Nauti needs a little help....

NautiAndNice · 14 August 2007, 20:13

Ok boys... need your help.

Have just got a new community therapist job that will involve driving around the "Island of the Wight" to visit patients and need a suitable car.

We're not talking huge annual mileage here, but boyfriend is moaning that the current Navara might not be the most economical vehicle for the job

Have persuaded him to keep the Navara (on needing-to-tow-the-boat-occasionally grounds), but now need to come up with a car that will keep him (and me!) happy.

Now, boyfriend is very nice ... if a little on the sensible and conservative side (those of you that know what he chose as our previous RIB will understand...)! Given his way, he'd see me pootling around the island in a little 1 litre number ... however, I am thinking something a little more exciting than that, although nothing girly. Budget is ~£10-12K.

So, suggestions please, bearing in mind that I will need muchos ammunition to justify the choice.

RJH · 14 August 2007, 21:05

Hi Niamh

We've got a Landy as our 'sensible towing boat' car and a golf tdi as our 2nd car which is fab - goes like sxxt off a stick when you want it to and yet will do 55 mpg if you are more light footed. Have no doubt you could pick up a 2 year old one for about that budget. Feels as solid as rock when you're driving it and most certainly doesn't feel like a small car.

Hope to see you down at SDS next Sunday for the Hog Roast??

Cleone (Mrs RJH)

codprawn · 14 August 2007, 22:26

Lotus Elise!!!

Biggles · 14 August 2007, 22:31

You don't need any ammunition to get your choice.

You ain't married. Thats when you need reasoned arguements. Choose what you like and if he says otherwise look for another fish. Its your money so you can do what you want with it.

Thats my opinion for whats its worth anyway.

Just don't let him read this post.

Personally if I was you I'd get one of those new TT's and have a blast round those island roads.

Hugh Jardon · 14 August 2007, 22:36

pick up my new car tomorrow

a lovely little green hyundai atos plus

has power steering, air cond, electric windows, 5 doors, towbar, apparent 50 mpg, headlamp electric levers, cheap insurance and cheap tax

only costing £400 and quite nippy as well!!

that would leave you a lot of cash for fuel or makup or frocks or the like, and you would not have to worry where you park it as it probably wont get stolen!!

bedajim · 15 August 2007, 06:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Personally if I was you I'd get one of those new TT's and have a blast round those island roads.

For 12 k

Can I have the dealers name and address

Clio sports from one of the car super markets

Tony · 15 August 2007, 07:23

For fun..
Jeep Cherokee 2006 £11000 ?

Pete7 · 15 August 2007, 07:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by NautiAndNice

Given his way, he'd see me pootling around the island in a little 1 litre number ...

Quite right too.

Have you thought about 2 wheels rather than four ?

Pete

Nos4r2 · 15 August 2007, 10:03

What are the constraints regarding car age/engine size/ mileage paid/ servicing etc? I suspect that'll be more of a constraint than what you want to drive.

Also, is the job likely to outlast the finance? I'd like to bet you won't want to sell it even if you change jobs.

(don't discount 1 lite cars btw-I had a 1 litre fiesta for nearly a year and went all over the country in it. It's quite fun thrashing the nuts out of a small car on twisty roads)

Sixy_the_red · 15 August 2007, 10:43

Rover 418SLD!

I got a M. reg one, done about 120K and still singing like a sowing machine...(well, no, that's not quite true, it always did sound like a traaaaator)

Does about 48mpg and its pretty quick considering. Just got the insurance renewal though at a shade over £175 (I'm 26)

codprawn · 15 August 2007, 10:57

I still have a Rover 420TD - it's done 175,000 miles now and is still nice to drive - it's Rover's own engine and much better than the old 1.8. It's intercooled and produces 105bhp - does 48mpg no matter how you drive it. Been on the drive for 2 years - started first turn of the key. We used to have 5 of them and never a days trouble!!!

Cookee · 15 August 2007, 12:25

Having had a girlfriend on the Island and visited every year for Cowes offshore races I feel qualified to comment - I would go for a Smart car - get the sportier convertible one - small, cheap to run and lots of fun!

