Want a car but no ideas what make or model!

toby_puppy

Hi,

Basically I've had Peugeots all my life but fancy a bit of a change.

Main things I need with a car are reliability, economical running.

I should have around £2000 - £2500 to spend.

Want something around 1.2 to 1.4 engine.

Not sure if petrol or diesel would be better?

Someone said VW's are good but I don't think my budget would allow.

I would like a medium size car, nothing too big or tiny. Got to fit a labrador in it now and again!

Just need some inspiration please.

MX5huggy

jostenning wrote: »

Hi,

Basically I've had Peugeots all my life but fancy a bit of a change.

Main things I need with a car are reliability, economical running.

I should have around £2000 - £2500 to spend.
Nice budget

Want something around 1.2 to 1.4 engine.
Don't get hooked on engine size, what matters is power and mpg.

Not sure if petrol or diesel would be better?
How for do you drive per year? is it lots of short trips or longer ones, in town or motorway?

Someone said VW's are good but I don't think my budget would allow.
You could get a VW but it may be a bit older / higher mileage than a similar sized Skoda or Kia

I would like a medium size car, nothing too big or tiny. Got to fit a labrador in it now and again!
Sounds like you need a Ford Focus, have a look at one and drive one then decide what's wrong with it and then find something that fits that need. Does the dog go in the boot or on the back seat? if the latter then you have many more options.

Just need some inspiration please.

ajdhshfihedfrigjrpjgrpoj

rev_henry

Focus is a good idea, maybe a Vectra? Or would that be too big and uneconomical? The 1.8 claims to do 38 combined, and seems to be the most trouble free engine in that car.

I'd stick your budget, less than 7 years old, less than 60k miles (ish) into autotrader and see what comes up...

Lum

I'd probably be looking more at condition than model, though a Focus would definitely be a good starting place.

Will wait for the answers to MX5huggy's questions before I can say anything more specific.

Strider590

jostenning wrote: »

Someone said VW's are good but I don't think my budget would allow.

They were great many years ago, which is why they have this lingering reputation for reliability.... But I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole now. They're just over-priced.
It'll take a very long time before this popular myth dies off.... Even people who own them and experience troubles, they just think "Oh well, think myself lucky it'd be much worse if it was a XYZ".

toby_puppy

MX5huggy wrote: »

ajdhshfihedfrigjrpjgrpoj

Hi again

Mostly around town - ie. 4 miles to work and back 5 days a week, on a weekend up to say 50 to 60 miles covered on a longer run out.

Would prefer a 5 door due to dog.

have looked on parkers and it says the vw polos are good - but maybe an S model rather than an E model. and the diesels are a bit noisy. Had a look and they seem to be around the £2500 price for a 2002 model.

TiTheRev

Strider590 wrote: »

They were great many years ago, which is why they have this lingering reputation for reliability.... But I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole now. They're just over-priced.
It'll take a very long time before this popular myth dies off.... Even people who own them and experience troubles, they just think "Oh well, think myself lucky it'd be much worse if it was a XYZ".

You and me could fall out

toby_puppy

TiTheRev wrote: »

You and me could fall out

Do you think vw's are good?

any vw polo owners out there to give an opinion?

Lum

You're going to use it for a 4 mile commute?

Definitely don't get a diesel, but really this short a commute is going to be bad for a petrol engine too!

How about a Gee Wiz?

Strider590

TiTheRev wrote: »

You and me could fall out

Let me put it another way

They're no better or worse than any other car, but what I object to is that VW's fetch a premium based on a myth that far too many people continue perpetuate.


I'm someone who believes in paying the extra if it's going to make a difference (like a decent set of kitchen knives or a Maglite versus a cheap pound shop torch).
"The poor man always pays twice"

But in the case of VW, id rather not pay good money for something im not getting.

Lum

Given the budget though, the OP could be looking at a tidy, well looked after, Mk3 Golf, from the era when VWs were actually reliable.

I definitely wouldn't buy a Mk4 however!