Looking for a mountain and motorway car under £2k
Discussion
Looking to buy another vehicle in the next couple of weeks and a bit bewildered by all the different options - people tell me not to get one thing or avoid a certain brand etc...so just trying to find a consensus!
Since I'm not a real Pistonhead please if you use acronyms can you explain what you mean eg I've heard VAG 1.9 HDI engines are bomb proof but I've got no idea how to find one - I need a make and model to search under.
Here's my criteria - any suggestions appreciated
Budget max £2k
Driving - Two long motorway drives ~(2,600 miles in total) a year plus alpine roads in summer AND winter so mpg is relevant but not end of the world. I want a comfy car that MOVES up a a road.
Diesel is cheaper in France where I am generally based most of the year, however again not the end of the world.
It gets VERY cold in the winter down to -15
French brands plus VW easier to get parts for here.
A very roomy saloon or estate for skis and guitars/amps
My last three cars have been;
VW Golf Diesel - ok but no guts going up steep ish roads and always had a queue behind me ;-( Was nice to drive, nippy :-)
Peugot 206 Petrol - ok round town, tough on the motorway. Lasted about 8 months after buying it at 86,000m
Peugeot 406 2.0 HDI with 230,000m on clock. Got us 1,300 miles in one trip and lasted a few months in winter but now think it will need constant attention and one thing after another. I kind of inherited it - but I like its comfort and it's decent enough on the mountain roads. I just don't want to plough £1600 quid into fixing it up when I could spend that on a newer vehicle.
There seems to be a plethora of Vauxhalls, Peugeots and Citroeons on Autotrader. I was told not to get an old Audi as they are expensive to fix and get problems around the 10 year mark, was told not to buy French cars, not to get an older diesel as they are problematic - so I'm kinda pulling my hair out at the moment.
Pistonheads be kind to a dumb brunette and give me some genuine options. I'm liking the look of this Skoda if I'm on to the right thing?
http://www.tradecarsalesbirmingham.co.uk/used-cars...
Cheers
Sarah
Since I'm not a real Pistonhead please if you use acronyms can you explain what you mean eg I've heard VAG 1.9 HDI engines are bomb proof but I've got no idea how to find one - I need a make and model to search under.
Here's my criteria - any suggestions appreciated
Budget max £2k
Driving - Two long motorway drives ~(2,600 miles in total) a year plus alpine roads in summer AND winter so mpg is relevant but not end of the world. I want a comfy car that MOVES up a a road.
Diesel is cheaper in France where I am generally based most of the year, however again not the end of the world.
It gets VERY cold in the winter down to -15
French brands plus VW easier to get parts for here.
A very roomy saloon or estate for skis and guitars/amps
My last three cars have been;
VW Golf Diesel - ok but no guts going up steep ish roads and always had a queue behind me ;-( Was nice to drive, nippy :-)
Peugot 206 Petrol - ok round town, tough on the motorway. Lasted about 8 months after buying it at 86,000m
Peugeot 406 2.0 HDI with 230,000m on clock. Got us 1,300 miles in one trip and lasted a few months in winter but now think it will need constant attention and one thing after another. I kind of inherited it - but I like its comfort and it's decent enough on the mountain roads. I just don't want to plough £1600 quid into fixing it up when I could spend that on a newer vehicle.
There seems to be a plethora of Vauxhalls, Peugeots and Citroeons on Autotrader. I was told not to get an old Audi as they are expensive to fix and get problems around the 10 year mark, was told not to buy French cars, not to get an older diesel as they are problematic - so I'm kinda pulling my hair out at the moment.
Pistonheads be kind to a dumb brunette and give me some genuine options. I'm liking the look of this Skoda if I'm on to the right thing?
http://www.tradecarsalesbirmingham.co.uk/used-cars...
Cheers
Sarah
the 2k mark is a good price range but there is so much choice which can make it more difficult. the skoda looks alright (i had leon cupra - same engine) and it was alright, it moved along well but it wasn't overly reliable (least reliable car ive owned).
id look at an octavia diesel (130hp) they can be had cheaply and are very good.
id look at an octavia diesel (130hp) they can be had cheaply and are very good.
The Skoda Octavia sounds perfect for you, though after mentioning diesel a number of times you've linked to a 1.8 Petrol Turbo model.
The similar VW Passat is also worth a look, as there's more choice. This looks decent http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014... The 130bhp engine should be powerful enough to make decent progress.
The similar VW Passat is also worth a look, as there's more choice. This looks decent http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014... The 130bhp engine should be powerful enough to make decent progress.
Why not go French? Modern, comfortable, powerful and economical. They look really nice too.
Citroen C4 2.0HDi 16V VTR Plus
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
Here's what they look like:
Citroen C4 2.0HDi 16V VTR Plus
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
Here's what they look like:
Older Subarus will do all of that, never go wrong, and will laugh at the snow.
