In the motor trade - advice needed.

Oddsocks

Oddsocks

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Hi Guys,

im hoping some of you in the motortrade can help. On monday the trusty mondeo blew its top, diagnosis is not yet confirmed but a quick inspection from looks to be head gasket - creamy coolant in the expansion bottle. This is not long after a thermostat went, so logic would say on getting the car home with gone thermo its blown the gasket which has only just surfaced its head. (ha ha boom boom)

anyway at 92k on a 51 reg im thinking its time it should go and be replaced with something with lower miles a bit newer, and currently in the running are

Pug 307 around 53/54 reg in 1.6 petrol.
Renault megane as above

Renault Laguna (54/55 reg) 1.8 petrol
Vauxhall Signum (54/55 reg) 2.0 petrol

im interesting to know if anyone in the trade can give some feeback on any of the above cars, at the moment i have to be honest in saying im leaning towards the laguna or megane, just want to know of any known faults etc. All 4 candidates will be around the 40-50k mark mileage wise.

ideally the car needs to last me 3 years. doing around average of 10k per year.
 
Not in the motor trade, but I had a from new Laguna 54 plate and it was the worst car I have ever had the misfortune to own - an array of niggles and some fundamental problems means I would never get another French car.....ever.

Why not go Japanese, say an Honda Accord or Nissan Primera - plenty of bang for your buck?
 
having recently moved house ive skinted myself to say the least, budget of around 2k

i had a 97 laguna, and in 80k (purchased on 27k, written off at 100K) it had one drive shaft (my fault) and two sets of pads and discs, other stuff was just normal services.
 
snaphookwedge said:
Didn't mean to p$ss on your bonfire OS, just giving my experience. With that budget, go with what you know although I would still rather thake a risk on a high miler Japanese car than a Frenchy with 40/50k.

Agree on the Japanese recommendation. I've been doing 12k a year for the last 7 years in my 10-year old Avensis estate which now has 150k on the clock and nothing has been replaced apart from tires and the usual things on annual service. I also average over 40 mpg with golf clubs, electric trolley (sometimes 2) permanently on board.
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Haven't strictly worked properly in the trade but I did do 'kerbside' mechanics for 35+ years to earn extra money to pay for me golf etc... When funds are limited I try and reccommend that you ask around family/friends to seek if they know of any bargains to be had... In my experience, when buying older vehicles, knowing its genuine history counts for a lot... Particularly when it comes to drive [cam] belt changes...
 
MegaSteve said:
Haven't strictly worked properly in the trade but I did do 'kerbside' mechanics for 35+ years to earn extra money to pay for me golf etc... When funds are limited I try and reccommend that you ask around family/friends to seek if they know of any bargains to be had... In my experience, when buying older vehicles, knowing its genuine history counts for a lot... Particularly when it comes to drive [cam] belt changes...
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Ive already explored this option, .... sadly it come up wioth no luck. ive just missed an 04 plate punto, one owner from new. gutted.
 
I'm currently driving a 02 Laguna diesel, probably the best car I've owned, coming up to 140k on the clock, but all in all a good car, had to replace the usual wear and tear parts, and I've had some really good service from Renault as well, but that may come down to the garage rather than the car, or perhaps a bit of both.

Personally I would touch a Jap dustbin, they may be reliable, but they are horrible tinny souless buckets, think I'd be looking for a reasonable VW or Ford
 
Khamelion said:
I'm currently driving a 02 Laguna diesel, probably the best car I've owned, coming up to 140k on the clock, but all in all a good car, had to replace the usual wear and tear parts, and I've had some really good service from Renault as well, but that may come down to the garage rather than the car, or perhaps a bit of both.

Personally I would touch a Jap dustbin, they may be reliable, but they are horrible tinny souless buckets, think I'd be looking for a reasonable VW or Ford
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Thats the whole point of buying a cheap runaround- Reliability.

No car in that sector (ie:Passats, Mondeo, Vectra, Accord, etc.........) can be labeled as fun or soulful.
 
i had the Signum, and they are excellent for the bargain prices now, go for the 1.9 diesel, fast with 50 mpg

Vauxhall aimed it at fleet sales to take on BMW etc and it didnt happen, why would it ?? but the actual car secondhand is a steal and well kitted out. Very reliable and in my opinion better than the Insignia
 
Wolfman said:
i had the Signum, and they are excellent for the bargain prices now, go for the 1.9 diesel, fast with 50 mpg

Vauxhall aimed it at fleet sales to take on BMW etc and it didnt happen, why would it ?? but the actual car secondhand is a steal and well kitted out. Very reliable and in my opinion better than the Insignia
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i did get the impression it was a car that didnt really have a target area.... bigger than an astra, smaller than a vectra, but very well kitted. just missed an 05 one with only 42k for£2k, got to say i was pretty gutted.
 
We had two as fleet business cars and they were good for 100k+ with the diesel engines

Nice drive, not many on the road, huge load area, and loads for sale on ebay !

Alot of car for small amount of money
 
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