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Thread: Used car dilemma

  1. #21
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Quote Originally Posted by Andy Razzle View Post
    A trick of salesmen is to get you to sit in car, but its a psychological trick (you are more likely to buy)
    Yup, been there already.

    Quote Originally Posted by Philsmove
    To get a bargain; don't buy or sign on the day
    get the sales mans name and number, then get someone else, who is good at bargaining, to phone up one or two days later, to negotiate the deal.
    I can feel my blood pressure going up at the mere thought.

    I have a 1.4 diesel Skoda Fabia
    economical , good for round town OK for motorway driving.
    but fails on the fun criteria
    I've already ruled out a Skoda Fabia for that very reason. Also, not cute enough. Or at all, even. Women can be so shallow.

  2. #22
    The Dashing Moderator
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Quote Originally Posted by philsmove View Post
    I have a 1.4 diesel Skoda Fabia
    economical , good for round town OK for motorway driving.
    but fails on the fun criteria
    Quote Originally Posted by jivecat View Post
    I've already ruled out a Skoda Fabia for that very reason. Also, not cute enough. Or at all, even. Women can be so shallow.
    I did get (a very boring) 200K+ miles out of my last Fabia - and the 1.9 diesel is maybe a tad more fun than the 1.4 (which is by all accounts a good engine though).

    Can't help with the cuteness though...
    Love dance, will travel

  3. #23
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Quote Originally Posted by David View Post
    I did get (a very boring) 200K+ miles out of my last Fabia .......Can't help with the cuteness though...


    Sad fact , reliable, economical, comfortable cars are boring
    My old MGB ( leather seats, chrome bomber, wire wheels ) was unreliable, uneconomical, uncomfortable and you got soaked with coolant if you turned the heater on! but it was definitely fun

  4. #24
    Forum Bombshell - Our Queen! Lory's Avatar
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Quote Originally Posted by philsmove View Post
    Sad fact , reliable, economical, comfortable cars are boring
    So true.. my little old MX5 leaked when it rained, the water used to somehow get stuck in the doors, and made sloshing noises when I braked.

    It had no room for luggage. It smelt of old leather and grease and the windscreen wipers used to go out of synch

    But apart from that..

    it handled beautifully, turned on a sixpence and you could get into any space and when the sun was out and the roof was down, you couldn't beat it!
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  5. #25
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Quote Originally Posted by philsmove View Post
    Sad fact , reliable, economical, comfortable cars are boring
    ....unless its a Honda Civic. I've had one for 4 months or so and I absolutely love it. The design, both inside and out is really eye catching and innovative - and the reputation of Honda for reliability is second to none. It's a lot of fun to drive and pretty damn sexy if I say so myself - plus it has one thing most other cars don't have - a huge red starter button.

  6. #26
    Cheeky by nature Little Monkey's Avatar
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    I've just traded in my old Skoda Fabia (1.4 petrol) for a newer Seat Leon 1.9 (S TDI). The Fabia was fine for a while, although I got slightly frustrated with jamming the accelerator to the floor...... And not much happening!

    The Seat is MUCH more fun to drive. Now something actually happens when I push the accelerator down.

    The only thing I miss about the Fabia is the colour. It was BRIGHT RED. The new Seat is dark bogey green.......

    I also liked driving my husband's old Golf MK4 S TDI, but after doing an astronomical 264000 miles, it was time to get rid of it. We actually got £500 for it, which isn't bad!

    I'd go with what other people have said - go for German or Jap, and you should get a reliable, good, fun car to drive!

    Happy hunting!

  7. #27
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Quote Originally Posted by Little Monkey View Post
    BRIGHT RED
    And preferably sparkly.

  8. #28
    Forum Bombshell - Our Queen! Lory's Avatar
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    FOUND IT! I THINK YOU'LL FIND ITS PERFECT
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    MODERATOR AT YOUR SERVICE
    "If you're going to do something tonight, that you know you'll be sorry for in the morning, plan a lie in." Lorraine

  9. #29
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Mini Cooper is an excellent car - if you drive a manual. Sadly their automatic is just crap, but with a manual gearbox you get an excellent car, good handling, stable motorway driving, reasonable economy and a lot of fun.

    The Cooper S is more fun, but nothing like the economy, the diesel is underpowered and a mini-one isn't sufficiently cheaper than the Cooper to justify the lower power.

