Saab, Vectra, older Mercedes or something else?
Discussion
Hi everybody.
I need a 4 doors sedan. But at the moment I can’t afford a whole lot. Here is what I’m looking for:
1. It needs to be larger than my current car (2001 Astra station wagon). Something with plenty of rear seat leg room even if the driver is over 6-feet.
2. Safety is the most important. I will need to carry my child in it. So driver’s airbag, passenger’s airbag, side airbag and any other passive and active safety features are a big plus. ABS I think anything has these days and for a while.
3. Creature comforts are welcomed as many as possible as long as they are not the kind which takes the car with them if they go. So things like traction control, stabilization control and anything that either doesn’t break easy or if breaks the car would still work is fine. Fancy superfluous things that are expensive to repair and would affect the car if not, I would rather skip.
4. I would like something I can do DIY work on as much as possible as I won’t be able to afford taking it to an authorized dealer for every little thing.
5. I’m thinking something around 10 years old give or take should be old enough to allow DIY work and also not be expensive to buy, while still being relatively modern. Right?
6. I Would prefer not to buy a diesel.
7. It would be great if it wasn’t dog ugly. Like the older square Volvos. Actually not a fan of Volvos besides the new S90, which is way, way beyond my reach now.
8. I prefer cars with a manual transmission. Since they are also normally cheaper, I think I will be fine here.
9. Definitely don’t need a V8. But something with a not too small engine would also be nice. Something with enough power for safe and decided driving on the motorway.
So given all the above, I ended up with 3 options:
A. Vectra C GTS. My Astra has been very reliable. It’s a 2001 and I have it since new and it has never let me down. It has no rust, at least nothing visible or structural. I never needed to do anything major on it or spend any big money on it. It has 156000 on the odometer now. Really reliable car. Got the last MOT without any repairs. So I feel good about getting another car of the same brand. A Vectra is larger and more comfy. Although I’m looking for a sedan, with the Vectra I prefer the GTS. I also like the Vectra Caravan and if I found a good one I would not mind. I think the Vectra C GTS or Caravan are good looking so this is a plus too.
B. Saab 9-5. I always liked Saabs. Certainly way more than Volvos and I think they are cheaper to run as well. The 9-5 looks nice and seems big enough. The 9-3 is a bit more sporty. But I think it is too small. Seems about the size of the Astra and I need larger than the Astra. Saabs have a good rep for reliability and safety. So big plus there.
C. Now for the wild card. An early 90’s Mercedes E-Class. I would never get a car that old if it wasn’t this Mercedes. Everybody says they are tanks! Very reliable and never give any problems. Closest car to the ideal put fuel, drive and forget according to most. Will run forever and even though it’s a Mercedes, you don’t need to take it back to Mercedes to repair. It’s basically all DIY possible. It also has a lot of the safety features cheap cars only much later started to have like dual airbgags, traction control and others. Crash test and safety is also very good even for today. It still beats cheap modern cars or at least matches them. Makes me nervous to go for something so old to be a family car and daily driver. But I have heard so much good about these cars and have been recommended for my situation.
So I would like to ask what you think of the 3 cars above or if you would like to suggest something different that would fit the bill?
I know people always ask for a budget. And I say, the cheaper the better.
But we are keeping the Astra. Not selling that. It’s too good especially for the price it fetches. Not worth selling. So this car would be a second car in the family. The kid is growing and we used one of the rear facing seats and his legs are already crunched up. So we want something with more space in the rear seat.
I hope I didn’t forget any important details and I thank everybody in advance for your participation.
I need a 4 doors sedan. But at the moment I can’t afford a whole lot. Here is what I’m looking for:
1. It needs to be larger than my current car (2001 Astra station wagon). Something with plenty of rear seat leg room even if the driver is over 6-feet.
2. Safety is the most important. I will need to carry my child in it. So driver’s airbag, passenger’s airbag, side airbag and any other passive and active safety features are a big plus. ABS I think anything has these days and for a while.
