Advice on buying car not local

nerak_y

Hi,
i am about to downsize from a citroen picasso to a C3, and having been led to believe that diesel is better for the motorway driving i do, so decided i was best to stick with a diesel. (also like the £30-£35 road tax)
Having been looking for quite a while i have finally found one at the top end of my budget and is around 70 miles away.

2006 55 Reg CITROEN C3 1.6 HDi 16v Exclusive 32,659 miles on it. (a few higher spec extras too, and the colour i like (i know, that is bad)

But have also seen a petrol model which i feel is a good deal but is around about 100 miles away.
2007 (07 Reg) CITROEN C3 1.1i COOL with 2990 miles on it, and in a colour i didnt want, but is a grand less than the one i prefer.
This would be good as i'd just put money back into loan to reduce term.

I am in a muddle deciding which to go for (will test drive 1st too). My worry is buying further afield from a small garage could make things difficult in the event of any problems, where as if i bought from a big local dealership i could easily return for fixing.

Sorry about the big rambling post, this has been driving around in my head for days, and i'd like to get it sorted sooner than later.

Thanks for any help/advice anyone can give

nerak_y x

Hintza

You have hit the nail on the head. Is the saving worth the potential hassle and distance if something goes wrong? Really only you can decide that.

But if I wasn't sure I would be getting a vehicle inspection done (AA etc) which will give you a little peace of mind.

nerak_y

Yeah, i just wish one would come up in my hometown, as even the nearer of the 2 is 70 miles away!

As i will need to keep this car for the next 3-4 years, i like that the petrol one has very low milage and is newer so hopefully get a better trade in on it when the time comes.

I don't like this buying car malarky!

nerak_y x

GEEGEE8

One of them is a 1.6, one is a 1.1, quite a big difference.

What kind of driver are you? I'd prefer a 1.6 as I like to put my foot down and actually move.

vikingaero

Given the price of fuel the 1.1 will hold it's value better than the 1.6 and be more attractive to buyers in 3-4 years time.

nerak_y

Yeah the 1.1 is petrol and the 1.6 is a diesel. Does the different types make any difference?

I have been driving a 2.0 diesel past 2 years, and am used to putting my foot down too, but am sick fed up of how much the fuel is costing me, so figure learning (ok, being forced to) slow down a bit may not be a bad thing.



The vast majority of my driving is around town, but i do a 150 mile round motorway trip every fortnight, and occasional other motorway trips in between.

Nerak_k x

missile

Why Citreon? There are many good alternatives to a C3. Citroen 1.6 diesel is noisy and unless you do huge milleage ........

Some small garages are very good. Big dealer does not always guarantee good service.

missile

nerak_y wrote: »

Yeah the 1.1 is petrol and the 1.6 is a diesel. Does the different types make any difference?

I would suggest you need to take a knowledgeable friend with you to view and test,
but not he/she who told you deisels are better on the motorway.:eek:

nerak_y

I think i have allowed myself to be swayed by the cheap road tax with the diesel......i may have to review that opinion!
I don't do huge miles no, prob no more than 15k a year. So am i better with petrol you think?

I like the C3, was also considering the renault clio or a peugeot 206/306, but decided on the C3. I am so indecisive so that was good going for me!

nerak_y x

hethmar

It always surprises me how people are swayed by saving really very little over the year on road tax. If you have to have one of these cars Id have thought the 1.6 diesel was the one to get otherwise you will be flogging the 1.1 to death.