Daily driver advice

jonat127 · Post by **jonat127** » Tue May 05, 2009 11:08 am

Sold my Chrysler over the weekend and now I need to get a "new" daily driver. I have a £1500 ish budget and want something I am not going to lose too much on (although I guess I only stand to lose £1500 anyway!)
But seriously, the reason I sold the Chrysler was it was losing my £300 a month and only getting used for commuting and the occasional trip to relatives. I want a cheap car for the next 2-3 years to see me through until I can afford to treat myself to something smart for retirement.
I have spent most of the weekend searching Autotrader, Pistonheads, exchangeandmart & ebay and below is the list of possibilities.
What do folks think? All advice appreciated.
My criteria are: auto, good sized, comfortable, well loaded, mainstream & reasonably easy to sell on:

* BMW 523/528 (choice of 4), 100k, 1998 £1900 - BMW's are common!

* Ford Mondeo (choice of 2), 40k, 2000, £1500 - good safe purchase, easy to sell on, extremely anonamous.

* Ford Scorpio cosworth (choice of 3), 100k, 1998, £1300 - I like to be different, a lot of car for the money.

* Honda Accord (choice of 2), 60k, 1999, £1600 - ditto comments on Mondeo.

* Mercedes E230/280 (choice of 4), 100k, 1998, £1900 - Old farts car, expensive to run, but I like them!

* Nissan Primera, (just the one), 55k, 1999, £1300 - another Mondeo.

* Rover 75 2.5, (choice of 4), 60k, 2000, £1600 - Another different choice.

* Vauxhall Omega, (choice of 4), 70k, 2000, £1700 - has always been under rated.

So help me chose, what do you think and why?
Cheers Jon

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Tue May 05, 2009 11:35 am

I'd go VW, Audi or Saab. Loads of A4s and Pissats for that price. I'd also buy totally on condition and mileage than age at that price range. Some nice, classy, well kept older stuff around for that money.

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Tue May 05, 2009 11:44 am

A few A8s and A6s at that price, maybe a tad more money. Really tempted by an A8 to replace our Saab next year.

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Tue May 05, 2009 11:44 am

at that price range, I'd be looking for a car which is going to be cheap to run eg cheap parts etc ..... which from experience would rule out 'originally' expensive Audi's, BMW's or Mercs.

I imagine a ford etc would work out cheap as anything

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Tue May 05, 2009 11:46 am

Nige wrote:A few A8s and A6s at that price, maybe a tad more money. Really tempted by an A8 to replace our Saab next year.

My father-in law is running a V8 diesel A8 ... loverly car, but when things go wrong it can be expensive

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Tue May 05, 2009 12:13 pm

That's my main concern. As you say at least with a Ford they are generally cheap to fix.

Though at £1500 if it all goes titz up after a year its not the end of the world.

jonat127 · Post by **jonat127** » Tue May 05, 2009 12:18 pm

Nige wrote:Though at £1500 if it all goes titz up after a year its not the end of the world.

That's why the heavy metal (BMW & Merc) is included!
If I find a good one it could be stylish motoring for a couple of years.
Jon

impmad2000 · Post by **impmad2000** » Tue May 05, 2009 12:27 pm

I had an A4 TDi that did 270k miles. It never went wrong !
My newer Mazda 6 has just had the fuel pump replaced at 80k mile and if it wasn't a warrenty job, would have been £1000 ! (Re-cond not new part!) I have heard reports of Mundaneos with expensive (£500) flywheel issues too ! check out the makes/models carefully. Some are just not very good ! Honest John's website seems too have some good stuff on it.
I loved the Accord when was last looking BTW
Cheers
Tim

jonat127 · Post by **jonat127** » Tue May 05, 2009 2:29 pm

impmad2000 wrote:Honest John's website seems too have some good stuff on it.
I loved the Accord when was last looking BTW
Cheers
Tim

Thanks Tim,
Just looked a honest john and now I only have Honda, and Nissan on my list and maybe Audi A8! if I can find one.
Jon

pillay2k · Post by **pillay2k** » Tue May 05, 2009 8:14 pm

I went 190e... it's been great, 107k when i bought it a few of months ago now on 111k no probs. Like new inside ,super paint work, FMBSH(!) and the wheels i added for fun... all for £1300!
This is a proper tank Merc with taxi durability.
plenty of 2.3 and 2.6 autos with leather floating around for £1k...

Ian Gunney · Post by **Ian Gunney** » Tue May 05, 2009 9:40 pm

I had a 190E 2.0 for 9 years - never broke down in 100K+ miles I put on it - now owned by a guy in West Wales who goes back and for to Poland in it - superb car

replaced it with a late E220 W124 estate - brilliant load lugger for not much £

stuby · Post by **stuby** » Tue May 05, 2009 10:05 pm

My sister in laws Polo Estate ?
See ad in cars for sale - £1800 at the death and I promise you it'll serve you well...
Damn reliable little thing

It is a manual gearbox though...

Stu

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Tue May 05, 2009 10:15 pm

pillay2k wrote:

Must... slam... ghetto... Merc.....

Ahhh.

Mmmm.

pillay2k · Post by **pillay2k** » Wed May 06, 2009 10:55 am

jamie wrote: Must... slam... ghetto... Merc.....

Ahhh.

Mmmm.

Hehe... been there already! mum says tinted window... but that is a little too drug dealer i think!

jonat127 · Post by **jonat127** » Wed May 06, 2009 1:22 pm

190 is probably a little bit too small, I need a lot of legroom!
Currently on the list is Lexus GS, anybody got any thoughts on these?
Jon