Choose my car...

[zephyrgirl]

Don't get too excited, I haven't won the lottery (sadly), but I need some help in purchasing a new (i.e. secondhand) car.

I bought a brand new 7 seater Kia Carens last November - mainly for the unlimited mileage, 5 year warranty as I have already done 17,000 miles in it.
This is our main family car used to transport our baby to nursery, commuting and family trips to Wales.

Our other car is an 'S' reg Ford escort estate which currently has a maximum speed of 50mph and won't go round corners.
Our local garage has quoted £800 to fix it up to roadworthy standard, which is probably 10x what the car is worth.
So, we need to get a replacement.

The car will be needed by my husband to commute 50 miles daily.
It needs to have some element of safety as baby will be travelling with him 2 days a week.
I would like a 4/5 door.
Age wise - nothing too ancient, although would be nice for mileage not to be of NASA proportions.

I've got a kayak, so it would be nice to have a car that wouldn't look like an ant carrying an ice lolly stick when it's strapped to the roof.

And, this is the killer, the budget is max £2000.

Am I expecting too much, or are there bargains to be had out there?

What make/model would you recommend?

And, sorry but a sidecar is not really an option.

PS I actually saw an ad for a 53 reg Rio 29,000 for £1500 but it had been snapped up.
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Fly away on my Zephyr?
I bloody wish.

[veeeffarr]

Vauxhall Omega

[zephyrgirl]

I like your thinking Toby, but would like to keep it under 2 litres for insurance & that new bast@rd tax!

Thanks.
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Fly away on my Zephyr?
I bloody wish.

[Cigaro]

There are loads of good, economical cars available for that money.

406 Estate TD?

Astra Mk4 Estate? (TD again, try and get the Isuzu engine if you can as it's better)

Vectra/Mondeo? Both good, reliable repmobiles.

Try and get yourself a big, reliable diesel-barge. It'll cost bugger all to run.

[Shaane]

My dads Omega is 2.5Litre and isn't being touched by that new tax shit? :S

Thought that was for cars past 2001 or 2003 or something. Anyway - Would something like this fit your criteria?

https://pistonheads.com/sales/466973.htm

+1 for the Omega though IMO.
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EMRA Roadstock #92 - Paperwork Permitted.
Previous: 1992 DT125R
Current: ~ 2005 ZX6R C1H

[Keir]

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-BMW-525-TDS-SE-AUTO-SILVER_W0QQitemZ290250887091QQihZ019QQcategoryZ9837QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Current : '08 Yamaha FZ1s
Previous: '99 Honda CBR 600FX, 03 ZX636 B1H, 99 Fazer 600 (red), 02 GSX-R 600 K2, 00 SV650s (red), 2008 ZX10R, 97 Bandit 1200N, 04 ZX6RR K1H, 04 GSX-R 1000, 98 Fazer 600 (gold), 05 Madness 110 Pit bike, 04 CR125R, 00 SV650s (black), 06 KTM 625 SMC, 99 SRAD 600 track bike, 03 SV650, 98 Bandit 1200N, Bandit 600SY, 03 GSX-R 600 K3, 01 GSX-R 600, 01 Fazer 600 (black), VFR 400 NC30 x3, 78 Honda Dream, 00 Speedfight 50

[zephyrgirl]

That's bloody spot on Shaane!
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Fly away on my Zephyr?
I bloody wish.

[Shaane]

Glad i could help
____________________
EMRA Roadstock #92 - Paperwork Permitted.
Previous: 1992 DT125R
Current: ~ 2005 ZX6R C1H

[Phoenix]

If you're going to get an Omega, get the 2.5 turbo diesel, uses the engine out of the BMW 325/525, easily get 45-50mpg on a long run. New tax rules won't affect anything registered before April 2001.

The 525 Keir lists is nice, but it's not an estate, and you're better off with a 3 series Touring, it's an estate and lighter than the 5 series so will be better on fuel and much cheaper to buy. The only 5 series you'll get in that shape for 2grand will be a nail, not a car you want to go buying a cheap, unhistoried example of.

Plenty of other diesel estates that go cheap, Pug 406s, Xantias or might be worth looking for an old volvo 850/V70P1 diesel, will get one of those for 2k, volvo parts can be really expensive if something goes wrong though.

[zephyrgirl]

Thanks for all your feedback guys.

Hubby went out Tuesday evening and had a mosey round the local dealerships and found a car he liked.

I went back to them yesterday and put a deposit down on...





A 2001 Volvo S60 Auto.

It's done 115k and has full Volvo service history. Lovely condition.
Price on the screen was £2995, but got them down to £2700.

Not sure if they were trying to force the sale, but I had been dealing with a lady who shook with me on the £2700 and then a man came into the office saying that the price on the car was a mistake and if I didn't want it he would be putting it up for £3495 that afternoon.
He said that book price was £4800.

I said that the deal was done at £2700 and any more and he could put it back on the forecourt.
So, we now have a Volvo.

I popped into WH Smith later and, fair enough, book price varied between £3900 and £5500.
Also had a look in the freebie Southern Auto Exchange & saw a Volvo dealership selling a S60 (manual) with 90k on it for £4995 so I hope I haven't bought a dog.


Thanks again for your help.
I (well, my husband really!) now join the ranks of saddo Volvo pilots.


PS.

[Phoenix]

It's ok, if something breaks it won't break again for at least another 50,000miles

What engine is it? The S60 just isn't good on fuel, the 2.0T is bad, average about 35mpg probably, the T5 very bad (20-30). I had the V70 which is just the estate version. The most usual things to go at that mileage are air mass sensors, at £600 from volvo, cheaper pattern, or throttle position sensors, another £400 job, Just make sure that at 70K your cambelts been replaced.

[zephyrgirl]

It's an S60 2.0 T SE Auto.

The air mass sensor was replaced at the last service (May) not sure about the cam belt.
It's in for MOT today, so hoping to pick it up tomorrow.

I did point out that when the ignition was turned, a warning message saying something like 'Positioning light failure' came up.
I pointed it out & dealer said it would be picked up on MOT and sorted.

Hopefully.
____________________
Fly away on my Zephyr?
I bloody wish.

[Phoenix]

That just means one of your sidelights is blown, the dash tells you when a bulb goes. If the MAF sensors been done that's good, just try and see if the cambelt has been, if it's all volvo history then volvo can tell you, but the dealer should find out for you as it's due at 70k on Volvos so it must be done.

[zephyrgirl]

It went through the MOT yesterday with no probs (replacement bulb all sorted)

Dealer phoned earlier to ask if I wanted it taxed. I said for them to go ahead & do it (even though it would show as additional owner on log book) as we will prob keep this car til it's run into the ground & would be a hassle to tax online/over the phone if log book not sent off.
Don't really have time or stamina to queue in Post Office for days on end and I want a problem free weekend.

Just leaving the office now to go & pick it up.
Thanks for all your replies, will post next week how it runs and how we're getting on with it.


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Fly away on my Zephyr?
I bloody wish.

[st3v3]

Was gonna suggest a xantia.

But now you chose a Volvo.



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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done