'02+ auto for 3k

delly

Story is I'm a bit all over the place with trying to decide on a new motor. I was made redundant a few months ago and had to hand back my '06 Vectra, so since then I've been driving my wifes '02 Punto HLX. While in my wifes hands it has done small mileage in the year or so we have had it, so now that i'm the main driver I want to go for something thats a little more roomier/comfy/powerful etc.

Unfortunately I can't just pick anything I want, as hopefully if I get another job I'll get another company motor and my wife can go back to having her own car, taking this into account whatever I buy has to be an automatic and not too big (I would love a S80, but its a no go). There are a few old shape Focus's and Astra'a knocking about, but they are mad money and not quite big enough for me. What I have looked at is a Citroen C5 and a few Laguna's around the 03/04 mark. I obviously know there cheap for a reason and that most of the seasoned posters would have bad things to say about French reliability, but they tick all the boxes, and I've learned with the Punto that a bad rep isn't everything if the right car is chosen as its not given a days bother.

I'm more inclined to go the dealer route to try and get a trade in, I know it will cost me as opposed to going down the private sale route but it could take an eternity to move and what if I miss the ideal car in the mean time. I could look through donedeal etc. for a private sale and save a few euro there and maybe try and sell the Punto after but it would have to be cheap to allow me have both cars at the same time, also there is a lack of the standard '3 month e + gb' warranty form a second hand dealer, but is it really worth that much anyway? My main fear really is picking up a motor and the auto box packs in a few hundred miles down the road, but i suppose thats the risk.

Anyhow, i've rambled on a bit much, just wondering if there any thoughts or musings on the matter?

Rover 75, diesel, auto
You'll sell her on no prob whenever suits you without losing your arse on it too. Alternatively I'll part with my 2002 MG ZT auto for €3000 :pac:

bazz26

This might fit the bill:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Car&carID=201039199711358&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Rover%2075%2C%20Automatic%20Transmission%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=140314796&CFTOKEN=65172425

Might as well have yourself some comfort, miles better than the crappy auto versions of the Focus, C5 or Laguna.

delly

I have to say I did look at the 75 having read many positive comments here, but its already being ruled out i'm afraid. While its probably smaller than most of the other luxobarges out there, the perception is thats its way bigger therefore the gaffer has said no. TBH it was hard enough to convince her to look at a Citroen, so I have to be careful on what I come up with.

Mr Benevolent

How come your wife is dictating the size of your own personal car? I'm not trying to be intrusive, just wondering why the perfect car (an auto diesel 75) is being ruled out. Size should have nothing to do with it.

The Astra and Focus carry a big premium in auto, which is a pain. Not much else in this segment in auto really. It's the small car/2002+ prerequisite that's ruining the whole thing.

delly

Its not a case of her dictating, its a case of me wanting to upgrade her car for my benefit and being allowed to do so. It wouldn't be very fair buying something that she'll be stuck with when i hopefully get back to work.

Idbatterim

how about a Bmw E39 5 series?

jayok

Honda Accord 2 litre automatic. Bullet-proof build and should be cheap as chips now.

unkel

delly wrote: »

Its not a case of her dictating, its a case of me wanting to upgrade her car for my benefit and being allowed to do so. It wouldn't be very fair buying something that she'll be stuck with when i hopefully get back to work.

Why don't you keep your wife's Punto? Just buy another car for yourself for now and sell it when you don't need it anymore. Just get a car that you're likely to not lose more than a few hundred on in depreciation. A 75 sure would foot the bill seeing as they are very cheap to buy in the first place.

Oh and you're right about the size of the 75. The interior is of similar size to a Mondeo / 3-series, etc. but the car is nearly as long as a 5-series

delly

unkel wrote: »

Why don't you keep your wife's Punto? Just buy another car for yourself for now and sell it when you don't need it anymore. Just get a car that you're likely to not lose more than a few hundred on in depreciation. A 75 sure would foot the bill seeing as they are very cheap to buy in the first place.

Oh and you're right about the size of the 75. The interior is of similar size to a Mondeo / 3-series, etc. but the car is nearly as long as a 5-series

Not really possible tbh, what with now being a non income household. Getting a second insurance policy as well as sapping a good deal of my redundancy money into a second car would really be a luxury, but maybe I shouldn't even be looking at upgrading at all really.

I dunno, as said earlier I suppose I'm restricting myself too much in what I want while also not wanting to spend much cash. I think I'll just have to keep my eye out and wait for the right opportunity to illuminate a lightbulb above my head.

delly

Just pulling back my old thread to get opinions on something.

A friend i know in trade is aware i'm looking for an auto, and although it doesn't exactly fit my criteria has a 2001 e200 auto coming in. It has leather and approaching 100k miles. It has no stamped service history but the seller has told him he has had it serviced with a local back street garage. Interior is fine but the exterior has a few minor scrapes and marks which i'm told i could get fixed up fairly cheap. He is looking for 1700 which is what he'd pass it onto a trader for. I'm thinking it could do for a short term thing and let the wife get used to an auto although it would be a bigger car, and if we want to sell for something smaller in the new year i shouldn't lose anything on it.

Just looking for opinions.

pcardin

not a bad car but when it goes wrong it cost a lot. I used to have one for a while and there was that brake light switch that liked to fail putting the car in limpo mode. But if you take one recently serviced there shouldn't be any problem.
What about Peugeot 406 auto?

Bigus

What year is the punto ?
If its pre 05 its worth very little and prob better to keep it

delly

pcardin wrote: »

What about Peugeot 406 auto?

The auto version seem to be non existent i'm afraid.

Bigus wrote: »

What year is the punto ?
If its pre 05 its worth very little and prob better to keep it

Its an '02, but well kept and a good service record. Not worth that much I suppose, but I'll hopefully find the right buyer.