Car Advice: £5,000, 350 miles / week - what car?

scheming_gypsy

bigjl wrote: »

No you inferred that the Japs, Germans and Volvo have superior engines and i pointed out that you need to.consider that run of the mill manufacturers sell engines to other companies, for example the Fiat engines in Vauxhalls and Opels.

You have inferred that Japanese and German are technically better and German anything else is inferior.

no i didn't, i only gave a couple of examples. I didn't tell the OP to only look at those; i said 'Japanese, German and even Volvo's have decent engines'. That doesn't say that i discounted any other engine.

Are you just trying to start a pointless argument.

I was purely adding extra relevant info to your post.

Nope, it seemed like you were though by the way you were adding extra relevant information.

funkycoldribena

Mazda 6 or Mondeo,forget the Renault.

bigjl

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

no i didn't, i only gave a couple of examples. I didn't tell the OP to only look at those; i said 'Japanese, German and even Volvo's have decent engines'. That doesn't say that i discounted any other engine.




Nope, it seemed like you were though by the way you were adding extra relevant information.

Perhaps I should have put a smiley after it.

That may have put it into the context it was intended.

bigjl

bartman wrote: »

I think you mean "implied".

English language police signing out now..........:D

What he said........

I will use the often used excuse of sayning I am not English, lol.

BlueC

puddles wrote: »

Ones I have seen so far on Autotrader are:

VAUXHALL Astra 2.0 DTi 16v LS
38,000 miles - £2,995 - 53 Reg (2003)

RENAULT MEGANE 1.5 DCi 86 Maxim 5dr Hatchback Special Eds
39,000 miles - £3,900 - 06 Reg (2006)

VAUXHALL Astra 1.9 16v CDTi Design
12,000 miles (would need to check that) - £3,490 - 05 Reg (2005)

Personally, I wouldn't bother with any of those. Astras I think are uncomfortable - most uncomfortable car I ever owned any way - so no good for your 1.5 hour commute. Renaults are cheap French junk and prone to bad electrics, breaking down, etc.

Consider a Ford Focus - great value for money and an all-round excellent car which is cheap to run and maintain, if a bit common (but with good reason!). If you can handle going a little smaller then a VW Golf would be a great choice too but you'd need to get something a bit older to bring it into your price range.

For your commute I'd be looking at 1.9 turbo diesels. 1.7 at a push. But no lower, and nothing without a turbo.

scheming_gypsy

bigjl wrote: »

Perhaps I should have put a smiley after it.

That may have put it into the context it was intended.

No worries, it seemed like you were having a pop at my suggestions.
Although i've had 3 Fords (1 escort and 2 escort vans) and hated every effin one of them:D

rob7475

Why's everyone slating the megane??

This website suggests that a megane is more reliable the a vectra:
http://www.reliabilityindex.com/reliability/

I bought a Megeane 1.5 dci tech run in September last year. It's on an 08 plate and had done 44,000 when i bought it. I've put 15,000 on since and had no problems. Servicing is reasonable (£95 for an interim and £230 for full service from local garage using Renault parts). I get between 55-60mpg from mine and it's a mix of busy motorway and A roads.

My last car, which was a company car, was a Ford focus 1.6tdci on an 05 plate. At 90,000 the turbo failed which lead to the engine sezing. This is apparently a problem Ford are aware of but never recalled the vehicles.

Renault reliability has really improved over the years and you do get a lot of car for your money. Mine cost 5500 and has cruise control, climate control, panoramic roof, auto lights and wipers etc. And it still had about 7 month warranty left when I bought it.

scheming_gypsy

i slate them because they're French

wba31

Honda Accord! 2 years ago i bought a 54 plate 2.2 diesel for £5k, you wont get the mileage you specified but as someone said, if you look after it the engine will be fine. It's only £125 a year to tax, great car, sooo comfy (im a 6"2, 18 stone ex rugby player and had plenty of support from the seats), gets good mpg at 70/75mph on cruise control (which is standard on all models i believe...) The saloon boot isnt massive, but big enough. the estate boot is enourmous. the only reason i sold it last year was because my insurance was high (i'm 26) and i got a 54 plate civic diesel (the old 1.7). the new civics have the same 2.2 diesel engine in, but the honda enthusiast who bought my accord told me as the new ones are made in swindon the build quality is not great compared to the pre 2005 civics.

one car always talked up on here is the octavia, lot of MSE posters seem to be fans...

If i was in your shoes i'd get me another accord, incredible car...

mikey72

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

i slate them because they're French

Just Xenophobia?
Not because there's actually anything wrong with them.