The more I look the less I find...
Discussion
I just read this whole thread and was waiting to finish and suggest this as well - fast, comfortable can get decent mpg and not too complicated technically, compared to BMWs etc, that running one will cripple you.
noell35 said:
Newer than the Mondeo ST you posted above
More powerful
Slightly better mpg
sub 7 sec 0-60
A more prestige badge
Newer
Cheaper
£290 road tax
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
More powerful
Slightly better mpg
sub 7 sec 0-60
A more prestige badge
Newer
Cheaper
£290 road tax
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
danlightbulb said:
I like that thanks.
General query. How often do cars like the above or st220s come on the market? I ask because that saab is 235 miles away in scotland, and the nice st220 is 90 odd miles away with only higher mileage cars closer and not many of those.
Why are you even asking this question just go and see these cars! Fair enough Scotland is pretty far, but for someone who travels 12,000 miles a year (and has made such a big deal about this), why are you suddenly so put out by a 90 mile journey? For me personally, I would happily go anywhere in the country for the right car, the UK is not that big!General query. How often do cars like the above or st220s come on the market? I ask because that saab is 235 miles away in scotland, and the nice st220 is 90 odd miles away with only higher mileage cars closer and not many of those.
On autotrader, which is (supposedly) the number one car marketplace in the UK I could spot three Saab 2.3 turbo's. So clearly there are not that many of them about.
Tomorrow it's Saturday, prime time for going to see and buying a car. Turn off your PC, get up early and go and see the thing!! I'm calling troll if you just keep asking even more daft questions.
Edited by rossi1001 on Saturday 5th September 01:07
Fair enough - I see which direction your going. I went round in circles deliberating like you - newer vs faster current. I nearly pressed the go button on my same model upgrade, but the driving style of MrsFB would make me and FBjnr carsick, so chose not to.
The Mondy upgrade your considering is analog (less sensors, euro medling which I compare to "digital" cars) and thus imo a better long termer so long as you are prepared to maintain it.
WRT suspension refresh, my current family hack's polybush refresh cost just under £300 for compenents - makes the car feel new and the poly one's last lots longer than the standard rubber one's.
Perhaps test drive another ST220 first, so you have a baseline. Which could assist in haggling the preferred 2nd one down (which does seem a tad dear). Also, are they cambelt or chain driven? As that could be a bartering point too.
If maintained well, you'll pass your MOT
You've got 3 kids, which will expand inside the car
From previous post of interior width:
Audi A6 - 56.3
Audi A8L - 57.8
Forester - 56.5
Outback - 57.3
Merc E - 56.9
2012 XC90 - 57.8
Range Rover - 59.4
Chevy SS/Holden Commodore - 59.0
I'd be looking at the outback (or research the legacy - see if spec B's have similar dimensions)
Or an SMAX or something of similar size
The Mondy upgrade your considering is analog (less sensors, euro medling which I compare to "digital" cars) and thus imo a better long termer so long as you are prepared to maintain it.
WRT suspension refresh, my current family hack's polybush refresh cost just under £300 for compenents - makes the car feel new and the poly one's last lots longer than the standard rubber one's.
Perhaps test drive another ST220 first, so you have a baseline. Which could assist in haggling the preferred 2nd one down (which does seem a tad dear). Also, are they cambelt or chain driven? As that could be a bartering point too.
If maintained well, you'll pass your MOT
You've got 3 kids, which will expand inside the car
From previous post of interior width:
Audi A6 - 56.3
Audi A8L - 57.8
Forester - 56.5
Outback - 57.3
Merc E - 56.9
2012 XC90 - 57.8
Range Rover - 59.4
Chevy SS/Holden Commodore - 59.0
I'd be looking at the outback (or research the legacy - see if spec B's have similar dimensions)
Or an SMAX or something of similar size
Edited by fungus_bogeyman on Saturday 5th September 01:35
Edited by fungus_bogeyman on Saturday 5th September 01:55
If you want something new then both the Saab and the Volvo look like a refreshing change, but if you want cheap motoring then keep your Mondeo until it dies and put the £6K in the bank until you need it,
Whilst the prospect of spending what a car is worth to keep it on the road is not attractive, I don't completely understand the logic of getting rid of a car which you know is well maintained for the sake of £600 - then spending 10 times that amount on an unknown risk.
