brum brum.

[ayoub_ibrahim]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Paddy [MU]:
I am having to borrow the money anyway, paying in installments just complicates things - it would be cheaper to buy it and get the free insurance.</font>

you don't understand Paddy,you borrow the whole sum as you planned & put it in a high interest account. pay the deposit & monthly payments from that account & you also earn interest on the sum remaining in the account. you should still get the free insurance!
at the end of 2 years you'll have to fork out the remainder but you'll have an extra sum in your account from the interest, effectively reducing the cost of the car to yourself.

[Gurm]

spooge:

If it were a choice between driving a Ford (of any persuasion other than a mustang or something) and walking... I'd walk.

- Gurm

------------------
Listen up, you primitive screwheads! See this? This is my BOOMSTICK! Etc. etc.

[Paddy]

Cheers all!

Qyoub, I dont think i can get free insurrance on any car unless i buy it outright.

I test drove the Finesse today......golf cart!

The dealer claims that Ford are changing their Fiestas on 1st Feb....so i had better wait and see...

There must be a car out there with my name on it...those new beatles look quite funky...

[agallag]

Don't you mean the new Beetles? The new Beatles are called Oasis

------------------
Andrew
Carpe Cerevisi

[Paddy]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">The new Beatles are called Oasis</font>

As a scouser I shall take that personally!

---

Having searched the .net I have found a shortlist of cars to investigate.

Fiat punto
Fiat Seicento
Ford Fiesta
Toyota Yaris
Skoda Fabia

All seem a bit girlie....

Can anyone else recommend anything? (Ant?)

[spoogenet]

Cannondale makes a rather nice bike. If you're more budget conscious, then may I recommend the Schwinn.

If you want a decently powered golf cart, I'd stay away from the Ford. Not sure about Toyota Europe, but they make a thing called the Echo for the US market. Personally, I hate the thing. It just looks ridiculous to me. But I'd buy it over a Ford without hesitation.

I would also recommend you keep your distance from Fiats. (F)ix (I)t (A)ll the (T)ime. Yeah, Fiats are rather scary. And do you really want to drive a punto?

How about an Impreza WRX? Or maybe a Clio Sport V6?

b

[ayoub_ibrahim]

well, if you get a Lada ,you'll have everyone talking about you, plus you'll easily be able to afford the insurance .
ever thought of getting a low milage secondhand car? some have just delivery milage on the clock & will save you about a gran! enough money to get your insurance!

[Wombat]

Spooge, I'll take my Schwinn anyday over just about anything else out there.

[Gurm]

Once again, I understand fiscal reality. But Paddy, please PLEASE consider your alternatives. All the cars you mentioned are... how to put this... garbage.

The Toyota is the best of the lot, and even that is poo.

Do you really want to buy a car that won't last 5 years under normal driving conditions?

- Gurm

------------------
Listen up, you primitive screwheads! See this? This is my BOOMSTICK! Etc. etc.

[SteveC]

Hey Partick - I was in a similar position to you about 9 months ago - I had a loan f ~£8000 to spend on a car... after a hell of a lot of looking around, I ended up buying a Rover 214si. Although it was nearly 2 years old, it had less that 10k miles on it and I was the first owner after Lookers (the dealer selling it). I can't stand Fiestas, and don't understand anyone that does.
OK, you may say isn't it risky buying a rover, but Lookers will still be around even if rover aren't.
My 214si has a 105bhp 1.4 engine which I've had 120Mph out of and 0-60 according to the book is in 10 seconds.
Plus, it looks just soo much nicer!



Although, if you bought one new (which I could have if I had waited till now to buy it) it'd be the newer model, the Rover 25 as shown in the pic above.

I've been real pleased with this car. It's bigger than a Fiesta, but a touch smaller than an escort.

I've had 2 escorts in the past (MK 4 and 5) and couldn't bear another Ford.

------------------
Cheers,
Steve

"Life is what we make of it, yet most of us just fake"

[cjolley]

Hey Gurm,
You brought back memories of my 1972 2002!
What a great car! I wore the poor thing out!
My wife has a Volvo with about 200k on it.
I drive a 93 Lexus GS300, wouldn't trade it
for anything.
chuck

[Gurm]

Plus, despite the fact that they divested themselves of the company, you ought to be able to get continued service from your friendly neighborhood BMW dealer for that Rover.

Rovers are good cars. That sounds like a mah-velous suggestion to moi.

- Gurm

------------------
Listen up, you primitive screwheads! See this? This is my BOOMSTICK! Etc. etc.

[Rags]

Rovers are NOT any better than a Ford, and I would venture to go on record saying they are worse in reliability and durability.

The only reason to recommend a Rover is because, well, it says Rover on it, and that is akin to a true European brand

Rags

[Paddy]

Ayoub, its not just the free insurance, but the 60% nocliams bonus that comes with it! I have to getmy insuracne premium down to three figures for next year!

That rover does look quite sexy!

oh btw, my mum went out one day and bought a Lada.....my dad still has not forgiven her!

----

What about less common brands such as Proton? They may not be state of the art, but with 2 years insurrance, 3 years RAC cover... worth a look?

[The PIT]

I used to have an XR2 with a rally cam rally suspension only a slightly uprated carb. Went round corners like it was on rails and ate 2 litre injections and still did 36 to 40 miles a gallon.
It weren't a girlies car. Shame the car insurance hikes forced me to get rid of it.