Welcome to my What Car Thread
Discussion
Early days, but found out that I am going to be a dad early next year (as I said, very early days)
I currently own a 156 GTA, which I adore, and have done for the last 4 years. You would think its perfect car for me, but with a little one on the way I cannot justify the maintenance cost. Day to day isn't a problem, but the cambelt is due at the end of the year, which is a 700 quid etc, so it has to go. I am sad about that, but things happen. I cannot justify spending 2k per annum keeping it going.
So I need something to replace it as my daily car. I cycle to work mostly, but I still want something fun, but that doesn't cost the earth to fix. I am only looking at spending around the 1 to 1.5K mark. Happy for it to be 3 door, it will only get occasional baby use.
I like French cars, and had a Xsara VTS once. I think this is a perfect replacement for me. Fun to drive, reasonably good pace, and excellent value to boot. I also like Italian cars, so wouldn't rule them out, if they didn't have massive costs associated with them. Would consider an estate of some kind, if it was fun to drive.
So over to PH. What car, around 1/1.5k will fill my criteria?
I currently own a 156 GTA, which I adore, and have done for the last 4 years. You would think its perfect car for me, but with a little one on the way I cannot justify the maintenance cost. Day to day isn't a problem, but the cambelt is due at the end of the year, which is a 700 quid etc, so it has to go. I am sad about that, but things happen. I cannot justify spending 2k per annum keeping it going.
So I need something to replace it as my daily car. I cycle to work mostly, but I still want something fun, but that doesn't cost the earth to fix. I am only looking at spending around the 1 to 1.5K mark. Happy for it to be 3 door, it will only get occasional baby use.
I like French cars, and had a Xsara VTS once. I think this is a perfect replacement for me. Fun to drive, reasonably good pace, and excellent value to boot. I also like Italian cars, so wouldn't rule them out, if they didn't have massive costs associated with them. Would consider an estate of some kind, if it was fun to drive.
So over to PH. What car, around 1/1.5k will fill my criteria?
Edited by S10 GTA on Tuesday 8th May 16:56
On the topic of the GTA/cambelt, any informed buyer will know the cambelt needs changing, and that will seriously detract from what you will get for it. My own best offer would be the price for a similar GTA, minus the cost of a cambelt-replacement, you might find someone more forgiving though.
And i'm not sure what the running costs are mostly, but i imagine a good part of it would be fuel, so why not invest in an LPG conversion? that should pay for itself and make running the GTA a good bit cheaper.
Otherwise, trade it in on a good quality 156/147 diesel?
And i'm not sure what the running costs are mostly, but i imagine a good part of it would be fuel, so why not invest in an LPG conversion? that should pay for itself and make running the GTA a good bit cheaper.
Otherwise, trade it in on a good quality 156/147 diesel?
Vitorio said:
On the topic of the GTA/cambelt, any informed buyer will know the cambelt needs changing, and that will seriously detract from what you will get for it. My own best offer would be the price for a similar GTA, minus the cost of a cambelt-replacement, you might find someone more forgiving though.
And i'm not sure what the running costs are mostly, but i imagine a good part of it would be fuel, so why not invest in an LPG conversion? that should pay for itself and make running the GTA a good bit cheaper.
Otherwise, trade it in on a good quality 156/147 diesel?
The day to day running costs are not the problem. I don't do enough miles for it to be. The issue is the general cost of fixing it.And i'm not sure what the running costs are mostly, but i imagine a good part of it would be fuel, so why not invest in an LPG conversion? that should pay for itself and make running the GTA a good bit cheaper.
Otherwise, trade it in on a good quality 156/147 diesel?
If someone offered me the cost less a cambelt, then we could talk.
KevinA3DSG32 said:
You want to get rid of the 156 because of maintenance costs, yet you are considering a french warm-hatch?
Yes, I can work on that by myself or with a good friend who knows them, the GTA I cannot.Plus its bangernomics. If it cost too much to fix, it goes to the scrap-heap.
PaperCut said:
^ This! or just a Focus 1.6/1.8 Zetec if you want something a bit more practical.
Shame about having to let the GTA go!
The Focus is a fantastically capable capable driving machine for a common or garden hatchback, but - and I say this as someone who owns one - I fear it will seem monumentally dull if you're coming from a 156 GTA.Shame about having to let the GTA go!
If you're a keen driver and it's your only car I'd suggest stretching to something a bit more involving. What about a 306 GTi-6? Basically a slightly more polished version of the Xsara VTS and a good one might even go up in value.
Chris71 said:
The Focus is a fantastically capable capable driving machine for a common or garden hatchback, but - and I say this as someone who owns one - I fear it will seem monumentally dull if you're coming from a 156 GTA.
If you're a keen driver and it's your only car I'd suggest stretching to something a bit more involving. What about a 306 GTi-6? Basically a slightly more polished version of the Xsara VTS and a good one might even go up in value.
I agree, the GTA is pretty special. I'm really trying to work out how I can keep it, but the man maths are not working. I really need to find about 2k down the back of the sofa. Job jobbedIf you're a keen driver and it's your only car I'd suggest stretching to something a bit more involving. What about a 306 GTi-6? Basically a slightly more polished version of the Xsara VTS and a good one might even go up in value.
