New Car

_-J-_ · 11 Nov 2006 at 13:38

Right, need to get a new car by the end of the month as my insurance runs out on my Punto 85 ELX and im selling it. So far been looking at the following but cant decide!

Alfa 147
Seat Leon
Peugoet 307

Opinions? Also anyone got any other suggestions? Not a focus, but around the same size as one. Use it for work and needs to be low-ish millage for around 5k, im 20 with 2NCB.

Cheers

rayb74 · 11 Nov 2006 at 13:40

Have you driven all of them?
If not drive them and anything else that takes your fancy then decide.

[TW]Fox · 11 Nov 2006 at 13:43

Leon.

_-J-_ · 11 Nov 2006 at 13:46

I havent drove any of them, this is all going on looks lol. Im really tempted by a alfa, there is one local for 4k with 46k on the clock.

Hmmmmmmm

Jez · 11 Nov 2006 at 14:02

Buying a car on how it looks :/

Out of the three the Leon is the best.

ajgoodfellow · 11 Nov 2006 at 14:05

I'd go for the Alfa out of the three

Avoid the 307

_-J-_ · 11 Nov 2006 at 14:07

Jez said:
Buying a car on how it looks :/

Out of the three the Leon is the best.

Obviously ill drive the car before i buy one!

Does or has anyone owned any of these cars and give me some advice?

Amps · 11 Nov 2006 at 14:10

Not the Peugeot 307

I have a Peugeot 307 XSI 2.0l and its been a. a lot of hassle and b. it has felt mega depreciation.

on a side not the 2.0L engine is definietly adequate but the handling of the car is rather scary. More like the lack of handling.

Go with the leon.

Jez · 11 Nov 2006 at 14:10

Ive got a 2005 Leon 1.9TDI

The car is OK. Its well built and doesnt rattle at all, it is also quite a good cruiser for a car this small maybe due to its soft suspension and being quite a heavy car, i do around 1000 miles per week in it on average and it is quite comfy and has a nice large fuel tank giving it a long range.

Handling and performance depend on the model. Mines a crap one so isnt much of a drivers car. The Cupra's are suprisingly good.

_-J-_ · 11 Nov 2006 at 14:13

Jez said:
Ive got a 2005 Leon 1.9TDI

The car is OK. Its well built and doesnt rattle at all, it is also quite a good cruiser for a car this small maybe due to its soft suspension and being quite a heavy car, i do around 1000 miles per week in it on average and it is quite comfy and has a nice large fuel tank giving it a long range.

Handling and performance depend on the model. Mines a crap one so isnt much of a drivers car. The Cupra's are suprisingly good.

Cheers, although Cupra are both out my price range and high on insurance. Plus need to think bout fuel consumption, can do upto 200 miles a week.

Jez · 11 Nov 2006 at 14:16

_-J-_ said:
Cheers, although Cupra are both out my price range and high on insurance. Plus need to think bout fuel consumption, can do upto 200 miles a week.

If you want a decent little well built reliable car then you cant really go too far wrong with a leon diesel.

The only things that have really ever broken on mine have been things which i have broken myself through messing about with it (all warrantied so who cares) and it gets more than thrashed on a daily basis.

On a long trip (all my miles are on long trips!) it will do 50mpg or so easily at proper motorway speeds (no sticking to 75mph) and this results in a large range of over 600 miles per tank which is very nice as i hate filling up.

Overall - good car. No way a drivers car but ive no issues with recommending one to someone who is having to pay for fuel themselves and fancies good quality reliable travel on a budget.

Bri · 11 Nov 2006 at 14:17

I recently got an Alfa 147 2.0 T Spark.

If you're looking for one, FSH is a must. If it's over 36000 miles, it should have had the cambelt replaced so check for this.

Check the oil level, it should be around the MAX level, they do tend to drink a bit.

Out of the 3 you've listed there, I'd go for the Alfa... oh wait... I did

Edit:: If fuel economy is a big issue for you, I wouldn't get the Alfa

_-J-_ · 11 Nov 2006 at 14:21

Bri said:
I recently got an Alfa 147 2.0 T Spark.

If you're looking for one, FSH is a must. If it's over 36000 miles, it should have had the cambelt replaced so check for this.

Check the oil level, it should be around the MAX level, they do tend to drink a bit.

Out of the 3 you've listed there, I'd go for the Alfa... oh wait... I did

Edit:: If fuel economy is a big issue for you, I wouldn't get the Alfa

But is it worth it at the end of the day to say you own a sexy car lol.

At the minute its a battle between my head and heart, think my head will win like.

Third Opinion · 11 Nov 2006 at 15:40

The Alfa will be the best drivers car. The running costs are high so avoid if you have a tight budget for day to day running.

The Leon would be the choice if running costs are tight. If it is a 1.8 remeber to get the belt done at 80K or you could lunch the engine.

The 307 is French, surely enough said.

Bri · 11 Nov 2006 at 16:40

_-J-_ said:
But is it worth it at the end of the day to say you own a sexy car lol.

In my opinion, a car is not only about how many miles to the gallon you get or how practical it is, it's about how it makes me feel to drive it. I feel great driving around in my bella

Of course as circumstances change, my view on this may change but it's the right car for me at the minute!

_-J-_ said:
At the minute its a battle between my head and heart, think my head will win like.

Nooo, don;t do it

355F1512TR · 11 Nov 2006 at 17:05

Just to re-inforce what others have said, avoid the 307 at all costs. They have been pretty much rock bottom of every reliability survey I've seen. Modern Pugs are just not worth the hassle.