Thoughts on these cars?

N3WLIFE

fivetide wrote: »

What do you need the car to do?

These are pretty bombproof. Don't know if the size or power is necessary though
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/volvo/850/volvo-850-850-cd-t5-1996/935403

Wow, I never even thought of volvo's, that is a big car! lol im used to hatchbacks and only been driving for 4 years

fivetide

N3WLIFE wrote: »

Wow, I never even thought of volvo's, that is a big car! lol im used to hatchbacks and only been driving for 4 years

Check the insurance but as a comfy family wagon that will take a beating and not flinch there are few things to match the old boxes.

Plus you have heated leather luxury and will generally own the road.

That one seems to have done pretty low miles and is an auto but as Tobster said, there are plenty out there to look at. That one was just put up as an example more than anything. You may not need a car that can shift the family and a month's shopping from 0-60 in under 8 seconds but lesser specced models are available!

Tobster86

The D5 diesels are pretty good too. They also did an older TDI; also a pretty good engine and one of few direct injection diesels that have proven suitable for running on vegetable oil last time I read.

DB_XIII

How about a Toyota Avensis?

From what I hear from a friend who is a Pug mechanic the Pug 207 VTI is the one to go for as the VTI's have a timing chain rather than a belt.

steve-L

Strider590 wrote: »

French is a very bad idea

Can't see the links, but if your thinking "golfs are always reliable" then visit the owners forums and prepare to be shocked.

Why?
I know what Jeremy Clarkson say's but also they came out quite well in the warranty direct survey for costs. (Article run by telegraph).

I had 2 PUG's and neither was expensive for the years (about 7-8) I owned them... (Well the GTi-6 drank 97 Octane but that is somewhat to be expected of a GTi)

Given this is a popular conception (or mis conception) in the UK they actually represent some good value buys.

Different makes have different followings in different countries....
Obviously Germans like German cars and most German cars are very well built.... but if you go to North Africa most North African's regard them as expensive to maintain compared to Peugeot....

The French have an obvious lean to French cars but why take a national sentiment that is really just based on perception?

As it happens I own a German and a Japanese car right now....but I'd not discount a French car just for being French....

After all.... they can make railways work, dig the channel tunnel in 1/5th of the time and 1/10th of the fatalities we did and put a rocket into space.

Strider590

steve-L wrote: »

Why? .

French cars are terrible built quality, Peugeot and Citroen in particular for electrical issues, they use poor quality wiring and connectors, many have been written off with undiagnosable faults after going through flood water.

This century the only cars that made them worth the risk, have been the 106 gti and the 306 gti/rallye. My 306 I loved for its handling and performance, I didn't like the way the headlights turned themselves off in left hand bends. I've driven many pugs since and not one of them drove well enough to take that risk.

Yolina

Up until 6 weeks ago, I had a 52 plate 206xsi (no go-faster stripes on mine though :rotfl: ) and I had no issues with it in all the years I had it, just the normal maintenance stuff, so it is absolutely possible to get a French car that doesn't have problems

steve-L

Strider590 wrote: »

French cars are terrible built quality, Peugeot and Citroen in particular for electrical issues, they use poor quality wiring and connectors, many have been written off with undiagnosable faults after going through flood water.

This century the only cars that made them worth the risk, have been the 106 gti and the 306 gti/rallye. My 306 I loved for its handling and performance, I didn't like the way the headlights turned themselves off in left hand bends. I've driven many pugs since and not one of them drove well enough to take that risk.

Prior to my 306 XSi and then 306 Gti-6 I had an Escort (kept setting on fire), Carlton (always pulled to the left), Golf (CHG gone) and partners/parents/brother a whole range more.

I didn't suffer any more problems with the 2 PUG's.
The XSi spent 3 winters in Norway (hardly electrical friendly) and the 306 GTi-6 a lot of time on the Med coast (not electrical friendly).
The Gti-6 then got left on my brothers drive for 3 years.(in the Pennines) ...and had electrical faults after but .... what wouldn't?

As i said they came out reasonably well in the warranty direct reliability survey....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9426806/And-the-most-reliable-used-car-is....html


I think you may have left out the 406 V6 Coupe on the list of worth the risk??? :beer:

Strider590

steve-L wrote: »

I think you may have left out the 406 V6 Coupe on the list of worth the risk??? :beer:

Too big to be any fun.....

Quinny_2

EdGasket wrote: »

Don't buy French cars; they are all awful !

And your statement is based on what exactly?