Car Search + Intro

"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock) 03/22/2014 at 11:11 • Filed to: wagon

0

25

Hi guys, long time lurker, first time poster. Had my licence a couple years now and finally saved enough to be able to afford a decent ride (damn UK insurance) and looking for some input. Looking for something with some cargo space, so wagon or decent sized hatchback. Need good fuel economy with enough power to cruise comfortably at 75 and maybe a little bit of towing so been looking at diesels and smaller petrols.

Unfortunately missed out on the perfect car, 2006 1.9 diesel renault laguna wagon with fresh timing belt and in good condition for £1300 (sold by my grandad so family discount, my mother got the car before I got a word in). Looked something like this.

Anyway, what say you oppo, anything a little more interesting in that sort of price range or should I hunt for another good deal on a similar car?

Pitchblende > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 11:30

0

The problem with more interesting cars is that their insurance and running costs tend to also be more interesting, although autotrader.co.uk did offer me a high milage Saab 9-5 estate 2.2 diesel for £1000, but it was an automatic.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Pitchblende 03/22/2014 at 11:35

0

Yeah insurance has held me back on some more interesting cars, it was in the £2'500 range on the laguna which is on the verge of what i can pay. I could do what everyone else does and get a 1 litre box and pay £1'000 for insurance but having driven a few 1 litre boxes I realised I'd hate every minute in them on faster roads, although they're okay for driving around town at 30mph which is what most use them for. I have noticed diesels are a little cheaper than petrols, most companies flat out wont insure me on a 2 litre petrol but will on a 2 litre diesel. It's all very confusing to me how they work this out...

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 11:35

0

Well, I'm actually in a very similar situation right now - UK, had my licence for one and a half years, thinking about what to get when I renew my insurance - but I get the feeling my needs/wants are rather different, seeing as how I'm desperately hoping that I can find a decent, unmodified example of a 106 GTi before October.

£1,300, similar cargo space to a Renault Laguna... Mk.1 Focus Estate? They're a little plain - and common as dirt - but I've heard they're absolutely great fun to drive, and there's no shortage of examples in the price range you specified.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/ca…

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 11:41

0

I'm surprised you're getting quotes that bad on cars like the Laguna; I've gotten under a thousand for a 106 GTi, with just two years of experience/no claims.

Pitchblende > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 11:42

1

1 litre boxes are much better than there were back in my day, my mom's 1.2 Corsa does fine at cruising at 80 , although it is not what I would choose. Try doing the sums on a Focus estate or hatchback, my Focus was cheaper to insure than my Seat, despite having 25% more power.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > KirkyV 03/22/2014 at 11:43

0

Yeah I had a look at 1.8 tdci focus (focii?) and they're high ish on my list. A friend's family had one for years and ran great, only getting rid of it after passing it along 3 family members and sliding on a patch of black ice and hitting a tree. Yeah my needs are fairly different, i want more of a workhorse that i can keep for a long time than something for spirited driving. I cycle any journey within 5 miles and mainly want the car for road trips with friends in summer, hauling stuff and to have something to wrench on now and again.

The 106 is a great car, i drove a 1.1 a while ago, gutless but the chassis felt great for what it was, although even that car had a bodykit and underglow (was owned by a cousin, his taste in cars is... questionable) so good luck finding a stock one haha.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > KirkyV 03/22/2014 at 11:44

0

I have no no claims, only driven sparingly in the last couple of years so that's why the quotes are high.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Pitchblende 03/22/2014 at 11:45

0

True but to be honest a car for me is more something to enjoy than because I need it and i just don't really enjoy smaller cars as much. I got a quote on a focus 1.8 tdci and it came to 1600 ish which put it reasonably high on my list to go look at.

Pitchblende > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 11:51

0

I understand that, I've not owned anything smaller than a Seat Leon. The Focuses are decent to drive, but without being showy or sacrificing practicality (unless, like me you go for one that only seats 4).

thebigbossyboss > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 11:54

0

What about a used Mazda 6 wagon?? Pretty great car, can be had over in Canada relatively cheap don't know about U.k. It does have enough power to cruise though, and is a wagon, so it's probably decent around town.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Pitchblende 03/22/2014 at 11:56

0

I may have a look at the leon actually, my grandad drove one and enjoyed it, I think it was a 2006 model, although something that new may be a little out of reach. I think the segment the focus and leon are in will be where I look most, in no rush to find a car so may just go round some used car dealers and take a look at a few.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > thebigbossyboss 03/22/2014 at 11:59

0

They're nice cars but are slightly rarer in the UK than equivalent cars so can be harder to get a good deal. I have looked more intently at the ford mondeo though which is a very similar car, I believe they're actually based on the same platform.

