Help! Which used cars should I test drive?

Daisycoo

Thanks to everyone that took the time to reply. I appreciate your thoughts. Maybe I am being too quick to rule out BMW, it's just we have had so many wintery days this year where I have been glad not to drive one. The rest of the year I think a BMW would be fab although repair bills / tyres etc would worry me. Interesting that Audis don't seem to be well liked. Maybe think again about them, especially the comments about repair bills.

I hadn't thought of a Mazda but it sounds like that could be worth a look. I take it Mazdas are considered very reliable and economical? I don't know anyone with one.

Food for thought. Thanks )

kiddy_guy

Volvo v40 or S60?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Audis are VWs in a posh frock. I've had two, the dealer network is less than honest.

Have you considered a Volvo S60?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1605670.htm

Daisycoo

Are Volvos not for old folk!!! Seriously, have never thought of them. Will go and look up V40s and S60s as don't even know what they look like! Are they reliable and economical?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Yes, they're excellent cars, and the diesels are economical. They're extremely practical, full of forward-thinking design features, and hold their value very well.

You might associate them with old people because generally old people are the ones who tend to be able to afford them. Think on that.

Daisycoo

Thanks again. A few more things for me to consider. I think the s60 might be too big for me but will look at the Volvo marque.

vansboy

You like the Focus - then look at a Mazda 3 - same car underneath.

Why have you not thought of Astra - build quality is there, all have good trim levels & wide choice engines.

No 'snob' value though.

VB

Kilty_2

vansboy wrote: »

Why have you not thought of Astra - build quality is there, all have good trim levels & wide choice engines.

Pick up a cracking 5dr on 09/59 plates for £9k too - given they've stopped making the 5 door Astra H in favour of the new J.

Daisycoo

Quite liking the Mazdas now, will definitely add to my list. A few people have warned me off Astras so that had put me off.

Gilbert & Sullivan - I'm warming to the idea of a BMW and buying a set of winter tyres. Do you know how readily I can buy these in the UK - would Kwik Fit for example sell them?

Many thanks everyone, much appreciated!

moggylover

For the money you are thinking of spending you could try being totally different!

I was looking to swap my very old car in last year and was persuaded that badge tarting was very foolish (I wasn't terribly difficult to persuade though) and I put aside the thought of the Audi A4 I had wanted and went out and scrappaged my Citroen and got myself a brand new Kia Ceed.

The 7 year warranty means they have confidence in what they have built. We have done 10K in it since buying it and still love it. My BIL and SIL have the A4 and were well impressed just how much more space there is in my Kia and how much more economical it is (I have the diesel estate version to their diesel estate A4).

Will be honest that it wasn't wonderful in the snow though: but only Andy's Landy would have got up our hills here during that: most of the poser 4 x 4's were not capable of them at all:D Our tractor made it up okay, but coming down was not funny:eek::eek: