Posts: 20,092
Threads: 591
Joined: Nov 2012
Reputation:
54
Location: Cotswolds
Car Model/Spec: Stage 13 16v HDi
Thanks: 22
Given 68 thank(s) in 68 post(s)
I'm searching for some friends.
Both retired. Do 250-300miles per week.
Needs to be 306/Astra size.
5dr.
Diesel.
Easy/cheap to fix/reliable.
£1000 budget.
Willing to travel/move a little on money for the rightcar.
Trying to find a lower than average mileage car with good service history/looked after.
I'm looking for a 306 HDi for obvious reasons...really struggling to find a decent one.
Other options maybe 1.8tdci Focus?
Posts: 1,778
Threads: 213
Joined: Jul 2013
Reputation:
2
Location: The North
Car Model/Spec: HDI
Thanks: 52
Given 16 thank(s) in 16 post(s)
You've probably already thought of this as you've got one yourself but what about a 206 HDI? Same size as a 306 before anyone mentions it (I used to have one and both give or take the same size) and safer.
Posts: 20,092
Threads: 591
Joined: Nov 2012
Reputation:
54
Location: Cotswolds
Car Model/Spec: Stage 13 16v HDi
Thanks: 22
Given 68 thank(s) in 68 post(s)
Its NOT the same size inside or outside bud.
Less leg room in front and back and boot is quite a bit smaller. Also narrower inside too. Bumper to bumper its 20cm shorter too. (an inch narrower which feels more inside due to more side protection)
Otherwise I would be getting them one
Posts: 1,778
Threads: 213
Joined: Jul 2013
Reputation:
2
Location: The North
Car Model/Spec: HDI
Thanks: 52
Given 16 thank(s) in 16 post(s)
14-03-2015, 11:18 PM
(This post was last modified: 14-03-2015, 11:20 PM by MY95.)
Focus is a good choice though.
Its not a massive difference though on the outside size wise but inside size is fair point but if theres only two of them, safer than a 306 in a crash and cheaper to run, would be my choice, plenty around too 
Posts: 3,616
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2011
Reputation:
45
Thanks: 177
Given 28 thank(s) in 28 post(s)
Posts: 20,092
Threads: 591
Joined: Nov 2012
Reputation:
54
Location: Cotswolds
Car Model/Spec: Stage 13 16v HDi
Thanks: 22
Given 68 thank(s) in 68 post(s)
Focus engine is just awful and they rust chronically. But the old guy likes em
Maybe 1.9tdi Golf!?
Posts: 3,616
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2011
Reputation:
45
Thanks: 177
Given 28 thank(s) in 28 post(s)
(14-03-2015, 11:31 PM)Piggy Wrote: Focus engine is just awful and they rust chronically. But the old guy likes em
Maybe 1.9tdi Golf!?
I was gonna suggest a Mk4 golf tdi but £1000 budget with low miles & history will be nye on impossible.
That's the reason I suggested a corolla or Almera. You'll probably get a 1.5 DCI Almera for that, nothing exciting but does a good job of being a car.
Posts: 661
Threads: 15
Joined: Aug 2014
Reputation:
2
Location: prescott hill
Car Model/Spec: XSi
Thanks: 2
Given 18 thank(s) in 17 post(s)
14-03-2015, 11:49 PM
(This post was last modified: 14-03-2015, 11:53 PM by adam b.)
406 hdi estate. It's not as big as you think and really easy to live with.
P1 XSi track car
2.4 LWB T4
Posts: 20,092
Threads: 591
Joined: Nov 2012
Reputation:
54
Location: Cotswolds
Car Model/Spec: Stage 13 16v HDi
Thanks: 22
Given 68 thank(s) in 68 post(s)
Doesnt want an estate 
Posts: 1,417
Threads: 34
Joined: Dec 2011
Reputation:
8
Thanks: 0
Given 8 thank(s) in 8 post(s)
Posts: 10,864
Threads: 117
Joined: Dec 2011
Reputation:
119
Location: Southampton
Car Model/Spec: 306 HDi and friends
Thanks: 13
Given 106 thank(s) in 106 post(s)
Focus is a good one, the engines are pretty bomb-proof and they don't rust that badly if they're ever cleaned. Astra is the other obvious option for me, they're reliable, nice and easy to work on and pennies to fix. The jap stuff does tend to rust quite badly, reliable enough though.
Posts: 3,539
Threads: 42
Joined: Mar 2012
Reputation:
28
Thanks: 3
Given 89 thank(s) in 88 post(s)
Posts: 1,248
Threads: 85
Joined: May 2014
Reputation:
8
Location: Walsall
Car Model/Spec: E90 330i
Thanks: 30
Given 15 thank(s) in 15 post(s)
Civic? Can get an ep2 for around 1k. Nice cars too but have zero torque
Posts: 3,539
Threads: 42
Joined: Mar 2012
Reputation:
28
Thanks: 3
Given 89 thank(s) in 88 post(s)
epic rust and electrical problems, avoid.
Posts: 7,347
Threads: 163
Joined: Dec 2011
Reputation:
53
Location: Leeds
Car Model/Spec: 406 HDI
Thanks: 0
Given 18 thank(s) in 15 post(s)
Can't do better than a 306 on that budget with those requirements, believe me I've tried.
Posts: 3,539
Threads: 42
Joined: Mar 2012
Reputation:
28
Thanks: 3
Given 89 thank(s) in 88 post(s)
oh you can do fairly easily, Phase2 xsara 110 hdi, 307, C4, theyre all getting on a bit nowadays so well within reach.
