You can get some fantastic cars for 3-4k once you hit 7k+ you are in the realms of nice but unrealistic to insure cars. Basically you will end up buying a much newer lower mileage car that will depreciate without giving you much or anything over a 2004 ish car.
The very earliest (new shape) focus'/astras must be falling into that price bracket now even the low mile high trim types. Will give you 4 cracking years of service to rack up some NCB then you can fish out 7-8k for something with balls
Yep Im thinking on the same track now, especially as Id like to have something far better in the near future when Im not so constrained by insurance. Due to my location though it does seem that Astras are far more likely to turn up in the spec I want too, so will keep an eye on both (far more likely to get Vauxhall parts/servicing done cheaper too) - the nice A3/350z can wait . I do have access to a E46 318i, its just that its on its last legs as I expect will be a large bill sooner rather than later - it does give me a cushion of time to find the replacement, Id like to keep it but its got a blooming tape deckFor a "normal" car, I can't see the point of getting a newer, facelift Focus.
Find an early pre-facelift in good condition, in the trim you want, put ~£2-3k back in your pocket and be done with it.
As a point of reference ...when I was out shopping for cars the other day ...when I bought the Volvo, I couldn't help but notice how cheap the Vauxhall Vectras are now, ex fleet cars, so 1 keeper and FSH, you can buy on with an '08 plate for less than £6k ...'07 cars were under £5k ...even the higher specced ones were hardly any more ...same was true of the estates ...and they are cavernous.
Now I think the Vectra was crap personally, I don't like it one little bit ..but for the age and condition of the car and the sheer amount of metal you get ...I can't help but think they do represent rather good value if you just want something to lug people and or stuff around in. Also, as much as I dislike those cars, if you are just sitting on a motorway or cruising around at normal speeds, they are quite softly sprung so rather comfortable.
I simply can't believe I just pointed someone in an odd sort of way to the late Vectra ...I must be sick or something ...but still I saw quite a few '08 plate cars that looked in good order and would have had FSH for between £5-£6k ...that's cheap for a car so new of that type.
Vectra/Mondeo for me seems too big a car for me at this time - though Ive never been in either though - I guess they would be compared to a 3 series...I know its been done to death but thats a decent mondeo plus change
EDIT: I guess the titles wrong again now though - after a £4/5k car now
ps3ud0
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