Hi,
I have around £1500 to spend on a car. It MUST be automatic and I'd prefer a hatchback over a saloon. Something with a little bits of guts too...I don't want any 1L cars. If I can get one with less than 750000miles too, that would be great. Two cars that I'm looking at the moment are:
1. 2000 Nissan Almera 3dr hatch 1.8SE 60000miles. I've looked at a 5 door hatch and felt it was a little big for me, as 95% of the time it will be just me in the car with the scuba gear.
2. 1997 VW Polo 1.4 3dr hatch 30,000 miles
There is another car on autotrader that I really like ( a vectra) but I've rang & left a message and sent 2 texts to the advertiser and haven't heard anything back. I don't want an astra as I hate the interior of them and also don't like driving them.
Any opinions about the two cars above - which you would go for, or any other cars you think would be a good deal.
Thanks!
Mel.b
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If I can get one with less than 750000miles too.....
I think that should be possible!
If you think the Almera's a bit big, why were you so interested in the Vectra?
I'd avoid the Polo unless you've lost the will to live.
The Almera sounds a good idea - pretty capable but somewhat unloved, which keeps prices 'competitive'.
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Thanks.
The vectra was a hatch and didn't look as big as the 5dr almera although I could be wrong. It has also only done 46000miles and the VRT to bring it back into Ireland is about 700 euro cheaper than the almera. However as I still haven't heard from the seller it's not really an issue at this point in time.
What do you mean by lost my will to live with the Polo??
Mel.b
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Mel,
You stated that you wanted a car 'with a bit of guts'. A 1.4 automatic Polo wouldn't be my definition of that.... :-)
I understand your issue with VRT. Cars look temptingly cheap in the UK cf. Ireland - until that's taken into account :-(
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I've looked after both these car types at similar ages and the Nissan is the best choice for reliability/size/comfort/road feel/suitability as an auto.
They are good value too as a bit bland for many folks.
David
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Ok, cool. Thanks for the opinions. I thought the 1.4 might be ok, but not from the sounds of it! Better to know now rather than later.
The VRT can be a killer, although fortunately the Almera fits in under my total budget of 3000 euro taking into account the VRT I'll have to pay. I'd prefer to get something in ireland, but there are just no auto's around, especially at that price!
Mel.b
Edited by mel.b on 04/01/2008 at 14:46
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The Almera Auto has an excellent auto box with overdrive. Very reliable and economical. Interior space (driving postion, rear leg-room and boot) somewhat small for me though.
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Of those two, I'd suggest the Almera by a comfortable margin - not because Nissans are necessarily better than VWs (I drive a VW myself) but because it's got a 1.8 engine, which will give you the 'little bit of guts' that you quite reasonably want.
A 1.4 isn't man enough for an automatic unless you are a very leisurely driver.
Don't worry about the mileage - short journeys, that the 3,000 mile-a-year Polo will have done, will have caused probably more wear and tear than the moderate mileage that the Almera has done.
If this Almera has gone, look for another like it. Are you sure that the 5-door is any longer than the 3-door? Very often 3- and 5-door versions have the same underpinnings.
Edited by Avant on 04/01/2008 at 23:31
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Oooh funny you should have started this thread :)
Have just posted something that might suit your needs (alternative?) in the Classifieds.
(I hope I have not contravened any Forum rules by posting the above?)
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Im not plain stupid, just a special kind of stoopid.
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