2nd hand suggestions

[finlay666]

Throwing in a slight curveball . . . . does it have to be a diesel?

I only say this as the standard 2 litre Mondeo's have just as much power, will be cheaper to buy/you'll get a lower mileage one, higher spec etc. Service parts are *slightly* cheaper, and well it doesnt sound like it belongs on a farm

It doesn't have to.... but I have 60 litres sitting outside the house to use or sell


The petrol mondeos are just as bad, some have higher mileage and aren't as good value

[Big Mac]

Not got a huge amount, say £2k or so, so looking for something around an 02 plate

Depending on how far you can stretch your budget you can get a Citroen C4 '05 1.4 petrol or 1.6hdi for just under £3000. It can't rival the modeo for practicality but design wise it's pretty good and leg room is great (I'm 6'7" and fit comfortably in the drivers seat).

[finlay666]

Depending on how far you can stretch your budget you can get a Citroen C4 '05 1.4 petrol or 1.6hdi for just under £3000. It can't rival the modeo for practicality but design wise it's pretty good and leg room is great (I'm 6'7" and fit comfortably in the drivers seat).

I'm not buying another french car.

Looks like the budget has been cut to £1000 or so (parents not keen on lending me that much as money is tight and I need to pay for potential differences in insurance), depending on car and spec possibly a bit more

Leaning less towards diesel now, just need something cheap and reliable, possibly a Honda Accord or a VW Golf 1.8 Driver or something like that

[Big Mac]

I'm not buying another french car.

Looks like the budget has been cut to £1000 or so (parents not keen on lending me that much as money is tight and I need to pay for potential differences in insurance), depending on car and spec possibly a bit more

Leaning less towards diesel now, just need something cheap and reliable, possibly a Honda Accord or a VW Golf 1.8 Driver or something like that

Yeah, reliability is always an issue with french cars. Mine hasn't let me down yet but I know plenty of others that have been a nightmare to maintain. On your new budget, depending on how much space you need, either a Vauxhall Omega 2.0 petrol (the diesels aren't that good anyway) or a VW Passat (1.9tdi is supposed to be bulletproof) but petrol models are decent if you've decided against diesel.

[Big Mac]

I've just noticed you mentioned a Honda Accord which should be a pretty solid buy. A 2001 2.0VTEC SE with around 100k mileage should be in your budget and there's plenty to choose from.

[Guy]

a Vauxhall Omega 2.0 petrol (the diesels aren't that good anyway)

Noooooo Stay away from the 4 pot petrol Omega's!! they barely move under there own steam and won't be that great on the fuel!
Any of the V6's if you were to go down that route.
Also again whilst the 4 pot derv's arent that great, there is one good oil burner of the crop. The 2.5TD, its a BMW straight 6. Reasonably powerful, can actually be revved and not run out of puff, and don't sound too bad

[finlay666]

Thanks to Guy for the Civic help, hopefully getting one then flogging the Megane

[Vimeous]

Thanks to Guy for the Civic help, hopefully getting one then flogging the Megane

Ooo which flavour?
I'd be thinking pre-2001 5dr 1.6se or 1.6 sport. 1.4 in the 5dr is a little gutless though cheaper to own. Also not all 1.4's had A/C if that matters to you.
The 3dr is also a good car but a bit of tiddler. Mind you it's light so the 1.4 makes a decent fist of it

n.b.
I agree with Big Mac, an Accord would be ideal if a Civic is a little too small.

[finlay666]

a 1.4i or 1.6(non vtec) 3 door

Also looking at a seat ibiza gti having looked at Parkers it's a golf gti in a polo which suits me 97-2000 isnt too bad on insurance and around £1000 with fair mileage

[Guy]

Ooo which flavour?

A very tidy EK civic has been seen, sub £1k, sub 100k mileage looks pretty solid

[dkmech]

Shame you just went down from 2k. This to me seems like a helluva lot of car for the money:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...3998&logcode=p

[kalniel]

Shame you just went down from 2k. This to me seems like a helluva lot of car for the money:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...3998&logcode=p

what's the catch?

[finlay666]

Shame you just went down from 2k. This to me seems like a helluva lot of car for the money:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...3998&logcode=p

Group 14 insurance (The 2.0 Cupra sport 8v is group 10 or 11 and edge of my insurance budget)

Did a quote on one a while ago and it was over £900 3rd party, the civic is under £600 fully comp

[dkmech]

Well I am on group 17 at the moment So it's a downgrade, if it wasn't a bit slow for me I would've nabbed it myself.

As for catch - I don't know. Looks a little suspicious but there are others even cheap with higher mileage. It's a bigger car I guess - people want tiny ones these days.

[finlay666]

Well I found
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...1203&logcode=p
a '98 Primera 2.0l GT For £725 with low mileage

Quick check on insurance comes back around £640 third party, it's more than the civic... but the car itself is a lot cheaper to start with

Going to have a look at it this weekend, it needs tax which is a bit of a bummer though

[Vimeous]

Earlier GTe's were properly pokey, the later GT's a little more staid. Still it's 150bhp so fun