What Car...

[bantingm]

Hi there, i am a 20 year old girlie looking to upgraade her car. i currently am driving a 57 plate fiesta sport which just isnt feminine at all, and i had always promised myself i would NEVER buy a ford!!!

I am looknig for a convertable, maybe a mini or a tigra, however my drea car is a TT (insurance is a little steep for someone under 21!) i just wondered if anyone had any pearls of wisdom as to what car would be ideal for me? relatively low insurance group and good on feul consumption...

All suggestions welcome.

thanks xx

[Cockney_si]

Peugeot 206 cc

[TWR]

Hi, you seem to know what you want, where you are going, with the reputation the young have regards Tear Ars you have first got to think of your age, the Insurance costs, safety, then the car you want, Tigra are like sitting in a box, my mates Daughter had one I would not give you house room for the thing, you have also got to think of the spares + service + fuel side of things also the length between services, Pugs are good & reliable depending how you treat them, Fords are basic depends on the model but again the spares side is good, if you start going foreign well!! cost again, My wife runs a Pug spares are fairly modest in price, regards the petrol that all depend how heavy your shoes are on your right foot If you know what I mean, Good Luck in your search, one last bit of advice, there is only one person that will keep your Insurance low & thats the person I am replying to.

[Graham-W]

Mazda MX5. Lovely girly car and you can even put the hood down. Nice car to drive as well having rear wheel drive.

[SpikieMikie]

Ok, I'm a bit of a part time trader, and my grandfather owned several dealership until he sold up some years back...

As a rule, dont buy anything French.. they break easily and age quickly. Because of this, dealers can be unsympathetic - even if you buy brand new with a warranty.. Someone at work has a 207CC and its always at the garage - nothing major but lots of niggles. The trade know this and try to buy cheap.

New Fords are reasonable, Vauxhalls less so. A few years back it was the other way round. German cars are well built but not always as reliable as people think.

The best, in my view, are Japanese and Swedish. However, the Swedish convertibles - Saab 9-3 and Volvo C70 are roughly Audi TT money, unless you get an old one.

Your choice then is limited to the Toyota MR2 or Mazda MX-5 and what you go for depends on your budget. Personally, I'd go for the MR2 - I've owned 2. They look like mini Porsche Boxsters, you get nearly 40 MPG, you can buy yellow ones !! and many come with leather and air con. The last ones were built in 2006, tho some were registered in 2007. Expect to pay �12k at the very most, but good 2005 cars with 40k miles will be priced between �7.5k & �9k depending on spec and who is selling it. Check for full service history - at Toyota ( they need the right engine coolant ) and make sure they haven't been crashed. Many have backend repairs.
The MX-5 is ok but not sharp looking and only comes in conservative colours. Many are over priced. The old shape MX-5 is fun but dated and has very basic spec levels.

Finally, NEVER part exchange your car. Get a few part exchange values and then try to sell it privately at around �1500 more than you're offered as a general rule.
If a trader makes you an offer, considered it. It'll be more than a part exchange value, they'll be no come back if the car breaks and even if you only get a few hundred pound more than the

[tamborine]

Keep to 1litre or under and jap cars seem more reliable & long lasting. The more desirable the car the more likely to be stolen/damaged/scratched.

You want your car to stay parked when you leave it - buy an unappealing banger. Never stolen from car parks & if its clamped - no loss, buy another banger.

[bantingm]

Thank you very much for taking the time yo answer my question. i had a go shop around over the weekend and have concluded that i will be buying a mini cooper convertible.

Thanks again x