Used car buying (£2k budget) - Help please!

jimjames

Ransoman wrote: »

Golf Mk4's are not reliable! They are horrific. My Gf's parents had one and before it was even 10 years old they had to scrap it.

I guess we all have our own experiences and you've had an unfortunate one. Mine has been very different but I wonder what the history was for the vehicle that had problems.

I've had 5 different Mk4 Golfs over the last 15 years including 2 from new that I took to 100,000 miles. Total mileage done on them is nearly 700,000 miles. In that time no serious issues other than maintenance items. Yes as with any car certain parts can fail; I've just had to replace springs and shock absorbers on mine. But they were the original ones and the car has done nearly 240,000 miles which I don't think is bad.

Overall the market view seems to be that the Mk4 Golf is reliable. I don't think there are many other similar cars where a 12 year old vehicle with 150,000 miles will still sell for between £2000 and £3000. If they weren't considered good cars then they wouldn't command that kind of money.

parking_question_chap

19lottie82 wrote: »

Can someone give me some examples of where you would get a decent VW golf for 2k? I've never seen any remotely like this.

Will be a Mk4 golf of some age, but with a good service history then can crack 150k miles easily.

parking_question_chap

Ransoman wrote: »

Golf Mk4's are not reliable! They are horrific.

Yes, based on two individual cars your argument is totally irrefutable

:rotfl:

You just need to look around to see that loads of them are still running. Way more 10+ year old golfs driving about than old astras, focuses and puntos combined

Tilt

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Yes, based on two individual cars your argument is totally irrefutable

:rotfl:

You just need to look around to see that loads of them are still running. Way more 10+ year old golfs driving about than old astras, focuses and puntos combined

With the exception of my 14 year old HGT. Still going strong and drives like it is more than half it's age.

There are still plenty of mk2 Punto's about so I would doubt your claim.

Tilt

sammynick1234 wrote: »

Personally I'd stay away from Fiat's if you're looking at a 2k budget, the 2000-2005 models are absolutely riddled with problems.

Mine seems to of avoided all these "problems" so perhaps you can be more specific? What experience's do you have?

thewhiteavenger

It's a case of getting out there and actually viewing some. If I had a 2k budget for a new car, there's a very tidy 04 Fiesta 1.25 being advertised locally for £1800. 80k miles, service history. I'd be viewing that, with some others.

jase1

19lottie82 wrote: »

A diesel i'm guessing? My OH is a mechanic and says he would never buy anything (for his personal use) at over 80k if it was a petrol, but re diesels, as you said, they can keep going to 250k if they are looked after well.

Not much of a mechanic then to be perfectly honest.

Unless, his reasoning is that petrol cars are more likely to be used for short journeys -- that will finish off any car over 80k. But there is no reason whatsoever why a modern, well-engineered petrol engine shouldn't last well over 200K if actually driven. It's the rest of the car that fails -- and that has nothing to do with the engine.

I currently have two petrol powered cars, both well north of 100K. One just works (Mitsubishi, so not surprising), the other (Ford) has somewhat shot suspension but the engine is as strong as the day it came out of the factory.

Hoof_Hearted

Robisere wrote: »

www.honestjohn.co.uk

Example: a 2005 Nissan Micra 1.2, £1,795.

But please take someone with you who knows cars to view anything you see advertised, anywhere.

The worst thing you can tell a seller is that you are not knowledgeable about cars.

This is far too sensible a suggestion.

Less popular model = better value.