What car to buy?

jimbraund

Hi just looking for some advice. my gf is looking to buy a car on finance and is torn between a vw fox or polo. She is looking at spending £5000 or less and with £1000 deposit. Had a look on the top gear website and the fox got slated but has anybody got either of these cars to tell me what there like.

gaz_jones

What about a 206? Nice looking, fairly reliable, cheap to run. I have driven a polo as a courtesy car and I wouldn't choose one for myself. Saying that though this is just my opinion. Its worth going to see one and gonig for a test drive. Maybe if you're buying from a dealer they will let you have the car on loan for a day to see what its like living with it.

jimbo_the_jetset

Honest John has good car reviews.

I had been considering a Polo but looking at other similar size cars you get alot more of something like a Corsa for your money. i.e. you can get alot higher spec of car and probably newer & in better nic. Or a Skoda or SEAT which are re-badged VW's

I think VW parts may be quite pricey too? Although that is just based on what I had heard from a few people

Volcano

jimbraund wrote: »

my gf is looking to buy a car on finance

Can we assume you've read this post? Just in case?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1757733

jimbraund

yes we understand the factor's involved in finance on a car but it is the only option at the moment, looking for a solid reliable car that should last a good 4-5 years. after 2 years of paying the finance we'll be in the position to pay the outstanding balance off in full so it won't be to bad cost wise.

read the reviews of the fox and polo and think we'll leave them, but anybody got an idea of a good reliable model of car?

pault123

VW Golf. well reviewed everywhere, few faults or known problems, built like tanks, can get a decent second hand one for £5000 easily.

Mini_Bear

Ford fiestas are great!! u get a lot more for ur money than a VW, and parts are very cheap.
Ive had my focus 6 yrs and its still as reliable as the day i got it!
Also mayb its worth lookin at retailers that offer 0% finance and do u hav a car u can scrap under the scrappage scheme?
Are u prepared to buy ex-demo models as u will get a decent discount with those too.
i previously had a ciroen saxo and my dad loves his 207 so dont forget the small french cars!!

anewman

Skoda. VW but cheaper and better put together. People still balk at the badge though. Everything but the 1.2htp and 1.4 mpi 8v is a VW engine I believe.

pinkneonmartini

have a look on broker websites, coz they can get you huge discounts!!!! try broadspeed and drivethedeal.

I was considering a Chevrolet Aveo, as an alternative small car for my MIL because they are sooooooooo cheap, yet packed with gadgetry! Their even advertising the long list of extras you get for less than you'd pay for a basic fox lol.

But i have to admit, my MIL looked round one, and then bought a 55 plate 1.4 SE polo with full leather interior, air con, alloys, new set of pirelli's and metallic paint, with only 20k miles on the clock for less than the price of the Aveo.

idler_2

Seat Ibiza is mechanically almost the same as a Polo, better looking and cheaper. Have a good poke around a Polo before you buy one; its surprising how many of the parts are made in Spain (by Seat ?)

Mark_Hewitt

gaz_jones wrote: »

What about a 206? Nice looking, fairly reliable, cheap to run. I have driven a polo as a courtesy car and I wouldn't choose one for myself. Saying that though this is just my opinion. Its worth going to see one and gonig for a test drive. Maybe if you're buying from a dealer they will let you have the car on loan for a day to see what its like living with it.

206's are horrid. Horrible interior made of plastic which disintegrates. Bouncy throttle pedal which almost tipped me off Hardknott pass! Horrible horrible horrible (x10) gearbox and clutch which isn't much better. Handling is pretty crap too. The engine may be ok but the rest of it is very unreliable, had a faulty stereo, several times, faulty washer bottle, faulty rear boot strut, intermittent faults on the headlights, once got stuck in the middle of nowhere with no lights.

Can can only be thankful it's the girlfriends car too and not mine. Mind you if it was mine I'd have ditched it years ago, AWFUL CAR.

Mini_Bear wrote: »

Ford fiestas are great!! u get a lot more for ur money than a VW, and parts are very cheap.

Aye, seconded! Both the old and new shape (late 2008 on) are great cars. I've got a new model at the moment and it's fantastic.