S10 GTA said:
The day to day running costs are not the problem. I don't do enough miles for it to be. The issue is the general cost of fixing it.
If someone offered me the cost less a cambelt, then we could talk.
So that throws pretty much any alfa out the window, except the older ones which can be DIYed. perhaps a 155? that would also fit into the bangernomics of it, be sure to get an 8v twinspark, since the cambelt on that can be changed pretty easy, the 16v needs specialist toolsIf someone offered me the cost less a cambelt, then we could talk.
S10 GTA said:
The day to day running costs are not the problem. I don't do enough miles for it to be. The issue is the general cost of fixing it.
If someone offered me the cost less a cambelt, then we could talk.
Danger is though, any £1k/£1.5k car can bork you for a grand.If someone offered me the cost less a cambelt, then we could talk.
You say it's bangernomics and move on when costs are high - on that basis do you bin your new snotter when it throws a bill and sink the money?
Surely better to invest in a cambelt in a car you know is good and keep it, especially if you don't use it that much to worry about fuel costs.
Matt UK said:
Danger is though, any £1k/£1.5k car can bork you for a grand.
You say it's bangernomics and move on when costs are high - on that basis do you bin your new snotter when it throws a bill and sink the money?
Surely better to invest in a cambelt in a car you know is good and keep it, especially if you don't use it that much to worry about fuel costs.
I could also do with releasing 2/3k from it before a baby arrives. That is the main reason.You say it's bangernomics and move on when costs are high - on that basis do you bin your new snotter when it throws a bill and sink the money?
Surely better to invest in a cambelt in a car you know is good and keep it, especially if you don't use it that much to worry about fuel costs.
S10 GTA said:
I could also do with releasing 2/3k from it before a baby arrives. That is the main reason.
Ah, well if you have to do that why not get a 1.8 156. Should be plenty within budget and you already know you like them.Otherwise just stick the budget into a 20mile AT search and see what comes up that takes your fancy.
Matt UK said:
Ah, well if you have to do that why not get a 1.8 156. Should be plenty within budget and you already know you like them.
Otherwise just stick the budget into a 20mile AT search and see what comes up that takes your fancy.
It would be a shame to downgrade Otherwise just stick the budget into a 20mile AT search and see what comes up that takes your fancy.
I need man maths help here to justify keeping it
MG's are really good value.
I like low miler cars, this 55 plate MGZS is a 1.8 so easy on the juice. Looks immaculate and only 19k miles. I think it'd be a good drive and cheap motoring..
http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I like low miler cars, this 55 plate MGZS is a 1.8 so easy on the juice. Looks immaculate and only 19k miles. I think it'd be a good drive and cheap motoring..
http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
deltashad said:
MG's are really good value.
I like low miler cars, this 55 plate MGZS is a 1.8 so easy on the juice. Looks immaculate and only 19k miles. I think it'd be a good drive and cheap motoring..
http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Can I afford a V8? I like low miler cars, this 55 plate MGZS is a 1.8 so easy on the juice. Looks immaculate and only 19k miles. I think it'd be a good drive and cheap motoring..
http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
S10 GTA said:
Chris71 said:
The Focus is a fantastically capable capable driving machine for a common or garden hatchback, but - and I say this as someone who owns one - I fear it will seem monumentally dull if you're coming from a 156 GTA.
If you're a keen driver and it's your only car I'd suggest stretching to something a bit more involving. What about a 306 GTi-6? Basically a slightly more polished version of the Xsara VTS and a good one might even go up in value.
I agree, the GTA is pretty special. I'm really trying to work out how I can keep it, but the man maths are not working. I really need to find about 2k down the back of the sofa. Job jobbedIf you're a keen driver and it's your only car I'd suggest stretching to something a bit more involving. What about a 306 GTi-6? Basically a slightly more polished version of the Xsara VTS and a good one might even go up in value.
So I'm not saying the man maths are at fault, just that any four-pot Focus this side of an old RS is going to feel a bit of a let down after a GTA. The Focus handles very well in a quantifiable sense, but it just doesn't have enough attitude to encourages you to exploit that ability.
Not sure how far they'd go to addressing the budget issue and I can vouch for the fact that good ones are a real pain to find, but what about an Alfa 145 QV or 146 Ti?
When you have a child, boot space is one thing you'll find youself wanting more of (not for the child itself, more for the associated equipment). These modern pushchair/pram contraptions can take lots of space, even when folded. You might fit one in an average size boot, but you'll have FA space left for anything else. Definitely go for something bigger than a focus hatch.
Another consideration - rear doors aren't necessarily essential for the first child. We found it just as easy to load them in through the front door, as long as the front seat tilts far enough. But when the second one comes along (!), rear doors do start to become more practial somehow. There aren't many cars with a big boot that don't have rear doors though.
Another consideration - rear doors aren't necessarily essential for the first child. We found it just as easy to load them in through the front door, as long as the front seat tilts far enough. But when the second one comes along (!), rear doors do start to become more practial somehow. There aren't many cars with a big boot that don't have rear doors though.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff