New car needed - opinions please

[Andy_K]

Ok, since selling my Focus, I have no car for daily use.
I need a decent sized boot to carry all my work gear round, good ecconomy, comfy, reliable and not too flashy (as it gets parked up in many a dodgy area for work). Budget is around £3k.

I have narrowed it down to the following cars, which meet the above criteria:
1) Renault Laguna Estate (1.9 turbo diesel, 120bhp)
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l234/Kers_01/random%20stuff/mediaCAVONJK3.jpg

Pro's: Loads of toys such as centre armrest, cruise control, all electric windows/sunrood etc, half leather seats, largest boot space.
Cons: Not too sure really. Tax is £150 per year.

2) Peugeot 307 HDi 110bhp
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l234/Kers_01/random%20stuff/mediaCAGLTG2W.jpg

Pro's: Cheapest to buy. Cheapest tax, Decent sized boot, especially if I go for the estate.
Cons: Heard they can be sluggish. Not so many toys

3) Seat Cordoba Tdi 130bhp
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l234/Kers_01/random%20stuff/mediaCA2SECSV.jpg

Pro's: Surprisingly quick/most powerful. Cheap tax. Big boot. well spec'd
Con's: Pretty damn ugly. Most expensive to buy. Pretty rare so know nothing about them (but they are basically an Ibiza with a boot).



All 3 cars are similar insurance price for me, and all do 50-60mpg.
what are peoples opinions on any of them (useful ones only please ;)), any experience with any of them - good or bad. Anything I should look for when viewing? Or any other cars you can think of that could be of interest?

Ta.

[J222JRA]

You can get a vauxhall vectra for very good money now Andy...may be worth a look at them.

A friend of mine bought an 05 plate diesel estate for £4000 6 months ago.

[Andy_K]

Not too keen on the Vectra. Seem pretty poorly spec's in terms of gadgets on the lower end range ones, and cant afford insurance on the Sri's :(

[Eskimo]

Peugeot 307 HDi 110bhp

Yeahh boi!

[Jaytee]

Laguna for me, its got that Gailic charm about it

[swampy]

Mondeo tdci
go for a ghia for the spec.
My 54 plate 1 owner 84k on cost me 3grand

[Andy_K]

What sort of MPG do you get out of the Mondeo?
When I look, Ford diesels never seem quite as good on fuel as some other makes?

[Evorilium]

I just swapped a 7 year old Audi A4 1.9 diesel for a brand new Focus.
I miss my Audi... You should be able to pick up a nice one for 3k? My brother has a 2002 Passat that he bought for 2.5k. For 3k you could get a nice low mileage model

[swampy]

Average 42 on a combined cycle
drops to 36 around town but have had high 50s on a run

[Andy_K]

Not too bad I suppose...
Will have to have a look at them as well then

[Phils_VTR]

Astra van.

http://www.modifiedcars.com/pix/cars_large/19930_20479.jpg

[Andy_K]

Astra van.

http://www.modifiedcars.com/pix/cars_large/19930_20479.jpg

Would love one tbh!!
Most have done 100k+ and only 1 seat though :n:

[Sophia_Bush]

ONly because I have just watched Taxi 406 Diesel Estate latest one you can get taxi stickers etc you get the idea lol ;)

[rushy_23]

I cant comment on the majority of the Laguna's. But a mate of mine at work has one and has had issue after issue after issue.

Turbo failure, electrical faults and now has just suffered from a major water leak. The water got into the ECU and he had to claim on insurance to get the ECU and various other components changed. Crazy.

My only experience of the car, I think I'd stay away!!

[Mieran]

Passat B5.5 Saloon/estate

[Andy_K]

lol Gav.
Sideline business on the evening/weekend?

[Andy_K]

I cant comment on the majority of the Laguna's. But a mate of mine at work has one and has had issue after issue after issue.

Turbo failure, electrical faults and now has just suffered from a major water leak. The water got into the ECU and he had to claim on insurance to get the ECU and various other components changed. Crazy.

My only experience of the car, I think I'd stay away!!

That doesn't sound good! Ta for the info

[Andy_K]

Passat B5.5 Saloon/estate

lots of high miles around, plus insurance was pretty high last time I checked. will look again though ;)

[Phils_VTR]

http://www.limohire.com/images/brianandvicky%5CTrotters%20Robin%20Reliant.jpg

[Andy_K]

http://www.limohire.com/images/brianandvicky%5CTrotters%20Robin%20Reliant.jpg

Hell no!!!
Plastic pig ftl :(

[Phils_VTR]

Hell no!!!
Plastic pig ftl :(

I think its awesome. I can only dream...

[Lucas_LFC]

my mum has a renault laguna, 2004 1.9 dynamique 120bhp

i think there actually quite a good car, get good miles to the gallon, comfy to drive, 6 speed, and isnt a slow going car

however, they're not the prettiest cars in the world and there can be some problems...i.e electrics!!

but all round, i wouldnt say no to one, and cheap enough £2000-£2500 would get you a good one

[sir_dave]

DO NOT buy a laguna diesel.

