Buying Advice

sandy10

sandy10

sandy10

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21 Feb 2004
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2,128
Hi guys, I'm something of a buying novice, with £3250-00 to spend

Having had a previous bad experience with Private dealer, I am looking to obtain one from a trade source.

I have identified a couple I like - can anyone give me their views on these please:

1999 S Reg VW Golf 1.9 E SDi 67k miles, £2995-00

1999 T Reg Ford PUMA 1.4 16V 48k miles £3250-00


Anyone have any opinions on these? the Golf isn't a Turbo Diesel, will it be sluggish?

Thanks in anticipation of helpful info!
 
Personally you can do better for this sort of budget, or you can buy comparable cars for less money. The 1.4 litre Puma and 1.9 litre normally aspirated Golf's are both cars with engines which, IMHO, are simply not powerful enough for basic use. Plus, these cars are a little old for the money.

Consider a Seat Toledo 1.9TDi. The build quality of the VW, but you'll get a newer, better specified car for the money - and it's built on the Golf floorpan as well.
 
sandy10 said:
Anyone have any opinions on these? the Golf isn't a Turbo Diesel, will it be sluggish?
Click to expand...

I had a Golf SDi as a courtesy car once. It was an absolute nightmare to drive. When you put your foot down it just makes a lot of noise, you don't actually accelerate. I can't think of a worse car to actually spend money on.

Tell us what you want from a car. Do you want a quick car, a motorway cruiser or a town car? What is more important to you, steering feel and handling or cruise control and air-con?
What sort of insurance groups are you looking at?
 
That's the Golf off the list then!

From what I can see, the Puma is priced about right.

I quite like 'smaller' hatchbacks, like Golfs, Pumas, Rover 25s - that kind of thing - I do like Ford Fiesta Zetecs, but my wife think's i'm too old for one of those!.

There is an Audi A3 Sport, 1998 R Reg, 88k miles, but i've been told it's a fuel guzzler?

Insurance - don't want anything too flashy and costly!

I'm a bit confused a disappointed now!, I was going to have a butcher's at them tomorrow!
 
sandy10 said:
That's the Golf off the list then!

From what I can see, the Puma is priced about right.

I quite like 'smaller' hatchbacks, like Golfs, Pumas, Rover 25s - that kind of thing - I do like Ford Fiesta Zetecs, but my wife think's i'm too old for one of those!.

There is an Audi A3 Sport, 1998 R Reg, 88k miles, but i've been told it's a fuel guzzler?

Insurance - don't want anything too flashy and costly!

I'm a bit confused a disappointed now!, I was going to have a butcher's at them tomorrow!
Click to expand...

It depends on which engine the A3 has. If it's the 1.8 20V, it's actually quite economical compared to engines of similar size and power output. If it's the 1.8T then it'll guzzle fuel around town but again, is surprisingly economical on the motorway.

Foxs suggestion of a Toledo TDi is a good one. The Toledo is built on a Golf platform, has the exact same dash as the Audi A3 and in general offers excellent value for money. The 1.9TDi in 110bhp form is a torquey engine which makes it feel quite quick. The handling of the Toledo isn't bad but it does lack when it comes to feel and feedback.
Reliability is excellent on them too.
 
Don;t want to sound ungrateful, but the Toledo looks a little large for me!.

I generally don't do much motorway driving, the occasional 200 mile homage to Villa Park, or 20 miles up to Exeter - I mainly scoot into work, around town, and over to my parent - 15 miles.

I like a litty nip here and there I guess.
 
sandy10 said:
Don;t want to sound ungrateful, but the Toledo looks a little large for me!.
Click to expand...

It only looks a little large, it's pretty much the same size as the Golf. It is, after all, built on the Golf platform using more or less the same components.
 
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