Sixy_the_red · 15 August 2007, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I still have a Rover 420TD - it's done 175,000 miles now and is still nice to drive - it's Rover's own engine and much better than the old 1.8. It's intercooled and produces 105bhp - does 48mpg no matter how you drive it. Been on the drive for 2 years - started first turn of the key. We used to have 5 of them and never a days trouble!!!

Rover's own engine and it hasn't dropped the valve seats yet?!

Mine's a pug 306TDi engine I believe. Also intercooled, but really nice and easy to work on once to take the cooler pipes off.

simmons0 · 15 August 2007, 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJH

Hi Niamh

We've got a Landy as our 'sensible towing boat' car and a golf tdi as our 2nd car which is fab - goes like sxxt off a stick when you want it to and yet will do 55 mpg if you are more light footed. Have no doubt you could pick up a 2 year old one for about that budget. Feels as solid as rock when you're driving it and most certainly doesn't feel like a small car.

Hope to see you down at SDS next Sunday for the Hog Roast??

Cleone (Mrs RJH)

As someone else with a Golf 2.0Tdi 140 I can say it is a fantastic car in all respects. Very fast, handles great and you'll get 48mpg if you drive like a teenager and 55mpg if you want it.
Harry

donutsina911 · 15 August 2007, 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by simmons0

a Golf 2.0Tdi 140 - very fast

simmons0 · 15 August 2007, 18:24

If your not in the Porche League

codprawn · 15 August 2007, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sixy_the_red

Rover's own engine and it hasn't dropped the valve seats yet?!

Mine's a pug 306TDi engine I believe. Also intercooled, but really nice and easy to work on once to take the cooler pipes off.

I wasn't aware the L series had such problems. All ours did very high mileage - also no cam belt change until 90,000 - mine is on 175,000 without a cam belt change - don't think it's worth spending the money on the car now - just not worth it. Makes a handy backup though!!!

Hugh Jardon · 15 August 2007, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I wasn't aware the L series had such problems. All ours did very high mileage - also no cam belt change until 90,000 - mine is on 175,000 without a cam belt change - don't think it's worth spending the money on the car now - just not worth it. Makes a handy backup though!!!

so not only are all your cars more reliable, faster, more powerful, dont need new brakes, tyres last forever, quieter and more economical, they are so good they dont even need cambelt changes!!!!

next you will be telling us they dont even need oil changes as its as clean as the day it was put in!

i would have guessed that it is worth changing the cambelt asap as a broken cambelt could kill the engine and the scrap the car, then it is no good as a spare.......tell me i am wrong

you really do take the biscuit

Downhilldai · 15 August 2007, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by NautiAndNice

.... Have just got a new community therapist job ....

What's one of them?

NautiAndNice · 16 August 2007, 09:56

Cheers for all the replies everyone - sorry have been slow to respond - but there has been a good reason....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

You ain't married.

Hmm... am a little closer to this since sunset last night ... as boyfriend upgraded me from "Girlfriend of 7 years" to "Fiancee". May need to delete my previous comments about him being on the sensible/conservative side, given the size of the diamond!!

Golf Tdi sounds good (this is what I have been angling towards... ) so thank you Cleone (yes, will def be at the HogRoast on Sun!!) and Simmons0!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

... Have just got a new community therapist job .... What's one of them?

Involves working with children/teenagers with physical disabilities, developmental delay or Autism/Aspergers/ADHD in their homes/schools - which brings me to another issue ... forgot to mention that I also need to carry quite a lot of therapy kit around with me in the car ... so that rules out all Elise/Smart car/2 wheel options unfortunately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

What are the constraints regarding car age/engine size/ mileage paid/ servicing etc? I suspect that'll be more of a constraint than what you want to drive.

Would ideally prefer car to be as new as possible, with lowest possible miles on the clock - but reliability will be the most important factor - can't be doing with anything tempramental or that needs lots of tlc to keep running. Re: engine size - guess will need to keep it under 2 litre, otherwise am venturing into Navara 2.5l - and we have that already.

BMW 1 series? Any use? (... ok, may be a little outside budget...)

Niamh