Well, the Fabia's got to go to make way for a bigger family car, so I'm having a look around to see what to replace it with.

Budget is 8k (or thereabouts). Car should be lowish mileage and as new as possible (manufacturer warranty would be ideal). It needs to have 5 doors and a useable boot, as well as being cheap to run/insure. Can be either petrol or diesel, but would like a car with a bit of poke. Oh, and the more toys the better

Any suggestions?

Chris

You can pick up Vauxhall Signums quite cheap now as a lot are ex-fleet. (but high miles I espect)

Octavia TDI springs to mind though if you should wish to stick with the brethren

a Fabia RS?

(this is a suggestion for jason, instead of spending all his money to make a crossdressed mongrel of a car)

Umm as for you chris. how about a subaru or a Octy/Superb/Toledo TDi?

a Fabia RS?

(this is a suggestion for jason' date=' instead of spending all his money to make a crossdressed mongrel of a car)

[/quote']

Mongrel, indeed?! :P WOOOOF! Grrrrr (thats the comment from the car )

You can pick up Vauxhall Signums quite cheap now as a lot are ex-fleet. (but high miles I espect)

Octavia TDI springs to mind though if you should wish to stick with the brethren

I bought a Signum. You can get a well-kitted car, low mileage, for around

They may not be my idea of a nice car (or yours) and I dunno what spec but our local vauxpoo dealer is advertising new Zafira's for under 10k

Thanks for all your suggestions! Sounds like the local Vauxhall dealer may be worth a visit

I've also discovered the new shape Nissan Primera depreciates like a stone for the first year and that's got more toys than Ann Summers 2.2 dCi engine with 138bhp and 6 speed box sounds tempting too and only group 8 insurance too!

Looks like a trip to the car supermarket to compare the cars side by side before is needed to make a shortlist

Chris

I had a rep round the other day he had a Primera. Over 100k miles on it and he loved it. Was more than happy to have another. Something I've never considered, not a Nissan fan.

You would get a lot of motor for your wad with an Octy though, does your budget stretch to Superbs?

With the Octy you know the 1.9D, you have plenty of experiance of the cars.

Almost for got to mention that a certain box of electrics you have and love might plug straight in

Chris

If you'r after a bigger car ( to take kids ), the zafira is fine ( sister in law has 1 ), provided you are not going to seat 7, with the back seats up there is NO boot space, with seats down it is adequate. OH I hope you like the driving position of a mini bus.

The Diesel engine is o.k., would say noisier @ startup that the Furby or Octy 1 TDi, & doesn't 'feel' quick.( Probably cos of its size ).

If I was back in your position would go for the Octy 1, would try for the 115 BHP diesel, tho the 90BHP was more than adequate for taking 2 teens, SWMBO, and holiday luggage. ( Had 2 octys ).

Goidd luck with your choice.

You would get a lot of motor for your wad with an Octy though' date=' does your budget stretch to Superbs?

With the Octy you know the 1.9D, you have plenty of experiance of the cars.

Almost for got to mention that a certain box of electrics you have and love would plug straight in [/quote']

Trouble is I'd need the PD130 for my box o' tricks and they're not really in my budget, especially at the rate they seem to eat clutches My Fabia has also been the most unreliable car I've owned which is quite impressive considering I owned an N reg Disco a couple of years back that was subject to more abuse than any vehicle should! So, I'm not 100% sure I want another Skoda, although I'll definitely look at the Octy. Superb is probably a bit to OTT for my needs and I think I'd prefer hatch/estate for baby stuff

Keep the suggestions coming though

Chris

You could probably get an Octy 110 TDi estate for around the money you're looking at.

We had a mk1 SLX (W reg 2000)...top of the range at the time.... paid

If you want reliability, it's got to be Nissan.

Yep, a diesel Primera would take some beating value-wise.

Just checked at a local car supermarket and they have a 2003 53-plate one, S spec with 19k on it for

2002 bora 1.8t for

FWIW and you know I'm not a car expert.. Down here where I am in South London (town driving), cars are Vauxhall, VW or BMW, and next comes Merc and then 4x4s (yes, a few others as well, I even see the occasional Alpha Romeo).

Logically, there must be a reason for that pecking order, like why so many Vauxhalls, but you folks will know that better that I. Maybe cost, stats on insurance or MPG for town driving? Dunno. The only thing I do know is that I've never driven behind a Nissan without having to turn off the outside air. What is it about their exhausts?

FWIW

Mo

The primera is a nice car, the 2.2dci is a decent engine, but suffers from horrific turbo lag.. and theres somethin "not right" about the handling..

the interior is quirky, and if you do drive one, pay attention to the road.. just like i didnt - too busy messing with all the controls on the fancy screen in the centre console

The primera...theres somethin "not right" about the handling...too busy messing with all the controls on the fancy screen in the centre console

Would echo this - the steering is suprisingly/worringly light and vague, and the controls are aren't especially intuitive. The latter probably isn't such an issue if you own the car and have time to get used to it though...

If I was looking at trading in the Octy for another "family car", but wasn't looking at another Octavia, I'd be heading for the Vectra first and then the Mondeo, and possible a Rover 75 estate. I wouldn't be looking at a saloon from any car though as the boot aperture is usually too awkward to get strangely-shaped baby peripherals in easily...

Rob.

How big a boot do you need?? I've got 3 kids and all the stuff that goes with that and both my Octy's are first class. Nothing bigger, apart from estates. The Tdi is obviously cheaper to run than Vrs, but my kids LOVE my car, which is also a consideration

The primera is a nice car, the 2.2dci is a decent engine, but suffers from horrific turbo lag.. and theres somethin "not right" about the handling..

Well, took one for a spin and didn't really like it. Turbo lag? What turbo? To be fair, it did have a lot of gadgets and was a good price, but it just felt a bit cheap and the bus-like driving position wasn't to my taste. The boot was a weird shape too and probably not big enough for a buggy.

However, the salesman suggested a 51 plate Renault Laguna dCi Privilege in estate trim which was very nice to drive, had plenty of go in it, and didn't mind going round corners either (must be those big fat 225/45 tyres ) Car has loads of toys (credit-card style key and starter button! ) and is in excellent condition so it's being seriously considered!

Chris

Don't go for a Renault. It's French and so will see the AA more times than it see's the petrol station, trust me. My stepdad has had no end of problems with his, same as his Megane previously and me with my Clio.

Renault don't build them like they used to.

What about a 3.0 diesel vectra or signum?

ive just seen (on the vauxhall dti tuning thread) that a tuning box will take the 3.0 up to 212bhp, that much power in a signum would be a very very competent motorway tool

edit: the signums are a wee bit out your price range, starting at just over 9k (theres a nice one on autotrader 2.0T with 19" rims for 9.5)

the vectras are cheaper... tho theres a few 3.2l petrol SRI/GSI models just in your price range