It will break. You will lose a fortune.

None of my trader friends will even take them in as part-ex - that says a lot.

Id look for German, ie A4 estate, Octavia, Passat - notice the VAG theme ...

[mardon]

Even thought the ibiza with a boot is pig ugly its got a cracking engine! The PD130 engines are spot on and will get you 50mpg easy upto 60mpg if you take it slow.

Its the same engine as the Fabia VRS and they remap to 180BHP easily so the motor will be a bit of a sleeper.

[rey]

Same as sir_dave said, avoid the laguna at all costs!

Nothing but problems from them, the gf's dads old one shat itself on a motorway, ripped the bottom end apart, needed a new engine, then the ecu died, then the interior electrics started playing up. To top it off the coils on the suspension then started snapping lol

Great cars! ;)

[Andy_K]

my mum has a renault laguna, 2004 1.9 dynamique 120bhp

i think there actually quite a good car, get good miles to the gallon, comfy to drive, 6 speed, and isnt a slow going car

however, they're not the prettiest cars in the world and there can be some problems...i.e electrics!!

but all round, i wouldnt say no to one, and cheap enough £2000-£2500 would get you a good one

DO NOT buy a laguna diesel.

It will break. You will lose a fortune.

None of my trader friends will even take them in as part-ex - that says a lot.

Id look for German, ie A4 estate, Octavia, Passat - notice the VAG theme ...

Same as sir_dave said, avoid the laguna at all costs!

Nothing but problems from them, the gf's dads old one shat itself on a motorway, ripped the bottom end apart, needed a new engine, then the ecu died, then the interior electrics started playing up. To top it off the coils on the suspension then started snapping lol

Great cars! ;)

Hmmm, Laguna was the current favourite, but seems I may have to have a rethink. Trouble with the VAG cars is that the cheaper end of the market covers mainly cars with either poor spec or masssive mileage. But will keep on looking.

[Andy_K]

Even thought the ibiza with a boot is pig ugly its got a cracking engine! The PD130 engines are spot on and will get you 50mpg easy upto 60mpg if you take it slow.

Its the same engine as the Fabia VRS and they remap to 180BHP easily so the motor will be a bit of a sleeper.

Yeah I test drove one yesterday, and was very surprised by the performance. Was a good alround car as well, and the guy selling it (who I know so isn't bulls***ing me) told be it regularly gets between 55-60mpg. It was just the looks which are odd to saty the least, but the black one in the picture is slightly growing on me :y:

[mardon]

Well you can fit a sporty front bumper to it like off the FR or the Cupra tint it up and I’m sure there will be aftermarket subtle rear bumpers if you fancy one.

They look good with 25mm spacers and coilovers on some Audi Alloys. For an everyday run around I think you'll enjoy it even if you leave it be.

Have a look on the Revo website for Fabia VRS remaps. I think P-torque on the cupra.net are offering a very good price on remaps as well if you fancy one. (I used them for my cupra remap and its spot on).

[Andy_K]

I don't plan on touching it - it will just be a runaround. But a cheeky remap wouldn't go amiss ;)

Ta for the advice

[oli208]

Out of all the ones you have chosen i would pick the third one:y:

[mardon]

My Cupra is now better on fuel since the remap. Its the lower down power which helps. So if your looking to put some milage on it it'll be worth it.

[Mallyauto86]

somone need a taxi ?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Peugeot_406_taxi_3_%281%29.jpg

[Andy_K]

My Cupra is now better on fuel since the remap. Its the lower down power which helps. So if your looking to put some milage on it it'll be worth it.

Deffinaetly worth looking at then. I tend to do a minimum of 25K per year fro work, so anything which decreases fuel consumption is a bonus

[Sophia_Bush]

No joke I would say 406 diesel estate get a good one and it will go forever and do you well, dturbo or HDi will be good. Plus you will know your way around it ish and could make it like above lol

[JBVTR]

Id go for a seat toledo or passat tdi that third one down on your list just looks wrong

[Andy_K]

No joke I would say 406 diesel estate get a good one and it will go forever and do you well, dturbo or HDi will be good. Plus you will know your way around it ish and could make it like above lol

I'd never get on any building sites with a bumper like that on!!

Id go for a seat toledo or passat tdi that third one down on your list just looks wrong

I know what you mean - its fugly. Think it would look better with slightly bigger wheels, like a set of an Ibiza Cupra or something. Toledo could be an option though, especially if they do one with same engine/gearbox.

[rey]

406/306/307 any of those with a HDi IMO...

Bombproof motors

[Mallyauto86]

oh btw the 406 aboce is the v6 version that stard in taxi the french film . .

[Rob-6]

307 estate?

[Tabzman]

Laguna, dads got one, pretty comfy and an easy crusier if you do alot of motorway miles