Who can help pick a car for Mrs Lawman?
Her current car (a 10 year old primera) has been sent to its maker, thanks to a blind pensioner in a Micra who drove into the back of her on Wednesday. She and the kids are shaken but unhurt, thank goodness. The car however is almost certainly a write off.
Budget for replacement is £2,500 (I am a skinflint..)
The car needs to be big enough for 2 adults and 2 children and to have a reasonably sized boot. It needs to last for at least 4 years and will be doing about 10k a year (so not a diesel).
I reckon that the best value in this sector would be a Mondeo or a Vectra. I am a fan of Japanese cars too.
Ideally we would like an MPV, but we would most likely get a bit of a dog for this budget.
What say you all?
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5 door Corolla
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I test drove a '98 Nissan Almera 5 door a week ago,-(looking for a replacement for my son who was driven into in London a month ago, waiting to hear whether his car's a write-off.) There are lots around at about £2K. Nice car, lots of room,comfortable and with a chain-cam engine. Check the Auto Trader search site to the left.
Best of luck with your quest.
P.
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I can recommend a Mazda Premacy. There are a few in your price range in Auto Trader. If they have a full dealer service, should be fine. I have got one now on 50000 miles. Not looking forward to its next service though, £500.
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You can buy a 2000 / 2001 petrol Xantia for half that, and an excellent HDi for around that budget......
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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You could easily get a nice P11-144 (2000 or so reg) Primera 1.8 for that money or even a MK 1 Avensis, both will do the job really well
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Lawman - as a fellow skinflint I have to say that £2.5k is a terrible amount to spend. If it gets something expensive wrong you have to pump in money to "protect" your capital, whereas a £999 car can be chucked if the news is bad. Either spend £999 and the rest in fine dining, or £4k.
For £999 to can have your pick of some decent 97 or later Primevils.
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Thanks chaps, all good ideas.
Toyota a fair suggestion, but the engines all seem a bit small. I try not to be too image concoius (how could I be with a Primera) but to my eye, the Corolla is pig ugly!
The Xantia is a nice idea. Mileage will not warrant a diesel tho.
The Almera is a thought too, but is a little on the small side for family trips out and things.
An Avensis would appeal, as would another Primera, although it's nice to have a change.
I will look out for a primacy too.
Ta all.
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I wouldn't worry about the Toyota engines being too small. The Avensis is the most popular car of its size here in Ireland, where most are sold as 1.6 petrols and manage fine. They're widely used as taxis (almost without exception, Irish cabs are Toyotas or Skodas, which speaks well of them)
As mentioned in the CBCB, the mk1 cars have lean-burn engines so you have to drive them at high revs in lower gear to get the best economy and performance from them. There's reasonable space in the back, though a Mondeo has a larger cabin. The drive isn't engaging, but they're very comfortable cars to be a passenger in, especially on bad roads (another reason why they're poopular here - Toyota developed the suspension using roads around Clifden in the west of Ireland).
Do choose carefully though - if Avensises or Primeras aren't minded well, they stand all sorts of abuse until they reach 7-8 years old and then go rapidly downhill (again, judging from the taxi fleet and cars run by several friends and neighbours). However, well cared for examples go on and on, so be choosy about the service history.
OTOH, having travelled in my brother's girlfriend's Almera, and test driven one myself, I'd avoid them - they struck me as small, tinny and wallowy.
Happy hunting!
- Gromit
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a couple of thousand will get you a good mondeo or vectra at auction, about four to five years old. Buy one with full service history and be prepared to pay a few hundred sorting out the minor niggles that usually come with any car bought at auction.
Either that or pick up an older one for about £1k and throw it away if it goes seriously wrong.
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I read often, only post occasionally
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