[Help] What's your car?

[wellquickwoody]

If anyone over40 wants a car that will do what it is told by the driver, then get looking now for the car to keep forever ASAP. Rules came into force in Europe last week (the UK WILL follow) that all new vehicles must be capable of being speed limited remotely. More restriction will no doubt follow.

I’m currently hunting for my car to see me through till the end of my driving days. As more people begin to do the same prices will rise.

 

[usernamed]

Currently driving a 12yo Merc C Class. Hoping it will go (if serviced properly and not crashed or crashed into) for another 10 years, at which point I’ll be looking at electric. New diesels have AdBlue and a lot of expensive trickery to meet emissions regs and potentially go wrong, petrol isn’t economical enough. Hybrid just gives two different systems that both need servicing and worrying about.

 

[upthealbion1970]

Driving my 13 year old mondeo diesel estate. Just gone over 147k miles, will keep it running until such time as it’s too expensive to maintain so should be at least another 10 years or so

 

[happypig]

I have a Toyota Yaris hybrid.

It's shit:
Turning circle of a cross-channel ferry
SatNav dreadfully slow and sometimes picks routes that are a mystery
Fuel economy is worse than the Fiesta diesel wifey used to own
Visibility is poor
Slow throttle response when pulling out.
|When the battery is fully charged you get about 2 miles before the petrol motor kicks in. If there's hills or go over 40, forget it.
Climate control constantly needs adjusting, set to 18 it'll go full chat until you're freezing. turning up a degree or two makes it start blowing hot.
When driving in town it will, randomly, bleep the collision warning system.

Oh, and there's a button marked "EV" which, when pressed makes the display say "EV mode not available"

Did I mention, it's shit ?

 

[WhingForPresident]

I have a 2010 beaten up Honda Civic at the moment. Never lets me down but have been trying to decide on an upgrade for two years without success. I was set on a Mercedes GLA AMG model but test drove it wasn't for me, a bit boring to drive and it seems really cramped inside.

I really want to get a C Class AMG Saloon (had a test drive and loved it) but the Mrs won't have it, and I have two kids who would undoubtedly ruin it.

Now leaning towards a VW T-Roc or a Nissan X-Trail I think. I do like the Range Rover Evoque but their reputation for poor reliability is a bit scary.

 

[Paskman]

There’s a really nice MG A currently being auctioned that I’ve got my eye on. Anyone ever had one? Things to look out for?

View attachment 149823

As long as you go in with your eyes open. If you haven't driven one, remember that its not a modern car and so won't drive like one. The handling, acceleration and brakes will all take getting used to. It will leak in the rain and breakdown at some point, so make sure you have some basic mechanical skills. I've had a few old MGs and so have experiance Having said that they are great fun

 

[pasty]

I bought a 2015 Mazda 3 in December. Also have an older Mazda 6.

I really like Mazdas

Probably like Mrs P's motor then.

Japanese import, 1994 MK1 MX5 Eunos

 

[southstandandy]

Day to day we use a Mazda CX30 and my weekend toy is a Lotus Elise (yes I had a mid life crisis!)

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Was VW owner/driver for 15 years but 3 years ago wanted something a bit nicer in the small SUV range.
Looked at KIA sport, Porsche & Jag options were too pricey, so too was the Audi Q5 - then someone said to take a look at the Volvo XC60
Did a test drive and loved it - we would probably have preferred the slightly smaller XC40 but they were still quite new to the range so above our budget.
We paid £15k for a 65 plate [4 years old at the time] with 34k on the clock - love it, but next car will be an automatic now as I'm over 60 and classified as old fogey

Interesting that you are the proud owner of a Volvo XC60. My brother-in-law has one and swears by it, a 67 plate l believe, though he also owned an earlier example previously.

I currently own a 2016 Ford CMax, bought 2nd hand a couple of years ago, having owned three previous examples of the same car. Love the CMax but it's obsolete now, and Ford have never really replaced it like for like. Hence l am in the market for something similar, and the Volvo really appeals.

