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Thanks all for the advice. Looks like I'll be sticking to the trusty Nissan.
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A good move - the Primevil can't be worth a lot, and so you won't be losing money by putting 25k a year onto it. Change the oil every 6k, and it might outlive us all!
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37mpg overall with a 2.0 litre cvt over 420 miles
why have a cardboard box that may well do a few more miles mpg but give you a stinging headache
white finger
and a numb bum
i got out of my car tonight as fresh as the time i got in it and you cant do that in a city car once its been on a long journey
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>>you cant do that in a city car once its been on a long journey <<
Sorry but thats utter tosh. I drove my Charade Northampton to Sunderland and back with an hour break in the middle with no ill effects whatsoever. I also drove non-stop from Truro to Northampton in one go again with no aches or pains.
Sitting at 75 the car does a fine job on long distance but I do have my driving position spot on and I dont have circulation issues that cause problems long distance.
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A lot depends on the car's gearing in top gear (as well as seat comfort). A Ford Ka (old model) is a better bet at motorway speeds than a Honda Jazz, for example.
The Charade is often forgotten when comparing superminis; it sounds as if Stu has made a shrewd choice.
I agree with others - assuming that the Primera is in good health, stick with it untill it gets unreliable or more expensive to repair than it's worth.
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As the current owner of a 2 litre Primera, similar to OP's, I would agree with everyone else and say "keep it". It is fantastically comfortable on motorways, and gets me 40mpg.
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Sorry but thats utter tosh. I drove my Charade Northampton to Sunderland and back with an hour break in the middle with no ill effects whatsoever. I also drove non-stop from Truro to Northampton in one go again with no aches or pains. Sitting at 75 the car does a fine job on long distance but I do have my driving position spot on and I dont have circulation issues that cause problems long distance.
Ok you maybe had no ill effects.
BUT
Its much more relaxing in a bigger quieter softer sprung car. I wouldnt do 500 miles mway journeys twice a week in your charade.
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Sorry but thats utter tosh. I drove my Charade Northampton to Sunderland and back with etc etc..
Well it's not is it - it was the poster's experience & I don't know where 'circulation problems'
were mentioned? Small cars can never be big cars - it's why you don't get successful
9 stone shot putters - no matter how good their technique.
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I spent years in various Fiestas doing 15,000+ a year. They did the job, but once I could afford a larger car there was no comparison when doing longer trips.
I've just driven a Yaris and a Micra - both great at what they do, but once you get to 70 they could really do need with another gear. Both spin at about 3,000 revs, you can really hear them and they don't sound pleasant.
Our Aygo speeds along with the best of them, but 50 miles on the motorway is far enough - having to really plan every manouver to accommodate for the low power is tiring. I can do 300 in the Audi and get out feeling as though I could get back in and do another 300.
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I agree. I love our little Aygo to bits, and it will do motorway stuff happily enough.
But there is no comparison at all with my previous big car, and I have to spend a lot of time convincing myself the financial savings are worth the sacrifice. They are, but crikey I miss the last one sometimes.
Still, you cut your cloth, don't you. Sigh.
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Well, I happen to fall into the "bigger is better" camp too for long journeys. I mainly use a Mondeo estate or a Signum but occasionally I have used the Ka for a long run and while it is more than capable of doing it, the bigger cars are just better at that sort of journey.
The other consideration I would take into account is that by the law of averages, if you continue to drive high mileages, the chances of making contact with another solid object are increased. If a high speed accident were to occur, I would rather be in a larger vehicle than a small one.
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If a high speed accident were to occur I would rather be in a larger vehicle than a small one.
It seems America's IIHS agree with you Humph (as do I):
tinyurl.com/cwpt6l
If one day I was unlucky enough to be smashed into by a HGV, Coach, Range Rover or whatever, I'd sooner be in a Primera than some supermini...
It may never happen, but if it did...
I was unlucky enough to be driving a Nissan Note from Stansted to the West Mids a couple of weeks ago, and it was awful. The seats were worse than rubbish, the general levels of noise too high and the effort required to keep the thing on track in buffeting side winds was just silly. Regardless of NCAP rating, I wouldn't fancy my chances in that Note if a huge beast of a 4x4 smashed into me either.
I'll be keeping my S80 a while yet.
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It's like the question of automatic and manual gearboxes, I would always go for an autobox, even though it may cost me a few more Pfennigs to run.
Personally speaking, I don't like small cars, my Almera 1.8 is as small as I would go but - I'd rather drive the Primera any day.
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Thanks once again for all the replies. And I on balance, as I said before I will think stick with a bigger car. I do need to change my primera though. It's noisy - particularly on the motorway, tyre, loose sills etc and the last MOT cost £750. I'm not a engine/car expert before anyone has a go! So, not really in the 'i'll fix it myself mode'.
With that in mind and VFM a big factor I've been looking at Ford Focus post 2004 TCDI's and Primera 4 2.2DCI and spending around £3000. As I said, it's mainly for going from Cardiff to London and back maybe a couple of times a week. Style is slightly an issue (although not much if I'm still thinking of a Primera!) what I mean is that I no longer want to drive a car that looks like a taxi.
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You won't find much of an 04-on Focus TDCi for £3k. I tried recently and gave up.
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