What do you reckon.....?

Araboo27

OddballJamie wrote: »

This looks a nice 'banger' too http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201306217425485

There's some right cheap cars about
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201306267493782/

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201306187346764

Thanks checked them out and the Laguna is best in terms of mpg, insurance...so went on to look at the reviews and they're pretty carp! Do I chance it for a more economical car or do I buy one which is a bit dearer to run but is likely to last me longer? Is it too early to have a drink, lol - I've got a headache!!

fivetide

Laguna's are an electrical mess. Sister had one as a company car from new. In the first six months all the warning lights came on and despite there being no fault with the brakes the dealer couldn't get it to turn the ABS warning off.

I'd be looking for a Honda Civic or something like that.

The BMW you originally posted about isn't a bad car, if you are doing motorway miles. If you see another, check the sills at the back. I went to see one of these and it was rotten at the back.

Don't forget random stuff like this (depends on space needs) http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/ford/puma/ford-puma-1-7-2000-w-reg/1486003 but with a cambelt done and the usual rust on the arches missing, it could be a good wee motor. Most stuff from the blue oval dies through rust/lack of care.

Araboo27

Thanks for that It needs to be able to fit 2 adults and 3 little ones (in car seats)... I originally looked at 7 seaters but I don't want to narrow it down too much! The majority of the time it will just be me and the kids, we need space for Nanna at the weekend ;-) An estate would be ideal but most 5 door cars would suffice.

harveybobbles

Ultrasonic wrote: »

The advert says the combined fuel economy is 26.4 mpg, that's hardly good, let alone VERY good...

When we had 528i autos at work they would always do late 30's.

Then when we "upgraded" to 530d's they used to do the same, so they got binned off and went back to petrol ones.

colino

Unless your going to use a 528 as a motorway muncher, you'll average 24-26 mpg in the real world.

Weird_Nev

harveybobbles wrote: »

When we had 528i autos at work they would always do late 30's.

Then when we "upgraded" to 530d's they used to do the same, so they got binned off and went back to petrol ones.

:rotfl:
So can you explain why when I had that engine in a lighter car with a manual box it got 28 mpg lifetime average?
And why my mate who has one of these exact cars only manual gets 25 mpg?
And why the manufacturer quotes 26mpg combined?
And why Fuelly reports an average of 23 mpg?

I promise you, you absolutely did not get "late 30's"mpg average out of a 528i auto. No way. did not happen. Lies, or mistaken. Or oly drove downhill with the car in neutral.

The OP should expect no more than 25 mpg out of this car, and should base her sums on this figure.

Araboo27

Think I'm going to spend a few hours this evening looking thru autotrader/eBay and pick maybe 3 to go and see tomorrow. The seat Alhambra has the best mpg out of the cars I'm interested in but the closest one I'd be interested in seeing is 70 odd miles away :-( if I knew I would definitely be getting it I'd drive that far but I might turn up and it's cr*p, lol.

OddballJamie

It's harsh but I wouldn't drive 70 miles for a 'banger' just incase it's a nail.
20 miles tops I would go. Couple of years back I helped my brother find a car, looks upto 10 miles away, ended up with a Nissan Primera about a mile away for £200, still running too.

Araboo27

I know, it's not worth the chance...I've narrowed it down to a galaxy, the original BMW an the e class merc you suggested Jamie all average 26-28 mpg. I do mainly motorway miles but if it did get too expensive for fuel I'd just have to sell and ge something different!

OddballJamie

I quite like the Merc too, 7 seats may come in handy one day with kids.
How many annual miles do you do?