Impreza and Forester have shorter wheelbase, Legacy being longer means two-fridge-room.
Only downside is MPG.
Say this one
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
Impreza and Forester have shorter wheelbase, Legacy being longer means two-fridge-room.
Only downside is MPG.
Say this one
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
The skoda Octavia was fitted in the early days with the 110 engine and latterly with the more powerful 130 version of the 1.9 TDi. It existed with both those engines in hatch and estate
The hatch is pretty big anyway as the car is a golf with a bugger boot essentially.
I've had Octavia with both those engines and both were utterly bomb proof. Make sure whatever you do you buy one with a full history. I used to change the oil every 10k and often didn't lift the bonnet until the next service!!
The older 110 is slightly less powerful, although personally I couldn't feel the difference. I also felt the 130 was a bit less refined and noisier than the 110, but could have easily been due to different builds of my two examples.
I crashed the 110 when it had 177k on it and was forced into selling the 130 with only 90k on the clock.
My wife also had an a3 with the older 110 engine and it too was solid. It's still in the family on 160k miles.
Very good cars which have been ruined by the move to the more modern common rail engines in my opinion.
The hatch is pretty big anyway as the car is a golf with a bugger boot essentially.
I've had Octavia with both those engines and both were utterly bomb proof. Make sure whatever you do you buy one with a full history. I used to change the oil every 10k and often didn't lift the bonnet until the next service!!
The older 110 is slightly less powerful, although personally I couldn't feel the difference. I also felt the 130 was a bit less refined and noisier than the 110, but could have easily been due to different builds of my two examples.
I crashed the 110 when it had 177k on it and was forced into selling the 130 with only 90k on the clock.
My wife also had an a3 with the older 110 engine and it too was solid. It's still in the family on 160k miles.
Very good cars which have been ruined by the move to the more modern common rail engines in my opinion.
Subaru Legacy 3.0 litre Spec B, manual, saloon. This one;
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
A little over budget but great in the mountains in winter, a swift motorway cruiser and a great all round drive. Actually, a bit of a 'sleeper'.
The mpg will hurt a little though!
Parts might be an issue in France(?).
A friend of mine lives in Chamonix and one winter NONE of the preponderant local diesel cars would start because it was so cold for such a long time, so petrol might be better?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
A little over budget but great in the mountains in winter, a swift motorway cruiser and a great all round drive. Actually, a bit of a 'sleeper'.
The mpg will hurt a little though!
Parts might be an issue in France(?).
A friend of mine lives in Chamonix and one winter NONE of the preponderant local diesel cars would start because it was so cold for such a long time, so petrol might be better?
Orangecurry said:
Older Subarus will do all of that, never go wrong, and will laugh at the snow.
Impreza and Forester have shorter wheelbase, Legacy being longer means two-fridge-room.
Only downside is MPG.
Say this one
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
Very much agree with this logic. Legacy/Legacy Outback would be my choice, a lovely motorway cruiser, and a brilliant car for inclement weather. Bargains at the moment because most folks can't stand <30mpg these days, no matter their mileage!Impreza and Forester have shorter wheelbase, Legacy being longer means two-fridge-room.
Only downside is MPG.
Say this one
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
For bad-weather, the key difference with Subaru is that it is a proper full-time AWD, and they usually have an LSD somewhere in the drivetrain as well.
I didn't think you'd get a Spec.B that cheap (so beware they may be something wrong with it, or as stated perhaps the MPG puts people off.)
I just took my Spec.B to the Alps and back, and it returned 27.6mpg, and that was 1400 miles with the cruise set at ahem kph, so if I wasn't in such a hurry I could easily have topped 30mpg.
Amusingly I reset one of the computer 'trips' when we left the ski-resort - when we reached the valley below, it was showing 61.3 mpg
But if I didn't have kids I'd go Impreza or Forester - having owned a Classic Impreza for 10 years and 100k miles, it required nothing except regular services/consumables. Actually - no; I needed one top-radiator rubber coolant pipe. In 100k miles.
I didn't think you'd get a Spec.B that cheap (so beware they may be something wrong with it, or as stated perhaps the MPG puts people off.)
I just took my Spec.B to the Alps and back, and it returned 27.6mpg, and that was 1400 miles with the cruise set at ahem kph, so if I wasn't in such a hurry I could easily have topped 30mpg.
Amusingly I reset one of the computer 'trips' when we left the ski-resort - when we reached the valley below, it was showing 61.3 mpg
But if I didn't have kids I'd go Impreza or Forester - having owned a Classic Impreza for 10 years and 100k miles, it required nothing except regular services/consumables. Actually - no; I needed one top-radiator rubber coolant pipe. In 100k miles.
legacy or outback ftw.
also consider Toyota caldina if you can find one.
Nissan XTrail is a great reliable workhorse as long as you get the OLDER diesel (not the DCi modern Renault unreliable unit)
plus 1 for the CRV too.
