Car hunting - advice please

Hi guys,

Im off to look at 3 Vauxhall Astras this afternoon and I know less about cars than I do bikes, so not a lot then!!

They are all 2003 or 2004, 50k miles 1.6i 16v models, approx £2k

I've been researching cambelts and there seems to be very conflicting advice varying between replacing at 40k miles up to 100k, so i phoned a local vauxhall servicing centre who told me the recommended is 60k miles.
One of the traders said he has just replaced it on his motor, how can i check if he has no paperwork?

And what other things do i need to look for? Obviously I want to see some paperwork confirming mileage but what about brakes etc...

If they say they will service the vehicle what do I need to make sure they are going to do? Naturally I will expect at least 3 months warranty, but what should it cover to be of any value?

Sorry for all the daft questions, but I really appreciate any advice you can offer!

TIA, KJ xx

[G]

Used car market is an absolute minefield. I always considered myself to be reasonable bad apple spotter... but I have ended up with a couple of knackers. My most memorable being a 3 year old Laguna 1.9DCi, it had been in a massive shunt and had serious engine issues... none of which you could really see until you started using it properly.

It may be worth investing in getting any vehciles you are seriously interested in RAC inspected, even some of those are hit and miss though as it very much depends on the monkey which turns up.

Yea dont look at Astras

Had nothing but problems with my 2001 model including a new £600 quid ecu

There was something on watchdog the other week i think it was the H model if you tooted the horn the lights switched off, not 100% if i remember that correctly though cant quite remember how many were affected

[kaivalagi]

Got a good Megane 1.9DCi second hand, best going Diesel I think...and even the old Renaults were designed with good safety in mind, only the 1.9 though, the other sized diesels engines are not that good.

[G]

The Renault 1.9 DCI is notoriously a terrible terrible engine. All you have to do is google renault 1.9DCI.

The problem I have is that this car is being financed by the 'bank of mum' (thanks treasure ) and shes been told by her partner that the most reliable cars and cheapest to maintain are Fords and Vauxhalls and definitely nothing french for whatever reason, so Im kind of limited because she now will be very reluctant to buy anything other.

If your getting petrol avoid the 1.8 engine, the 1.6 is miles better both for actual performance and MPG.
I've had the fortune to drive both the 1.8 and 1.6 and found the bigger engine sluggish to get going, where as the 1.6 was just power from the start.

[embee]

Astra wouldn't be high on my list TBH.

Here is the J.D.Power customer satisfaction survey 2006 which will cover the sort of age car you're looking at, typically then up to 3yrs old in 2006. Reading the brief decription for them, in fairness a lot of the issues seem to be with dealers and service, but that usually indicates problems which have not been resolved satisfactorily. Better to go for something with fewer inherent issues.

There are links on that site to earlier and later survey results, remember the J.D.Power survey is "satisfaction rating" from real owners, not journalists on a free jolly.

Civic would be my choice in that class (small family car), or a Honda Jazz if it's big enough for you (lot of space in a small car, ultra reliable)

[Skip]

Japanese or German FTW

I agree that in that class a Honda Civic is where the smart money would go.

Why are there so many cars??!! Its doing my head in, and tbh I dont really care what it is, I just need to get the kids from A to B (which isnt usually more than 10 miles away) in relative safety and be fairly certain of getting there without the RACs help!

Thanks for your opinions guys x