Relative reliability

[sawman]

I have only had a couple of cars in 20 odd years that have actually been unreliable, one was a fiat, the other a mercedes.

I am looking to obtain a winter hack this year, for less than 3k if I can. I'm torn between things like 8-10 year old subarus, or 4-6 year old euroboxes (citroens/renaults etc).

I am reasoning that the older japanese motors may still be more reliable than the newer frenchies, plus add things like AWD to the menu, whilst the europeans are probably going to be cheaper to fuel and insure and so to run unless they break.

So WILL a 10 year old subaru, be more dependable than a 5 year old french oil burner.

[chrisispringles]

Yes, an old Subaru will be much more dependable than a modern french car. Most, if not all, French cars feel very flimsy and fragile, but old Subarus feel incredibly solid like an old 'hewn from solid' Mercedes.

[eltax91]

Get both! As with the other AWD thread, octavia, 1.8T 4x4. German quality and reliability, Japanese prices

[mr boombastic]

I'd get the Subaru, they are like work horses and old ones still pull like a train. AWD will also be very helpful if we get alot of snow again!

[jw golf mk4]

forget french cars! total rubbish! how about a passat tdi? fantastic fuel consumption and reliability! seen alot with 250,000+ on the clock still going strong

[Heathwood]

Although they lack that hewn from granite feel, late 90's designed japanese stuff is incredibly reliable. The main reason I won't part with my Civic Vti is that it never ever goes wrong and is utterly dependable.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

sawman said:

I am looking to obtain a winter hack this year, for less than 3k if I can.

Bloody hell, that's my budget for my nice car, if I wanted a winter hack my budget would be £300!

Well, I've just picked up a lovely 51 plate Skoda Octavia Vrs for £2,500. Would that be good for you? Worth considering?

[sawman]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

sawman said:

I am looking to obtain a winter hack this year, for less than 3k if I can.

Bloody hell, that's my budget for my nice car, if I wanted a winter hack my budget would be £300!

Well, I've just picked up a lovely 51 plate Skoda Octavia Vrs for £2,500. Would that be good for you? Worth considering?

Yes but I need it to be on duty every day and commuting about 2k miles a month. If I can fins one I am confident in for less than a grand I'd be dead chuffed. I have noticed a couple of octavias in the classifeds, so yes I wouldnt be adverse - in fact the one referred to earlier in the post aint that far away.