covered by the company insurance. tee hee.

i'd rather die painfully than drive a nissan micra.

my first car was a 316i bmw. too big, too slow and too ugly. loved it, but it really was a bit poo. the thought of another one makes me run away screaming...

looks like a golf at the moment - which is ok. i guess. but i don't think my dad realises it won't be sold in a year like he thinks. at least not to anyone but me...

Bluebottle · 13 Mar 2003, 23:21 (Ref:535551)

Quote:

Originally posted by bella
a mate of ours had one and he had to sell it because it was just too silly...

Odd that, that's exactly why I bought one

**bella** · 13 Mar 2003, 23:55 (Ref:535579)

point well made

Airhead · 14 Mar 2003, 10:57 (Ref:535902)

wHAT'S THAT ABOUT THE dUCATI?

oops, caps lock harrow!

Good, get amongst it!

woodyracing · 14 Mar 2003, 17:06 (Ref:536219)

have you looked on http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/car_reviews/ ?

**bella** · 14 Mar 2003, 20:05 (Ref:536347)

i've got the parker's car guide. what's a small family when it's at home?

i'm not riding a motorbike. it's far more difficult to fall off a car than it is a motorbike....

sss · 14 Mar 2003, 20:08 (Ref:536351)

Quote:

i'm not riding a motorbike. it's far more difficult to fall off a car than it is a motorbike

but the pros outway the odd fall, and you get used to bouncing down the road evry now and again

Bluebottle · 14 Mar 2003, 21:20 (Ref:536410)

Quote:

Originally posted by bella
what's a small family when it's at home?

Noisy, messy and expensive

gfm · 15 Mar 2003, 09:27 (Ref:536754)

Golfs great - TDi is a real workhorse but quick, and easy on the motorway. How many miles do you do par annum Bella? Don't let 'men' talk you into manuals either. Modern traffic conditions and modern automatic 'boxes make sense.

429CJ · 15 Mar 2003, 17:58 (Ref:537166)

Get a diesel. Small petrol cars nowadays have a puny torque range and engine dies easily.

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