Will definately be something British or European, Japanese/Korean manufacturers don't float my boat.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

This outfit are in the OP’s home town. Why not check them out fella, I’m sure they’d do you a deal, might even throw in a raspberry danish and a cup of joe...

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

As long as you go in with your eyes open. If you haven't driven one, remember that its not a modern car and so won't drive like one. The handling, acceleration and brakes will all take getting used to. It will leak in the rain and breakdown at some point, so make sure you have some basic mechanical skills. I've had a few old MGs and so have experiance Having said that they are great fun

Mrs.Cowfold had an MG Midget back in the day and loved it. Prior to that an old Sunbeam Alpine too.

 

[brighton terra]

I’ve just bought a 2018 Mini John Cooper Works (JCW). Not the cheapest of cars, but it’s far and away the best car I’ve ever owned!

Goes like shit off a shovel, it’s refined and comfortable and it’s stacked with all the technology you could ever want. In addition, all Minis hold their value really well, the JCW in particular.

I’ve just taken her up the Amex for the first time!

 

[Doonhamer7]

Currently Jaguar XF sportsbrake- most comfortable car I’ve ever had (we’ve had most of top end range merc/Audi/golf/Volvo/mini to compare) - I’m working up north at present and hammering it back down the m40 at 90mph and getting 47-49mpg. Car I most enjoyed driving was a sporty spec (wasn’t a cupra) Seat Leon, felt like it was stuck to the road at any speed / tightness of corner.

Currently looking at electric and Hyundai Iqoniq is getting amazing reviews

 

[Goldstone1976]

I haven’t owned an MGA, but did have an MGC Roadster a few years ago, but only as a fun car.
You’ll pay quite a bit for an MGA , but they are lovely looking cars.
Join the clubs…..MG Owners Club and the MG Car Club.Lots of useful info, meet ups, discounts etc. and most important of all, sound advice.

I don't know how much they typically go for, but I would have thought that this one would be at the top-ish end of the range given it's had a full panels-off resto. The estimate for this one is 20-25; currently sitting at 18...

 

[Goldstone1976]

As long as you go in with your eyes open. If you haven't driven one, remember that its not a modern car and so won't drive like one. The handling, acceleration and brakes will all take getting used to. It will leak in the rain and breakdown at some point, so make sure you have some basic mechanical skills. I've had a few old MGs and so have experiance Having said that they are great fun

My dad was an engineer in the RAF so made sure I know the names of all the bits under the bonnet of an old car. He tried to make sure I could do most of the servicing too, which was kind. However, being a grumpy, recalcitrant teenager at the time, not much of it stuck. I'm probably good enough to be able to say to a mechanic 'I think there's a problem with the alternator', but actually fix anything? Not so much. This is actually my biggest stumbling block in making the purchase. If the thing breaks down on the side of the road, I'm buggered until the AA/RAC/whoever turns up and the bloke says 'what's this then? Nah mate, I trained on cars made in the 2000s'...then there'll be two of us looking under the bonnet and scratching our heads.

I don't suppose there's a specialist roadside assistance company for older cars, is there?

 

[Binney on acid]

I don't know how much they typically go for, but I would have thought that this one would be at the top-ish end of the range given it's had a full panels-off resto. The estimate for this one is 20-25; currently sitting at 18...

20-25 ? You could buy four decent Z3's for that !

 

[Icy Gull]

My dad was an engineer in the RAF so made sure I know the names of all the bits under the bonnet of an old car. He tried to make sure I could do most of the servicing too, which was kind. However, being a grumpy, recalcitrant teenager at the time, not much of it stuck. I'm probably good enough to be able to say to a mechanic 'I think there's a problem with the alternator', but actually fix anything? Not so much. This is actually my biggest stumbling block in making the purchase. If the thing breaks down on the side of the road, I'm buggered until the AA/RAC/whoever turns up and the bloke says 'what's this then? Nah mate, I trained on cars made in the 2000s'...then there'll be two of us looking under the bonnet and scratching our heads.

