More used car advice

Astraeus

mgdavid wrote: »

Pass this by me again - you currently use public transport :eek: and scrounge a car off your family etc when you want; :mad:
you only want to spend 5k on a car - yet you are being picky about its 'styling' - suggest you get real and smell the coffee. I don't see how you fit the MSE profile.... sorry to be blunt.

Great post...muppet. :T

Girlintheattic et al, I'm beginning to realise £5,000 isn't going to get me very far for the class of car in which I am interested so I reckon I'll be pushing towards the upper limit I had specified in my first post (£7,500). I have an interest-free credit card for the next 12 months so would be content paying slightly more knowing that I could pay off the excess (likely £1,500) over a few months.

Happened to see an '05 plate Octavia this evening and it is certainly more appealing in the flesh than in the pictures I have been using to convince myself of its styling.

I must say I am swaying towards the Golf - well-built, reliable and reasonably sharp to drive. I think I might prefer the smaller size of the Golf relative to the Octavia, as well, although each time I tell myself that I just look back at Andy's link! :beer:

andygb

Astraeus wrote: »

Great post...muppet. :T

Girlintheattic et al, I'm beginning to realise £5,000 isn't going to get me very far for the class of car in which I am interested so I reckon I'll be pushing towards the upper limit I had specified in my first post (£7,500). I have an interest-free credit card for the next 12 months so would be content paying slightly more knowing that I could pay off the excess (likely £1,500) over a few months.

Happened to see an '05 plate Octavia this evening and it is certainly more appealing in the flesh than in the pictures I have been using to convince myself of its styling.

I must say I am swaying towards the Golf - well-built, reliable and reasonably sharp to drive. I think I might prefer the smaller size of the Golf relative to the Octavia, as well, although each time I tell myself that I just look back at Andy's link! :beer:

I am a bit biased, because we have just bought a 1.9d Octavia for £3K, and will hopefully be using it to travel to Italy and back later this year (3K miles probably). I reckon its ride and handling are better than a couple of 5 series BMWs which I owned, the steering is great and the brakes are awesome and progressive. My first tank of fuel has just worked out at 52mpg! I reckon the boot would take around four golf bags. It takes 195/65/15 tyres which are dirt cheap.
Good luck whatever you choose.

forgotmyname

1st car, or zero no claims ??

5k will cover the insurance, With a bit left over for something cheap or a takeaway.

.

andygb

TysonTheTyreMan wrote: »

I would recommend as new a VW golf as you can get. I would suggest a diesel over the petrol. Also, if it's just going to be your car for you, then what's the point of buying a bigger octavia and hauling extra metal around?

Extra cost for insuring a Golf as opposed to an Octavia for a 25 year old driver?

RDG

The Octavia is a better call than a Golf

At that price they will be the same chassis (also shared with the A3) and you get more for your money with the Octavia than the Golf. Also the Skodas seem to be better build according to all the reliability surveys.

As pointed out insurance for an Octavia will be cheaper as well.

Lithian

TysonTheTyreMan wrote: »

I would recommend as new a VW golf as you can get. I would suggest a diesel over the petrol

Why?

OP hasn't outlined what sort of useage they have, for your £ you'll get a newer petrol golf than a diesel golf so if the OP doesn't need a diesel then they contradict your first point

buscape

Alfa 159 lusso. Something a bit different, Well equipped (AUX in and USB for the stereo plus bluetooth), leather interior and to my eyes better looking than other similar cars. Diesel engines are reliable as well.

Alot of car for the money.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201204444748617/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/8000/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/model/159/make/alfa_romeo/radius/1500/postcode/me87eg/page/1?logcode=p

andygb

buscape wrote: »

Alfa 159 lusso. Something a bit different, Well equipped (AUX in and USB for the stereo plus bluetooth), leather interior and to my eyes better looking than other similar cars. Diesel engines are reliable as well.

Alot of car for the money.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201204444748617/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/8000/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/model/159/make/alfa_romeo/radius/1500/postcode/me87eg/page/1?logcode=p

I love Alfas and the 159 is a lovely car, but that is too expensive, and you will probably be hit with a massive bill at some time, because they are difficult to work on yourself, and even the indepenent garages are expensive.

Astraeus

Quick old update on this way for those naysayers who found it ludicrous that I should dare be 'picky'. I am, two plus years on, happily driving along in an '05 BMW 320d which has caused me no problems and which I have only just nudged over the 100k mark.

Thanks for the sensible input. To those who came along with no good intentions, ta ta. It seems with a sensible head and a bit of negotiation you needn't consign yourself to a low-end vehicle. As for the insurance, £550 fully comprehensive. Another shot across the bow for those of you who offered nothing of any value to this thread. MSE's too full of you.

bigjl

Stick with high mileage ex company motors and you can get a lot of bang for your buck.

Only reason i would not buy a 3 series is lack of room in the back.

100k is only run in for a modern car to be honest