Help French or German

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macp

Original Poster:

4,066 posts

185 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
Im in a quandry people?

I am considering spending upto 6k on a 5dr family hatchback for 3 people.I would prefer diesel not only for the improved mpg but I like the lazy torquey nature of diesel and I can get my thrills on two wheels if need be.

I have been looking at French & Italian stuff eg Clio & Megane, pug 207 & 307 and Alfa 147. As you are aware you can get a 4 or 5yr old car with reasonably lowish miles for my 5 or 6k but im nervous about spending my money on what could be a timebomb.Yes I know all cars go wrong and need maintenance but French & Italian stuff generally seem to get hit with the big poor reliability stick.

Alternatively I could sink my money into a Golf or Audi A3 TDi but it will be older(7-8yrs)and have a few more miles.I havent really had any particularly bad experiences with VAG in the past so I am admittedly biased.

Would appreciate thoughts & experiences.

Thankyou in advance all.

macp

Original Poster:

4,066 posts

185 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
Always buy German IMHO.
I have always lived by this rule in the past has usually worked out too.

macp

Original Poster:

4,066 posts

185 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
TheTurbonator said:
The 307 is regarded as being one of the most unreliable cars built. I had one and from my own experience I'd never buy one again. Nothing major went wrong with it and it never let me down but there was a constant barrage of niggling problems. Everytime something went wrong and I got it fixed, a week later something else would need doing. I got rid of it in the end as I lost my patience with it. I wrote a huge list of everything that needed doing for my mechanic and spent a few hundred getting it all done. It went a week with no faults and then the air conditioning packed in and I noticed oil in the coolant, so I traded it in and got a C4 Grand Picasso. Which has been great, no problems or faults yet and still feels as good and solid as it did when I bought it. So not all French cars are bad.
Peugeot is one I read a lot about and then Reanault but I keep hearing from people with great experiences with french/Italian cars like yourself.

macp

Original Poster:

4,066 posts

185 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
The Crack Fox said:
Niether. Korean. You get great warranties, they're OK to drive, and they're keenly priced family motors.
Fair comment but I cant get her interested in anything japanese never mind korean sigh...

macp

Original Poster:

4,066 posts

185 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
StoatInACoat said:
Everybody is going to tell you to buy German. Everybody knows someone else who's brother had a Megane and it broke down all the time and so all French cars are unreliable turds.
Yes reading the owners reviews on the Parkers webby dont help either its rare to read of owners who are satisfied sadly.

macp

Original Poster:

4,066 posts

185 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
So what do we think of Vauxhall and their diesels.Am I right in thinking they use an alfa sourced unit ?

macp

Original Poster:

4,066 posts

185 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
The Crack Fox said:
macp said:
The Crack Fox said:
Niether. Korean. You get great warranties, they're OK to drive, and they're keenly priced family motors.
Fair comment but I cant get her interested in anything japanese never mind korean sigh...
Jesus, she's considering Peugeot diesels but won't look at Korean ? There's no helping some people.
Your not married are you smile

macp

Original Poster:

4,066 posts

185 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
StoatInACoat said:
Though Renaults are pretty crap to be honest.
biggrin

macp

Original Poster:

4,066 posts

185 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
el ingles said:
How about a nice SEAT Leon or Skoda Octavia. German bits, French prices.
Yes both could be contenders come to think of it my mate who is VAG trained swears by the Leon.

macp

Original Poster:

4,066 posts

185 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
Riknos said:
Want a reliable car? I'll leave this here:

http://www.reliabilityindex.com/manufacturer

Notice how many Jap marques are in the top ten wink
Thankyou interesting reading isnt it.