Advice sought on the purchase of a good second-hand vehicle.

OK, I'll start the ball rolling...

Ford Focus.

Chris

Another vauxhall? They're not sexy but they're usually well equipped, reliable, easy and cheap to repair with loads of second hand bits available if necessary.

You will struggle to buy a decent diesel focus for 3.5k, that isnt a rough TDi with near 100k on the clock.

Howabout a mint 306 Hdi?

Astra F DTI ?

Both reasonably low-tech mechanicals and not especially expensively troublesome.

Tim..

The message from "Ivan" contains these words:

Oh dear. The neighbours' just had a new car, have they? My sympathies!

My next door neighbour has a petrol version on a 51 plate (which he appears to be quite pleased with) however only recently he's just forked out £250 to get the driver's side electric window fixed.

The petrol Focus is cracking, reliable (afew well known issues, but not overly expensive to solve) and very drive-way servicable.

Tim..

Are Ford Focus diesels in my price range not up to it, and how much would I have to expect to pay to get a descent one?

I've never thought about going for a Japanese car, again because of some of the horror stories I've seen in this group about the price of even basic items, such as brake pads and exhausts, however I've read some excellent reviews on the Honda Concerto and its Rover equivalent.

So it's very nearly five years old. If this is the only expensive repair from new, I'd class that as pretty cheap motoring by today's standards.

I've had my (petrol) Focus for seven years and 82K miles. It was dealer-serviced for the first four years; since then I've done it. The total cost of replacement parts outside of service and wear and tear items has been around 45UKP. It has been totally reliable during that time.

Chris

Don't get me wrong Chris, going by everything I've heard about the Focus I'm seriously gravitating in that direction.

Although as stated in my original post, I'm bound to say that I've been more than satisfied with the years of economic and virtually trouble free motoring I achieved with both of my old Astras, and all I'm looking for something a few years younger that will hopefully serve me just as well.

Indeed- I had a 200W 1.8 petrol Zetec bought at 9000miles. I sold it with

The biggest bill I had was 320quid for the 50k service, which included the brake work and the a/c recharged.

I would have needed an exhaust back box fairly soon if I had kept the car.

It never broke down and nothing stopped working or fell off.

I bought it for 10 grand in 2000, and sold it for 3700 in april 2006.

To me, this was *seriously* cheap motoring.

Tim..

Then buy another one.

I bought one from the auctions for £2000 W reg Astra 1600 petrol estate with 100k on clock, last year for £2K.

As you say good for 180k. Drives like brand new, in fact its like driving a new one from out of the showroom.

I only bought it on the immaculate appearance and I did not know the mileage.

Air con does not work, but what the heck. I've never had air con or a sun roof only wind down windows.

MkIV Golf TDI.

However, I'd also look a bit bigger - 'old' shape Passat TDIs are seriously cheap since all the fleet drivers have upgraded to a new Passat.