Another recommend me a car thread...

How about this, your kids will love it and their friends.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1985-Mercedes-...item45f58a6dca

This is a firkin bargain!

HONDA CR-V 2.0 I-VTEC SE Sport [Sat Nav] 5dr Estate
2003 (52 reg), EstateTrade seller, distance: 66 miles (From Kettering)
45,000 miles
Manual
2.0L
Petrol
4
0
45,000 miles, 5 Door Estate, Petrol, Manual, Front electric windows, Folding rear seats, Solid Paint, Front armrest, Rear wiper, 3x3 point rear seat belts5 Doors, Manual, Estate, …
Trade

£1,990

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01038368958754

IMO Honda build quality is amongst some of the best you can get, better than Merc or BMW, and on a par with Audi/VW

Couple of low mileage late model Octavia Estates

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01038368508864

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01038368600176

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01038368516602

and a Passat

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01037368407155

Originally Posted by andrewsmith

http://www.expolicecar.co.uk/

Good service history, and cheap

Originally Posted by Bluepete

I would never, ever buy an ex job car.

They are ragged to death, serviced by monkeys and are not looked after as well as you might expect.

They don't belong to the user and there is always another one to use if one gets broken. So, they don't get looked after as if it were privately owned.

As I have heard said,

"Driven by chimps, fixed by monkeys"

Pete

Originally Posted by andrewsmith

I kno panda cars basically are worth parts value in most cases and the ex ones i've seen were

Why recommend one then? What if somebody took your advice and went and bought one?

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

This is a firkin bargain!

HONDA CR-V 2.0 I-VTEC SE Sport [Sat Nav] 5dr Estate
2003 (52 reg), EstateTrade seller, distance: 66 miles (From Kettering)
45,000 miles
Manual
2.0L
Petrol
4
0
45,000 miles, 5 Door Estate, Petrol, Manual, Front electric windows, Folding rear seats, Solid Paint, Front armrest, Rear wiper, 3x3 point rear seat belts5 Doors, Manual, Estate, …
Trade

£1,990

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01038368958754

IMO Honda build quality is amongst some of the best you can get, better than Merc or BMW, and on a par with Audi/VW

I'm liking that, wonder how far away from me it is? Found out 24 miles...

[Skip]

That CR-V is dirt cheap - so cheap I wonder whats wrong with it?! My Mum paid £5500 for an 04 plate CR-V Sport with 80k on it in January this year (although that was at a stealer)

Great car though - loads of room and nice to drive - very refined too.

Originally Posted by Skip

That CR-V is dirt cheap - so cheap I wonder whats wrong with it?!

That did cross my mind, but if your serious and you can't find anything wrong with it yourself, pay for a vehicle inspection. It is a trade sale so you have some protection by law, just see if it is with a reputable dealer. And it's so cheap you can afford to take out a warranty.

The parkers valuation for it with average (80k) miles

Original Price £16,695
Independent Dealer £3,635
Private Good £3,155
Private Poor £2,525
Part Exchange £2,720

Maybe the guy has just had it in stock for ages.

check out your local car auction houses, might be a few reclaimed cars there going cheep,
also, consider a Rover 25/MG ZR (same car but the MG is more sporty) 1.4l engine but has enough power in it to show an audi TT who really has cahones...
I'll give you a clue, NOT the TT.

Alternatively, look for a fiat Punto, nice little engine, goes like stink and handles as well as a bike accross sailsbury plain at +70 MPH *cough*I didnt do that guv, honest*cough*.

my 3rd suggestion is a Seat Leon, i want an 09 model myself as i drove one in Ibiza last year and loved the fact it'll do 30-40Mph in 1st, then i tried to change gear with the door handle but thats a different story.

I also reccomend the following (prices may be outside your range though)
Kia Cee'd 2 - might gain you a few points in the process but a totally fun car.
Ford Focus - seamed to be pretty nice 250 miles in one was comfy enough.
Astra 1.6 - dont get the bigger one as it felt slower and drank more fuel.

The last 3 are from recent trips i've taken to Exeter from Cardiff for work (114 miles each way), was nice having a different car each week to test drive.

Wife has a punto - far too small.