New car advice...

Bean_Counter

bingobangobongo wrote: »

Seat Ibiza might be an option

Have a look at the 1.4 Formula Sport. 15bhp more power than the standard 1.4, looks better, MP3 compatible stereo and cheaper than the standard Sport model. Limited edition to the end of September, I think.

championmongo1

I had a 1.1 Fiat Seicento previously which was very slow and too noisy for motorway driving so in December 2005 I upgarded to a December 2004 Corsa 1.2 Twinport which has never let me down, is plenty quick (0-60 in 11.8 secs. & max speed of 110mph), quiet on motorway driving, cheap to service, cheap to insure (group 3, which meant £309 fully comp. for me and the better half at last insurance when I was 23 male and she was 22 female), returns more than 45 mpg and comes with CD player, electric windows, remote central locking, etc. as standard.

If that's not quick enough for you, you could try the 1.4 variant which does the 0-60 sprint in the same time as an Audi A3 1.6 FSI i.e. 10 seconds and still returns around 45 mpg (my friend currently runs an 06 one).

But you should definitely test drive a few cars before you buy as some may suprise you-e.g. i hated the old corsa but love my wee one. Get a few insurance quotes (try direct line, Quinn Direct, AXA & EA Davies)-you'd be suprised at some of the prices aren't as bad as you might expect, e.g my quotes this year for a 1.6 Focus, similar age was only £30 more- I didn't change though as the Focus wasn't much bigger inside for the extra outlay!

Anyway good luck and I hope you enjoy your new car whatever you end up with!:money:

nickcardwell

ballyblack wrote: »

Try to avoid ; Renault, Citroen, Peugeot, Fiat (some reliability issues with all these makes!)

Must say i have a peugeot 206 1.4hdi and havent had any probs out of it (since new) (touch wood)

Peugeot 206 1.4hdi gets me least 60mpg (600miles out a tank) but have seen it getting 67mpg (670miles out of a tank)

Tax costs £35 a year , insurance is very low as well..

If your thinking of getting a car, go for nearly new (say 6months old) they say with a new car when you drive it out for the 1st time straight away you have lost the VAT (17.5% of the value!)

bingobangobongo

Thanks have been to a couple of local dealers. Think I might go for a better car which will do me 4 or so years. Looking at a Ford Focus, or 5dr Corsa. One thing - the local dealer was offering finance at 4.9%apr - which I thought was excellent considering a loan from moneyback bank is 7.9% or at best 6.3% if over £7,500. Since I'm not familiar with car dealer finance anyone care to fill me in on this? The salesperson assured me it was simply monthly payments (there is no final payment or HP).

Seems good?

IvanOpinion

bingobangobongo wrote: »

Thanks have been to a couple of local dealers. Think I might go for a better car which will do me 4 or so years. Looking at a Ford Focus, or 5dr Corsa. One thing - the local dealer was offering finance at 4.9%apr - which I thought was excellent considering a loan from moneyback bank is 7.9% or at best 6.3% if over £7,500. Since I'm not familiar with car dealer finance anyone care to fill me in on this? The salesperson assured me it was simply monthly payments (there is no final payment or HP).

Seems good?

do not get 'hung up' on APRs they can be very decieiving ... find out how many payments there will be and the amount of each payment ... then compare like for like.

Ivan

Bean_Counter

bingobangobongo wrote: »

One thing - the local dealer was offering finance at 4.9%apr - which I thought was excellent considering a loan from moneyback bank is 7.9% or at best 6.3% if over £7,500. Since I'm not familiar with car dealer finance anyone care to fill me in on this? The salesperson assured me it was simply monthly payments (there is no final payment or HP).

Seems good?

Keep your eyes open for document fees, credit facility fees etc which the garage finance might have but moneyback may not.

Francophile

nickcardwell wrote: »

Must say i have a peugeot 206 1.4hdi and havent had any probs out of it (since new) (touch wood)

Peugeot 206 1.4hdi gets me least 60mpg (600miles out a tank) but have seen it getting 67mpg (670miles out of a tank)

Tax costs £35 a year , insurance is very low as well..

If your thinking of getting a car, go for nearly new (say 6months old) they say with a new car when you drive it out for the 1st time straight away you have lost the VAT (17.5% of the value!)

I too bought a peugeot 206 1.4hdi from new. I have had absolutely no probelms with it and like nickcardwell get fantastic mpg.
I bought it from Roadside Motors in Lisburn and I have to say I got a great deal and the salesman was the easiest to deal with I have ever come across. I did buy it in January and it was pre reg but that's why I got such a good deal.

ballyblack

Peugeot 206 has been replaced by the 207 and its still French!

darwin-rover

ballyblack wrote: »

Peugeot 206 has been replaced by the 207 and its still French!

Well the 206 was made in England and the 207 is made in Slovakia , but anyway ...

fredy34

dont buy a new car!!!!
waste so much money.

What about a 2 year old ford focus? Get a 2 year warranty from ford and they arent bad cars at all.

Though i hate french cars the magane does offer good value for money second hand.

f