View Full Version : New car ideas
So as my car's currently a bit broken and as I reckon even if it does get fixed, it's only going to be temporarily fixed. I've been thinking what to go for next.
Not sure when I'll be able to afford to replace it as the original plan wasn't going to be till the latter half of the year but here goes anyhow.
Currently I've got a 1.2l N reg Renault Clio.
I like it and I like the size of it, but I hate the total lack of power it has when doing anything on the motorway. So I'd probably like 1.4-1.6l this time round. I don't particularly want faster because I don't trust myself yet :p
I don't want a mondeo, yes they're great but they're too big for what I want and more powerful than I want. So I want smaller than that. I'm not sure if focuses are much smaller?
My budget is 2k, very possibly slightly over but that would depend on how much the insurance hit would be for me as I'm still a new driver albeit with 1 years NCB.
I'd like power steering but otherwise not bothered about any other extras as my clio is as basic as it comes anyway.
Any suggestions?
Kell_ee001
21-02-2007, 12:38
No suggestions but I will keep an eye on this thread (if you saw my heap of junk you'd understand why :embarassed: )
Piggymon
21-02-2007, 13:14
Honda Civic ?
Nice cars, reliable, insurance should be ok and bigger than your clio without being too big
http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_search.asp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=none&sort=5&hassearched=Y&make=HONDA&min_pr=75&source=0&model=CIVIC&max_pr=2000&agerange=&mileage=&miles=1500&postcode=cm7+3hz&ukcarsearch_full.x=68&ukcarsearch_full.y=6&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH
Hmm hadn't thought of a Honda. I know absolutely nothing about them. But certainly something to bear in mind. :)
Piggymon
21-02-2007, 13:33
I've had 2 Hondas and they've both been great :)
In terms of Fords, the Mondeo will give you the best car for your money but like you say, they're big. The Focus is smaller but more sought after so you'd be lucky to get a decent one for 2K. The Fiesta is good (been driving my brother's old P-reg for the past year with no problems) but for 2K you'd probably only get a 1.3 at best, or a 1.8 turbo diesel. Ford may not be the way to go in your case.
Edit: And just in case you were thinking about it... don't get a Fiat Punto whatever you do!
Justsomebloke
21-02-2007, 14:32
I'll come back with some suggestions later but what i will say now is stick to 1.4 as you will still get cheap tax & Insurance. Modern day 1.4's go well enouth for motorway driving.
Don't worry I've heard bad things about Puntos.
From a quick search there's a fair few 1.4l fiestas about and the odd 1.6l too for around that budget. I'm sure I've read somewhere that the 1.3ls are meant to be ones to avoid compared to 1.25l or 1.4l? :undecided:
I'm sure 1.4l would do me fine for now, just not sure if I'll still want it for a couple of years after which is the plan. Seems a bit of a small step up to me.
Piggymon
21-02-2007, 15:30
If you want a bigger car than your clio I wouldn't bother with a fiesta - it's not going to be much different :/
Also try for a 1.6 if your budget allows :)
I'm not too bothered about size :) Think I misphrased my first post :embarassed:
Main thing I want is a bit more speed than the clio but originally I thought that would mean I'd have to get a bigger car. Not too sure now though.
Sorry if I'm being a bit vague. I was planning on having months to spend doing research for a bit, not thinking 'ah crap it's on the way out, I need something new soon' :s
If you like the clio size but want more power, have you considered a valver? :D Maybe even a ratty Williams :D:D
On a more serious note - the early focus is a great buy s/h but you will need to slightly increase your budget to get one thats got the stuff you want / is in good nick. The problem with the focus and cars like it is they hold their value extremely well compared to cars a size up like the mondeo and the vectra so you either get an older car for your money or one thats not in as good a condition.
Other cars to consider are cars like the Rover 200 series (bubble shape) diesels. Absolutely stupidly cheap to buy and cost next to nothing to run but still have some go.
There are loads of cars out there that more or less fit your requirements but £2k is a strange amount of money in the world of cars - too much money for whats available at that price (ie lots of things are overpriced) but not enough money to buy something thats really great (if you want a small car).
