Advice wanted on replacing car / borrowing to do so

Elle00

I'm really sorry for being cheeky but I posted on the Motors board two hours ago and haven't had a single response. It doesn't seem a very active board so I hoped as there have been car posts on here I might be able to ask here also?

I'm starting a new job in a couple of weeks which is a 15 mile drive to work then back again five days a week. My current car is an N reg Ford Fiesta Ztec with 110,000 miles on the clock, a squeak under the bonnet which two out of two garages have failed to resolve, a back tyre that's almost new but keeps deflating anyway and a clutch that keeps on sinking into the ground despite having been replaced just two months ago (I have to hook it back up with my feet from neutral - whilst driving).

I have £600 in the bank and access to borrow about £700 on my overdraft (leaving some for emergencies). When I start work I've calculated I'll have around £260 spare each month so would be willing to borrow up to 6m of this in advance (£1500).

I've seen one car on the website of a local car dealer that I could afford to buy outright: 1996 Citroen AX 1.1 Memphis, N Reg, MOT Feb 08, 54,000 Miles, Service History, Electric Windows, Central Locking, Sunroof, Stereo Tuner, Lovely Car Throughout. £595

By borrowing, with a kitty of up to £2,800, I could go up to a car from the same dealer: 2001 Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec, Y Reg, Slightly Above Average Mileage (hmm), MOT May 08, Air Con, Power Steering, Central Locking, Driver Airbag, Stereo, Alloy Wheels, Lovely Condition. £1795

So what would you do in my position? Would you simply replace what you already have (trading the N reg Fiesta for the N reg Citroen) in the hope that it's in better nick having been serviced by a reputable dealer? Or would you borrow money to upgrade to a newer car in the hope it would prove more reliable? I adored my AX Elation and only got rid when bubs came along and I needed 5 doors so I would be happy with the citroen if I thought I could rely on it. I do wonder about the price though, why would a decent car with only 54,000 miles on the clock be priced at just £595? Is it because the brand is unpopular?

Advice please!!!

Justie

I suspect it's that price because of its age - the resale value for old cars is next to nothing these days. I would also guess that the car has been driven mostly locally rather than long distance so you may well have problems with the clutch too eventually. My limited knowledge of cars, I'd say the impression is that citroens are expensive for parts and people either love them or hate them. It's only a 1.1 too so not much power but cheap to tax - it could be a good short term option.

If you're going to borrow more to get a newer car then I'd do some shopping around and make sure you get the best deal rather than just go for the local dealer cos it's convenient. Personally I'd go with the air con though but that's cos mine's broken and it's hell :rotfl:

vaio

None of the faults you list sound terribly serious, if that’s all there is wrong I might be tempted to hang on to the devil you know

Elle00

vaio wrote: »

None of the faults you list sound terribly serious, if that’s all there is wrong I might be tempted to hang on to the devil you know

I'm afraid I do believe the clutch disappearing into the floor while I'm driving is extremely serious as I have to go into neutral to get it back out again meaning I do not have control of my car. I have nearly been hit several times by surprised cars behind me over sudden decelerations on A roads and motorways etc.

Not only does the clutch sink and take the bite point to the floor with it (meaning move 1 single millimeter and you hit the bite point, 5mm and you stall the engine) but the gears get locked when this happens sometimes too meaning I have to apply the handbrake and restart the engine or if moving too fast for that - yank the gears with all my might.

Not one garage has been able to fathom why this happens and I've wasted hundreds of pounds getting them to find out including over £300 for a new clutch.