Why did you buy the car that you drive?

[DanceswithUnix]

I would probably sell it and move onto something newer. As you said not worth taking the risk if other things start to go wrong and you end up with a big bill

Buying another car is also a risk, even brand new cars can be a lemon. That nice chap that owned the second hand car might actually be known as "launch control" by his mates and he managed to keep the fact he stuck it in a ditch away from the insurers but paid the lowest quote for repairs.

Sometimes it is better the devil you know, where you know how well the car was serviced and whether it was abused.

[finlay666]

Yes, just have some anxiety about bigger things failing in the future (flywheel, turbo) - none of which show any signs of a problem, but they aren't going to last forever.

Depends on the maintenance schedule, is yours like mine where the water pump is linked to the timing belt and both are meant to be replaced at the same time? I find I get patches of more expensive maintenance, but on the whole for a 13 year old car it's pretty sound (barring missing a lot of new nice to have features like cruise control)

[kalniel]

Depends on the maintenance schedule, is yours like mine where the water pump is linked to the timing belt and both are meant to be replaced at the same time?

I don't know if it's necessary, but certainly recommended and I'd do that anyway. However said replacement is fixed priced job every 5 years so isn't any more expensive than other cars I've had to be honest.

[Azy77]

Peugeot 206 1.4 Look.

Bought it for the economical pro's and have to say it's been good for the past 5 years. Used to fill up with V-Power Diesel and am now using regular Diesel from Esso as it's cheaper and get not much less mileage than V-power.

Full tank costs about £70 and get on average 625 miles.

Though will have to look for another car in a few years as it can get a bit cramped with the 2 kids and mrs.

[theanalyzer]

Got a Mitsubishi Lancer (2008), because it was cheap and fuel efficient.

[Saracen]

Buying another car is also a risk, even brand new cars can be a lemon. .....

They certainly can. I had a new Capri 2.8i years ago that, after 15 months of repeated and major faults, like warped discs and even engine cut-outs (not fun, in the 'fast' lane of the M1, which is where I was on one occasion when the car decided to just quit, and lost all power, I.e. engine cut, no power steering, etc) was eventually replaced by Ford (on some deal between Ford and the dealer).

The difference is, with new cars, you're much more likely to get it sorted without it costing you a fortune. Used cars from dealers give you some of that support, but it can be a heck of a fight, like a friend that had an engine blow on a two and a bit year old BMW 540 v8, about 2 months after he bought it, from a main BMW dealer. It didn't cost him anything in the end, but it was a year of fights, and threatened court action, before he got refunded for the repair cost.

But, of course, on private sales you've got almost no comeback at all for most problems and that, potentially, can get VERY expensive indeed. If you pick up that 'cheap' used, privately-sold Ferrari, you REALLY don't want to have to replace a blown engine.

[Adegville]

Audi A3 2.0 TDI because I refuse to drive anything non-VAG

[Llanowor]

Rover 200, my neighbour offered it me cheap. And I needed a cheap car at the time.

Now looking at other cars just seems too much of an expense.

[Dwevan]

Mine got bought by my parents...

I was 17 and they wanted a safe, cheap, insurance friendly car
therefore....

CLIO!!

still got it 5 years later and i absolutely love it!

Except when the brakes stopped working.. that wasnt fun :s

[JambonFerryman]

2005 VW Golf 1.9 TDI Sport because it's 6 speed, does 57mpg/650 miles to a tank (important when doing 25k miles a year), and it's red. Simples.

[herulach]

Just got me 2.0 TDI (150 PS ) Leon SC FR. Bought it because the c30 needed £450 in servicing and new tyres alround, so thought I'd chuck the money into a new car instead. Best of the VAG stable IMO. Other option was a golf GTD, which is same spec, but with burberry seats or something like an astra gtc/megane coupe, which frankly are just pap.

[Steve A]

I changed from a Zafira about 3 months ago (needed the space for the Kids car seat etc)

firstly the Zafira was sooooo bad on fuel it had to go (20 mpg if i was lucky), the Tax was also expensive (£260 a year)

I had my heart set on an Audi A3 or A4 TDI. as both were quick and had good economy plus decent on road tax

After spending the whole day looking. it was the very last place i tried and hey presto

picked up a 2010 Audi A3 2.0 TDi (170) S-Line in really good condition RS4 alloys.

absolutely love it... beautiful looking car and much better on my wallet.

[dannyboy75]

Nice, very envious

I've had a few A4's and A3's now, currently have an 05 A4 2.0 TFSI (197) which I love (even though it's not been the most reliable), but I start a new job on 2nd January and will no longer have all my private fuel paid for, which is going to be a shock to the system

With that in mind, I think it'll have to be a TDI 130/140 this time around, and perhaps get it remapped later down the line. I did briefly harbour dreams of a 3.0TDI, until I saw the prices and fuel consumption

[Steve A]

Nice, very envious

I've had a few A4's and A3's now, currently have an 05 A4 2.0 TFSI (197) which I love (even though it's not been the most reliable), but I start a new job on 2nd January and will no longer have all my private fuel paid for, which is going to be a shock to the system

With that in mind, I think it'll have to be a TDI 130/140 this time around, and perhaps get it remapped later down the line. I did briefly harbour dreams of a 3.0TDI, until I saw the prices and fuel consumption

I am definitely going to get mine remapped at some point which will take it to around 220 give or take a few.

[herulach]

Nice, very envious

I've had a few A4's and A3's now, currently have an 05 A4 2.0 TFSI (197) which I love (even though it's not been the most reliable), but I start a new job on 2nd January and will no longer have all my private fuel paid for, which is going to be a shock to the system

With that in mind, I think it'll have to be a TDI 130/140 this time around, and perhaps get it remapped later down the line. I did briefly harbour dreams of a 3.0TDI, until I saw the prices and fuel consumption

Depending when you're getting shot if you can get hold of the TDI 184 (golf gtd, leon fr, probably some A3) its actually a great engine, I couldn't justify the extra (it would have been a factory order instead of prereg, so guts of 5k extra) but fuel economy is till high 50s/60s on motorway. (My TDI 150 does a comfortable 60+ on motorways, best I've measured is 67)

[Ghostbusta]

MG ZS 120 Not the V6

Reason: I've always had british cars and I upgraded, its not letting me post an image