So, my car went in for its MOT...

[Ste]

And I'm told I need a new fuel tank,
£380

that's nearly twice as much as the car's worth

****

Sooo... I need a new car.
For those that don't know - my car was a VW polo of the same age as me.

Please GD - recommend me a car. I like VW's, I want efficiency, reliability, cheap-to-run, cheap-to-buy. I don't care about performance (if it's a good performer then that's a bonus) And I need one quite quickly.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Apothos]

205, had one for a bit (before i crashed it), liked it a lot - bit of a squeeze for legs as long as mine, like, but liked it all the same.

[xtrasyn]

I just walked around on one of those car-parks that feature a lot of vehicles for sale and picked the cheapest one.

[Ste]

What do people think of these that I found on AutoTrader -

1997 VOLKSWAGEN Polo Diesel, P reg.
long MoT and Tax, very good runner, 2 lady owners.. £999 . ono.

VOLKSWAGEN Polo 1.9 Diesel, P reg.
slight dent on drivers side rear wing, excellent runner, very reliable, Cat C, be quick, bargain at only. £995 . ono

1995 VOLKSWAGEN Polo 1.3, N reg.
56000 miles, hatchback, new shape, metallic red, airbag, 2 lady owners, service history, taxed & MoT, very reliable bargain. £985

They look pretty good to me...

[Stew]

My Polo passed its MOT


Edit: about yours though.

[Phalon]

All quite reasonable. The two diesel ones would depend on the mileage but if your not after performance then you will save money with them in the long run.

The petrol one also sounds quite good as 56k is not a lot for a 10 yr old car. Also, 2 lady owners suggests it may still have a little 'go' left in it.

[NEWSBOT3]

yeah i was about to ask the milage on the '97 one.

the first or the last one look fine to me.


edit : Actually, while we're on the subject I need a car too :/

[Structural Integrity]

Get a Japanese car.
Runs like a rising sun.

[Madina]

Ok Ste i am guessing your budget is a grand. For that you could get a mk 2 VW Golf. They are very reliable cars. They are well built and can run happily even with a high milage. Think of it as a polo upgrade . Parts are cheap.

(you can pick up good ones for 600+)

[Phalon]

Aren't they a slightly higher insurance group though or is that unlikely to make too much difference?

[Stew]

Originally Posted by Madina

Ok Ste i am guessing your budget is a grand. For that you could get a mk 2 VW Golf. T

Is that around the K reg era?
Ste - if so, get a GTi version (depending on cost of course).

[Madina]

Mk 2 are the ones that look like http://www.macnic.freeserve.co.uk/images/mk2gl.jpg. I know mk 2 is G as thats what mine was. The insurance wasnt that much for me and i had a 3dr mk 2 golf 1.8 GTi (when i was 18) that was with Norwich Union with pass plus and i had never made a claim and it cost me £1100 a year fully comp.

[Ste]

well, i got a quick quote on the 1.9 diesel and it was only £50 more than it would be with my current 1.1 polo.
I'm guessing it should stay around the £350 mark for a mk 2.

I've been offered a G reg polo for £500 from the garage, only 55,000 miles, 1 litre, good runner, metallic blue, blah blah blah.

I was also told that parts for diesel cars are quite expensive...
I only do about 5000 miles a year, would a diesel be worth it?

I'm going to get a second opinion on the MOT, I don't trust mechanics and I'm pretty sure the fuel tank wasn't leaking before I took it in.
The MOT thing says "in my opinion, the vehicle is dangerous to drive"

I've got it booked in with a friend of the family in Nottingham for thursday. So long as it gets me there...

[Stew]

£350 for insurance?!?!

Mine was £1200 last year (Endsleigh were about £200 cheaper than the others). This year with a years no claims and going over 21, it went down to £800.

Anyway, good luck with it, and yes, get a second opinion

[Ste]

4 years no claims. not fully comp.

oh and thanks!

[Ste]

1991 H Reg VOLKSWAGEN Golf 1.8 GTi
3 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Petrol, 131,200 miles, Metallic Green. Adjustable seats, Alloy wheels, Anti theft system, Central locking, Cloth upholstery, Head restraints, Metallic paintwork, Sunroof. Insurance Group:14, Available at £995

or

1994 VOLKSWAGEN Golf TDi GL 5
Door, M reg. 98000 miles, in red, 12 months MoT, CD, e/w, e/s, c/l, PAS, alloys, very good condition. £995 . ono

or

1994 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 1.4 Match 3dr Hatchback,
3 Doors, Manual, 3 Door Hatchback, Petrol, . M Reg.3dr,9 mth MOT, 4mth Tax, Power assisted steering,Alloy Wheels,radio Cass,Good condition,Cheap insurance and tax. £995

What do you think?

[NEWSBOT3]

that mileage makes me

but apart from that the latter seems

[Ste]

the insurance is pretty damn high too. group 14! what about the other two?

[NEWSBOT3]

Originally Posted by NEWSBOT3

but apart from that the latter seems

[Bashar]

I got my car from a car auction. This is the best way if you know cars well, and if you don't, do what I did and find someone who does, and get them to go with you (knowing cars well meaning someone in the industry, not someone who watches top gear every week).

I got a Rover 214 (1997) with 50k miles on the clock last Summer. It needs £320 work doing on it now (7 months later), and other than that, it's only been the standard maintenance (tyres and a bit of coolant and oil).

It is worth about £2.2k to £2.5k, and I paid £1k for it plus £100 indemnity (covers you in case it is a stolen car and various other problems that could feasibly occur with a car from auction). It had just passed its MOT.

Total spent in 7 months: £1.5k and it's worth about £1k more than that. Obviously, if your budget is less, you can get cheaper cars, the costs are scaleable. I got mine on the first night I went too, so it was quick. It is the best way to get a car providing you have someone with the necessary knowledge to help you out.

[Ste]

i've heard it's a bit hit or miss though as the cars are sold as seen.
Basically if it breaks down on the way home you're screwed, with cheaper cars that's more likely to happen.
Although it sounds like a good way of getting rid of my car...

[roadrunner_0]

get the diesel, it may cost you a bit more for fuel but you should get a lot more mileage for your money

[Bashar]

Originally Posted by roadrunner_0

get the diesel, it may cost you a bit more for fuel but you should get a lot more mileage for your money

And diesels tend to be last a lot longer too, and are more reliable (I believe).

[xtrasyn]

True.

[Another Slayer]

Wishing you luck with the retest.

Hope you don’t have to buy a new one, that polo has a certain charm.

Even if the tank is busted, wouldn’t it be better to spend £350 fixing it up than spending £1000 on a new one? Assuming there’s nothing else wrong (or about to go wrong)?

[Ste]

well, seeing as it's not worth anything, and I guess I could do with a new car eventually anyway, I might as well spend a few hundred more and have a car that lasts for another 4 years...

I'm hoping that the retest says that they can repair it for a lot less than the quoted price...
but i'm not feeling too confident

[Tomkat]

I intend to build a car in the next year.

I have no idea where to start, but I think it'll be fun. My dad did it when he was my age, so maybe it could be some kind of father-son bonding thing.

Get a Capri Ste! They're shit inside, but sexy on the outside! Like a prostitute

[NEWSBOT3]

While we are recommending cars, I need some acquiring a first car type advice!

My budget is about £1500-2000 (not inc insurance), and i want something thats cheapish to run and won't break often.

The what-car site advises a corsa, which i know isn't the greatest car in the world, but i did learn in one, and the fuel econony is like 2x the polos (which i also looked at)

help!

[Ste]

VW's for reliability

[JammyJim]

Look at Seat too. Theyre cheaper and sportier rebadged VW's.

[Phalon]

Clios are remarkably reliable as well, as are Saxos. Any of that calibre of car will do you just fine as they're all fairly inexpensive to run and cheap on insurance.

Fiestas (the older ones at least) have a tendency to fk up as does anything along the lines of Suzuki/Kia/Nissan etc. (shit little cars basically)

[Stew]

Originally Posted by Ste

i've heard it's a bit hit or miss though as the cars are sold as seen.
Basically if it breaks down on the way home you're screwed, with cheaper cars that's more likely to happen.
Although it sounds like a good way of getting rid of my car...

Bless Akerlof's 'Market for Lemons'.

[Bashar]

Originally Posted by NEWSBOT3

While we are recommending cars, I need some acquiring a first car type advice!

My budget is about £1500-2000 (not inc insurance), and i want something thats cheapish to run and won't break often.

The what-car site advises a corsa, which i know isn't the greatest car in the world, but i did learn in one, and the fuel econony is like 2x the polos (which i also looked at)

help!

In the UK, the 1L Corsa is the cheapest car to insure, so it is a good one for the 'budget' user from the insurance point of view too.

