Second hand cars

[wehatepalace]

Ladies & Gents of NSC your opinions please I want to buy a new (2nd hand) car I have a budget of £4.5k-£5k and am looking at 4-5 yr old cars
Now I want something with leather upholstery and all the bits and bobs like air con etc etc.
So what do you think of
Vectra Elite
Mondeo Ghia X
Volvo S60
Saab 9-3 Vector
Peugeot 607
Laguna initiale
Or does anyone recommend another model
Oh and it needs to be DIESEL as I do LOADS of mileage

 

[Gully]

Depends what size car you need, there is a Saab garage around the corner from where I live and judging by the age and price of the cars on their forecourt I would say they hold their value about as well as a colander does with water...that comes as a surprise because I had always considered them to be a bit of an upmarket version of a Volvo. Not sure if you will get one for the money you have available but if you want a saloon type car I would plump for a Passat or Octavia, both excellent cars.

 

[BensGrandad]

Difficult to buy a 2nd hand Octavia that hasnt been a taxi, they have taken over from the Mondeo as taxis.

 

[wehatepalace]

Yeah trouble with VW's they hold their price too well, so would mean going older which i don't really want to do.
And I just can't get over the stigma with a Skoda *snigger*
At the moment I am being drawn quite strongly to the Volvo or Saab

 

[Easy 10]

How about a Seat Leon.
They're nice.

 

[BensGrandad]

And I just can't get over the stigma with a Skoda *snigger*

They have lost that stigma as they are brilliant cars

 

[wehatepalace]

How about a Seat Leon.
They're nice.

I did look at the Seat just strikes me as a little on the small size (I'm 6'5" tall)

 

[wehatepalace]

They have lost that stigma as they are brilliant cars

I know everyone I know says that as well, but to me Skoda will always be the butt of so many rubbish jokes

 

[Jahooli]

I'd go for a Japanese car myself...had a Peugeot...lovely ride & VERY comfortably
but niggly bits kept breaking.The Primera I replaced it with isn't as "nice" & is quite bland but it just keeps going cheaper on fuel too.

Try this site the reports are unbiased and very useful...

Honest John

 

[WATFORD zero]

It's boring but you will probably get the best value for your money on the Mondeo. (I am assuming that because you are going to do a lot of mileage, residual value isn't going to be a lot on anything you buy)

ps - it looks like honest johns mondeo review above agrees !

 

[Easy 10]

I did look at the Seat just strikes me as a little on the small size (I'm 6'5" tall)

Crikey.
How about one of these then ?

 

[Gully]

I did look at the Seat just strikes me as a little on the small size (I'm 6'5" tall)

I weigh in at a fairly healthy 6'2", the only car I have ever had a problem with was an Astra, I was in agony after a long drive in it...which was a problem as I lived in Scotland and my folks down in Sussex, that made it anywhere between 8-12 hours drive, but that probably had more to do with crap seats than leg room.

 

[Simster]

I'd go for The Volvo myself. They're very reliable, but when they do start to go wrong the bits can be a bit expensive.

For that reason, I'd be tempted to get a AA check done on any car if you're serious about buying it.

 

[Icy Gull]

I know I'm wasting my time here as only owners seem to appreciate the magic of these cars but I'd go straight out and buy one a diesel one of these

http://www.whatcar.com/car-review/alfa-romeo-156-sportwagon/444/

 

[wehatepalace]

Crikey.
How about one of these then ?

Marvelous I could sit in the back while the wife drives me around

 

[Easy 10]

You're wasting my time as well Icy.
That link doesn't work.

 

[Nibble]

45 miles on clock (mainly just used for wheel burns in Sainsburys car park).
Genuine reason for sale - owner sent to jail.

 

[wehatepalace]

I know I'm wasting my time here as only owners seem to appreciate the magic of these cars but I'd go straight out and buy one a diesel one of these

http://www.whatcar.com/car-review/alfa-romeo-156-sportwagon/444/

I've always fancied an Alpha but they seem to fall apart very quickly

 

[Simster]

45 miles on clock (mainly just used for wheel burns in Sainsburys car park).
Genuine reason for sale - owner sent to jail.

I'm sure that would've been perfect if only it came in diesel.

 

[Nibble]

I'm sure that would've been perfect if only it came in diesel.

But the seats, they go all the way down. For the Ladies Huh?