Opinions please - need new car.

[Ringo]

Hi all, I'm looking to buy a second hand car sometime very soon and would welcome any opinions based on the following:

I'm 6'6" and currently driving a Yaris, I basically have to fold myself into the seat best I can and it's uncomfortable as anything! Comfort is essential as I do a lot of miles for work. Obviously that means reliability is a must too, I can be called across the country at a moment's notice and although the Yaris is a bit of a tin-can, it's a tin-can that starts first time every time and hasn't once broken down.

Also, I have a rapidly growing toddler so it's time to upgrade from 3 doors to save the chronic back pain as I lift him into his seat via the front door! And then there's the drum-kit....

So yeah, something roomy but not huge as we live more or less smack bang in the middle of Bristol. Reliable, comfortable, budget of about £2000.

Thoughts?

 

[tombennetts]

just bought a saab 9-5. 03 reg, 2.2tid, climate control, leather, satnav, heated seats, big ol alloys, rcl, basically everything for 2395 (93,000 full saab service history)

 

[vernam616]

Golf GTTDi

All the toys and well built
£110 to tax for a year
quite quick and responsive at 130bhp
45-55mpg round town, 55+ on a run
cheap to insure

No brainer really, can be picked up relativly cheap now too

 

[Geordie Spark]

I have a Mazda 626 GSI 5 door that I bought when new in 2002. Apart from the usual consumables - tyres,brake pads, oil & air filters etc. it's needed a new pair of front brake discs, one new timing belt & one new set of spark plugs. It's now got something like 130k on the clock & still has its original exhaust.

The boot is enormous & has carried all of my plumbing, gas fitting & sparking tools without the need to fold the back seats down. This is the fourth 626 I have ownned & for me it has been ideal.

The 626 isn't made anymore, but its replacement the Mazda 6 is the same size. If I were to be in the position of buying another car for business & pleasure, I think I would buy the Mazda 6 diesel estate. I KNOW you could get a drum kit into that !!!

The Ford equivalent is the Mondeo, but I've always felt the Mazda to be better.

 

[alarm man]

mondeo,cheap to run and fix,or a x-type jag more car for your money and still looks class

 

[Resu]

A Passat. Might end up with a high mileage one at that price but a looked after diesel one is capable of a reliable 200k mile+

 

[Andy 7671]

mondeo,cheap to run and fix,or a x-type jag more car for your money and still looks class

Ive got !.8 mondeo, slow, compression and seperation piston rings are prone to sticking in groves, second engine and it still eats oil. Comfortable and easy to drive just very detached. Oh and theres a butterfly valve with plastic housing on inlet manifold, prone to breaking up.


Mazda 6, Honda accord, Avensis is ugly, Good advice from others, Jag and Saab.

 

[grantr37]

Nissan Primera is roomy and a nice car to drive, go for a diesel one, about £2,500.....good runners , legroom is good and boot is big

 

[telectrix]

see what jeremy clarkson fits in. he's 6'5".

 

[PC Electrics]

I've recently become a Saab owner. A 9-3 Aero. It's a mid sized motor, just nicely sized. Rock solid on the road. Very comfortable and quiet.
The 1.9 diesel version might suit your needs best. Available as a saloon or wagon.
I'm very impressed with the size of the boot on the saloon.
Very comfortable seats.

A friend has an early 2.2 diesel. Very nice motor.

My first car with Xenon headlights - wouldn't ever go back to halogens now.


Steer well clear of X-types. i used to work in Warranty Recovery at JLR and I wouldn't go near one without a bottomless wallet for repairs.

 

[Pattestinguk]

Saabs are good value and spacious mine was very reliable for over 3 years.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

mondeo,cheap to run and fix,or a x-type jag more car for your money and still looks class

They are the same thing...............

 

[SirKit Breaker]

A very timely question this one. I was seriously considering changing my 2006 2.0L petrol Mondeo for a Diesel one, due to fuel consumption. I went to a used car dealer, and he talked me out of it. My petrol car does 34 mpg knocking about, and stop starting on the M62 to work and back, and tops well over 40 on a run if you dont get silly. Diesel version does 10mpg better, but here comes the crunch, diesel is nearly 15p per litre dearer, so the increased cost of the fuel wipes out the economy, the petrol car is cheaper to run, the higher road tax cost of the petrol is more than offset by the higher maintenance costs of a diesel, and if a diesel goes pete tong, you would wish you had got a petrol one in the first place. Just to put the tin hat on it, when mr nobber in his BMW 320d or Audi A4 2.0d gets up yer bum on the motorway, just stick you foot into the carpet, and watch the hamshanker disappear in your mirror, PRICELESS, and at 135mph i can still hear the radio. The upshot of all my ramblings is, dont assume a diesel is cheaper to run.

Cheers..............Howard

 

[jeremy]

I have a diesel mondeo 130 zetec 2004 and love it. I drive without necessarily considering fuel consumption but avg 44. Seriously considering getting the ECU remapped for more power ( it doesn't need it I just want it) Very comfortable, huge amount of space.

 

[PC Electrics]

Very true about not assuming a diesel is cheaper to run.

Diesels are best where you do a decent mileage, so the better fuel cosumption overcomes the higher maintenance costs. Also diesels are very poor if you do a lot of short journeys (petrol generally warms up much quicker which is better for economy and emissions).

BTW, my petrol turbo Aero will return 38+mpg on the motorway at a cruise controlled 75 in 6th. That's pretty good for a performance saloon. I dare say a 1.8T or 2.0T would be even better (although you don't get the nice tall 6th gear in all models).