New Car... Suggestions?

[Gr44]

Hi guys,

After a new car, my budget is MAX of 6.5K. I'm after a medium sized car... such as an astra/s40 or similar. Only problem is it needs to be a fairly low insurance group ( think 8 or lower ) as I only have 1NCB and I'm 18.

Been thinking of S40 2L or a 1.8 Astra MK4 so fair... Any other suggestions people have?

Only things it has to be:

5 Door... or 2 seats with 2 doors ( dont ask! ), Manual, needs some goodies such as C/Locking, E/Windows, front airbags. etc. Would ideally like ABS, Cruise control and traction control - but not needed.

Hit me with ideas people!! links too if you have some

Cheers

[project187]

get the volvo mate they rock

[5lab]

s40 is a pretty good car, and a bit cheaper than a v40 as well (volvo estates always hold thier value a bit better). if you go for the 1.8i rather than the 2l (the i is important) you'll save some insurance, but also its the mitsubishi gdi engine, which means its ubereconomical for a petrol.. worth a thought anyways. something from a 'premium' (ie volvo) marque will hold its value better than something from a lesser (vauxhall) marque, but for the same reason you get less for your money when you come to buy (buy a mondeo for 6k, you'll get more kit in a newer car than with a s40..)

if you do get an s40, make sure its a post-2000 model as they made lots of adjustments to the chassis etc. with the money you've got that shouldnt be hard to do. you might have some luck with an a3 (but maybe not, given insurance might be pricey) or *just* a new shape focus..

[hitman67]

Skoda Octavia.

£5K will buy a lot of Octavia if you look at the used market. Having a quick flick over Autotrader showed everything from the 1.9TDi to the 1.8T (Golf GTi Engine) coming in under your budget. Prices started from around £850, but climb up to about £3K and you'll get a very nice car.

The Octavia's handle well thanks to the VW Chassis they share, have some pretty strong engines and, imo, look fairly good as well. I think there miles better than any Vauxhall/Volvo.

I'd say go for the petrol to reduce the risk of getting a Taxi, but if you can find a nice 1.9TDi with low miles you'll have one of the best engines on the planet, and a frugal one.

That's my view anyway.

[doll]

The Volvo S40 is a good car, I would stay away from the Diesels though. they utilise the Renaul FQ series in the S40.

Another good car in the medium size format is the Bora. There are some bargains to be had there at the moment as well if you shop around.

[Gr44]

Actually the Skoda Octavia looks quite nice... I'm not sure if I could live with the 'Skoda' badge mind... I may go and test drive one over the w/end.

Not too keen on the Bora, but will go look at one in the flesh over the w/end.
Hate estate cars and certainly don't have a use for them so a V70 is a no-go. Although I did see a couple of nice S40's earlier and a very, very nice astra... might be abit much though - was 6.25K, which isn't a problem but I would need the money asap, as the seller is moving abroad.

Hmmm, not sure. Must admit I feel abit bias to the Astra at the moment. I do really like the look of them and after driving the S40's and astra's I do prefer the drive of most of the astras I've driven. Oh well, will check out the bora and octavia over the w/end and let you know how they fair up

Keep them coming guys!

[Tumble]

Focus? Missus has a 5 door 1.6, bro has the 3 door 1.8.. both fine fine cars, with all the toys like a/c, remote locking airbags etc...

[kalniel]

Have a mk4 astra myself and like it very much, but I think with your budget you could do better (astra values drop like lead so you can get good ones for 4k) - also - it's really hard to find a mk4 with ABS. A focus is a comparible car, but much higher priced in the second hand market (I couldn't find a good one under 5k). A newish Mondeo shouldn't be overlooked either.

Also recommend skoda's - they hold their value very well.

For the same money you can get a good 206 or something, but I really hated the driving experience when I tried them.

[hitman67]

Sorry but the quote "I'm not sure if I could live with the 'Skoda' badge mind" really does annoy me, because your letting past images get in the way of a good car.

The Skoda is a VW Golf in all but bodywork, and is a damn sight cheaper. Just ask doll who owns two of them, they are fantastic little machines, and imo offer better value and logicallity than anything in there class. For Astra money you get a Vectra sized car, which, may not have the image of some presitge marks, but has a lot going for it.

[Fox]

Something like a Mondeo. Decent car, decent interior, reliable, decent to drive, bags of kit. Get a Mk3 for this money.

The Volvo S40 is not a good car. It's not a proper Volvo - its based on the Mitsubishi Carisma, itself a car reknowned for its complete and utter dullness. And I don't mean dull as in Mondeo dull, I mean dull as Mondeo dull + 10 - it's bland to drive, bland to be in, bland to look at, just... bland. At least the S40 looks good but that's all it does good.

Other than that, look beyond the badge as the Octavia is decent. Other options would be something like a Seat Toledo - it's like a VW Golf, but it has a boot and a Seat badge so costs bags less cash.

Previous model Passats are actually starting to look like reasonable value these days as well.

[dkmech]

Sorry but the quote "I'm not sure if I could live with the 'Skoda' badge mind" really does annoy me, because your letting past images get in the way of a good car.

What he said.

Skoda

[Konan555]

The Skoda is a VW Golf in all but bodywork

The floor is streched a bit over the A3/Golf.

[hitman67]

Yeah that I know but it's still the same floorpan and chassis.. and if you peel the door lining away there's an Audi logo stamped on the inside of the door!

I keep trying to get my girlfriend into an Octavia as her 406 is way past dieing by now, and it's only a matter of time.

[Konan555]

I was just adding a minor point, not contradicting anything

Is that on all the doors? I'll keep an eye out for it when I take another look at the electrics (which appear to go on strike so much I'm pretty sure they've got a trade union).

[hitman67]

I don't know if it's on all the doors, but we were looking at the window motors on a Mates front drivers door and he noticed the four rings stamped on it, it was pretty funny actually.

[Konan555]

When the started motor dies on the '98 polo mum had, it still had a seat marking on it. I belive they where built side by side with the seat equivilent in spain anyway?