What is the best car for me?

TUS

What about a low mileage diesel Picasso? Should be able to get something in pretty good condition for 1800.

Perfect for a family with 3 kids ;-)

TiTheRev

Tilt wrote: »

Although they are a little weird looking, Fiat Multipla have had some very good press. Found this one which seems a good deal; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201105378507974/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/2000/model/multipla/make/fiat/page/1/radius/1500/postcode/po11ee?logcode=p

Only one problem, it's a Fiat.

TiTheRev

TUS wrote: »

What about a low mileage diesel Picasso? Should be able to get something in pretty good condition for 1800.

Perfect for a family with 3 kids ;-)

Only one problem, it's French.

Tilt

TiTheRev wrote: »

Only one problem, it's a Fiat.

Nothing wrong there m8, i'v had 20 + over the years and only had a problem with 1 of them. Pretty good odds wouldn't you say?

Tilt

TiTheRev wrote: »

Only one problem, it's French.

Too bloody right m8, wouldn't touch on with a barge pole!

:rotfl:

TiTheRev

Tilt wrote: »

Nothing wrong there m8, i'v had 20 + over the years and only had a problem with 1 of them. Pretty good odds wouldn't you say?

Have you had 20+ because they've all broken down or rusted apart?! :rotfl:

bigjl

I still don't understand those that are anti Ford due to an experience with a MK4 Escort 20 years ago.

There is nothing wrong with a MK3 Mondeo, for the money they are one of the best value for money cars out there.

Mine is on 150k, 05 plate, 130 TDCi, average 50mpg or there abouts, can get 65mpg on a 60mph cruis on the M25 when ther is no traffic about.

Your budget £1800 will get you into an 04 or if lucky a 54 plate Mondeo, almost all the private hire cars near where I live, Grays Essex, are MK3 Mondeos, loads are on 04 and 54 plates, though over the last 6 months a few have bought 08 plate MK4 Mondeos.

They have their problems, but then so do VAG cars.

VAG cars had just as many problems with Dual Mass Flywheels, and PD engines need top spec oil if you don't want to knacker the top end of the engine.

The myth that VW's are better built than Fords is just that, a myth.

Passats are over priced for what they are, the clever money is now heading firmly toward Skodas.

If you go for a Diesel Mondy then just make sure it has been looked after, the rear subframe bushes can be fixed for around £150-£170 depending where you live, and that is with the last for every poly bushes.

Ask any Passat opwner about suspension issues and you will see that they are a bit iffy when it comes to suspension, a great set up when new, but expensive to sort out when old.

The Met Police bought some VW Passats, for the dog section, they are the last VW's they have bought since, though they did have VW Transporters back in the mid ninties.

When it comes to family wheels you need something hardwearing inside, that rules out most french cars, especially the Picasso that has an interior that really shows its age inside.

Any diesel Passat at under £2000 will be several years older than than an indentically priced Mondeo.

Just make sure you buy one that has been looked after, find out if and when the DMF has been changed, they do sound a bit rattley on start up, but they have the advantage of a camchain instead of a cambelt, so that is one regular very expensive job you don't have to worry about.

Had mine two years, bought as a stop gap, but decided to keep it, one of the best cars I have had, has cost pennies to run.

The interior looks like new after a quick hoover.

They also handle an awful lot tighter than a Passat which is a comfortable if slightly wallowy old hector.

Tilt

TiTheRev wrote: »

Have you had 20+ because they've all broken down or rusted apart?! :rotfl:

No, i've had 20+ because they proved to be good value for money, well equipped and exceptionally good engines. The 1 i did have the prob was bcause of rust but that was a 1979 131 supermirafiori. Best one I had was probly the Coupe... they :A m8!

mikey72

One of the best cars I has was the 2l Fiat Tempra estate. Superb car, I must have had it 7 or 8 years, it just kept going, drove really well, and could take any amount of abuse. I sold it about 8 or 9 years old, completely rust free.
Worst car I had was a golf, most of the paint started to fall off quite quickly, and it was the most boring car I ever drove.

TiTheRev

mikey72 wrote: »

One of the best cars I has was the 2l Fiat Tempra estate. Superb car, I must have had it 7 or 8 years, it just kept going, drove really well, and could take any amount of abuse. I sold it about 8 or 9 years old, completely rust free.
Worst car I had was a golf, most of the paint started to fall off quite quickly, and it was the most boring car I ever drove.

Lol, all of my motor trade knowledge is completely baffled by that statement!! Having worked at a Factor for a good proportion of my working life, anything French/Italian was a big problem with many things going wrong. Granted, some of it is down to owner care, but there is a far greater chance that you will find a 130k + mile VAG motor still in good condition, than the Fiat/Renault/Citroen/Ford.

The issues JL mentioned are about 10yrs old now, and any car that age will show signs of wear, but most of the issues are not engine related as they just keep going! Passat suspensions were part of a recall and there are VERY few left unfixed. The PD engine is bombproof (I personally have a 130bhp Passat Est TDi) and it's done 130k and still going very strong, and I got over 70mpg on a run to the south of France last year.

VW's do hold their value, because they are so well made and last a long while without (much) hassle! That, IMO, is part of the value that the VW group offers, as you may spend a few hundred more for the car when bought, but you will get quite a few hundred more at resale. I have personally made a profit at resale on the last 2 VW's I've owned, despite having them more than a couple of years and adding a few miles!