Thanks for all your suggestions guys, there seems to be some consensus that high mileage is not a problem on older cars, what mileage do you think would be reasonable on something like a golf gttdi?

I love having a new car but really cant afford it, basically rent has gone up, i'm not commuting anymore so not really using the car much as work a ten min walk away from my flat!

To answer the previous question my car is on an 06 plate and has done 17k with heated seats as an option, and of course its sprint yellow. How much is it worth? I figured would put it up privately for about

Thanks to welshy for suggesting some good cars, would love a bmw just wasnt so sure about the mileage, anybody have any experience with them? Does the mileage matter much on them?

Lovely cars to drive and with a good indy, servicing is not expensive either. In the price range you're looking at, do your homework about the turbo diesels (as a lot of them, namely the 330d) like to lunch their turbo's which is quite an expensive habit outside warranty. BMW Land - A Drivers Chat Talk Discussion Forum Board for UK BMW cars and owners 3 5 6 7 series Questions & Answers is your friend By contrast, the equivalent N/A petrols are regarded as bullet proof, but will be quite a bit thirstier! Obviously, you could always get them LPG'd if you were that way inclined - 6 cylinder petrol performance, with diesel running costs

Chris

A bit biased but if you can stretch to

Had a look at a few cars today, saw a few foci which were alright, just wondering if anybody knew of any real reason to get a 1.8 over a 1.6 as on paper they near enough look the same bar .5 of a second and cheaper insurance. Not got many decent 2.0 ones near me, otherwise would love to try one of them out!

Erm, older Fabia vRS? :rubchin:

Steve

My thoughts exactly....CLICKY

Had a look at a few cars today, saw a few foci which were alright, just wondering if anybody knew of any real reason to get a 1.8 over a 1.6 as on paper they near enough look the same bar .5 of a second and cheaper insurance. Not got many decent 2.0 ones near me, otherwise would love to try one of them out!

difference in acceleration, torque and top end between the two is apparently quite noticable - people with 1.6 have said that the 1.6 runs out of puff sooner and even a slight incline can kill a 1.6

you'd find it easier get better mpg from a 1.6 than a 1.8

If your on a real tight budget you could buy a nice 2.5ltr petrol Vauxhall Omega for well under

If your on a real tight budget you could buy a nice 2.5ltr petrol Vauxhall Omega for well under

none of the tds 2.5's were ever a good engine they all turned into watering cans at about 40k outside of warenty they are a mare to run, the seal is about 6 quid the labour over a grand full engine out job,wouldn't touch one with a barge pole:thumbdwn:

Ive never heard this - all the motoring mags rave about Used car bargins and this is one of them, surely if that was an issue they would highlight it - as they always highlight problems with cars they show.

BMW 3-Series Saloon (91-98) Review - Parker's

And these owner reviews none mention this problem!

Owners' Reviews - Parker's

The above links are for the BMW but below are for the Vauxhall again no mention at all about this common! problem

Vauxhall Omega Estate (94-03) Review - Parker's

Owners' Reviews - Parker's

Can you please supply the source of your info for the head gasket failure (watering can = blown head gasket I'm guessing) as I have provided ample evidence above to prove your "none of the engines were any good over 40k" statement.

Give me the proof and I may change my view but just on your say so you are giving advice incorrectly.

Ive never heard this - all the motoring mags rave about Used car bargins and this is one of them, surely if that was an issue they would highlight it - as they always highlight problems with cars they show.

BMW 3-Series Saloon (91-98) Review - Parker's

And these owner reviews none mention this problem!

Owners' Reviews - Parker's

The above links are for the BMW but below are for the Vauxhall again no mention at all about this common! problem

Vauxhall Omega Estate (94-03) Review - Parker's

Owners' Reviews - Parker's

Can you please supply the source of your info for the head gasket failure (watering can = blown head gasket I'm guessing) as I have provided ample evidence above to prove your "none of the engines were any good over 40k" statement.

Give me the proof and I may change my view but just on your say so you are giving advice incorrectly.

i don't go by the motoring press i go by experience mate don't believe everything you read i know of several cars with this engine which have suffered the same fault ,some more than once ,sorry but i am one of the few on here that actually think you talk a lot of sense,on this occasion however you are wrong.

i don't go by the motoring press i go by experience mate don't believe everything you read i know of several cars with this engine which have suffered the same fault ,some more than once ,sorry but i am one of the few on here that actually think you talk a lot of sense,on this occasion however you are wrong.

