What is it with me and cars? Now buying problems..

[BCA]

My run of ridiculously bad luck has continued.

2 driving test cancellations (next date= 10th April)
1 hopeless instructor (now sorted)
Countless joke insurance quotes!

and now my next problem, buying my car!!

Over the past few months I have been trying to figure out what to get as a first car. A ford Ka was top of the list until I realised I was too big to wear a Ford Ka, let alone drive it. Then a Polo, good car, sadly I think im dull enough already without having a dull car.

After a few reasonable (under 2k) quotes in dads name I finally found a car which is an absolute hoot (for a first car atleast) yet realatively insurance friendly, the Saxo VTR. Ignoring the boy racer/ max muppet image, I have heard nothing but good reports on the cars.

So, for about a month I have been trying to find a used Citroen Saxo VTR for under 4grand. So far I have looked at none.

I cannot believe how many cars there are for sale without actually being bought, its really annoying that dealers do this!! Secondly, private buyers - is it too much to ask to give a working phone number? or a phone that actually gets answered every now and again??

I have never seen such unwillingness to sell a damn car whilst actually putting it up for sale???

So then, my plea to the Pistonheaders out there:
If you know of any/have a Saxo VTR for sale for under 4 grand - which are actually forsale! PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!

IF this is the kind of bad luck I get before having a car I dread to think whats going to happen when I finally get one!

Thanks in advance,
Ben
(sorry for the long post/ spelling/grammar mistakes)

[Supercharged]

Hope you've got small feet otherwise you'll be doing some involuntary left foot braking in the Saxo as the pedals are a little cramped...

Oh and just watch out for the lift of oversteer as it can be a little unprogressive at times!

Its a kind of blessing in disguse though as its caught one too many 'Lacks Power' muppets off guard, meaning you'll always find a good supply of cheap low mileage parts down the breakers

>> Edited by Supercharged on Saturday 22 March 23:05

[mikes]

If you can't wear a Ka, you may struggle with a Saxo - I agree with the above comments narrow footwell and the lift off oversteer can be a bit abrupt.

Think carefully about insuring in your Dad's name. If you falsely declare him to be the main driver you could end up uninsured.

Good luck,

Mike

[P*Ting]

If ur a big lad don't go for a citroen. I haven't driven a saxo, but in the AX I tried I could hit all three pedals at once in my size 9 shoes...

[BCA]

I fit in the Saxo - have sat in a few. I know about the cramped pedals, doesnt bother me too much as I have narrow feet. The driving position takes alot to be desired but I will get that sorted soon enough

As for lift of oversteer: cant wait

If I can find a VTR im going to do a few airfield days to get the full out of it. Lift off oversteer has no place on public roads.

The Ka was just small everywhere, it was more of a toy car than a real car. I know the saxo isnt much bigger, but its bigger where it matters and its more of a fun toy car

Edited to add: have checked it over with the insurance co's - alls fine, they recommended I did it under dads name to save a few grand . Anyway, dad can rack up a decent mileage in no time, he commutes well over 200miles every day.

>> Edited by BCA on Sunday 23 March 00:07

[danhf]

I owned a VTR for a couple of years - lots of fun but assembled by Stevie Wonder.

The lift off oversteer is no-where near as bad as a Pug 205 GTi (I've had one of those too). The pedals - you get used to them after about an hour.

I had mine chipped, cone filter and Scorpion exhaust. It was as noisy as hell but nearly as quick as a VTS.

It handled very well, stopped ok and embarrased quite a some exotics at track days.

I'd recommend it but don't bother changing the air filter - it was too noisy.

Dan

[pwig]

BCA.. be very VERY wary of putting the car in your dads name if he is not the driver and the policy says it is

[shnozz]

I had a Saxo VTR when they first came out. I was young and had just had a fault accident so that was the only car insurable for a reasonable price and I thought they looked pretty good. It was a hoot to drive and so predictable in its handling you could put it sideways at a flick. Found the steering a bit too power assisted and lacked feedback but pretty quick and stuck to the road. Unfortunately, the Saxo started becoming the max puppet brigade car so I sold mine as the image worsened.

My word of advice, stick with original tyres (think they were Mitchelin Pilot?) as the replacements I first put on ruined the grip. The Mitchs would only manage about 6k but the grip was incredible. Bloody expensive but who cares.

BTW - I have size 11 feet and never had a problem with the pedals

[Davel]

At the risk of stating the obvious have you tried Autotrader's web site or loot?

Failing that what about the motor auctions?

Good luck anyway!

[mrsd]

We had Katja's car insured in my name. When the radio was nicked from outside her student house the insurance company wouldn't pay out, despite the fact that the car was at our house 24 weeks a year (their stipulation.) Very definitely notworth the hassle

Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a new car and take advantage of a free insurance offer, then in a year's time consider something with a bit more oomph ?

[Fatboy]

Why not try a 998cc mini? Build quality no worse than the Paxo (which is nothing short of utterly shite) and a damn sight more fun to drive, plus dirt cheap insurance. You'll fit no problems (I'm 6'3", 17.5 stone with size 13 feet and fit easy enough) and there's not more fun car to drive under insurance group 10 PLus if anything goes wrong it's easy to fix.....

[cb-dave]

If you've got your heart set on something like the vtr, don't bother with it - get a pug 106 xsi instead.

Same engine, same bodywork, better (imho) badge, same handling, cheaper insurance...

Pug rate their cars on 0-60 etc with two people and half a tank of fuel, therefore the times will be higher (hence the lower insurance - it's a 'slower' car), whereas citroen rate theirs with only an anorexic driver and running on vapour (hence the higher insurance cos it's technically a 'quicker' car)

The XSi is a group or two below the VTR - and it also doesn't have as much of a "I'm a max muppet, pull me over and arse rape me" stigma attached to it.

Plus, there's gazillions of them around the doors!

[cb-dave]

This is probably miles for you to go unless you're in the n/east of england but this is typical of what you'd be looking for (you want the 1.6 xsi, not the 1.4 xs)

106XSi

[BCA]

Hmm hadnt given the pug a second thought - I tried to get a quote for a rallye not too long ago and was told that they wouldnt insure anyone under 21 on it, no matter what the cost! Does anyone know what insurance group the 106 Xsi is in?

Have to admit I prefer the citroen, have had citroens in the family in the past and they look better IMHO. If a pug will be cheaper to insure and have the same handling/ performance I will certainly consider it.

That said, my gran did have a lovely white Pug 205 which she still misses, it was promised to me until she sold it

**The insurance is all fine, there are no problems with it as I live with my parents and not off site. There is no set mileages for main of named drivers - however the main drivers NCD will be slaughtered in the event of an accident sorry dad!

Edited to add: yep, Autotrader / Exchange and mart / Saxo forums

>> Edited by BCA on Monday 24th March 16:40