Where did you buy your car?

I'm no expert on motors, I dont mind admitting.
But you only get what you pay for in my opinion, get a dodgy cheap deal and that's what you get.
I'd not want to buy without some kind of warranty/ come back.

There are so many things that can go wrong, and the engine is not always the main concern.
New brake pads and discs will set you back a few quid for example unless you want to crawl around doing it yourself.
But granted they are considered fair wear and tear.

If a motors done 100K the engine might be OK, but the rest of it will be shagged.

Cars are a nightmare, and get more complicated every year

 

Christine was a 2001 (51 plate) Citroen Xsara (the sporty one, not the bus). She had the 1.6 litre 121bhp petrol engine, and computers controlling far more than computers should be trusted to control. Engine wise, the ECU was lethal. Sometimes a little bit of throttle would immediately throw her into a massive wheel spin, other times a bit more throttle (such as for getting out of a busy junction) would give you the power of the average elastic band. The brakes were crazy. Stupid electronic brake force distribution, great as long as it does actually distribute the brake force. No good at all when there is a woman crossing the road in front of you and you press the brakes and the computer decides that the correct ratio of braking force to apply to each wheel is exactly zero percent. As I was running out of time I actually had my hand on the hand brake lever and had already plotted out an 'evasive action' route involving taking the car over a curb onto an expanse of grass. Brakes came back with a vengeance on the very last attempt (pumping the brakes) that I was going to make before putting my last resort plan into action.

The car came from the infamous Yes Car Credit, that folded just after my fall-out with them, because of so many other people taking them on. Beware though, like many dodgy firms, they didn't really go anywhere. They reappeared a few weeks later under a different name. It takes a wee bit of digging, looking at parent companies and child companies on the likes of Companies House, but the links are there.

 

I have heard of nothing but Tears and fears from people using car warehouse sales, from extortionate interest rates, to just heaps of trouble cars

Why not call SKODA and seek a PX against a second hand OCTAVIA,
(there are a couple of Octavia taxis still running up here with 350k yes 350k)

It would be worth a call anyway,

Jack McH

 

I am thinking of chopping mine in in the new year. Currently daily driving a Citroen c4 diesel which is knocking on the door of 100k miles. Bought from a local small dealer 2 years ago, my first Citroen and indeed French car. Bit quirky, but very economical 55-60 mpg local, 70 on a run.

Want something slightly bigger, so short listed these:-

BMW 5 series diesel 2.5 or 3.0
Toyota avensis diesel 2.0
Skoda Octavia diesel

Don't really want a people carrier type if I can help it, but not adverse to estates, in fact the Octavia and 5 series are short listed the estate.

Don't want to buy anything above 6k really, need comfort, reliability, safety and space

Others on the list are Volvo and Saab, but not looked closely at those as yet.

Recommendations would be. Great?!

( sorry to hack your thread FC!!)

 

Knew the make and model I wanted, and I never buy brand new. I did one of those Car Fax searches. Found it. Went to the car dealer. discussed money, bought it. and 10 years later same car running wonderful etc.

 

A lot of cars on the island have low mileage. Other half and I bought a Renault Clio earlier in the year from the main dealer, five years old and just under 15,000 on the clock, genuine.

This is my third Renault, petrol engine, 1.2 turbo and getting 56 miles to the gallon.
They're reliable cars and tend to sell at a good price second hand over other makes. The only drawback I find with Renaults is the foot brake is very keen and you have to be very gentle on braking, or it's an airbag situation.

 

I almost forgot that I have my turquoise fiat cinquecento (whaaaat!...what are you laughing for...) stored away...i better hurry up with that license, darn.

 

To make the air bag fire, the sensor has to detect a frontal impact, rapid decelleration AND the speedo has to be registering over 20mph. All designed to make sure they don't go off prematurely from minor bumps, bird strikes, and the likes.