Posts: 7,347
Threads: 163
Joined: Dec 2011
Reputation:
53
Location: Leeds
Car Model/Spec: 406 HDI
Thanks: 0
Given 18 thank(s) in 15 post(s)
(15-03-2015, 06:40 PM)welshpug Wrote: oh you can do fairly easily, Phase2 xsara 110 hdi, 307, C4, theyre all getting on a bit nowadays so well within reach.
Define better, the 306 is better than any of those, far better in the case of the 307, they are awful cars.
Posts: 20,092
Threads: 591
Joined: Nov 2012
Reputation:
54
Location: Cotswolds
Car Model/Spec: Stage 13 16v HDi
Thanks: 22
Given 68 thank(s) in 68 post(s)
Had considered Xsara.
I give up advising though.
They have gone for a 3 yr lease for a 3 yr old Fiesta 1.4 petrol.
Dont ask. I give up.
Posts: 684
Threads: 58
Joined: Dec 2012
Reputation:
3
Location: Fordingbridge
Car Model/Spec: Loads
Thanks: 1
Given 9 thank(s) in 9 post(s)
406 Saloon, no Torsion beams to worry about either, dead reliable both of mine did well, one even got to 350k with me and bar oil and belts, plus 2 rear wheel bearings never needed anything else
Overall Road Going Production Class Winner at BARC Gurston Down Speed Hillclimb 2012, 2013 & 2014 With a class record along the way (For a while), Taking 2nd place will be Ian Redding's 306 GTi
2016 Castle Combe GT championship class winner
Posts: 18,242
Threads: 386
Joined: Dec 2011
Reputation:
87
Location: Suffolk
Car Model/Spec: Focus Titanium
Thanks: 1
Given 118 thank(s) in 117 post(s)
Why not? You said yourself they're retired, they don't want something old and unreliable and full of niggles....they won't want something 'fun'... And finding a 12+ year old diesel car on low milage with decent history for less than a grand is near impossible these days.
Personally I wouldn't have gone for the 1.4 petrol but a newish Fiesta seems ideal for their needs doesn't it...?
Posts: 20,092
Threads: 591
Joined: Nov 2012
Reputation:
54
Location: Cotswolds
Car Model/Spec: Stage 13 16v HDi
Thanks: 22
Given 68 thank(s) in 68 post(s)
Its smaller, more expensive and awful mpgs.
Just a bit peeved. Its a great car. Well the engine sucks. But the fiesta is amazing.
if I knew that when they said we want nothing smaller than an astra, cheap, diesel that they meant none of that I wouldnt have wasted my time!
I honestly think he's just balled over as all he has driven in 10yrs is that crappy astra1.6. Anything modern is going to feel amazing.
Oh well.
Posts: 18,242
Threads: 386
Joined: Dec 2011
Reputation:
87
Location: Suffolk
Car Model/Spec: Focus Titanium
Thanks: 1
Given 118 thank(s) in 117 post(s)
Yeah that's a fair point! Car choice is so personal though, people don't often want what they think they want either (from experience lol). I tend to keep out of car choice discussions now, best thing really is to ignore all 'on paper' numbers and go look at/test drive a few things.
Posts: 730
Threads: 26
Joined: Feb 2013
Reputation:
4
Location: Monaghan/fermanagh.
Thanks: 1
Given 6 thank(s) in 6 post(s)
Tbh, its better that they went with a petrol engine when they picked a fresh car.
Posts: 19,854
Threads: 581
Joined: Dec 2011
Reputation:
195
Location: Bournemouth
Car Model/Spec: Supercharged 306 GTi6
Thanks: 36
Given 82 thank(s) in 78 post(s)
(15-03-2015, 08:30 PM)Toms306 Wrote: best thing really is to ignore all 'on paper' numbers and go look at/test drive a few things.
This. Figures never seem to be accurate in the real world and like you say, a car choice is very personal. Personally, i would never have a new fiesta. Ever.
Team Eaton
1999 China Blue 306 GTi6 - Eaton Supercharged - 214.5bhp 181lbft
Posts: 7,347
Threads: 163
Joined: Dec 2011
Reputation:
53
Location: Leeds
Car Model/Spec: 406 HDI
Thanks: 0
Given 18 thank(s) in 15 post(s)
Really the smart choice is a stupidly massive German barge with a quarter of a million miles and ruined suspension.
Posts: 10,864
Threads: 117
Joined: Dec 2011
Reputation:
119
Location: Southampton
Car Model/Spec: 306 HDi and friends
Thanks: 13
Given 106 thank(s) in 106 post(s)
Probably just got blind-sided by the salesman in the ford dealership tbh, don't take ti personally, they're old lol.
Posts: 20,092
Threads: 591
Joined: Nov 2012
Reputation:
54
Location: Cotswolds
Car Model/Spec: Stage 13 16v HDi
Thanks: 22
Given 68 thank(s) in 68 post(s)
Yeah. He is just like a grandad to me.
I gently chatted through things with him today. He seems over the world, but he just keeps mentioning the gadgets and how amazing 35-37mpg is.
oh well.
|
![[Image: tapatalk_1427020983519_zpsnwvozlhb.jpeg]](http://s768.photobucket.com/user/annegg5511/media/Mobile%20Uploads/tapatalk_1427020983519_zpsnwvozlhb.jpeg.html)
