The big downgrade....

Mycroft H

My Xantia while being gloriously reliable comfortable and economical is going to have to go. It was on long term loan in my own name from a family member and was an excellent car to drive. Comfy, frugal and above all else, reliable its going to have to go. I won't be too sad though, I'll still get the occasional spin in it.

However, I need some wheels to replace it. This is going to be out of my own pocket so its going to small in both cc and size. I need something economical and cheap to tax (tax was the only killer on the xantia, 189 a quarter ). Cheap to insure is a bonus. It needs to be able to keep up with motorway traffic, so weed out the asthmatic 1 litres.

Anyways, I'm looking at the usual suspects - Fiesta, Clio, 106/Saxo ect.

I had a drive in a Saxo and I was impressed enough with it. It handles well enough and the little 1.1 buzzes along.

I also had a drive in a fiesta (1.25) and for all the singing of its praises here, I was a little underwhelmed . It felt no quicker then the Saxo but the cabin is different to the typical dark citroen, quite airy and a nice enough place to be. I'd put it on par with the fiesta in handling/speed stakes but wins on a nice cabin.

Anything else to add to the list? Punto (How on earth do I tell the difference between the 16v and 8v models on DD?)?

What about the Rover 25? Am I mad? The 1.4 seems to be a little lees head gasket prone then the 1.8 from what I can see.

Ohhhh and budget is less then 1000 euros


EDIT:

These are out the window.

Corsas, Micras and the Yaris.

colm_mcm

Re puntos, in the mk 2 the only 1.2 16v models were the 3 door sporting and 5 door hlx models

Uk had other specs of course

MugMugs

90's or early noughties Micra?

BX 19

BX 19 wrote: »

..........

What about the Rover 25? Am I mad? The 1.4 seems to be a little lees head gasket prone then the 1.8 from what I can see.

Ohhhh and budget is less then 1000 euros

The 1.4 may well be less prone to HG failure than the 1.8 but it's still a concern. However buying for less than a grand the car will either be years on it's original one and still fine or be on a replacement HG (or w@nked when you buy but we won't go there as you're not likely to be caught I suspect).

The odds are in your favour of getting a good one really, many of them didn't suffer from HG failure at all, many that did were sorted before they were cooked so no actual damage done. The potential worse thing would be to buy one that was cooked and not repaired properly.

From personal experience the 1.4 K series can return up to 40 ish mpg on the motorway, 3000 rpm at 60mph so less than 4000rpm at 125kmh, not too bad really.

I'd sooner a nice 45 than a 25 though, I'd also be more worried about worn bearings in the R65 box than the HG to be quite honest.

Mycroft H

MugMugs wrote: »

90's or early noughties Micra?

No no and no. I meant to specifically mention that all micras are barred. I fecking hate the things with a passion. The yaris also falls into this category ( you would be hard pushed to find one for less then 1000)

ongarite

Where are you based and max distance your looking to travel to get a bargain?

Mycroft H

Kildare. Think offaly, dublin, meath ect. Not too far unless its something spectacular.

Jimdagym

What about that corsa in the bangernomics thread.

Cheap and nasty.

Farmer Pudsey

I know you will have to buy one back in the years but a toyota corolla they go forever, something like these two just up on DD
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3100317
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3064472

If you can get one with between 100-140K get it well checked out the '98 type above I say has high milage bou if you can get one with the kind i mentioned it has a 1.3 engine so it will be the same tax as a 1.25 fiesta if you want something bombproof they are hard to beat

ongarite

Fiesta from bangernomics thread, room for negotiation on price too I'd say:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3098964

Jimdagym

ongarite wrote: »

Fiesta from bangernomics thread, room for negotiation on price too I'd say:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3098964

Op said on thread that car is not great up close.

Mycroft H

I drove a 1.0 corsa briefly. It sounded like a washing machine. I don't like them them.

Mycroft H

Jimdagym wrote: »

Op said on thread that car is not great up close.

Yep its not worth the money. Interior is a bit crap and the clutch is slipping slightly.