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 12:02

0

My current - and first ever - car. I love the little thing, but 1.1 litres is - as you say - not a lot. As for the boy racer issue... Yeah.

I'm actually researching how difficult/expensive it would be to set right any suspension lowering/replace rock hard shock absorbers, as finding an example that hasn't had it done is proving virtually impossible. I don't want the fuss of having to deal with modified car insurance, and I want a car that handles and rides as Peugeot intended it. My biggest issue is that I know fuck all about suspension, so it's not as if I can evaluate any work that's been done.

I wouldn't mind some more long-distance cruising capability, but as most of my journeys are fairly short, I suppose I'm in a position to value sportiness over outright practicality. I wouldn't mind both, of course, but that's where things get expensive...

Pitchblende > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 12:03

0

Drive a few to see where your tastes lie, I rejected the Mk1 Focus as I hated the seats (or rather my bad knee did) and bought an Astra because it was comfortable (and punched above its weight in the acceleration department), despite all reviews going the other way.

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 12:05

0

Ah, that makes sense then. I got a car right after passing my test - got really, really lucky with money right around the time - and so I've been driving pretty much since I've had my licence. I didn't realise it'd make such a difference.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Pitchblende 03/22/2014 at 12:06

0

I've heard about the focus seats before, will have to try a couple and see if they bother me. I drove an astra as my learner car for 10 hours and didnt like it, although the abuse of being driven by learner drivers may have ruined it. I'm not sure if I can actually take test drives as used car dealers insurance usually doesn't cover young drivers and I'm not comprehensive on another car, will have to ask around.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > KirkyV 03/22/2014 at 12:09

0

Just getting my licence cleaned me out money wise, the only reason I have money now is because my uni is generous with grants and I'm reasonable with saving. My girlfriend got a car when she passed a couple years back and has a couple years no claims yet she only pays a little less than I would so not sure how much no claims actually affects it. Insurance really confuses me.

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 12:13

0

"Insurance really confuses me."

You, me, and the rest of the bloody country.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > KirkyV 03/22/2014 at 12:16

0

Yeah haha, maybe one day someone will be able to explain it to us. Like why registering the car to my grandparents house 2 miles away from my own makes it 20% cheaper to insure...

Pitchblende > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 12:18

0

Well, it wasn't the base model Astra, although in hindsight the road-holding wasn't ideal. I find the uprated suspension on better models does a lot to redeem them in my eyes, and anything with more weight on the steering.

I hadn't thought of the dealer thing, its been a long time since anyone had to ask my age on anything.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Pitchblende 03/22/2014 at 12:24

0

I think it was the 1.7 cdti I drove and had no options on it. I just thought all the driver inputs were a little vague, light steering, loose gear shift and pedals that were closer to switches, it wasn't a terrible car just didn't feel quite right. I had the same criticisms of the megane my mam drove. Like you say though, higher spec models probably address a few of these problems.

Yeah I get asked for identity for everything so it's unlikely they'll let me behind the wheel. Most likely I'll take along my grandad to test drive for me, hes a competent driver and taught me how to wrench so I trust his opinion.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > KirkyV 03/22/2014 at 12:48

0

What about an old Volvo estate? One of my mates has an old V70 diesel and it's a nice enough car. Not exactly quick, but comfortable as anything and not too bad on insurance either.

Go old enough and you could even get a RWD one :) will require a bit more upkeep though

I'd also recommend an Alfa 156 or 147. Don't believe the reputation that people who have never owned one keep perpetuating. I've DD'd my 2.5l V6 for 4 years without incident, and my dad's 2.4 diesel Sportwagon had a couple of dodgy-dealer caused issues (reconned turbos that were just as broken as the one they swapped in originally), but other than that it's been solid.

The 2.4 diesels are good, as are the 1.9l diesels of the last facelifted ones.

Pitchblende > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 12:49

0

One of the best ways to evaluate a car is to get the opinion of someone who knows their stuff and whose opinion you value, happy car hunting.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Pitchblende 03/22/2014 at 12:51

0

Thanks!

EL_ULY > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/22/2014 at 15:54

1

welcome officially to OPPO CarlessCarguy. Hope to see you one day participating in my weekday CCIARAT game :]