Re: buying second hand stuff = headache
 

lol. Bolox.
We have one at work. POS.
The headlights like to flash on and off, to do with the column stalk the light switch is mounted on, expensive to replace and this ones on its second and that is on the blink.
Door open warning buzzer and warning sign on dash goes off if I go too quickly around a corner or over a bump.
Suspension is always failing.
I have, on one occasion while driving spiritedly, set the car alight because the turbo got too hot (1.4Hdi) and set the wadding aroung the turbo housing on fire.
Interior light likes to come on and start flashing randomly.
Probably a lot more I have forgotten about.

Oh, and they are made out of crap, as another of our work 206's found out when a Toyota Prius hit the back of it. It was written off but the Toyota didn't have a single dent on it.

At least I don't have to drive the works Vauxhall Combo (biggest piles of shyte I have driven).

Re: buying second hand stuff = headache
 

never had a single problem with mine ever really just the standard bits wearing out due to age, mileage and the way it gets treated.
and no turbo either plain ol 1.4 petrol.

Edit-
Van drove into the rear wing of mine once while it was parked outside the house.
Small dent in wing, whilst the van lost its and the radiator was leaking.

Not saying they are amazing but from experience it has never missed a beat.

Although ill agree the new ones are a POS ( know someone with a 307 where the windows opened an closed on their own accord ) but the oldies are gooduns.

Well this thread has taken a bit of a swerve.

In my experience German cars go wrong just as often as French ones but cost a lot more to fix. Get the best of both worlds and buy Japanese or even Korean.

Re: buying second hand stuff = headache
 

I can 100% say that you are a fibber Lenny, I've owned 6 vws now and all have been super reliable (so far), they get a fairly hard life with me too.

The previous company I worked for had French cars as pool cars and company cars, they were always having issues of some kind.

Lol well I can only speak from personal experience but I have had 3 306s one of which was bought by my parents and kept for in the family for 12 years and 220,000 miles and hadn't had a single major problem. I have owned a Golf and a Bora and had loads of problems with both.
I do agree that the VWs feel more solid however but as you said that also makes them heavier.
I am probably in the minority and just fortunate with the Pugs I have had however.

Re: buying second hand stuff = headache
 

Sounds like a few Citroens that I have had the displeasure of sitting in/ looking at/ trying to work out WTF going on with!
Most modern french cars are Merde a friend has a Citroen C3 on HP and is on the 3rd one to get a runner

TBH VW's are hit and miss, a contractor (where I'm working) has the caddy's and transporter's and they have killed one in under year (had done 50k in 11 months). They do run 2 years and get shot lease hire

Re: buying second hand stuff = headache
 

I have had three VW's and all have cost me a lot of money to fix (not just replace worn parts).
We also have a VW and Skoda at work and they aren't without fault. Common probs with them nowadays like ABS modules and air con condensors.

Back on topic OP, have you tried GAME for an xbox, they sell second hand and come with warranty having been given the once over.

Re: buying second hand stuff = headache
 

Unlike every secondhand saxo then which will have 47 previous owners, none of which having ever successfully completed puberty on selling it!

Not all the French stuff is that bad, the 1.9XUD engine is a thing of oily beauty! My mate had a 205D that had been around a bit, absolutely stupid mileage on it, it started rattling a bit at about 300, he kept it for another 20 or so and it still had good compression and did 60mpg.
All we had to do was weld up the back beam which at 15 years old something had to rot...

50k's appalling for a van. The transporters are usually decent. Shame they are fitting hand-grenade-seeking-war common rail on everything these days :(

Re: buying second hand stuff = headache
 

I have personally been involved in killing 2 saxos :-). Havin said that, bith were fun little cars and the pug 106 1.1 I owned was good too.

My VTR received a coach up the rear which wrote it off, and I had a little end fail on a VTS and the con rod came through the block.

http://www.mcroston.co.uk/images/saxobroke.jpg

And don't buy a second hand xbox, get a new one and worry not about the RROD.

Re: buying second hand stuff = headache
 

Full top end rebuild and new coolant system.
Granted the back of his van is level with tools, pipe benches, oxycet and Tig's

Back on topic, Xbox buy new mate they are cheap enough now!
Saxo's well...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...o20pic2003.jpg