I have to put my hands up here Ive not ever looked into the 2.5TDS unit before - I have of course heard of it and know of its applications.

Clearly if I was to buy one of these cars given that info you have highlighted I would certainly investigate much deeper.

However if there is such a problem then I'd buy the 2.5V6 petrol which is cheaper to buy and a fine motor in the Omega.

Original poster - another thought for you here, this is a very high depreciating car but I can tell you the seats are the best you can have in any production car Im talking about the 1998 onwards Saab 95. Not the Saloon but the Estate which IMHO looks much better than the saloon.

You can go for the 2.2Tid Vector Estate which is the old school Izusu engine and is renoud to be buillet proof if a little slow 120bhp. Then again you could opt for the 3.0 (175bhp) Tid unit a quick car in gear.

These are well built (tyres are pricy) look good, a bit different and within your budget + you will struggle to find a safer car.

oilburninnut ..... are you a mechanic ? Work in the motoring trade ? Think Welshy has a valid point. One very reliable source of info is

Honestjohn Carguides

And there's no mention about the tds "horrors" there. The only way I can see you quoting from experience over and above the sources being provided is if your a BMW tech who's worked on a say more than 20 or 30 tds engines with said fault..... which I doubt it.

i am a mechanic yes[well a diesel fitter at any rate on hgv's]but i no longer do it for a living,i have just owned and run a lot of cars and take a keen interest in other peoples cars ie the boss ,friends ect.

Welshy often comes up with a lot of very valuable and valid pieces of info,as i believe he reads alot about these things and reports his findings on here,which has been no doubt invaluable for some people,he is maybe a bit bias towards a certain german brand but that is personal choice,i too like bmw's but do try to be objective about these things.

Anyway back to the value for money thing,a few years ago i was driving past a vauxhaul dealer when i spied a 3.2l v6 omega elite at 11 months old in silver for 11995,on further inspection i discovered it seemed to have every option fitted,now i am sure welshy will be along in a minute to tell me the brand new list price but i would guess at over30k this thing still had plenty of warenty so how good a deal is that for a used buy.The things appear reliable too.

The things appear reliable too.

And quite good fun to drive too! Mmmmmm v6 and RWD :D:D

Chris

oilburninnut ..... are you a mechanic ? Work in the motoring trade ? Think Welshy has a valid point. One very reliable source of info is

Honestjohn Carguides

And there's no mention about the tds "horrors" there. The only way I can see you quoting from experience over and above the sources being provided is if your a BMW tech who's worked on a say more than 20 or 30 tds engines with said fault..... which I doubt it.

sorry i have just read your post in full and no i am not a bmw tech but of the very small sample of these cars i have expierienced [about5] all have suffered this fault,on that evidence i personaly would not touch one with a bargepole,maybe they were all friday afternoon jobs but i would doubt it.

And quite good fun to drive too! Mmmmmm v6 and RWD :D:D

Chris

i had a carleton 1.8 gl rwd and great fun only ended up costing me about

Back on topic now i have just spotted a volvo s60 t5 in white on autotrader 2005 on a 54 at

Heavy on fuel - may as well buy a 530DSE similar pace much more frugal.

just going off onto a more unusual angle,there was a 03 d4 on there for similar money,guess your not a volvo fan then welshy.

The 850T5 & the V70 T5 are very good, I'd only be interested in the estate version though.

Other volvos to me visually are just not up to it.

Heavy on fuel - may as well buy a 530DSE similar pace much more frugal.

Well 530dSe 204bhp + 369lbf

Volvo - IIRC 240bhp & much less torque.

So yes similar pace but much more frugal (Volvo 25mpg ish 40mpg 530D).

The 850T5 & the V70 T5 are very good, I'd only be interested in the estate version though.

Other volvos to me visually are just not up to it.

i like the s60,but you are right the estates are ace the v70 is the best looking estate around.

Thanks for all these comments guys, omegas are a good idea, my father has had 2, both 2.5 v6's and they both did over 100k without a problem, He prefered the older one with the cabled accelerator rather than the fly by wire, he found it alot more responsive, I should have got it off him when he got his 520d last year, it was a 52 plate and he got 4k foir it and it had a CD model and in very good condition, worth having a look at I think, Going to have another look around garages today! Just a pain in the a**e as working in dublin this coming week so not able to get my car on autotrader yet!

You might be able to find a high milage 525d in the range and certainly a 520d.

What about the 150bhp 320d?

lol 3 BM's in 2 sentences whats the chances of that???!!1