new car, any advice on the car I am looking at?

[maverickdrives]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 29 December 2020 at 20:31

[bazza white]

I had a megane 2005 1.y6 vvt and hated it. Everything self destructed on the car, what seemed to be the most simple of jobs is turns put to be anything but. I hated it and ended up selling it as spares or repair. Shame really as 50k and full annual service history it seemed like a great car.

Get one with a recent timing belt and dephaser pulley changed as this I'll cost you 50% of the car cost to get done.

Check keycards as these fail and are £180 each.

Check all locks work and windows.

Check for knocking in each of the corners.

Check for a spring noise when turning the steering wheel.

Check all electronics.

[Axionknight]

My brother drives an 05 plate one, I'm not sure if it's a 1.4 or 1.6 but he's had a fair few problems with it, the locks don't work correctly all of the time, a key card died (not a cheap fix), the wheel bearings all ended up goosed and it had a real problem with over fueling at idle, cutting out, erratic revs ETC.

A mate of my dads had the Megane people carrier type thingy, similar age and engine, total shed, problem after problem including the fuse box ending up goosed as it was fitted in a poor location out of the factory, nice and ripe for some water ingress, in fairness though he treated the thing like a van.

[Axionknight]

Ford Focus?

[anonymous-user]

What's your budget?

[meggysaurus]

dont get a megane! nothing but money pits!

[Pebbles167]

I dont get it... A Megane? Are you young, and have to pay a fortune for insurance or something?

For £1200 you shouldn't be looking at crap like the Megane, unless you are really uninterested in driving.

If its power and reliability you want get a 90's/2000's hot hatch. Contrary to popular belief they are usually pretty solid. Remember, modern does not always mean better.

Ones iv'e found to be very reliable:

Clio 172/182
Focus ST170
306 Gti-6
Leon Cupra

There are plenty of others that will do the trick. They all have pretty glowing reviews, and will ferry you around in speed and comfort, while returning 30mpg and not going wrong (usually)

EDIT:Ignore everything. How much do you consider "a lot" for insurance?

Edited by Pebbles167 on Wednesday 23 April 02:08

[MissChief]

Pebbles167 said:

For £1200 you shouldn't be looking at bullst like the Megane, Do you dislike driving or something?

If its power and reliability you want get a 90's/2000's hot hatch. Contrary to popular belief they are usually pretty solid. Remember, modern does not always mean better.

Ones iv'e found to be very reliable:

Clio 172/182
Focus ST170
306 Gti-6
Leon Cupra

There are plenty of others that will do the trick. They all have pretty glowing reviews, and will ferry you around in speed and comfort, while returning 30mpg and not going wrong (usually)

Yes but he also has insurance to consider.

Go to the classifieds, set your bottom at £500 and your top at £1500 and buy on MOT, history and condition.

[Pebbles167]

MissChief said:

Yes but he also has insurance to consider.

Go to the classifieds, set your bottom at £500 and your top at £1500 and buy on MOT, history and condition.

Already edited dude

OP: How much is too much for insurance?

Edited by Pebbles167 on Wednesday 23 April 02:08

[Pebbles167]

maverickdrives said:

I love driving lol but yeah I will have a look at those, another one I looked at was Mazda 323F hatchback 2000 and above. The only reason I am so drawn to megane is because it is cheap on insurance and if I got the 2.0 Litre I could play around with the car and make it track worthy maybe.

Unless you get a hot Megane, they are awful mate. Cant think of a blander car to buy.

You'd be better off with a 306 XSI and spend the change on whatever else you need. Insurance/go faster parts/sweeties/etc...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

0-60 in around 9 seconds, fun handling, 30mpg easy, cheap(ish) insurance, looks fairly decent, lots of info on turning it into a track car.

[Pebbles167]

maverickdrives said:

Well my corsa costed me about £1200 to insure, the insurance transfer to the megane was an extra £200. Later on when I renew the policy, after one year of driving and 1 NCB (Hopefully) the meganes insurance wouldve been about £100 a month which is affordable for me.

£1200... Wow.

As a previous poster said, search £500-£1200 autotrader. Find something you like, get read some reviews/buying guides and get yourself a vehicle.

