Looking to buy a 9/10 year old estate

The Mulk

As the title says, max 1.7, preferably 1.6 Diesel
I've narrowed it down to a couple of of 307 or 407.
Looking at a vauxhall astray too, all are 2005.
Looking for maybe 3 good years motoring in it. All in around 100k miles on the clock.
Any advice or preferences.
Would I be better going for a 407 over a 307 with similar engine?
Max 3k budget(I've 2600 cash at the mo.)
Thanks

I had a 407 for 6 months. It was the ST Saloon version, 2006.

Owning it genuinely, literally, had me gritting my teeth in my sleep towards the end of my run with it. It cost me €2,000 in repairs in 6 months. And I lost €1,000 in 'depreciation' (on a 9 year old car!).


The only good thing that ever came out of it, is that I can have a bit of a laugh now, thinking back to how ridiculous it actually was.



I've since picked up a 2001 Focus Estate, and it's not asked for anything. It's a petrol, but not working out much more (if at all more?) expensive than the 407 (407 was a 2ltr Diesel turbo, Focus is a 1.6 petrol).


I know a few people with Astras and I've never heard of any major issues (but then, I've never asked, either). I bought the Focus, because after having the 407, I wanted a 'disposable' car. My first car, which my dad now uses, was a 2000 focus hatchback. It hasn't caused a single issue yet either (needless to say, Ford have won me over in the reliability category).


So all that said, would you consider something like this:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2001-ford-focus-estate-new-nct-04-16/9188048?offset=3




From reading your post ("I've 2600 cash at the mo") it sounds like you're putting every penny into the purchase. I'd advise capping your budget at around 1,500, and keeping the rest for tax and to fix some problems (most cars will unearth something that needs fixing).

The Mulk

Hi, thanks for the reply, I was planning on avoiding the 2.0 engine alright, looking at an 05 1.6 hdi.
It has full dealer service record and relevant jobs done, timing belt and dpf the two major ones.
2600 is my buying money ( just sold my 04 polo) so would like something newer than 04.
I have money aside for tax and contingencies.
Agree with you about ford, I've owned an escort, focus and 2 mondeos, but my experience with petrol mondeos, their depreciation and ability to fail emissions tests has turned me off them a bit.
TBH I don't really need an estate just a bigger car than a polo preferably diesel 1.6 Max, but being able to put my bike in the back appeals to me, and those 407 are lovely cars, anyone any feedback on the 307, I see a fair few going around 04-06 vintage

I'd argue the engines in the 407 (be they 1.6 or 2.0) aren't the issues with the car at all. From my understanding, they're both fairly 'bullet-proof'.

To give an idea of the issues I had with the 407:

- Heater got stuck on hot air (€700 fix from dealer).
- LCD screen on radio faded out to nothingness (€150 I think).
- Car wouldn't start first time. Took 4-5 goes each morning to get going (changed glow plugs (€200) and battery (€85) - Still didn't fix issue).
- One day, the boot randomly decided to not open anymore. Mechanic spent 7 hours working on cars electricals. Mechanic is a friend of the family and charged me €80. Any sane mechanic would charge multiples of that. during this he had to get wiring bits and bobs off a main dealer. Although i owned the saloon, this does happen the estate, too.
- Randomly, the rear driver side window wouldn't close fully. Any attempts to close it fully resulted in it stopping halfway up, and opening the full way again. Never got this fixed. Just decided against opening that window in future. haha.
- Cruise control would work 90% of the time. If it stopped working, you had to turn the car off and re-start it again.
- Had to replace a CV Boot at the front drivers wheel. This is just 'wear and tear', but as the 407 is 'front heavy', these go more often than on most cars.
- I won't even start on the power steering pump!
- Aircon was fecked. Problem with condenser.
- etc. etc. you get the idea.


A dealer most likely won't cover a lot of that stuff in his warranty. It's entirely your choice, and I know when I'm buying a car, if I've settled on something, it's near impossible to turn me off it, but I just want to make sure you're going into a 407 purchase with both eyes open. I had the 2ltr diesel. A friend had the 1.8 petrol for a few years, and a lot of similar problems arose (albeit the power steering and boot issues never arose on her one).

Just do your research. 407s are gorgeous cars. But they're high maintenance.



In relation to depreciation, the less you spend, the less you're likely to lose (hence why i bought a €1,000 focus estate after owning the 407. The 407 irked me beyond belief, so i wanted a 'disposable car' that, if it started showing huge issues, I could just scrap it and move on, unlike with the 407 where it was one issue after another, so you kept throwing money into it).

As it stands, I reckon I'll sell my focus for the same money I paid.

But as I say, its your choice. Just make sure that if you're looking at a 407, you use everything in it electrically, and you test drive it more than once. The heater is a big problem in them, so make sure its blowing both hot and cold air (on both sides, if its got the dual system, like mine did).

Make sure the boot opens with the key fob and the button on the boot, etc. etc.


If you want more space, especially for a bike, then I'd highly advise an estate car. I always thought they'd be cumbersome and awkward. But they're actually great. I love the estate focus (my first estate). Tinted windows all round and it's like owning a small van. I've had my bike in it a few times, too. I think I'll have a hard time going back to a 'normal' car.

The Mulk

Thanks, you've certainly turned me off the 407's ...now about those 307's hmmm...:D
I think i'll go with a focus, i could probably pick up an 05/06 with a slightly bigger budget, 1.6 diesel, saloon or estate,
although i might look at an astra ,i've seen a couple of 1.3 diesel estates, must do some research on them,
I'll let you know what i settle on

Thanks for you feedback, you may have saved me making a costly mistake

The Mulk

a costly mistake

That is exactly how I would describe the 407.


That said, at the end of the day, if you want a 407, get a 407. It was extremely comfortable to drive, and powerful too. Overtaking was something I did just for the laugh in it. Very good car to drive.

My problem was I bought it as a budget car (ie; i didn't expect it'd cost me €2k in repairs in 6 months!). If you have cash to throw at it, then I'd say you should go for it if your heart is set on it, but if you're not too mad about them, then I'd certainly avoid.

The Mulk wrote: »

Thanks, you've certainly turned me off the 407's ...now about those 307's hmmm...:D
I think i'll go with a focus, i could probably pick up an 05/06 with a slightly bigger budget, 1.6 diesel, saloon or estate,
although i might look at an astra ,i've seen a couple of 1.3 diesel estates, must do some research on them,
I'll let you know what i settle on

Well I like the Focus because Ive had two and neither gave any issues, but at the same time, I'm sure there's someone somewhere on the net saying that Focus' are nothing but trouble, and is advising everyone to buy a 407 because they're a good reliable car :P

Everyone has different experiences that will sour them to different brands.



Here's a Volvo:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volvo-v50-1-6-diesel-nct-03-15/9100752?offset=10


Mileage is high enough (but most cars seem to have 'high mileage' on them these days anyway). I'm not too clued into Volvo in terms of reliability/comfort etc but i know one or two people with them and they're very fond of them.

I (perhaps wrongfully?) always looked at Volvo as a very 'serious' car brand and one that doesn't have many issues in general.

EDIT; Actually, i thought that NCT was til 03/16, not 03/15. Unless the dealer was gonna put it through, I wouldn't touch it, personally.

The Mulk

Thanks for that, looking at a focus now there's one or two nice ones about and I always liked driving them.
Might go for a 1.6 diesel. I'm undecided on an estate now though, I'll know when I look at it over a saloon/hatchback.
Thanks for all your advice

bazz26

The 1.6 diesel in the Focus is the exact same 1.6 diesel engine in the 307 and 407.

The Mulk

bazz26 wrote: »

The 1.6 diesel in the Focus is the exact same 1.6 diesel engine in the 307 and 407.

Yeah I know, it's not the engine that concerns me in these cars, it's the rest of the car.
My mate, a mechanic really rates them, once they're well maintained.
Its just all the electrical faults that turned me off the Peugeot.