3. Creature comforts are welcomed as many as possible as long as they are not the kind which takes the car with them if they go. So things like traction control, stabilization control and anything that either doesn’t break easy or if breaks the car would still work is fine. Fancy superfluous things that are expensive to repair and would affect the car if not, I would rather skip.
4. I would like something I can do DIY work on as much as possible as I won’t be able to afford taking it to an authorized dealer for every little thing.
5. I’m thinking something around 10 years old give or take should be old enough to allow DIY work and also not be expensive to buy, while still being relatively modern. Right?
6. I Would prefer not to buy a diesel.
7. It would be great if it wasn’t dog ugly. Like the older square Volvos. Actually not a fan of Volvos besides the new S90, which is way, way beyond my reach now.
8. I prefer cars with a manual transmission. Since they are also normally cheaper, I think I will be fine here.
9. Definitely don’t need a V8. But something with a not too small engine would also be nice. Something with enough power for safe and decided driving on the motorway.
So given all the above, I ended up with 3 options:
A. Vectra C GTS. My Astra has been very reliable. It’s a 2001 and I have it since new and it has never let me down. It has no rust, at least nothing visible or structural. I never needed to do anything major on it or spend any big money on it. It has 156000 on the odometer now. Really reliable car. Got the last MOT without any repairs. So I feel good about getting another car of the same brand. A Vectra is larger and more comfy. Although I’m looking for a sedan, with the Vectra I prefer the GTS. I also like the Vectra Caravan and if I found a good one I would not mind. I think the Vectra C GTS or Caravan are good looking so this is a plus too.
B. Saab 9-5. I always liked Saabs. Certainly way more than Volvos and I think they are cheaper to run as well. The 9-5 looks nice and seems big enough. The 9-3 is a bit more sporty. But I think it is too small. Seems about the size of the Astra and I need larger than the Astra. Saabs have a good rep for reliability and safety. So big plus there.
C. Now for the wild card. An early 90’s Mercedes E-Class. I would never get a car that old if it wasn’t this Mercedes. Everybody says they are tanks! Very reliable and never give any problems. Closest car to the ideal put fuel, drive and forget according to most. Will run forever and even though it’s a Mercedes, you don’t need to take it back to Mercedes to repair. It’s basically all DIY possible. It also has a lot of the safety features cheap cars only much later started to have like dual airbgags, traction control and others. Crash test and safety is also very good even for today. It still beats cheap modern cars or at least matches them. Makes me nervous to go for something so old to be a family car and daily driver. But I have heard so much good about these cars and have been recommended for my situation.
So I would like to ask what you think of the 3 cars above or if you would like to suggest something different that would fit the bill?
I know people always ask for a budget. And I say, the cheaper the better.
But we are keeping the Astra. Not selling that. It’s too good especially for the price it fetches. Not worth selling. So this car would be a second car in the family. The kid is growing and we used one of the rear facing seats and his legs are already crunched up. So we want something with more space in the rear seat.
I hope I didn’t forget any important details and I thank everybody in advance for your participation.
To be honest, you've got a list of decent cars there.
I'd be inclined to go for a Vectra GSi (I think you're outside the UK if you call it a GTS?), but that's just me. They're really not a bad car at all. It's cheap to change the timing belt and tensioners on them - not much more than £200 including labour, I would think. They're robust.
I'd be inclined to go for a Vectra GSi (I think you're outside the UK if you call it a GTS?), but that's just me. They're really not a bad car at all. It's cheap to change the timing belt and tensioners on them - not much more than £200 including labour, I would think. They're robust.
Mercedes C180 Estate
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Mondeo ST220
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Mondeo ST220
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Thanks for the replies.
I'm also inclined to get the Vectra GTS. It seems you can get better examples than the 9-5 for the same price and the Vectra seems more loaded with features for the same price. Besides, deep down a Saab is an Opel right? Not much difference I would say when it comes to quality. Even the engines are the same it seems.
I'm also inclined to get the Vectra GTS. It seems you can get better examples than the 9-5 for the same price and the Vectra seems more loaded with features for the same price. Besides, deep down a Saab is an Opel right? Not much difference I would say when it comes to quality. Even the engines are the same it seems.
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