I'm with Tengu - I absolutely despise cars and the fact that they are so necessary - so I treat them as disposable objects and never spend more than £500 on one. As soon as I get a garage bill for anything like £500 then the car goes to scrap and I move on to the next banger!
When will it end
- Thread starter Dougster
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I don't have the option of a banger. I NEED a reliable car. If I fail to turn up for work on time, messy stuff hits the fan.
I've contemplated bangernomics but they don't add up for me.
I've contemplated bangernomics but they don't add up for me.
i did the banger thing for nearly 10 years due to lack of cash, and often because the 'good' car i bought turned out to be a lemon. when you really need a car, it's a hassle to have to rush round at the weekend with the rent in your pocket trying to find a car for 300 before monday. that's why i got my landy - hunted for weeks for a good one, then spent a grand making it tiptop.
the toyota Auris may be an option - comes with a 2l and 2.2l diesel option - similar size to a 306, and i suspect it won't come with the insurance group jump that a Golf entails
the toyota Auris may be an option - comes with a 2l and 2.2l diesel option - similar size to a 306, and i suspect it won't come with the insurance group jump that a Golf entails
Good call - or look at older low mileage models - 5 to 7 years on a diesel Toyota is the running in period! That said golfs are good but for sheer reliability, nothing beats a Golf.
Although, and this might sound heresy, don't overlook a Skoda - a friend bought one a while back (Octavia) and its been stunning and very, very cheap to buy as well as reliable. No "cred" but a bargain now they are owned by VW and build accordingly - topped the JD Power survey a while back which should say something!
Red
Although, and this might sound heresy, don't overlook a Skoda - a friend bought one a while back (Octavia) and its been stunning and very, very cheap to buy as well as reliable. No "cred" but a bargain now they are owned by VW and build accordingly - topped the JD Power survey a while back which should say something!
Red
Good ones or bad ones they are all a pain.
there is no perfect car, and I have heard many horror stories from mechanics as to what can go expensivley wrong with a recent model. (and if its electrical, it could be hard to trace...)
older cars are easier to maintain anyway.
there is no perfect car, and I have heard many horror stories from mechanics as to what can go expensivley wrong with a recent model. (and if its electrical, it could be hard to trace...)
older cars are easier to maintain anyway.
A mate of mine also has an Octavia and constantly (irritatingly) raves about it. Reading the specs and reviews for them though they do seem good cars. Indeed they're owned by VW and the Octavia's partly based on the golf. Very good on fuel, some decent engines, and reliable too. I'm thinking about getting one too when my current car finally dies. Been a bad year for it also and I'm tired on spending on it.
Dougster, fingers crossed for a better year for you in 2008!
Dougster, fingers crossed for a better year for you in 2008!
Oh how true! One of those irritating necessities in life. Most machines are the same!
A lad who went to school with me has worked the last 4 years firstly as a mechanic in a landrover garage, and more recently on Mazdas too. Some of the horror stories (mostly financially for the owners) would put you off certain products for life!
Actually the Pug diesel is a good motor. I've got the 1.7 turbo version and while I have had some problems this year, to be fair the car is 17 years old and has over 200k on the clock. The problems I've had are purely what you'd expect on a car of it's age and mileage - things do wear out eventually! I will admit I'm running Citroen not Pug because I just love the hydraulic suspension, even though it does add to the cost of running it, and the 306 is I think from the one I owned a much underrated car. Of course I'm also friendly with the guy who owns and runs a back street citroen specialist garage (reliable not dodgy) which helps a lot.
That said I do think that Toyota is a good choice and it'll be one I'm going to consider when this car finally dies. To replace it would mean going to a more modern citroen/ pug and I'm not sure I want to go there. Simple is how I like it.
That said I do think that Toyota is a good choice and it'll be one I'm going to consider when this car finally dies. To replace it would mean going to a more modern citroen/ pug and I'm not sure I want to go there. Simple is how I like it.
well look on the brightsides,
(1) You won't be able to afford to run it soon with the price of fuel.
&
(2) THE END OF THE WORLD IS NIGH !! according to all the global warming doom & gloom merchants.
(1) You won't be able to afford to run it soon with the price of fuel.
&
(2) THE END OF THE WORLD IS NIGH !! according to all the global warming doom & gloom merchants.
Dougster, I commiserate with you, but you know automobiles are a 'black hole' for sucking money out of you.
I got rid of my truck a year and a half ago, and have never regreted it! I bought a Raleigh single speed bike from the UK almost 30 years ago. Cost of bike-$ CDN 150, replaced the tires 3 times(front and back) $ CDN 24 each time total cost so far $ 222! Yikes!
