Help Spending Up To 7k Required Please

[Flip Martian]

I drive a V8 Camaro for fun and a 10 year Civic for practical everyday. However, the Honda is starting to cost a bit with just age related things starting to happen so I'm thinking of getting rid and getting something practical, but more economical (as the Honda,a 1.6, is more thirsty than I expected). I'm also wondering about a diesel - I drove a new Golf TD on holiday last month and was impressed but its out of my range without selling the Camaro and a lung. Although it did dispel my natural aversion to diesels quite a bit.

Thinking no older than 2005/05, comfy with a few niceties like cruise control, hopefully leather upholstery, so I can feel a bit pampered in the every day car as well as when in the Camaro. So far I've come up with Ghia spec Mondeos and Focuses, or Volvo S40SE and Peugeot 407. Although I've always driven hatchbacks/coupes so wondering if I'd miss the extra space over a saloon. I looked through Astras but only 1 trim level seems to have cruise control.

Can anyone come up with anything else I should look at please?

[Flip Martian]

Bump for a new day. Also omitted that it needs to be good to drive and not be a slug, so looking 1.8 upwards. Anyone?

[Somnophore]

There's not a lot of choices for saloon diesels 3-4 years old for 7k, most people would suggest a VAG diesel or BMW but they are going to be older or out of your budget.

[s.m.h.]

Seeing youre a Honda driver at the moment....
3 months ago I bought an 03 Accord 2.4s. Build quality is superb as it the ride and the level of trim.
Look at one - much better specced than Fords etc. 2.4 a bit thirsty but still in high 20's up to 40 odd on a run. Diesels are quick and chipped to 190bhp show a clean pair of heels to plenty of other cars, though DM clutches (diesels) can be expensive... Maybe look at a 2.0 exec for the economy and comfort?

What Civic have you got?

[Flip Martian]

Somnophore said:

There's not a lot of choices for saloon diesels 3-4 years old for 7k, most people would suggest a VAG diesel or BMW but they are going to be older or out of your budget.

Fair point. I do prefer hatches but the saloons seem to have a better spec for the price generally. I would prefer a hatch in the right spec - hence considering a Ford. I thought about a late Primera which are well specced and seem to get decent reviews but they look so...umm...odd!

Edited by Flip Martian on Monday 12th October 08:40

[Flip Martian]

s.m.h. said:

Seeing youre a Honda driver at the moment....
3 months ago I bought an 03 Accord 2.4s. Build quality is superb as it the ride and the level of trim.
Look at one - much better specced than Fords etc. 2.4 a bit thirsty but still in high 20's up to 40 odd on a run. Diesels are quick and chipped to 190bhp show a clean pair of heels to plenty of other cars, though DM clutches (diesels) can be expensive... Maybe look at a 2.0 exec for the economy and comfort?

What Civic have you got?

Aha, interesting... Mine's an 1999 1.6SE. The model that replaced it is a no go, I just think it looks too bland. When I bought it I'd been driving a basic spec 1.6 Focus temporarily and hated it - the Honda seemed to have more poke and more involvement. Been told that better spec Focuses are better though but not checked that out yet. I did wonder about Accords - I'll have a look and see what sort of price they go for. Cheers!

[Somnophore]

The VAG hatches are even worse due to the mass appeal. Actually you will get some in your price range, passat and Bora 1.9tdi. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1193549.htm

[Flip Martian]

Somnophore said:

The VAG hatches are even worse due to the mass appeal. Actually you will get some in your price range, passat and Bora 1.9tdi. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1193549.htm

Thanks for that, Passats are good lookers too; will add to the list of possibles!

[s.m.h.]

We looked at the Focus ,a 55 plater at the time, missus took one look at the interior and said Im not driving that, its horrid inside! We had a 2.0esp Focus (99) for a quite few years and she liked that so was a fan of the cars...

Id suggest a small service - changing plugs, air filter and adjusting the valve clearances on the civic to see if the mpg improves..

[Flip Martian]

s.m.h. said:

We looked at the Focus ,a 55 plater at the time, missus took one look at the interior and said Im not driving that, its horrid inside! We had a 2.0esp Focus (99) for a quite few years and she liked that so was a fan of the cars...

Id suggest a small service - changing plugs, air filter and adjusting the valve clearances on the civic to see if the mpg improves..

Interesting about the Focuses - to be honest I'd only consider a Ghia or Titanium with the slightly better interiors. I have an aversion to acres of grey plastic otherwise! I have the Civic serviced regularly - every 12 months, I only do about 6k a year in it. Came out of the last one feeling almost like new - but if I get a combined figure of more than about 32 I'm doing well. Might be my fault of course; I do tend to put my foot down a bit on clear roads...

[Matt UK]

Flip Martian said:

Somnophore said:

There's not a lot of choices for saloon diesels 3-4 years old for 7k, most people would suggest a VAG diesel or BMW but they are going to be older or out of your budget.

