Looking to move on

Toxic Babyface · 19 Jul 2010 at 12:14

Hello everyone,

Before i start i just want to say that i don't really know a great deal about cars so be gentle

Ok well last year (about august) i ended up buying an mg zr 1.4 (which i regret now of course)
Anyway moving on...So i thought i would ask your expert opinions

I am looking for a saloon preferably as my next car however i would go with a hatchback again if something nice caught my interest.

There are so many options i dont know what to choose.I have thought about getting a volvo s60 but then again i just dont know

My budget would be about 3-4k max.
I am 26 with 2 years no claims so something with a bit more grunt would be lovely

Advice much appreciated.

Toxic Babyface · 19 Jul 2010 at 12:25

Yeah i have thought about a mondeo and have been looking at quite a few.I don't hear anything bad about them and they are pretty reliable from what i hear.
Thanks

Any more options?

Toxic Babyface · 19 Jul 2010 at 13:14

How much can you afford per year towards maintenance?

Here's what i have leftover each month after bills are paid off: £650. So thats like £7800 a year i get to keep.
Hope this can help?
Any suggestions welcome

thanks.

Mondeo / Mazda 6

Been looking at mazda's aswell but so much choice i dont know

Deep down i crave more power however im also thinking more about comfort ect

Thanks all! keep the advice coming.

Toxic Babyface · 19 Jul 2010 at 16:17

Mondeo or even a Focus would probably tick all your boxes. Can be had well within budget and the running costs aren't outrageous. You could definitely look at the bigger engines as well. I guess your mileage would be less than ~20k?

Yeah i have driven a focus zetec 1.6 before (about 2 years ago not mine though) and i did like it. What i liked most was the fact that it was quite spacious in the back.
I most certainly would like a bigger engine than that though

My mileage would be well under that...in fact ive had the zr nearly a year now and only done 6k i think maybe less.

Firstly, have you been in many different types of car / setups? Do you know if you'd rather have something wafty and effortless (well, within sensible limits) or something revvier and lighter-weight?

Not many really. I have driven an Audi A4, volvo v40..not a great deal of cars and nothing what you would call powerful. The Audi was probably the one out of all i have driven that seemed quite nippy. That was a 1.8 i believe.
These cars however were not mine as i didnt have my own car at the time and borrowed from parents lol.
I was looking at a mondeo st24. They look like the kind of thing i'd be after however is my budget right for one and are there many in good nick? (not been thrashed or whatever) Should i avoid?

Thanks everyone keep them replies coming

Toxic Babyface · 19 Jul 2010 at 17:10

Thrashed, thrashed, and thrashed some more IMO. Do an insurance quote on one. Cry a little. Re-define what kind of performance you can afford.

(or justify, if you prefer that term.)

Oh dear this is what i feared

Oh well thanks for the advice

I will steer clear.

Well insurance wise i am currently in group 7 with the zr. So i don't know really...i'd say i'd be willing to pay up to 1k or a tad over in terms of insurance.
Seems like a mondeo is the way forward (2ltr petrol or maybe diesel)
Then again i find myself looking at Seat Leon cupra's, vw golf's and what not lol.
Well at least i can say i am in no rush as the very earliest i would consider changing is August/September

Thanks again for the advice

Toxic Babyface · 19 Jul 2010 at 17:34

You could buy 3 ST24's for £3-4k! They are very cheap these days and not all of them are 'thrashed, thrashed and thrashed some more'.

Sorry dumb question but what's the thing's to be looking out for?
Plus as matt said, i did get a quick quote and the insurance did seem quite high

Could possibly get a much cheaper quote.