I use this puppy everyday, even in the winter and even though it's showing its age(like me) it keeps on going.
Just a deviant perspective from someone outside of our car culture.
Alex
I got rid of my truck a year and a half ago, and have never regreted it! I bought a Raleigh single speed bike from the UK almost 30 years ago. Cost of bike-$ CDN 150, replaced the tires 3 times(front and back) $ CDN 24 each time total cost so far $ 222! Yikes!
I use this puppy everyday, even in the winter and even though it's showing its age(like me) it keeps on going.
Just a deviant perspective from someone outside of our car culture.
Alex
Just been looking at a Golf, a Polo and a Corolla - which was petrol. All nice, all pricey. Oh damn, what to do?
I like Skodas, my wife had a Fabia that spent 5 straight months in the garage, my fathers Octavia just had fuel pump failure and he's spent £3k on a new engine as a consequence. But I still like them.
I like Skodas, my wife had a Fabia that spent 5 straight months in the garage, my fathers Octavia just had fuel pump failure and he's spent £3k on a new engine as a consequence. But I still like them.
get yourself a Mitsubishi pajero import of ebay, although iv'e just spent a bit on mine, have done 102,000 miles in three years and not had to spend a penny till now, and there cheap as chips now.
bernie
bernie
Richard....I wish you a better year next year mate...
I bought a shogun a few years ago and had loads of trouble with it. It was a money pit. I got rid of it about 6 months ago, part x'ing it for a smart car, which then needed a new engine, but luckily it was under warranty..But then I needed a new water pump, which meant the engine had to come out, so costing a tidy sum...
Also the shogun, when bought was holding its resale value well, but then all the pajero's came in and flooded the market and I only got £1295 for it, when it cost me £10'000 a few years back...
Bloody cars eh....
I bought a shogun a few years ago and had loads of trouble with it. It was a money pit. I got rid of it about 6 months ago, part x'ing it for a smart car, which then needed a new engine, but luckily it was under warranty..But then I needed a new water pump, which meant the engine had to come out, so costing a tidy sum...
Also the shogun, when bought was holding its resale value well, but then all the pajero's came in and flooded the market and I only got £1295 for it, when it cost me £10'000 a few years back...
Bloody cars eh....
I'd pass on the Polo Rich given your space needs - kids only grow!
Either of the others is a good car. I'd buy the Toyota but I'm light footed and not bothered about the image thing (hey - when I get out - no fancy car will help)
Red
Either of the others is a good car. I'd buy the Toyota but I'm light footed and not bothered about the image thing (hey - when I get out - no fancy car will help)
Red
This is car 2. Wife takes Kids about in an old (and fantastic) Volvo diesel.
It seems to be coming back to the Golf, but I've just spied an A3.
There is nothing about image, I'm talking to mechanics and obviously whilst nothing is set in stone I'm going for the one that's going to go a few years without costing me another holiday and a few grand sitting on a credit card.
It seems to be coming back to the Golf, but I've just spied an A3.
There is nothing about image, I'm talking to mechanics and obviously whilst nothing is set in stone I'm going for the one that's going to go a few years without costing me another holiday and a few grand sitting on a credit card.
Nooooooooooooo
BB had an A3 I had an A6 - we've both sworn never to buy an Audi again. Both were garbage from new. My buddy ignored us His was worse - unreliable, mystery electrical faults - garbage!
Red
BB had an A3 I had an A6 - we've both sworn never to buy an Audi again. Both were garbage from new. My buddy ignored us His was worse - unreliable, mystery electrical faults - garbage!
Red
An old friend had an A6 that went to 228k miles, my wife has a friend with an A3 which has 120 and still going. I thought they were good?
Oh well - back to Golf......
Toyota Corollas with diesels at 8k are nigh on impossible to find.
Oh well - back to Golf......
Toyota Corollas with diesels at 8k are nigh on impossible to find.
I have a Citreon Picasso 2.0HDI and its the most reliable car I have ever had, and it does about 550-600miles on a full tank. And its British racing green aswell - BONUS!
A neighbour where I used to live had a diesel A4 and he'd managed to get it to 195k with only the air-con packing up. I've always been of the impression that audis were good cars but Reds little tale has made me think otherwise.
I suppose you will always get a couple of badly made cars that will let the others down.
My opinion, for what it's worth, is that you can't go wrong for reliability with a japanese car. A sensible Japanese car that is - don't go getting a 300bhp Evo VIII or something like that
I suppose you will always get a couple of badly made cars that will let the others down.
My opinion, for what it's worth, is that you can't go wrong for reliability with a japanese car. A sensible Japanese car that is - don't go getting a 300bhp Evo VIII or something like that
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