Advice for a friend to pay £1000 - £1500 or a car or finance

[ZX10R NIN]

Mr.Nobody said:

ZX10R NIN said:

In that case the Laguna is the pick, he'll have to haggle but he should get very close to his 2k.

I will show him. He’s never had a French car so I don’t know what they are like in terms of reliability and servicing etc.

They're as reliable as any other car Renault had sorted all the issues by the Gen3 but by then being French meant they didn't sell well it's the same with the 508/C5 but it does mean your friend can buy a nice reliable workhorse.

2.0i Laguna

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111290...

At the top end of his budget you could get a very good C270 these are pretty much bulletproof:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108256...

[Mr.Nobody]

The Mercedes looks good. MOT History is not that great on that one. I just don’t want it to become a money pit. How about the Accord and Saab 9-3?

[ZX10R NIN]

Both look decent but I'd take the petrol Laguna over the Accord just for the lower miles newer age & slighly lower running costs.

The diesel estates I listed earlier are all easily as good as the Saab, it's your friends choice but most cars I've listed will make a good workhorse.

[Mr.Nobody]

He said that he will have a look at the Accord as it’s within his budget. Although it’s old, the history looks good and it’s been well maintained. As he may haggle and see can the dealer go any lower.

He also said that he may look at a saloon. As most of them also have a large boot. Not as big as a estate but he said it’s also worth a look.

Edited by Mr.Nobody on Sunday 23 January 21:30

Edited by Mr.Nobody on Sunday 23 January 21:31

[exelero]

Mr.Nobody said:

He said that he will have a look at the Accord as it’s within his budget. Although it’s old, the history looks good and it’s been well maintained. As he may haggle and see can the dealer go any lower.

He also said that he may look at a saloon. As most of them also have a large boot. Not as big as a estate but he said it’s also worth a look.

Edited by Mr.Nobody on Sunday 23 January 21:30

Edited by Mr.Nobody on Sunday 23 January 21:31

Tell him to look at hatchbacks that have saloon body such as
Avensis
Mondeo
Mazda 6

ETA: I’m sure there are some more, but these come to mind

Edited by exelero on Sunday 23 January 21:42

[Mr.Nobody]

He has said that he found this in his lunch and wondered what people thought. It’s not an estate but a good size boot:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110078...

[exelero]

Mr.Nobody said:

He has said that he found this in his lunch and wondered what people thought. It’s not an estate but a good size boot:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110078...

Boot is big, but the opening isn’t these were going for 1500 tops about a year ago… :/

[Mr.Nobody]

exelero said:

Boot is big, but the opening isn’t these were going for 1500 tops about a year ago… :/

I know most stuff we’ve looked at was going for £1000 to £1500 and seems they’ve shot up, due to the market.

[ooid]

ZX10R NIN said:

At the top end of his budget you could get a very good C270 these are pretty much bulletproof:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108256...

that’s a good shout! The estate models are pretty rare too.

[Mr.Nobody]

A friend of his sent him this from a local dealer:

https://www.gumtree.com/p/skoda/skoda-octavia-2.0-...

Obviously well within budget. Looks a good sped, engine and it’s automatic.

[Mr.Nobody]

Advice on this SAAB 9-3 it’s from a local dealer £6k

[boyse7en]

Mr.Nobody said:

He said that he will have a look at the Accord as it’s within his budget. Although it’s old, the history looks good and it’s been well maintained. As he may haggle and see can the dealer go any lower.

He also said that he may look at a saloon. As most of them also have a large boot. Not as big as a estate but he said it’s also worth a look.

Edited by Mr.Nobody on Sunday 23 January 21:30

Edited by Mr.Nobody on Sunday 23 January 21:31

I've got a 2007 Accord estate - although mine is the 2.2 diesel rather than the petrol.
Bought it at around 110k and it is now on 150-odd thousand miles after 4.5 years use. It's not needed any engine work other than the usual oil and filter changes. It has needed both front bottom arms (£99 per side plus fitting), a couple of drop links, a replacement steering rack hose (about £15), brake pads, and new tyres.

The bluetooth sensor doesn't work with modern phones and drains the battery, so I disconnected it. The radio reception is rubbish.
Folding the seats down is supposed to be a one-handed affair but isn't as the bases 'stick' and need a wiggle to move them.
The boot is huge, with a useful underfloor storage area if it comes with the puncture kit rather than a spare.
Interior wears well. Despite its advancing years all the switches work and the leather isn't scuffed or coming apart.

[Mr.Nobody]

boyse7en said:

I've got a 2007 Accord estate - although mine is the 2.2 diesel rather than the petrol.
Bought it at around 110k and it is now on 150-odd thousand miles after 4.5 years use. It's not needed any engine work other than the usual oil and filter changes. It has needed both front bottom arms (£99 per side plus fitting), a couple of drop links, a replacement steering rack hose (about £15), brake pads, and new tyres.

The bluetooth sensor doesn't work with modern phones and drains the battery, so I disconnected it. The radio reception is rubbish.
Folding the seats down is supposed to be a one-handed affair but isn't as the bases 'stick' and need a wiggle to move them.
The boot is huge, with a useful underfloor storage area if it comes with the puncture kit rather than a spare.
Interior wears well. Despite its advancing years all the switches work and the leather isn't scuffed or coming apart.

The 03 plate I found looks good. The past MOT history on it looks well and should be okay. It probably a little more than what it should be, but used car prices are high at the moment.

[Mr.Nobody]

Any other suggestions that he could look at?

[ZX10R NIN]

The niceset Mondeo/Insignia/Laguna you can find locally.

[Mr.Nobody]

ZX10R NIN said:

The niceset Mondeo/Insignia/Laguna you can find locally.

Mondeo:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112140...

[Mr.Nobody]

Volvo V70:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201191...

[Mr.Nobody]

My friend has had a think with his other half and decided to buy something for around £2000. Rather than finance something. As he would struggle monthly due to bills and saving for a mortgage. He’s also worked his yearly mileage out at 8k a year.

Some cars he’s looking at:

Volvo V70 2.4 D5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201081...

Toyota Avensis:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201121...

Jaguar X Type:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201281...

Citroen C5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201091...


VW Passat:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201211...

Mercedes E Class:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202003178...



Ford Mondeo:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112150...

Ford Focus:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201241...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201281...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201111...


He is just after a workhorse that won’t cost a lot of fix, parts are cheap etc.

Edited by Mr.Nobody on Saturday 29th January 11:04

[ZX10R NIN]

Mazda6

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112270...

[Mr.Nobody]

ZX10R NIN said:

Mazda6

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112270...

That doesn’t look too bad. I will show him.