Whilst the prospect of spending what a car is worth to keep it on the road is not attractive, I don't completely understand the logic of getting rid of a car which you know is well maintained for the sake of £600 - then spending 10 times that amount on an unknown risk.
oldcynic said:
If you want something new then both the Saab and the Volvo look like a refreshing change, but if you want cheap motoring then keep your Mondeo until it dies and put the £6K in the bank until you need it,
Whilst the prospect of spending what a car is worth to keep it on the road is not attractive, I don't completely understand the logic of getting rid of a car which you know is well maintained for the sake of £600 - then spending 10 times that amount on an unknown risk.
Agreed. But isn't that Volvo (suspiciously) cheap?Whilst the prospect of spending what a car is worth to keep it on the road is not attractive, I don't completely understand the logic of getting rid of a car which you know is well maintained for the sake of £600 - then spending 10 times that amount on an unknown risk.
Bill said:
oldcynic said:
If you want something new then both the Saab and the Volvo look like a refreshing change, but if you want cheap motoring then keep your Mondeo until it dies and put the £6K in the bank until you need it,
Whilst the prospect of spending what a car is worth to keep it on the road is not attractive, I don't completely understand the logic of getting rid of a car which you know is well maintained for the sake of £600 - then spending 10 times that amount on an unknown risk.
Agreed. But isn't that Volvo (suspiciously) cheap?Whilst the prospect of spending what a car is worth to keep it on the road is not attractive, I don't completely understand the logic of getting rid of a car which you know is well maintained for the sake of £600 - then spending 10 times that amount on an unknown risk.
Thanks for everyones input into this thread. I havent gone car shopping for 9 years so a bit out of touch with it all. Id have never considered a big petrol would be a viable choice either, having believed diesels were my only real option.
So St220 and saab 95 turbo. Any other similarly specc'd choices i could look at. Looks like im going 200+ bhp now lol.
There are quite a few low mileage mazda6's around in the 168bhp petrol?
So St220 and saab 95 turbo. Any other similarly specc'd choices i could look at. Looks like im going 200+ bhp now lol.
There are quite a few low mileage mazda6's around in the 168bhp petrol?
Edited by danlightbulb on Saturday 5th September 10:55
danlightbulb said:
Any other similarly specc'd choices i could look at.
FFS, I was looking for an Audi estate but I saw a X-Type saloon on Ebay one day, bought it without any checks and got a train 200+ miles to pick it up that weekend. Found out about the £490 tax and the low 20s mpg on the way back. Maybe not the best way but there's a happy medium between that and considering every car under the sun. There's not vast differences between most of the examples suggested, largish cars are largish cars. They tend to be thirsty on fuel, seat 5 and at £6k can throw up expensive problems.
Just buy something. If it comes to it and you don't like it/isn't big enough/does 5mpg less than you thought you can always, like, you know, sell it again? You're not going to lose much at that age and price, if anything. And then we can have thread mk II.
danlightbulb said:
There are quite a few low mileage mazda6's around in the 168bhp petrol?
No idea about that engine but we bought a 2l 140bhp 53 plate 6 3.5 years ago which has needed nothing other than a sticky caliper sorting. The older diesel engine was poor and that era rust round the rear arches bit other than that they're well thought of.danlightbulb said:
I agree, the xtrail probably the best out the bunch looks wise. I could fit some AT tyres with the white writing on the sides, some side steps, and a bull bar at the front to enhances its mean-ness.
Right, I read this far down the thread and am now convinced the whole thing is a slow-burning wind-up. Roger Irrelevant said:
danlightbulb said:
I agree, the xtrail probably the best out the bunch looks wise. I could fit some AT tyres with the white writing on the sides, some side steps, and a bull bar at the front to enhances its mean-ness.
Right, I read this far down the thread and am now convinced the whole thing is a slow-burning wind-up. 
Edited by danlightbulb on Sunday 6th September 11:05
Edited by danlightbulb on Sunday 6th September 11:07
danlightbulb said:
Its not a wind up, I just don't really know what I want / can't afford what I want. You don't think this looks pretty cool?
Every car has it's faults. I could tell you that the X-Trail is called the "X-Fail" by some in the trade but others love 'em.If your budget is £5k buy something for £4k and keep £1k for making it nice and fixing whatever needs doing.
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