Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2

[giblet]

GeordieInExile said:

So, within thread budget I have the following as my shortlist for my new car.

BMW 520/525
Volvo S80
Saab 9-3 (either the Cavalier-based hatch or Vectra-based saloon)
Saab 9-5
Rover 75
Vauxhall Omega
Honda Accord

My criteria are auto, comfy and quiet on motorways, reasonable to drive, and well specced - leather, AC and cruise would be nice, and plenty electrically operated things. An electric sunroof would be a boon.

Anything else I should be looking at? I'm 27, had a licence for a year and a bit (I know, I know), and my insurance quotes haven't been *too* dreadful.

I owned a Vectra based 9-3 aero for a while and I've also spent some time driving a 75 CDTi. The 9-3 was £400 above thread budget but drove quite well. From my experience the 75 was a lot comfier and had more toys including heated seats etc but it all depends on what trim example you can find within budget. Earlier ZTs also seem to be within budget.

[2013BRM]

GeordieInExile said:

So, within thread budget I have the following as my shortlist for my new car.

BMW 520/525
Volvo S80
Saab 9-3 (either the Cavalier-based hatch or Vectra-based saloon)
Saab 9-5
Rover 75
Vauxhall Omega
Honda Accord

My criteria are auto, comfy and quiet on motorways, reasonable to drive, and well specced - leather, AC and cruise would be nice, and plenty electrically operated things. An electric sunroof would be a boon.

Anything else I should be looking at? I'm 27, had a licence for a year and a bit (I know, I know), and my insurance quotes haven't been *too* dreadful.

if you do plump for a 9-3 do your homework on bulkhead cracks...caught me out

[GeordieInExile]

giblet said:

I owned a Vectra based 9-3 aero for a while and I've also spent some time driving a 75 CDTi. The 9-3 was £400 above thread budget but drove quite well. From my experience the 75 was a lot comfier and had more toys including heated seats etc but it all depends on what trim example you can find within budget. Earlier ZTs also seem to be within budget.

Within budget there's a 2.0 V6 Club nearby, which I believe was base spec. It has a radio/cassette for crying out loud. Low mileage, auto and base spec combo makes me think it was owned by an old couple who used it to potter about town and drive to their caravan park once a year. I've got a test drive in for it tomorrow afternoon so I'll see how I like it. The BMW I'm testing is £1295 but I'm hoping I'll get it within thread budget with a cash payment.

I really do want to try out a 9-3 but auto examples are thin on the ground!

[anonymous-user]

GeordieInExile said:

giblet said:

I owned a Vectra based 9-3 aero for a while and I've also spent some time driving a 75 CDTi. The 9-3 was £400 above thread budget but drove quite well. From my experience the 75 was a lot comfier and had more toys including heated seats etc but it all depends on what trim example you can find within budget. Earlier ZTs also seem to be within budget.

Within budget there's a 2.0 V6 Club nearby, which I believe was base spec. It has a radio/cassette for crying out loud. Low mileage, auto and base spec combo makes me think it was owned by an old couple who used it to potter about town and drive to their caravan park once a year. I've got a test drive in for it tomorrow afternoon so I'll see how I like it. The BMW I'm testing is £1295 but I'm hoping I'll get it within thread budget with a cash payment.

I really do want to try out a 9-3 but auto examples are thin on the ground!

The 2.0 V6 was a bit of a red headed step child of the range, all the thirst of the 2.5 but not very powerful. Lovely and smooth though, and for my money better than the rough and fragile 1.8.

[GeordieInExile]

dme123 said:

The 2.0 V6 was a bit of a red headed step child of the range, all the thirst of the 2.5 but not very powerful. Lovely and smooth though, and for my money better than the rough and fragile 1.8.

Thanks, that's useful insight - what should I be looking for on the car as potential fault areas?

[radiodanno]

GeordieInExile said:

Thanks, that's useful insight - what should I be looking for on the car as potential fault areas?

Sloshing sounds when you go around corners. This is the plenum filled with rainwater. Very risky as the ecu is there on most cars.

Head gasket failure. Look for mayo type substance under the oil filler cap. Just leave the car running for as long as you can whilst looking around it. ie try to make it overheat.

Does it rev cleanly right the way through the band? Niggly problems do exist with lambda sensors.

I had one and loved it. But garage knowledge is more limited than cars of the same vintage. Not all code readers can read everything on the ecu so look to mobile specialist mechanics or those who know ROVER.

Good luck x

[Hoofy]

Challo said:

Do the S60 Auto boxes need to be avoid?

I just picked one up. If you can wait a couple of months, I'll report back.

[GeordieInExile]

Just found a very nice 9-5 estate. 2.3, auto, toys, leather, low miles for £795.

What are the issues to look out for?

[2013BRM]

GeordieInExile said:

Just found a very nice 9-5 estate. 2.3, auto, toys, leather, low miles for £795.

What are the issues to look out for?

what year?

