In the motor trade - advice needed.

gripit, im watchingh every form of site possible for one, i really need something with around 40k/50k as i need it to last 3 years, current car has 91k, and if im going to buy anaother with 91k i may as well just have this repaired. but thanks for looking.
 
German has been mentioned and I'm still delighted with my Mercedes. It's a C250 turbo diesel on a 1998 plate with 170,000 on the clock. Still runs smooth, very reliable. The only issue has been slight rust but I've touched that up but hey it is 14 years old.
170,000 miles is nowt for a Merc particularly a diesel as this should run at least until 300,000. In fact some of the stories I've heard it'll go well past that !
If you go for one make sure it's automatic. You'll pick one of these up for £1,500 probably less in fact. MPG I get 36 combined cycle.
 
I have been in the motor trade for 35 years & worked at car main dealers & independent garages.
Have a look at the JD Power survey or other car reliability surveys.
Stuff like French cars, Range Rovers, Vauxhall's nearly always top the most un-reliable cars list.
Whatever you do, please don't buy a French car, I am not anti-French, it's just they make really crap cars.
Really unreliable & can be difficult to repair when they go wrong.

The same survey's always put Japanese cars at the top of the reliability list, they are correct, the only downside is some of the spares can be pricey.
 
Hi Guys,
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.

Hi mate,
go Japanese..................I used to own a vehicle MOT centre/workshop.
The place was littered with French rubbish, I almost forgot what a broken down Japanese car looked like.
I will NEVER buy a French car............................EVER!

Slime.
 
i hadnt looked at toyota, maybe time to get a auto trader and look at pretty pics.

OK. I'm not in the motor trade (honestly, Mr Tax Man) but I am mad about Japanese Cars and waste quite a lot of time at the car auctions buying for other folk, mostly.

Avensis Accord Primera all great cars. I have a Mitsubishi Galant (one of the team) which is 14 years old and is as fresh as a daisy.
If you look at Avensis, just avoid the 1.8 ZZ VVTi. Please, please do NOT buy one. Not even for "very cheap price"......
If you have one and look after it, it'll be fine. If it hasn't been looked after or has anything but perfect history from Toyota, forget it.
2.0 OK, D4-D very good.
 
The same survey's always put Japanese cars at the top of the reliability list, they are correct, the only downside is some of the spares can be pricey.

Whereas the downside with German cars are they are even less reliable and even more expensive.

:)
 
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