Dead Polo

Honest John Back Room » The Back Room Archive
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Tue 2 Apr 2002 19:44
Dead Polo - David Moore
... needs replacing.
I can only spend say, £1000 to £1500. I friend of mine has a Peugeot 309 which is quite nice (she's 18 and can just afford the insurance.)
I want something cheap to insure and reliable, but with a bit of power if possible, e.g. a 1.4 309 or 205, possibly a base 306, or a Rover 114 Gta.. I don't know though. The Polo is actually comparitvely expensive at group 6 so hopefully there should be a few options? ANY IDEAS?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 2 Apr 2002 19:45
Re: Dead Polo - David Moore
sorry i forgot to select 'email replies...'
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 3 Apr 2002 13:40
Re: Dead Polo - David Moore
But I don't want a diesel! Well, maybe a TD but insurance...
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 3 Apr 2002 13:51
Re: Dead Polo - ChrisR
The diesels are the best of the bunch at this age. Only park benches are less reliable, and they are useless on the motorway.

Chris
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 3 Apr 2002 14:21
Re: Dead Polo - David W
Chris,

I must add a proviso.

A £1500 diesel car can be a well maintained £2200 one where the seller needed the cash, you got a stonking deal and you won't look back. Or it can be a £500 car (next step the breakers) with a lot of hidden faults and a crafty seller.

I hate to admit it but there are a few £1500 diesels that are complete dogs and will soon cost nearly as much again to keep on the road.

A worthwhile remanufactured Citroen ZX TD engine would be about £1500 plus fitting, £1200 plus fiting for a Mondeo TD.

Get someone who knows them to help you look at diesels in this price range.

David
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 3 Apr 2002 15:30
Re: Dead Polo - ChrisR
I absolutely agree David. But then under about £2000 you have to be very, very wary anyway to avoid buying other people's problems.

Chris
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 4 Apr 2002 00:20
Re: Dead Polo - David Moore
So, pugs 'yes', how about a GTa or decent 114? Or are there other matches?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 2 Apr 2002 23:56
Re: Dead Polo - ChrisR
If you can find a 309/205 diesel with history you will never look back. Get one with power steering.

Chris
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 3 Apr 2002 15:35
Re: Dead Polo - Dave
"I absolutely agree David. But then under about £2000 you have to be very, very wary anyway to avoid buying other people's problems."

Depends how far under 2k you go.
Depends how carefully you question the owner & investigate the car.
Depends how easy you find it to fix the problems they're stressing over.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 3 Apr 2002 15:41
Re: Dead Polo - ChrisR
That sounds like being very, very wary to me. There are plenty of nightmares over 2k as well, it's just more likely to be worthwhile fixing them, which I think is partly what David was saying.

Chris
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

We give you the low down on how to save on insurance, little-known tricks and tips, what insurance groups mean and how to use insurance aggregators to beat insurers.

Insurance group finder and how to save on insurance

From economical vans to those that have the largest payloads, we have a shortlist for everyone - click to find out which will suit your needs.

Undecided on which van to buy? Our Top 10 shortlists can help...