Even if that "something" is a non-hot megane.

Edit: Here is what I would get in your situation: 206 XSI

-Insurance is unlikely to be much, its a 1.6 16v.
-It was considered to have fairly decent handling
-£600 will get you a decent one, money left for goodies
-Decent info available
-Reliable (as reliable as any pug)
-Looks good

Edited by Pebbles167 on Wednesday 23 April 02:24

[Pebbles167]

maverickdrives said:

I am shortlisting the 206, focus 1.8 zetec I found on ph classifieds and this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

can I get something out of a 1.6 in the future though do you think ? Like I said I want to learn so even if I can boost 5psi lol I will be happy, novice question but do you think I can do that ?

and also I hope I dont have to keep a 1.6 in second gear with full load over a steep hill on a B-road.

Ive driven peugeots with 1.6 16v engines, and I assure you they will be more responsive, more tunable, and certainly easier to work on than that lump in the mazda.

The mazda is no good, not with that engine anyway, the 206 will be more fun.

The engine in the XSI is not bad, certainly could see 120bhp without too much effort. And way more if you can come up with the cash.

Power isn't important though, a standard XSI has 110bhp and is free revving, a big improvement on the 1.2 corsa you drive. Spend the spare money on some decent suspension and tyres. You'll be having too much fun to care about more power, trust me

Edit: Whoa.. missed that, Boost 5psi? You want to turbocharge it?

Edited by Pebbles167 on Wednesday 23 April 02:40

[Pebbles167]

maverickdrives said:

Just checked the insurance on the XSi, its over £1700

and yes I do, not sure if its a good idea or not.

In short mate, no, I personally do not think it is a good idea.

You've probably heard it all before, and please dont think I'm trying to patronise you, but try wait a few years until your insurance premiums drop.

If you're after a quick car, you'll have to. Getting a sporty car is going to cost, and you can bet your bottom dollar that extensive (a turbo upgrade is very extensive modification and a pig of a job) will bump the premiums up even more than if you were to guy buy a GTI model. It will cost a fortune and the gains you get would be still be inferior to pretty much any hot hatch, although probably much more expensive, a turbo mod would probably cost you at least £2000 - £3000

Sorry dude.

Edited by Pebbles167 on Wednesday 23 April 02:51

[Pebbles167]

maverickdrives said:

well I am not much serious about the turbo bit, its just an idea, something I wanted to try much later on. Right about now I just want a car that doesn't struggle to get up a hill with 5 people in it and wont cost me a bomb on insurance.

Dont worry, hope isnt lost! We were all young once.

Here's what I bought:

Mk 4 golf 1.6. Got it at 18 years old, and kept it for 6 months before I bought my first 306 Gti-6.

Although the golf was by no means a hot hatch, it was quick enough, pulled with a full car and luggage easily, looked nice, was very comfy and quiet, and was cheap on insurance.

Drive it for a year whilst making a few learning mods ie: exhaust, intake, wheels, etc. Then sell it and buy something quicker with a more tunable engine.

Edited by Pebbles167 on Wednesday 23 April 03:06

[MissChief]

Alfa 156 TS?]

You could probably get a Ford Puma for that quite easily. Watch for rear arch rust though.

[Silvs]

Look at a Puma, a PHer got one off ebay for 300 quid. In good nick for the price as well.

Insurance shouldn't be too bad, most people seem to have forgotten about them and have avoided falling into Boy Racer hands.

As said, just watch for rust. Look on ebay and auctions. Much better to drive than a megane.

[Axionknight]

Pebbles167 said:

£1200... Wow.

As a previous poster said, search £500-£1200 autotrader. Find something you like, get read some reviews/buying guides and get yourself a vehicle.

Even if that "something" is a non-hot megane.

Edit: Here is what I would get in your situation: 206 XSI

-Insurance is unlikely to be much, its a 1.6 16v.
-It was considered to have fairly decent handling
-£600 will get you a decent one, money left for goodies
-Decent info available
-Reliable (as reliable as any pug)
-Looks good

Edited by Pebbles167 on Wednesday 23 April 02:24

That looks like a cracking little motor for the money - a good should!