Topic: 2nd hand car - suggestions, advice ?

[cambourne7]

Cambourne7: Your countryside living matches mine almost exactly! I too live a 20mile round trip to the nearest town.

Perhaps like me your choice will depend on your likely winter conditions - being between hills it can, and is, sometimes impossible to get out of the village in the winter for a week or two. We do have a LandRover as a back up but if this is to be your main car then perhaps it needs to be a 4-wheel drive?

For bullet-proof you can't beat the Skoda & Hyundai.

Perhaps another consideration is who will mend it? Does your favourite garage specialise in particular models? Perhaps it might be worth asking them for advice & perhaps asking them to look out for one for you?

other car is volvo xc60 :)

[brownowl23]

I would cross citoren off that list straight away and  the astra. I had 4 citrens over time and not one of the m was reliabel and one even had brake failure.

I would go for the MAzda 3 or the Kia, I had a mazda 32 its predecessor, a very roomy car, and I was very sad to see mione go. its just that the double buggy wouldnt fit in.
I now have a Kia Sedona, its my pack horse but its wonderful

[gazza1960]

any Honda dealership worth their salt should be able to help you re a second car.
boththe dealers in our area have small 2nd handers.and even if they dont I still think the longevity of their engines  re reliability are 2nd to none.

We have a CRV 4x4 for all things lotty/fishing/general dogs body,diesel and it plods on relentlessly.
and judes Jazz is brillaint,frugal on fuel and nippy aboout town and not too big for her either.

but as a make, I can vouch for 8 years of happy motoring with a Honda.

Good Hunting

Gazza

[cambourne7]

thanks one of our neighbours had a honda jazz and husband had to move it for her and he would not fit :)

[louise stella]

I am on my third KIA and love them!
I'd recommend them (and have done) - cheap to run/tax/insure/repair..... win+win!

[cambourne7]

we have found a really nice kia c'eed which is in budget were going to see if we can look at it saturday :) the garage have knocked £1000 off the asking price and are offering 12 months rac cover, 12 month warranty, and 7 days insurance :)

[Paulines7]

I would go for a Ford Focus or Fiesta.  Reliable cars and spares tend to be cheaper than other makes.  

We have always had two Fords up until a couple of years ago when we decided to just have one car.  We searched for months for a Ford Mondeo Estate diesel but couldn't find one.  We also looked for a Focus C Max 1.9 diesel but there were none available.  Plenty of 1.6 or under but would not have pulled our caravan.  

In the end we opted for a 2008 Vauxhall Zafira but have already had to spend money on it.  Our previous Mondeo and Fiesta went round the clock and we only had to pay out for maintenance items such as brakes, tyres, exhausts etc.


 

[antipodes]

If I could, I would have another Fiat. Our Punto was an excellent car for 15 years! We currently have 2 Renaults and I don't agree, the Scenics are excellent. I would get a Megane, no worries. They are a good car. Although I am currently in an old Clio and it is a ripper, very reliable.

[mentallot]

Peugeot 406 estate. You'll pick up a 53reg (think this was the last year they were made) for not a lot of money, the back is a cave with seats down, 50+mpg. Mine has 240k on the clock.
Good luck

[cambourne7]

I would go for a Ford Focus or Fiesta.  Reliable cars and spares tend to be cheaper than other makes.  

We have always had two Fords up until a couple of years ago when we decided to just have one car.  We searched for months for a Ford Mondeo Estate diesel but couldn't find one.  We also looked for a Focus C Max 1.9 diesel but there were none available.  Plenty of 1.6 or under but would not have pulled our caravan.  

In the end we opted for a 2008 Vauxhall Zafira but have already had to spend money on it.  Our previous Mondeo and Fiesta went round the clock and we only had to pay out for maintenance items such as brakes, tyres, exhausts etc.
 

Hi

I have had a focus there lovely cars although i have had to replace both front suspension coils within a year of each other which was not cheep due to the types of roads i use :( i had the option to buy my old car back but its not available till aug and i need one now.

[cambourne7]

Peugeot 406 estate. You'll pick up a 53reg (think this was the last year they were made) for not a lot of money, the back is a cave with seats down, 50+mpg. Mine has 240k on the clock.
Good luck

Far 2 big i need a much smaller car

[ACE]

 We searched for months for a Ford Mondeo Estate diesel but couldn't find one.


 

I was not even looking for one but somehow ended up with a Ford mondeo diesel estate. But it has surprised me on the economy side. It goes like a rocket when you put your boot to the floor and tows the caravan. Very clever car. It knows when its raining, dips its own lights, even cuts out the cruise control if you get to close to the car in front. But it is no good at slow speeds as it takes forever to get anywhere.

[cambourne7]

yes but just way 2 big for my needs

[lorna]

I had to scrap my OLD Mondeo estate (petrol) last year, loved it. My son has a diesel Mondeo estate, I think it is 8/9 years old. Coming up to 200,000 miles and still going strong. He does have the benefit that it is maintained well as his son is a qualified mechanic with his own business. John is like Ace he likes to put his foot down. Much to my surprise he is looking for another one. It really has been a brilliant work horse for his business.

[cambourne7]

found a little gem should be picking my new kea c'eed up Tuesday dealer took £1k off his price and looking at ParkerS have still bought it £3k off book value

[ACE]

Nice.

[cambourne7]

http://www.dennishorton.co.uk/seat/used-cars/588/kia-ceed

[manicscousers]

Nice, hope you enjoy yours as much as we do ours  :)

[cambourne7]

thanks will find out when i get it later in the week its having a MOT monday and a valet but i loved the test drive we did A roads and country lanes with pot holes loved the way it handled itself