Want a car but no ideas what make or model!

toby_puppy

WOW, amazed by all the replies and input, thank you all so much.

Well, I keep getting drawn back to the VW Polo but then not sure there would be much room in the boot, I think my lab would deffo. have to travel as a back seat passenger!

I had a look at the Toyota Avensis but that seemed to be insurance group 9.

Also looked at the Honda Civic, which I quite liked but kept being put off reading on the net it's an old man's car :eek:they don't look old fashioned to me!

Are there any common faults to watch out for on a Honda Civic?

What are they like for bodywork, ie, my friend had a Nissan Primera - the engine was fantastic but the body work was a bit rusty to say the least.

wba31

jostenning wrote: »

WOW, amazed by all the replies and input, thank you all so much.

Well, I keep getting drawn back to the VW Polo but then not sure there would be much room in the boot, I think my lab would deffo. have to travel as a back seat passenger!

I had a look at the Toyota Avensis but that seemed to be insurance group 9.

Also looked at the Honda Civic, which I quite liked but kept being put off reading on the net it's an old man's car :eek:they don't look old fashioned to me!

Are there any common faults to watch out for on a Honda Civic?

What are they like for bodywork, ie, my friend had a Nissan Primera - the engine was fantastic but the body work was a bit rusty to say the least.

I'm 26 and I own a civic. I downsized from the 2.2 diesel Accord last year as my wife to be passed her test and the Accord was far too large for her. If you get one in the lovely mint green they are old man-ish, however mine is in charcol grey and doesnt look too bad. as much as i never thought it would be, mine has some real go when i want it...

the body work seems ok, mine is 54 plate. the Honda enthusiast who bought my Accord off me said that these Civics are built in Japan or something, and are much better built than the new Swindon built Civics...

flyingscotno1

funkycoldribena wrote: »

There wasnt ever a 1.4 Laguna made,most likely it was 1.6.

Well there you go, we were driving a 1.6l Laguna which told everyone it was a 1.4 on their documents.

toby_puppy

wba31 wrote: »

I'm 26 and I own a civic. I downsized from the 2.2 diesel Accord last year as my wife to be passed her test and the Accord was far too large for her. If you get one in the lovely mint green they are old man-ish, however mine is in charcol grey and doesnt look too bad. as much as i never thought it would be, mine has some real go when i want it...

the body work seems ok, mine is 54 plate. the Honda enthusiast who bought my Accord off me said that these Civics are built in Japan or something, and are much better built than the new Swindon built Civics...

Hi, thank you - I've been looking at a 2001 y reg in silver, just under £2k. That looks nice - only thing I was curious about the position of the gearstick, looks higher up than most cars...not sure if the same on yours?

Kilty_2

Hintza wrote: »

Thik you will find the prices are on par and in many case cheaper than Ford.

It's amazing how long it takes for this perception that they are over priced to die off.

Volkswagen has declared war on Ford in Britain.

I'm pretty sure a boggo Focus can be had for less than £13k with discounts.

jase1

Hintza wrote: »

Thik you will find the prices are on par and in many case cheaper than Ford.

It's amazing how long it takes for this perception that they are over priced to die off.

Volkswagen has declared war on Ford in Britain.

Fords are very overpriced at the moment

VWs aren't any more overpriced than Ford, and indeed brand-new I'd take a VW.

But I do think that VWs hold their value too well to be a sensible purchase second-hand -- cars like Fords, French cars, Korean cars etc etc have a steep initial depreciation curve followed by some years where they lose very little. Whereas VW have a much flatter curve -- so they hold their value very well for the first 3-5 years but continue to lose the thousands they still have thereafter.

So from years 4-8 a VW loses more than a Ford etc does. Hence I wouldn't have one second-hand.

wba31

jostenning wrote: »

Hi, thank you - I've been looking at a 2001 y reg in silver, just under £2k. That looks nice - only thing I was curious about the position of the gearstick, looks higher up than most cars...not sure if the same on yours?

yeh the gear lever is up on the dash. it's quite nice being up there as you dont inadvertently brush your hand down your passenger's thigh when changing gear or anything. It's not harder to driver or anything like that... It makes sense in a way, your left hand doesnt have to travel far from the steering wheel etc...
I would recommend a test drive to check you are comfortable with it...

Kilty_2

jase1 wrote: »

Fords are very overpriced at the moment

VWs aren't any more overpriced than Ford, and indeed brand-new I'd take a VW.

But I do think that VWs hold their value too well to be a sensible purchase second-hand -- cars like Fords, French cars, Korean cars etc etc have a steep initial depreciation curve followed by some years where they lose very little. Whereas VW have a much flatter curve -- so they hold their value very well for the first 3-5 years but continue to lose the thousands they still have thereafter.

So from years 4-8 a VW loses more than a Ford etc does. Hence I wouldn't have one second-hand.

I also think it's amazing how long it's taking for the perception of VWs being reliable to die off

jase1

Well VWs aren't bad cars, far from it, but I certainly don't see them as being any better than the Fords and Kias of this world.

If you're going to pay a premium price, at least get a premium product for it. Such a pity that the endlessly reliable large, Japanese-built barges of ten years ago (Galant, QX, Camry etc) aren't being sold any more

Hintza

Kilty wrote: »

I also think it's amazing how long it's taking for the perception of VWs being reliable to die off

It doesn't really matter wheher you agree with it or not but if buying new the lesser depreciation of a VW must be a factor in your decision making and of course the reverse will be true if buying second hand you should get better value on a Ford.