Conference terri::cars_uk

    The local VAG garage up in Ayr are selling the new style Polo Fox, with 
    delivery mileage only for 5999 pounds on the road. Shop around, you may
    get a really good discount on a new car if you are paying cash.
    
    Ford UK are getting a hard time from some owners right now, for 
    the shoddy paintwork on some of their 1990/91 Escorts and Fiesta's. My
    mate has a Fiesta XR2 G reg with 24,000(FSH) and really looks after it.
    Unfortunately, it just keeps rusting all over the bonnet and inside the
    engine bay. It has been back at Ford, but they don't want to know!! 
    
    With 6000k to spend you should be able to obtain a late 91H/92J Astra, or 
    one of the new style Rover Metro's. Both cars are proving to be very
    popular indeed, and are holding their re-sale values.
    
    

    Well, well, it's a small world.  My wife's Metro having been
    comprehensively written off while waiting to turn right (wife,
    fortunately, only off work for 3 months with chipped vertebra), she now 
    also needs a replacement, up to around 5000 quid.
    
    Her requirements are "a bit more metal around me", a sunroof,
    automatic transmission, stereo-cassette, unleaded petrol, and something 
    not as large as a standard saloon (eg Cavalier) because of parking 
    problems.  Performance is of no interest:  comfort, reasonable insurance 
    costs, safety etc all take precedence.
    
    Asking around her friends and colleagues, everyone who owns an Astra seems 
    delighted with it, Fiestas, Escorts, etc have slightly less enthusiasm,
    Fiats get the thumbs-down every time, and everyone would like to be
    able to afford a Honda Civic.
    
    The big question is, though, what do you want out of the car?  Most
    people in this conference seem to regard the ability to exceed the
    speed limit within .005 seconds of take-off, while making an in-car
    phone call, as the sole criterion for choice.  Beware the motoring
    enthusiast - he may well think a Porsche is a good idea, whereas I
    think they have all the internal comfort and style of a skip.  Get
    answers from people who want from a car what your wife wants.
    
    Ken 

Re: .2
    
>    Her requirements are "a bit more metal around me", a sunroof,
>    automatic transmission, stereo-cassette, unleaded petrol, and something 
>    not as large as a standard saloon (eg Cavalier) because of parking 
>    problems.  Performance is of no interest:  comfort, reasonable insurance 
>    costs, safety etc all take precedence.
    

(not sure about the automatic bit, but) go for an Astra !

    � Her requirements are "a bit more metal around me", a sunroof,
    � automatic transmission, stereo-cassette, unleaded petrol, and something 
    � not as large as a standard saloon (eg Cavalier) because of parking 
    � problems.  Performance is of no interest:  comfort, reasonable insurance 
    � costs, safety etc all take precedence.
    
    Reasonable insurance? No such thing! :^( What about a Rover 200/400?
    
    � Fiats get the thumbs-down every time, and everyone would like to be
    � able to afford a Honda Civic.
    
    My wife drives a Fiat. It's very cheap to run, insure and, aside from 
    being too slow, is fun to drive. So I guess that's a thumbs up. :^)
    BTW She _hates_ the look of Civics - Good taste, my wife! :^)
    
    � people in this conference seem to regard the ability to exceed the
    � speed limit within .005 seconds of take-off, while making an in-car
    � phone call, as the sole criterion for choice.  Beware the motoring
    
    Really? I thought most people in this conference thought using a car
    phone should be a capital offence?
    
    Mark

    How about a Volkswagon Golf or Polo?    Very reliable by all accounts.
    The Golf should provide the safety aspect!
    
    
    Astra may be worth a look. My brother got a F reg Astra, 28,00 on the
    clock, full service history for around 4,000.
    
    Big thing is get a service history with it. If you are knowledgeable,
    car auctions will be a lot cheaper than buying from a dealer.
    
    Try getting a copy of What Car, they have pages of used car prices, and
    columns of advice!
    
    IMHO,
    
    Greg
    Greg

    I'd go for either the Peugeot 205 or the new-shape Rover Metro.
    
    I've lived with both cars for long periods of time and find both cars
    to be real fun to drive as well as practical and economical. The Metro
    is streets ahead in terms of build quality.
    
    Reargards,
    
    Stephen

    In fact, it's a pity that they call the Rover Metro a metro at all! It
    bears no resemblance (from the driving seat) to the 'old' Metro. I
    hired one when I went to Ayr a few weeks ago, included a
    'cross-country' drive to Castle Douglas on narrow winding roads -
    V.Impressed!
    
    NR

    The 205 has a very bad crash safety record and seems to come out a lot
    worse in accidents than the other popular makes. A recent Top Gear safety
    feature confirmed this I pretty sure. The new Astra is praised though for
    it's side impact bars (probably a tad expensive though in the used market).
    
    Gary.

thanks all. I fancy an ASTRA myself.

Dougie

    Buy anything but a Ford or Renault or Peugeot.
    
    Andrew

Look at high mileage Cavalier SRi's apparently they wear
well, and are a real bargain.

They are also economical to boot!

Mark.

I thought high mileage Cavaliers drink oil ?

    Re .2
    
    >>  enthusiast - he may well think a Porsche is a good idea, whereas I
    >>  think they have all the internal comfort and style of a skip.  Get
    
    !!! I'd say the interior of my 911 is one of the nicest I've been in
    (ergonomics suck, of course - or is that 'character'?), and the seats
    and ride are *much* better than I expected.
    
    If I was looking for a car of the spec you listed, I'd want a Golf,
    maybe a diesel if I could find one at the right price.  Okay, 1.3
    petrol and 1.8 diesel Golfs are gutless I hear you say, but they are
    reliable, well built and with the new shape now out, some nice Mk2
    shape cars can be bought for reasonable money.
    
    Dave.

RE: .12

The 1600's are terrible (you see many smoky ones on the road); however the
larger engine injected models are well made.

    .14�The 1600's are terrible (you see many smoky ones on the road);
    
       Not all! Mine's now at 90,000 miles thanks to 30-odd miles on the M25
    each day but doesn't smoke nor get left behind by other traffic.
    

how about:
    
    	1. Clio (you'll be struggling to get under 6000 quid)
    	2. Astra
    	3. Uno 70SXie
    
    
    just a thought...

>    
>    If I was looking for a car of the spec you listed, I'd want a Golf,
>    maybe a diesel if I could find one at the right price.  Okay, 1.3
     [...]

sexism alert; How would I stop Roberta putting petrol in the tank??
    
Thanks for all the suggestions. We're looking at Astras. Though a Cavalier
SRI would be dandy too. 

Dougie

    Re: the SRi Cavalier's
    
    	Excellent cars, and if you get a good one it wont drink oil. They 
    generally only drink oil if they weren't run in properly, and the fuel
    economy can be very good - mid 30's to 40's is not unreasonable.
    
    	The new style is in my honest opinion the better car, I've had
    both, but the new model is more economical/reliable and the equipment
    level is good. I've seen good examples going for 4500 (F reg)- 6500 (H
    reg).
    
    Andy

I wrote the basenote. 

Bought a Fiesta 1.6S; sent it back. Insurance too expensive. They even gave
us the deposit back! Very good of them. Very good garage actually
(Oldfields - Southport).

Eventually bought G Reg Citreon Chicago.

thankx for all the advice. I fancied an Astra myself, but it wasn't my
money. ah well ...

dougie

>>Bought a Fiesta 1.6S; sent it back. Insurance too expensive. They even gave
    
    A warning to get insurance quotes before buying a car, unless you
    will pay 'almost any amount' for the car...