(....basically go jap! parts might cost more, but you'll need a helluvva lot fewer of them!)
also consider Toyota caldina if you can find one.
Nissan XTrail is a great reliable workhorse as long as you get the OLDER diesel (not the DCi modern Renault unreliable unit)
plus 1 for the CRV too.
(....basically go jap! parts might cost more, but you'll need a helluvva lot fewer of them!)
If you spend most of your time in France I don't understand why you are not looking at a LHD car. there are a few outfits specialising in these cars in the UK (do a quick google) or you could buy one locally. Does your UK insurance cover you to spend that long in France? Shouldn't you insure in France as a French resident?
I think you have to be realistic in your budget - £2k will get you an old car with plenty of miles on it that may not be any more reliable than the one you have now, and you won't get much of a warranty. Whilst your current Pug has plenty of miles on it, these cars can easily do 300k miles or more if looked after. Unless it needs repairing now, or you are aware that a very big bill is around the corner, I would stick with that, because you may well spend £2k on a "new" car now and still end up with a big bill.
I would not look at any Jap cars - they are rare in France, expensive in the Uk and you will find it very hard to find a local garage that knows anything about them, plus parts will be expensive and take a long time to arrive. If you want a car that can be fixed cheaply, then look at French makes, VW, Opel(Vauxhall) and Ford in that order.
I would also stick to diesel - the price differential between diesel and petrol in France makes that a much better choice.
I would ignore pub car bores who tell you to steer clear of French cars, they are as good as most mainstream European makes and VW are also not without their problems.
So, in summary - stick with your current Pug unless it is a non-runner or requires major repair - it will be much cheaper to fix out in France even if it does go wrong.
I think you have to be realistic in your budget - £2k will get you an old car with plenty of miles on it that may not be any more reliable than the one you have now, and you won't get much of a warranty. Whilst your current Pug has plenty of miles on it, these cars can easily do 300k miles or more if looked after. Unless it needs repairing now, or you are aware that a very big bill is around the corner, I would stick with that, because you may well spend £2k on a "new" car now and still end up with a big bill.
I would not look at any Jap cars - they are rare in France, expensive in the Uk and you will find it very hard to find a local garage that knows anything about them, plus parts will be expensive and take a long time to arrive. If you want a car that can be fixed cheaply, then look at French makes, VW, Opel(Vauxhall) and Ford in that order.
I would also stick to diesel - the price differential between diesel and petrol in France makes that a much better choice.
I would ignore pub car bores who tell you to steer clear of French cars, they are as good as most mainstream European makes and VW are also not without their problems.
So, in summary - stick with your current Pug unless it is a non-runner or requires major repair - it will be much cheaper to fix out in France even if it does go wrong.
Jeeezus the PH classified is s
te isn't it?I would choose this sort of Forester
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
The problem with the PH classifieds is that they aren't being kept up to date - everything I've contacted about has gone :-(
Thanks for the advice - the 2nd hand car market in France isn't as good as the UK - something that would cost 600/700 in UK would cost 2k in France. I want to get the most for my money really so sticking with UK drives at the moment.
I get 180 extended European cover and European breakdown with my insurance. Once I buy the car it's coming back to France till April/May then we need to do a 2,600 mile round trip to Scotland and back.
I've asked our ex-pat community about the Jap brands as they do look ideal but if parts are hard and expensive to find then may be back to the ol' VW drawing board (or the Skoda) as it seems the easiest/quickest and best value option
Still debating the whole diesel/petrol issue - having had diesels before I know the sort of mileage to aim for - not so sure in petrol i'd be tempted to take something around the 80k mile mark in a petrol...
thanks all!
Thanks for the advice - the 2nd hand car market in France isn't as good as the UK - something that would cost 600/700 in UK would cost 2k in France. I want to get the most for my money really so sticking with UK drives at the moment.
I get 180 extended European cover and European breakdown with my insurance. Once I buy the car it's coming back to France till April/May then we need to do a 2,600 mile round trip to Scotland and back.
I've asked our ex-pat community about the Jap brands as they do look ideal but if parts are hard and expensive to find then may be back to the ol' VW drawing board (or the Skoda) as it seems the easiest/quickest and best value option
Still debating the whole diesel/petrol issue - having had diesels before I know the sort of mileage to aim for - not so sure in petrol i'd be tempted to take something around the 80k mile mark in a petrol...
thanks all!
pistepals said:
I've asked our ex-pat community about the Jap brands as they do look ideal but if parts are hard and expensive to find...
They are not. There are many many outlets.For example. http://www.importcarparts.co.uk/
ECP does Japanese parts.
GSF does.... everyone does.
Maybe in the 1980s it was difficult to get parts.
To buy a car that goes wrong but the parts are cheap vs a car that doesn't go wrong is bizarre.
You've tried two french cars - now try something more reliable.
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