Fair point. I do prefer hatches but the saloons seem to have a better spec for the price generally. I would prefer a hatch in the right spec - hence considering a Ford. I thought about a late Primera which are well specced and seem to get decent reviews but they look so...umm...odd!

Edited by Flip Martian on Monday 12th October 08:40

VW Jetta and Bora seem to be cheaper than the equivalent Golf hatch. Good diesels too.

I'd go for a tidy manual Bora with the 1.9 tdi 130 engine and keep the change for your fun car.
Example:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1290878.htm

[Flip Martian]

Matt UK said:

VW Jetta and Bora seem to be cheaper than the equivalent Golf hatch. Good diesels too.

I'd go for a tidy manual Bora with the 1.9 tdi 130 engine and keep the change for your fun car.
Example:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1290878.htm

I was just reading up on the Bora actually. A bit on the bland side as far as looks go but that spec in a late model would definitely be on the list to look at I think, cheers.

[Flip Martian]

Ta for all the pointers. I'm putting a list of cars and suitable specs together which should help (I work on databases for a living so I suppose it comes naturally...!). I'm thinking I may go down to 2004 or 3 for the right car, as long as its not been flogged to death.

All useful stuff, cheers!

[Wadeski]

Saabs are very good value, or you could look at an Accord 2.2CDTi - they're very good.

[GreatGranny]

What about a Volvo S60 D5, great 5 cyclinder engine, superb seats, reliable and can take the miles with ease. For £7k you will get a 55 reg with 50-60k miles easy.

Or an Avensis....don't laugh, I drive then quite a bit through work and I rate them better than the Mondy. The 2.2 engine is strong and the inside, whilst not inspiring, is well put together and is a nice place to be. They are know for their reliability, just what you need in a runaround. Saloon is rare though.

Or else got for the default answer with a VAG oil burner.

[D188ERS]

little leftfield, but what about a mk2 Laguna; albeit a post 2005 FACELIFTED car.

an initiale spec'd car has a simply huge list of std equipment. phone, nav, electrics, keyless etc.
note the newer 2.0dCi engine over a 1.9 / 2.2.

"for example"

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2009...

GT spec cars of that era have similair spec, but with a 175bhp diesel / 205bhp petrol lump.

but, choose VERY carefully....

[300bhp/ton]

Not sure if they are in budget but I drove a diesel Dodge Avenger last year. Thought it was really good, it looked fantastic (metallic red with silver stripes) had a humungus boot. I liked the interior design and thought it much nicer than most of the VAG stuff and well screwed together.

It had the 2.0 VW Tdi engine so went well. It wasn't massivly speedy but was smooth quiet and refined. Basically just a nice place to be.

[Flip Martian]

Thanks for the suggestions, chaps - I'll add them all to the list and check 'em out. Must admit I've not even heard of a Dodge Avenger...! But I'm not averse to Yanks as you can tell. My dad owned loads of Renaults for over 25 years (a BMW 3 series convert for about 6 years now) and has suggested a Laguna. He also said to be careful when choosing one! I must admit I'd initially discounted an Avensis just from their dull reputation but you're right - "a nice place to be" is a priority.

Cheers!

Edited by Flip Martian on Monday 12th October 12:00

[Flip Martian]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions - I've got a shortlist now of Honda Accord 2.2 Executive spec, Volvo S40 2.0 SE and Mazda 6 TS2 or Sport spec. All diesel, lots of comfort, lots of toys, all (well maybe not the Volvo quite so much) apparently good drivers' cars.

Lots of Hondas for sale with high mileage - up over 100k for 3 year old models. Anyone any idea if high mileage is a problem for Accords or in fact either of the others? I'm not likely to go over 8k a year myself for the time being at least.

[Matt UK]

Flip Martian said:

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions - I've got a shortlist now of Honda Accord 2.2 Executive spec, Volvo S40 2.0 SE and Mazda 6 TS2 or Sport spec. All diesel, lots of comfort, lots of toys, all (well maybe not the Volvo quite so much) apparently good drivers' cars.

Lots of Hondas for sale with high mileage - up over 100k for 3 year old models. Anyone any idea if high mileage is a problem for Accords or in fact either of the others? I'm not likely to go over 8k a year myself for the time being at least.

I had an early 2.0d Mazda 6 and blew the turbo on it at 40k miles. The press really rated the car at the time and I know they are popular on PH, but I didn't really like it that much. It did handle well for a big car, I'll give it that, but seeing as I spent 95% of the time on the motorway I just thought it was fking noisy with a cheap looking dash-console, a really crappy stereo and lots of rattles I couldn't find the source off. Maybe the later/high spec models were better, I don't know, I just took a hack from the company car pool for a year and it kind of put me off them. Also the Mazda dealer I used was a bit crap as well. Just IMO.