Large used car - cheapest to run models - suggestions?

buglawton

When I moved from a Vauxhall Cavalier to a Vectra, it became obvious from my mechanic's comments that this brand is getting more complex, expensive & awkward to service. To get at a basic item like the drive belt, have to spend the first hour removing other bits. And from reading forums, many jobs are now 'engine out' ones. Compared to the Cavalier, the labour cost (time) has just about doubled for similar jobs.

So the hunt is on for a large 5 door vehicle that a a good used buy, in particular with regard to long term servicing & repairs. Either ones that go wrong in the 'awkward bits' VERY rarely, or that are easy to look after when they do go wrong.

Any suggestions?

rdwarr

I've always had big cars. Most reliable has been the Mitsubishi Sigma Estate (204,000 miles without a major problem). I'd consider Japanese cars as well, pretty much anything from Toyota, Nissan, Honda etc. will be good.
I'd avoid most European models but German cars such as the Ford Granada have been OK. I've currently got an excellent Lexus GS300 and Toyota Estima but neither of them sound like they'e in your niche.

Louisa_Jane_2

Don't touch an Audi A6 - our family moneypit!

tomstickland

Yes, the Vectra really is a bit cack compared with the old Cavalier workhorses.

jjames_3

Simple = Korean (old Japanese Mitsubishi designs fundamentally and no inclination to make things overly complicated). Reliable as well.

However, you may not be able to get your head around the image thing.

Otherwise, most non-exotic Japanese cars tend to be very conventional in design. Clutch replacements aren't as simple as the old Cavalier, but they're usually only gearbox-out rather than the engine as well so are relatively inexpensive.

I'd avoid Renault in particular; not especially robust, and when they do go wrong they can be hideously difficult to fix. I always look at a clutch replacement as an indicator of design complexity, and the Laguna is a nightmare; engine out, £700 at main dealer. That's gotta hurt.

You've hit on a very useful point in your post, namely that people concentrate too much on parts costs when thinking about cars, when in fact it's labour costs that sting your pocket and a lot of cheap-parts cars like Vauxhalls aren't cheap to fix any more because of unnecessary complexity.

wazza

i have a 1996 mondeo TD and am very happy with it. Had no major problems with it yet (touch wood). Unfortunately like vectra a clutch change means the engine has to be removed. It has done 120K and still on the original clutch. if the clutch goes then i am going to have to make a difficult decision. to replace clutch or sell/scrap it.

was very sadden to learn that on the new mondeo if the rear subframe bushes wear out you have to replace the whole subframe at a cost of £300+

it will be excellent if there is a website that tells you the bad points in cars in view of repair cost/time etc and design faults. years ago what car? did an article highlighting the engine removal in cars such as vectra for clutch removal

buglawton

wazza wrote:

...it will be excellent if there is a website that tells you the bad points in cars in view of repair cost/time etc and design faults. years ago what car? did an article highlighting the engine removal in cars such as vectra for clutch removal

There is info scattered about but yes, it would be nice for there to be a central point of such info. MSE has a huge section on saving phone costs -but the £100s one can throw away by uninformed decisions on motoring are much bigger than phone bills! Penny wise pound foolish? There are some great mechanical forums around by brand/model and MSE does not need to replicate those. Running an older car (5+ yrs) is a topic that the consumer magazines including Which? seem to shy away from - but can be a huge money saver. A central hub and some sticky threads on this topic would make big sense!

vansboy

Vauxhall Omega Estate (I've got one)

You'll find best value for money in BIG cars with these. If you want REALLY cheap, avoid lots owner examples, but well maintained high miles, not any worse than anything else.

German build quality & good ride too.

Buy an ex Police one, if you want cheap & lots holes in dash/roof!!

& to find out about EVERY car... https://www.honestjohn.co.uk clik The Backroom clik Car By Car Breakdown

VB

buglawton

Yeah this model is exactly what I was thinking of. Discontinued now (of course). Mechanic warned that it's still a complex vehicle to maintan though, esp the V6 but 2.0 16v may be a tad underpowered. Will revisit Hon John. Estates are also just the ones that are hard to find (loads of Omega saloons around).

vansboy

One of my friends is on his 3rd Carlton/Omega, I've bought for him. All 2litres & he's an antique dealer -so sometimes carries some weight, but no complaints.

When he's driven mine - 2.5 V6, he does notice the extra power, available & when I drive his, the car seems much lighter, but performs well.

Complexity, is there, on just about everything, you'll find though.

VB

inmypocketnottheirs

Strongly recommend the Omega 2.5 turbo diesel. Shared engine with 5 series BMW and Range Rover. Had one a few years back (now have V70 Volvo and E Class Merc, both diesels) and would say they are a cracking motor. Excellent fule economy too, upto 50 mpg on a long motor way run.