Buying used car

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Mon 19 Aug 2019 22:48
Buying used car - Tenzer

Hello. I currently own a Seat Leon Cupra 1M 1.8T 20V 180 Bhp on petrol. I really enjoy this car, it’s fast and sounds very nice but, after a while, my biggest issues are comfort and leg room. So I’m searching for a saloon type of car around 1500 pounds. I’m a newbie in terms of what’s best on a car but my ideal car should have: comfort, good handling, engine size and bhp like my Seat or slightly more bhp (180 to 200ish max), automatic transmission. About petrol or diesel engine I have no idea, consider that usually my trips aren’t very long (commute is max 15/20 mins away plus local driving to shops in town) and I drive more during weekends (max 2 hours distance). One last thing is fuel consumption, I don’t mind paying a little something extra for fuel but it should be at least reasonable mpg if possible.
PS : no bmw please, I like the comfort but rear traction isn’t my thing.

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Mon 19 Aug 2019 22:59
Buying used car - SLO76
Can’t recommend anything that’ll suit your budget I’m afraid. At £1,500 you should prioritise reliability and running costs not power and performance. You may have been lucky to date but buy anything that matches your wish list at this money and you’ll get stung.

I’d advise calming down a tad. Leave the performance metal until you can afford it. £1,500 is bargain basement money and in order to have half a chance of reliability you need to stick with something much more mundane preferably Japanese. Forget turbos, diesels, fancy badges and gadgets until you can spend £10k upwards with comfort. It’s time for a rethink unless there’s a zero missing from that £1,500 budget.

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Mon 19 Aug 2019 23:07
Buying used car - Tenzer

So what would you suggest on that budget that has some at least a bit of power in it? Less bhp ok, I can work with that. Suggestions?

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Mon 19 Aug 2019 23:54
Buying used car - bathtub tom

For fifteen hundred quid, why don't you stick with what you got? You're almost in banger territory there, with all the pitfalls.

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Tue 20 Aug 2019 00:41
Buying used car - SLO76
Where roughly do you live? I’ll look at what’s available nearby but I doubt you’ll like my recommendations from your wish list.

Edited by SLO76 on 20/08/2019 at 00:41

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Tue 20 Aug 2019 00:19
Buying used car - Andrew-T

One last thing is fuel consumption, I don’t mind paying a little something extra for fuel but it should be at least reasonable mpg if possible.

Perhaps you believe in perpetual motion too? 180-200bhp doesn't usually go with low fuel consumption unless you are a featherfoot - in which case the oomph is rather wasted.

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Tue 20 Aug 2019 01:34
Buying used car - Avant

Definitely keep the one you've got until it needs an uneconomic repair.

Buying any used car carries an element of risk, and the smaller your budget, the greater that risk.

When you do come to buy another car, condition matters much more than make or model, although most of us on here tend to recommend something that's Japanese and petrol-powered. A Honda Civic would probably tick most of your boxes.

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Tue 20 Aug 2019 08:10
Buying used car - nellyjak

I fear your wish list is not commensurate with your budget.

You've had good advice here...I would listen to it very carefully before making any decisions as you are in risky territory.

Good luck

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Tue 20 Aug 2019 09:19
Buying used car - barney100

You can buy a decent car for under a grand but you need luck. Mate of mine picked up an E class Merc 320 petrol estate for about £800, who in their right mind would do that? however it lasted two or three years and he got a bit back when the time came. Next car is a Jag, who in their right mind would buy a Jag for under a grand? ( the Mondeo based one) it's going well and off to Scotland later this month from Hampshire.

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Tue 20 Aug 2019 13:16
Buying used car - Gibbo_Wirral

No doubt I'll get shouted down for mentioning it "because its French" from the usual rabble, but the Peugeot 407 ticks many of your boxes.

You can easily pick up a well cared for large engined diesel or petrol cheaply because the road tax is becoming extortionate.

The market has collapsed for them, so a tatty one will only fetch around £300, but for a grand you'll get something well cared for with FSH.

There's a really good 407 owners group on Facebook to get real world owner opinions.

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Tue 20 Aug 2019 17:54
Buying used car - badbusdriver

Honda Accord 2.4. At that price it will be higher mileage, but they are well up for it as long as it has been looked after. Had a look on Autotrader and there are a few kicking about >£1.5k, but as we don't kmow where you are, i can't say how viable it would be to view. 188bhp, but n/a so won't have the mid range grunt of your Seat.

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20190812108...1

Sorry, just noticed you said auto. In that case, here is one in Luton,

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20190802073...1

Edited by badbusdriver on 20/08/2019 at 17:59

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Our honest used car pricing is a little bit different to all the others. You can get to our values through make or model - you don’t have to follow a prescribed route. Plus, it’s live, which means we can react to changes in the market quicker than any printed price guide.

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