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

I know you will have to buy one back in the years but a toyota corolla they go forever, something like these two just up on DD
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3100317
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3064472

If you can get one with between 100-140K get it well checked out the '98 type above I say has high milage bou if you can get one with the kind i mentioned it has a 1.3 engine so it will be the same tax as a 1.25 fiesta if you want something bombproof they are hard to beat

I had a starlet with the 1.3. Great car, I should have never have sold it. The corrolla are a bit more hard on juice with the same engine, we could never get more then 35mpg when dad had one.

ongarite

Punto for €800:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3095695

Farmer Pudsey

ongarite wrote: »

Punto for €800:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3095695

The thing about fiats is you need to buy low milage one's and I mean low milage 50-60k or else you be putting maintenance money into them for nct's etc you have to remember on car's over 10 years the nct is every year now

Yes the corolla will only do 35-38 running around however going up a motorway she should do 45 mpg going handy

Mycroft H

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

The thing about fiats is you need to buy low milage one's and I mean low milage 50-60k or else you be putting maintenance money into them for nct's etc you have to remember on car's over 10 years the nct is every year now

Yes the corolla will only do 35-38 running around however going up a motorway she should do 45 mpg going handy

I was lucky to get 45 on the motorway with a starlet

alias no.9

A bit far away, but just posted this in bangernomics.

Guy:Incognito

Is the owner keeping or getting rid of the Xantia? Presume its a 1.8 petrol going by the tax? What year and spec is it?

Sorry I cant be of any use to your actual question but those things dont really interest me

Mycroft H

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Is the owner keeping or getting rid of the Xantia? Presume its a 1.8 petrol going by the tax? What year and spec is it?

Sorry I cant be of any use to your actual question but those things dont really interest me

Nope the 2.0Hdi (The lovely 110bhp version rarely seen in paddy spec). And yes he will be holding onto it. He also has an Activa in mint condition that he might be willing to part with. (And by mint I mean one step below concourse condition)

Guy:Incognito

BX 19 wrote: »

Nope the 2.0Hdi (The lovely 110bhp version rarely seen in paddy spec). And yes he will be holding onto it. He also has an Activa in mint condition that he might be willing to part with. (And by mint I mean one step below concourse condition)

Definatley be interested in the Activa (for the right money of course) Have one that I'm doing a few bits to at the minute.

I actually though I was paying €186 a quarter for my 1.8. Thats a pleasant surprise to realise I've been paying less all along Dont know how I missed that seeing as I pay by the quarter.

Tell him to keep me in mind on the HDI should he decide to sell.

Mycroft H

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Definatley be interested in the Activa (for the right money of course) Have one that I'm doing a few bits to at the minute.

I actually though I was paying €186 a quarter for my 1.8. Thats a pleasant surprise to realise I've been paying less all along Dont know how I missed that seeing as I pay by the quarter.

Tell him to keep me in mind on the HDI should he decide to sell.

Just to whet your apatite



I'll keep you in mind if he decides to sell either. HDi is likely to stick about though, the poor activia is too hard on juice, really only a summer car. Excellent drivers car though.

Guy:Incognito

BX 19 wrote: »

Just to whet your apatite



I'll keep you in mind if he decides to sell either. HDi is likely to stick about though, the poor activia is too hard on juice, really only a summer car. Excellent drivers car though.

It's one of the colours I like too.

Mines green with a red wing, grille and bumper. My next job is to get sanding on those.

Mycroft H

A green activa? Lovely. I've been told that there is only 6 in the country or something like that.

Guy:Incognito

BX 19 wrote: »

A green activa? Lovely. I've been told that there is only 6 in the country or something like that.

7 so. mines not officially in the country yet. Needs the few bits of work before I register it. The guy I got it off's missus hit a bollard with it, hence the red panels. she broke the plugged that carry the main wireign harnesses to and from the ECU so I've abput 70 cable temporarily joned with spade connectors at the minute. Hopeing to go solderign this week.

It's the slightly darker green than the normal one I see in most Xantia's. My 1.8 is the standard green