Right then, was going to wait a few months to buy a new car, but the timeframe just got moved forward.  Basically I think im going to need a car in the next few weeks.  The clutch is on its way out, and ive been advised its in the region of £300 to do it because the engine needs lifting out.  Not too bad i guess for the amount of work, but not on a car that BARELY pased on emissions last MOT, and definatly wont pass another without a new CAT and Lambda sensor.  So, rather than the £3k I was going to spend, ive got a budget of £1500.  

Advice please.  Only rules are No Rovers, No Fiat, No Rovers, Nothing too small (Im 63"), No Rovers, No Automatics, and did i mention, No Rovers?

vectra? cheap, nasty, if it goes wrong throw it in the bin, big.. big enough for me and im that tall to. Come in all flavours (slow, quick, bog standard, all the toys).

Im betting its a no but i thought id chuck it in early lol

Quote from: Binary Shadowvectra? cheap, nasty, if it goes wrong throw it in the bin, big.. big enough for me and im that tall to. Come in all flavours (slow, quick, bog standard, all the toys).

Im betting its a no but i thought id chuck it in early lol

Literally, anything thatll work and isnt too crappy.  I quite like the Vectra TBH.  Big, comfey and while it isnt flashy it does what it does well.  Was looking at an older Mondeo GhiaX earlier, so im not exactly a brand snob.

vauxhall+fords, cheap parts and generally reliable
id go for the mondeo over the vectra, its one of the best cars in this country

id have a vauxhall over a ford any day, had 13 vauxhalls myself and the parents at least another 6 and never had a single breakdown.. speaks volumes to me tbh

Rover 45 ftw.

Quote from: ChrisRover 45 ftw.

im sure i mentioned somewhere "No Rovers", does someone else want to check?  

makes me laugh when people think with cheap and nasty thrown together cars like vaux and ford are better than rover for some reason.

I would say Im biased, but Im not - Every time Ive been proper serious about buying a car for the long term, Ive done my research and thought long and hard about what I want and what I can afford... And totally disregarded the badge.

Hence Ive been the very happy owner of a Daewoo Nexia, and a Rover 45.  Each car has had everything I wanted and been supremely reliable.  Some badge snobs may snigger, but Im happy in the knowledge that Ive got a lot of car for my money

Quote from: DEViANCEmakes me laugh when people think with cheap and nasty thrown together cars like vaux and ford are better than rover for some reason.

think is, i dont actually like Rovers that much, might consider a 45 that doesnt have that bloody k-series in it, but thats unlikely to get hold of.  I know its got plenty of poke, but even the local rover garage dude says they are only good for 60k miles befire you are running a serious risk of a head gasket blowing.  Ill take his advice over anyone elses, he specialises on them.  oh and Rovers are also cheap nasty thrown together cars!

You have a good point, I wouldnt touch a K series with somebody elses barge pole - thank god for the L series DERVs

i agree tbh, i would think twice about buying a 1995-2000 k-series, before and after they are fine tho.

I know the engines inside out tho so HGF doesnt faze me.

The l-series is bullet proof though.

If you dont fancy a k-series get a T-series engined 420, excellent engine. get a good milage GSI(top) spec for around £1000
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-ROVER-420-GSI-GREEN-400-SALOON-RACING-GREEN-416_W0QQitemZ320130715475QQihZ011QQcategoryZ18262QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

p.s. quality and finish wise, rover where a cut about vaux/ford

A mate of mine has a Rover 600 and its bomb-proof. He treats it like sh*t (its a £500 car), no cleaning, no servicing, no nothing. It just sailed through the MOT and a minor collision.

otoh my rover 100 collapsed after 24hrs owning it..

Sommink like a 45 you get a lot for your money. On the later ones the interiors do seem quite nice compared to fords & vauxhalls (ford>vauc btw ) but they ugly on the outside ...lackluster.

Peugeot 306 D turbo

On a 96 to 99 plate.

1.9Turbo diesel, can get them from about £800 and £1500 should get you a good 97 model I think.

Group 5 insurance, so quite low and a damn good mpg figure.

http://motors.search.ebay.co.uk/306-d-turbo_Peugeot_W0QQfromZR4QQsacatZ9859QQssPageNameZWLRS

youd get a real mint xantia for that

maybe even a V6