Calling all ABers! What car to buy...

[saintjohnny]

Your advice would be greatly appreciated...I have a budget of �2000 and I live in London, making occasional motorway trips up north. I'm single - no kids and 31 years old but I'm quite tall so comfort is quite important too. I'm after reliability rather than style but I am lucky enough to be able to get any repairs done cheaply. I have had two 1.25 Fiestas, both of which have conked out so I'm not touching them, but I'm interested in anything really. So what do you recommend? I've been thinking of Astra or Punto W/X/Y reg but just speculating really. Advice?

[TWR]

Hi, First bit of advise if you do a lot of motorway journeys, If you are buying a car for that price get a Mech to go with you this is a must, I have like many others tried to advise people with no knowledge with cars only to find that they have not taken heed & have come unstuck with a bad car, I have just sold a punto which in my opinion is cheap,reliable providing it has history, road tax �66 6Mths, plenty of boot space with the drop down seats, If going for any car of your choice make sure the cam belt has been changed depending on the mileage if not you will pay the price!!!! Motorway work can on an old car take its toll if not serviced well, I know Iv seen many an old car on the hard shoulder & I have also seen many bad accidents ON the hard shoulder, I think you understand what I mean. Good luck.

[derekpara]

You can have my WReg Mondeo SJ !

Great motorway cruiser. FSH, perfect cond. throughout , 60K Miles !!

[mjwman]

A Vetra is designed for munching miles. But beware as it may have munched a lot already!

[saintjohnny]

TWR, thanks that's good advice. I am looking at Puntos but I only ever hear horror stories about their reliability - unfair do you think?

Para - interesting...what is it? 1.8? 2.0? Might be too much engine for London driving but sounds good...

[deggers316]

cant go wrong with good old hyundia
cheap and cheerful but most of all ultra reliable as tests prove

[TWR]

Hi Saintjohnny, the cars are as good like any car that has been serviced well, You have leg room each side good vision, Good boot space, drop rear seats, If you do decide to bye one, the first advice I would offer you, get the cam belt + tensioner changed as I have said, also the Thermostat as these cars are prone to faulty Thermostats I have just replaced a cam + tensioner, H/Gasket/Thermostat & gasket on one the price, Approx �150, I do not count labour as this was my Granddaughters car, But I will state again, If you are doing plenty of Motorway Mileage make sure you get these things sorted should you bye any 2nd hand cars otherwise you will one of the people that says, I should have taken heed.

[derekpara]

SJ

It's a 2 ltr Zetec auto (petrol). Runs like a dream and I've had it since it was 13,000 miles young.(2nd owner) I love it, but for London trips you might only get around 25 mpg. 35-49 on a good run. Not looking for a replacement yet, but my point is Mondeos are great work-horses snd very reliable if you can find one that's been looked after. I change my engine oil and filter every 3 months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first - invariably the months. So I only do about 1,800 miles between changes. I think that's the key to reliability.

Sorry, mate. I cant bear to part with it just yet. Sorry to whet your appetite ! No hard feelings ?

[saintjohnny]

Lol! i too have loved Fords but they invariably break my heart! I'm leaning towards the Astra - I've found a 2001 1.6 Club at �1495 - which would free up some cash for a cambelt change etc. How much would that be btw?

[sara3]

I had the cambelt done on my Alfa last year and it was about �500.

[Trout.]

ok, ok we heard , you got an Alfa right?

[sara3]

yes, Trout. I was answering the question but I don't have a 2001 1.6 Astra.

ffs.

[Trout.]

h ^a^p^p^y

[sara3]

n↑o↑t r↑e↑a↑l↑l↑y↑!↑

[saintjohnny]

Alfas - wonderful to look at but a world of pain to look after. I test drove a 147 about a year ago on a work related thing and the engine died taking a corner. The bloke trying to sell it was so miffed! I just kind of sat there and tried not to upset him.

�500 for an Alfa cambelt would probably be less for a Vauxhall right?

[66angelmum]

i have an x reg astra 1.8 sri which i love. its at 138000 miles so i'm guessin it may not last too much longer. i've had it about a year and do regular motorway runs and also round town daily without any problems (touch wood) so far. it passed its mot 4 months ago without needing any work 2 :-) i had a clio b4 and dont find the astra too expensive to run and have been told that parts are quite easily come by.

[oldhenry]

get a car that has depreciated alot already.
but in London you need a smallish car a parking in most place is horrific. i would say a Golf but they are very dear for their age,
so it'll have to be an Astra or a far eastern car not toyota/Honda too dearpity you found Ford bad, I have always found them to be great value - cheap to buy very easy to mend and load cheap parts.
Focus are great- Mondy better

[enfable]

Travel around London on public transport and hire a car when you need to go else where. No tax, MOT, mechanical worries. What you pay on hire your save on costs and deprecation