    I had to replace my car a month ago, and would've gone for a mini if I'd been able to go manual (knee issues mandate an automatic for me ).

    Looks like Mini are planning to stick a decent BMW diesel (hopefully the 174hp 2l that comes in the 120d) into a Cooper midway through next year. That'll be a car worth having - the 120d happily hits 140 even with an auto gearbox..

  10. #30
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    German or Japanese if you want reliability.

    Quote Originally Posted by jivecat View Post
    PS I'd like it to be pink or orange but I'll settle for red.
    But for some strange reason I'm getting the feeling that reliability isn't your #1 priority

  11. #31
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Quote Originally Posted by Bubble View Post
    But for some strange reason I'm getting the feeling that reliability isn't your #1 priority
    Can't I have some pink reliability? I think I'll try that line on the next car salesman I meet.

    Preferably quick, pink reliability.

  12. #32
    Senior Member Minnie M's Avatar
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    I love my Tessa (aka Foxy Lady) - VW 1.4 Urban Fox

    She is a small car with a large boot (can be made bigger with the back seat moving forward)
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  13. #33
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Quote Originally Posted by jivecat View Post
    PS I'd like it to be pink or orange but I'll settle for red.
    How about a Pink Fiat 500?

    http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/u...sc/colour/pink
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

  14. #34
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Ducasi.. you strike me as a Robin Reliant sort of person

    ( I of course... am a 2CV sort of person )

  15. #35
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Quote Originally Posted by Beowulf View Post
    Ducasi.. you strike me as a Robin Reliant sort of person

    ( I of course... am a 2CV sort of person )
    I was always much keener on the Reliant Kitten.
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

  16. #36
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    I was always much keener on the Reliant Kitten.
    At least it comes in orange. As well as having a bonus wheel.

  17. #37
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    how about the Reliant
    BUG

  18. #38
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    What about the Hyundai Coupe?? Nice looking car... fairly economical... fast enough to get U out of trouble on the road... slow enough to keep U out of trouble with cameras!!

    Just a thought.... Last year, Hyundai took 6k off the price of a brand new one for a period of time... that may have translated onto the 2nd hand market..

    Good luck on ur search

    XxX

  19. #39
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    They certainly are cute! I would certainly be commanding respect on the motorway in one of those. However, the Fiesta seems to have better fuel consumption figures for some reason. Also the pink ones are outside my price bracket -£6,000. The Honda Jazz doesn't seem to come in red. What were they thinking of?

    I can't understand why the price of similar cars seems to vary so much. If the price seems to be too cheap to be true what questions should be asking? On the other hand, if I pay top dollar at a franchised garage does the difference just go straight into the salesman's paypacket?

  20. #40
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    Re: Used car dilemma

    Well, I'm sure you're all agog to be updated with the end of the tale!

    I have now acquired a Fiesta 1.25 Zetec in - wait for it - SILVER - which as we know, is just a euphemism for GREY.

    Ah well. At least it's low mileage, handles well and i can drive places without wondering if I'm going to get home again.

    I took up the advice to buy British, German or Japanese, even though the European cars are, arguably, cuter.

    I seriously considered getting a Jazz, (thanks Northants Girly) as the fuel economy figures are better than the Fiesta but there are fewer around to pick from and the better ones are more expensive. Finding an old-shape Fiesta was dead easy, though the new shape ones which have better colours, were way outside my price range.

    It also has a heated front screen, which, given the kind of winter we've been having, has been fantastic. Don't know why all cars don't have them.

    The cabin is roomy, though the Corsa was better proportioned for a petite girly such as myself. I find that, in the Fiesta, when I pull the driver's seat forward enough for my stumpy little legs to reach the pedals, the sun-visor tends to poke me in the eye. The Corsa was a better fit. Heyho. The petrol consumption of the Fiesta seems about the same as the Corsa, I was hoping it might be a little better.

    I didn't get a particularly good deal, because when it came to it, I bought in a hurry. But I'd say, if you plan ahead so you have lots of time, drive a very hard bargain because there's always other cars to choose from if they won't sell at a suitable price. As with all haggling, you have to be prepared to make cheeky offers and to walk away from the first offer a salesman makes.
    Thank goodness it's all over for another few years.

    Thanks, everyone, for your input!

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