Hmm doesn't look bad to me. Got what I need :)
I'm not sure about a Rover. Don't ask me why, maybe I'm weird :p
Fiesta currently seems the easiest bet because there's bloody loads of them lol, but definitely need to drive one to see. Of course I'll test drive every car I view. :)
Looks like my clio's going to limp through till I come back at Easter (next month), it's in the garage now and will be till Friday so I'm back in Swansea till Sunday (woo no lectures :D) then a very careful drive back to Stafford in it because I'd rather not lose all power while overtaking lorries :p
When I'm back in Swansea at Easter I'll hopefully have arranged a way of funding a new car (loan to myself probably) and then can be serious about it.
Life's far too expensive :undecided:
Thanks :)
Unfortunately I'll probably be in Swansea when it comes to car purchasing time :/ So bit out the way :(
I'll keep an eye out in Stafford though in case.
leowyatt
21-02-2007, 22:19
I'll keep an eye out in Stafford though in case.
That polo was within 20 miles of stafford uni :) If you need any help finding polos I have an autotrader account you can use to search and restrict it by specs, i.e cl.
Thanks for the help :)
Definitely take you up on that once I've got some sorted ideas :D
I can recommend the Honest John website for brief synopsii (!) of pretty much every car ever:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/home/index.htm
Click on the car-by-car breakdown link. :)
Oooh excellent site :D ty :D
And impressive use of synopsii too ;)
Flibster
22-02-2007, 20:47
Fine. Forget it.
Erm not wishing to sound harsh but how much of my post did you read before recommending things? :p
I reckon my best bet at the moment is fiesta, clio or polo, seems about the right size for me and the right engines available for the budget I've got. Definitely need to test drive them first however. Last fiesta I drove I hated but it was a G reg to be fair to it.
Pram. Toys. Everywhere. :shocked:
Eh? :huh:
Ahh just saw the edit. Didn't mean to offend Flibster, you just seemed to come up with a few outlandish recommendations was all :) Was trying to be light hearted about it, just thought a Porsche might be a tad out of my price range :p ;D
Why hasn't someone mentioned Corsas?
Hee hee!
*runs away*
Why hasn't someone mentioned Corsas?
Hee hee!
*runs away*
Quick, it's a corsa lover! Get her!! :angry: :p
Quick, it's a corsa lover! Get her!! :angry: :p
You'll never catch me in my 1.2 engine! AHAHAHAHA...oh wait!
You'll never catch me in my 1.2 engine! AHAHAHAHA...oh wait!
;D;D
On a serious note (bah :p), looks like the car thing is off for a while. Actually it's a bit up in the air and it all depends on if my car lasts it to Stafford on Tuesday which is in the laps of the gods. If it manages to last me a few months without dying again I'm planning on limping it through to the autumn as really I have sod all money. Just depends on if the car lasts that long.
So everyone cross your fingers on Tuesday for me please :D ;D
Dymetrie
25-02-2007, 20:19
why not just get a newer Clio? maybe one which has a bit more poke but is still within your budget?
So everyone cross your fingers on Tuesday for me please :D ;D
I'll keep everything crossed for you until friday, but then I'm in Leeds so anything goes!
I'll keep everything crossed for you until friday, but then I'm in Leeds so anything goes!
Oh charming, run off with Paul and suddenly I don't matter :( :p
Dym: Bit off them really :/ After the problem I had, I did a search around some sites and it seems to be a common problem in the newer models as well as common in the older ones. Plus tbh I fancy a change rather than just sticking with the same thing. :)
Oh charming, run off with Paul and suddenly I don't matter :( :p
Well there won't be that much running if my legs are crossed now will there? ;)
Plus I'll be keeping them crossed an extra few days past tuesday so you got a bargain there!
Alright then, you're forgiven :p
How about a Renault Megane? I had a coupe and it was great.
Not too sure about the megane, just never really been keen on them.
However, as I've managed to drive problem free from Swansea to Stafford today I'm hoping the garage has actually fixed it :D If so, I'll keep it till the autumn when I have more money.
Not too sure about the megane, just never really been keen on them.
However, as I've managed to drive problem free from Swansea to Stafford today I'm hoping the garage has actually fixed it :D If so, I'll keep it till the autumn when I have more money.
Well, if you are looking in Swansea during the Autumn, Im only just up the road. Let me know what you are looking for and I'll read up on them.
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