I don't suppose there's a specialist roadside assistance company for older cars, is there?

You will almost certainly get great help and advice from the MGA forum, if there is anyone local they will almost certainly come along and help you out. There are some really enthusiastic helpful people on classic car forums

 

[usernamed]

My dad was an engineer in the RAF so made sure I know the names of all the bits under the bonnet of an old car. He tried to make sure I could do most of the servicing too, which was kind. However, being a grumpy, recalcitrant teenager at the time, not much of it stuck. I'm probably good enough to be able to say to a mechanic 'I think there's a problem with the alternator', but actually fix anything? Not so much. This is actually my biggest stumbling block in making the purchase. If the thing breaks down on the side of the road, I'm buggered until the AA/RAC/whoever turns up and the bloke says 'what's this then? Nah mate, I trained on cars made in the 2000s'...then there'll be two of us looking under the bonnet and scratching our heads.

I don't suppose there's a specialist roadside assistance company for older cars, is there?

Was listening to a podcast a while ago (can’t remember which) where a guy went into a classic car showroom and enquired about a classic, and the salesman asked him whether, if steam started pouring from the bonnet and left him on the hard shoulder, he’d know how to get it going again.

The guy admitted he wouldn’t, and the salesman said that in good conscience he could only sell the guy a Mercedes or a Bentley, as they were the only classics that would keep going in the hands of the inexpert owner. As anecdotal as it is, it’s advice that’s stuck with me every time I’ve been tempted to lose my mind and purchase something beautiful that would inevitably become a money pit.

 

[WATFORD zero]

My dad was an engineer in the RAF so made sure I know the names of all the bits under the bonnet of an old car. He tried to make sure I could do most of the servicing too, which was kind. However, being a grumpy, recalcitrant teenager at the time, not much of it stuck. I'm probably good enough to be able to say to a mechanic 'I think there's a problem with the alternator', but actually fix anything? Not so much. This is actually my biggest stumbling block in making the purchase. If the thing breaks down on the side of the road, I'm buggered until the AA/RAC/whoever turns up and the bloke says 'what's this then? Nah mate, I trained on cars made in the 2000s'...then there'll be two of us looking under the bonnet and scratching our heads.

I don't suppose there's a specialist roadside assistance company for older cars, is there?

Normal AA, RAC or whatever is fine. I have had to on one occasion return home on a flat bed supplied by the aforementioned

Mine is serviced/Mot by my local garage who are very good, but you do need a good specialist garage if there is anything other than normal servicing stuff. Mine is in Portsmouth.

Despite it all, get that top down, a country road and a lead weighted right foot and it's all worthwhile

 

[Goldstone1976]

Was listening to a podcast a while ago (can’t remember which) where a guy went into a classic car showroom and enquired about a classic, and the salesman asked him whether, if steam started pouring from the bonnet and left him on the hard shoulder, he’d know how to get it going again.

The guy admitted he wouldn’t, and the salesman said that in good conscience he could only sell the guy a Mercedes or a Bentley, as they were the only classics that would keep going in the hands of the inexpert owner. As anecdotal as it is, it’s advice that’s stuck with me every time I’ve been tempted to lose my mind and purchase something beautiful that would inevitably become a money pit.

This, right here, is what scares the bejesus out of me…

Normal AA, RAC or whatever is fine. I have had to on one occasion return home on a flat bed supplied by the aforementioned

Mine is serviced/Mot by my local garage who are very good, but you do need a good specialist garage if there is anything other than normal servicing stuff. Mine is in Portsmouth.

Despite it all, get that top down, a country road and a lead weighted right foot and it's all worthwhile

…and this is why I still might buy it.

I made the rookie error of telling the boss that I was thinking of buying it.

‘It’s very beautiful. But [long pause] you have no idea what you’re doing’.
‘Your point is?’
‘No. Just no’
‘I’ll mark you down as “undecided” then’

Of course, what I should have done is just bought it and said ‘we needed this, so I bought it’. She does that with milk. Same principle.