[NEWSBOT3]

Originally Posted by Bashar

In the UK, the 1L Corsa is the cheapest car to insure, so it is a good one for the 'budget' user from the insurance point of view too.

bizzarely, all my insurance quotes are the same, regardless of the size of the engine (1-1.4 that i tried with anyway),

min ~ 600

[Bashar]

Crikey, that is really odd, and not at all in line with the insurance industries standard policy of 'squeeze the buggers for every penny we can get away with'. It is the cheapest car to insure though, or so I was told.

[NEWSBOT3]

yeah, and its not the same company each time either, i'm using the autotrader thing that searches like 40.

[LHC]

Originally Posted by JammyJim

Look at Seat too. Theyre cheaper and sportier rebadged VW's.

Do not listen to this man. My friend has one and it is the ugliest, loudest, slowest, least reliable, least comfortable car I have ever had the displeasure of riding in.

Please help put this company out of business.

[Ste]

Originally Posted by NEWSBOT3

yeah, and its not the same company each time either, i'm using the autotrader thing that searches like 40.

try endsleigh, they're usually the cheapest.
Norwich Union are pretty good too.

[Ste]

I got my second MOT and it passed. No mention of the fuel tank at all.


Needed some work on the wheel bearings and on the handbrake though. £55
Apparently there 'may' be a very small leak in the bit between where the petrol goes in and the tank. But that's not dangerous. And if I want a new tank then this guy will do it for £100.

So, the lesson is - Don't go to PA auto's in Sheffield. DO go to John Coy's in Nottingham!

[Another Slayer]

money grabbing cocksniffers

[Bashar]

Originally Posted by Ste

try endsleigh, they're usually the cheapest.
Norwich Union are pretty good too.

I found Endsleigh to be very expensive. I got mine with Direct line, and the Direct line quote was £200 less per year than the Endsleigh one, but because I'm a student, Endsleigh were willing to lower their quote by about £100, but they said they couldn't/wouldn't do it for the same as direct line. I am 21 though, which could have an effect (maybe Endsleigh cater more for younger students).

[Ste]

dunno, my quote from Endsleigh is <£260 I don't think it will get much lower.
I need to look around a little though.
Direct line you say? hmm

[Bashar]

Yeah, I doubt it is always the cheapest, although they do have a breakdown policy which is pretty good which you get at a discount if you have insurance with them too, which is an extra thing to consider if you want both.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by Ste

So, the lesson is - Don't go to PA auto's in Sheffield. DO go to John Coy's in Nottingham!

Mine passed with no issue at the place in Crookes, I'm not sure what it's called but it's about opposite Co-op.
Was that it?

Does it not worry you that there may actually be a problem with the fuel tank and Coy's in Nottm hardly looked and passed it anyway and you could blow up whilst driving down the M1?

[Ste]

Originally Posted by Stew

Mine passed with no issue at the place in Crookes, I'm not sure what it's called but it's about opposite Co-op.
Was that it?

No, PA Auto's is just off mappin street.

Does it not worry you that there may actually be a problem with the fuel tank and Coy's in Nottm hardly looked and passed it anyway and you could blow up whilst driving down the M1?

No, an MOT is an MOT. If it's unsafe and they passed it it's there fault. The same as if they said the brakes are perfect when they aren't.
Apparently there may be a small leak in the pipe where the petrol goes into the tank when I fill up. But it isn't dangerous, and certainly isn't an "excessive" leak that was described initially.
Like I said before - there is no smell of petrol anywhere around my car even after leaving it for two days. Also, my guage barely went down at all between Sheffield and Nottingham. Which wouldn't make sense if it was actually leaking.

Also PA didn't pic up on the bearings in my rear wheel needing to be changed and the handbreak tightening. I know who I trust more!

[Dace]

Who'd have thought mechanics lie to you???!!!

[BesigedB]

Maybe you looked too much like a girl so decided to rip you off.*

*I don't know what you look like

[midge5]

I found Tescos are quite good for insurance, they were a hell of a lot cheaper than anyone else I asked.

[JammyJim]

im with directline. tesco were absurdly expensive when i last checked at 17.
i think its alot to do with the car tbh and its age / worth.

Incidently some of you drive polos. My offside rear (i think..could be nearside) wheel is slapping against something which means when i go round a right hand corner (only righthand mind you) it sounds like the very start of Apocalypse now (the whoomping of the fan/chopper blades)....i had it checked but the guy couldnt see anything.

I have it booked in for this thursday at another VW garage for its service and im hoping its nothing major. My little car has become a money pit as of late :-((((

[Stew]

Originally Posted by JammyJim

I have it booked in for this thursday at another VW garage for its service and im hoping its nothing major. My little car has become a money pit as of late :-((((

You can get (or at least i could) a warranty for about £280 a year, including roadside assistance.