[GeordieInExile]

2002.

[2013BRM]

GeordieInExile said:

2002.

ok, sump removal to check for sludge build up needs to be in the history somewhere and there is a mod that can be retrofitted, not an issue 2004 onwards, other than that, brake lines need replacing after about 10 years and if they haven't it could be expensive as the fuel tank needs to be dropped in severe cases. These, I think, are the only main items bar the usual turbo considerations. Great and undervalued cars

[GeordieInExile]

2013BRM said:

ok, sump removal to check for sludge build up needs to be in the history somewhere and there is a mod that can be retrofitted, not an issue 2004 onwards, other than that, brake lines need replacing after about 10 years and if they haven't it could be expensive as the fuel tank needs to be dropped in severe cases. These, I think, are the only main items bar the usual turbo considerations. Great and undervalued cars

Brilliant thank you very much! I'll inquire about those over the phone before going down to see it.

I've never bought from a dealer before, if I like it and decide to buy will I be able to take it home same day? Don't think my driver will be best pleased if I make him do the trip twice...!

[2013BRM]

GeordieInExile said:

2013BRM said:

ok, sump removal to check for sludge build up needs to be in the history somewhere and there is a mod that can be retrofitted, not an issue 2004 onwards, other than that, brake lines need replacing after about 10 years and if they haven't it could be expensive as the fuel tank needs to be dropped in severe cases. These, I think, are the only main items bar the usual turbo considerations. Great and undervalued cars

Brilliant thank you very much! I'll inquire about those over the phone before going down to see it.

I've never bought from a dealer before, if I like it and decide to buy will I be able to take it home same day? Don't think my driver will be best pleased if I make him do the trip twice...!

I did

[Hoofy]

For £800, is it an issue if it lasts until the next MOT?

[renorti]

405dogvan said:

renorti said:

56 reg mazda 5 2.0petrol ,windscreen cracked and needed center exhaust
just over 100k, goes well bought for £400.
another £250 all fixed.bargain

Nice purchase in some ways - but a mate acquired a similar car without any faults for £500 so it's not all gravy (older petrol MPVs seem really, really, really hard to shift for reasons I cannot fully fathom??)

not a bad car,actually went quite well for a 2.0 7 seater.but like you say petrols seems to scare some people,tax is expensive at £265 a year.
sold it on quickly for £1700,had a few foreigners fighting over it.

[GeordieInExile]

Hoofy said:

For £800, is it an issue if it lasts until the next MOT?

It'll be my daily driver on a 70 mile round trip, so it needs to not die on me!

[ZiggyNiva]

ukessex09 said:

wiliferus said:

You haven't commented on anything that has been suggested?

yeah showed to wife she did not like those ones

any new bargain pointers...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-DORCHESTER-AUTO-LIMO-/201278677908?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2edd24e394
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Omega-2-5-V6-24...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-FORD-DORCHESTER-AUT...

or slightly over budget

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Vaneo-Ambiente-...

or back in budget

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-E320-ESTAT...

might be in budget

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-VOLVO-V70-S-20V-AUT...

Short MOT and will need a bit for new one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Isuzu-trouper-3-1-td-aut...


Let us know what your misses thinks of them

[ZiggyNiva]

2013BRM said:

GeordieInExile said:

So, within thread budget I have the following as my shortlist for my new car.

BMW 520/525
Volvo S80
Saab 9-3 (either the Cavalier-based hatch or Vectra-based saloon)
Saab 9-5
Rover 75
Vauxhall Omega
Honda Accord

My criteria are auto, comfy and quiet on motorways, reasonable to drive, and well specced - leather, AC and cruise would be nice, and plenty electrically operated things. An electric sunroof would be a boon.

Anything else I should be looking at? I'm 27, had a licence for a year and a bit (I know, I know), and my insurance quotes haven't been *too* dreadful.

if you do plump for a 9-3 do your homework on bulkhead cracks...caught me out

If you do end up with a cracked bulkhead they can be sorted for £150, so not the end of the world.

[anonymous-user]

Hoofy said:

Challo said:

Do the S60 Auto boxes need to be avoid?

I just picked one up. If you can wait a couple of months, I'll report back.

The conventional autos are generally pretty good in terms of reliability, on a par with other brands.

The Geartronic box doesn't have such a positive reputation.

Evidence of fluid changes is a good thing on both of them. Check either box works as it should, there should be no harsh changes at any point.

[Hoofy]

charltjr said:

Hoofy said:

Challo said:

Do the S60 Auto boxes need to be avoid?

I just picked one up. If you can wait a couple of months, I'll report back.

The conventional autos are generally pretty good in terms of reliability, on a par with other brands.

The Geartronic box doesn't have such a positive reputation.

Evidence of fluid changes is a good thing on both of them. Check either box works as it should, there should be no harsh changes at any point.

On my Geartronic, I didn't even notice the gearbox was changing gears.