Email Matt with your questions
For further buying advice visit Matthew's site: www.UsedCarExpert.co.uk
Hello,
I currently have a Renault Clio 1.5dci, which I used to go to university.
But now I take the train, and no longer need such a frugal car, and also
would prefer a smoother petrol engine. Also not being the smallest of
people, I want a car which I can comfortably sit in and also fit adults
comfortably in the back. I want a car with a small-ish engine, which is also
cheap to insure. Any ideas?
Thanks
Name and address withheld
Hello,
As an academic sort, you will probably understand Venn diagrams. Right in the
middle where all the circles overlap, is a small family hatchback with a 1.4
litre engine.
The 1.4 engines have enough torque to be nippy in town and enough power to
cruise down the motorway.
But as far as the insurance computer is concerned it is neither desirable to
steal, nor powerful enough to crash easily, so the premium is nice and
compact.
You are spoilt for choice: Vauxhall Astra, Ford Focus, Nissan Almera, Mazda 3,
Honda Civic, Chrysler PT Cruise (if you have a sense of humour). I would
have any of these cars (except the PT Cruiser).
At present I have a VW Sharan that is over 10 years old and would like to
replace it with something smaller. However my son is about six foot six
tall. He learnt in a Ford Focus, but found that small. Smart Cars are high,
but are also too small for him.
Have you any suggestions?
Regards
Phillipa O'Brien, UK
Dear Philipa,
You remind me of my Mum; prepared to accept any nonsense that her sons tell
her because her sons are ‘perfect.’ As a reader of this column you will know
that my mother at least is wrong, and therefore you possibly are from time
to time too.
The Focus is more than adequate for a 6ft tall chap – I should know I am 6ft 3
and spent much of last week in a Nissan Micra. So if you were thinking about
a Focus, then do just that, but go for on of the top specifications, as the
seat will have greater flexibility.
One of the key things for the long-legged among us is the ability to lower the
base of the chair. This allows you to straighten the legs and everything
works out just fine from there.
You might also like to look at the Nissan Note, a small car that people think
of as quite big; it is certainly airy inside. Or test the new Seat Leon –
again it feels bigger than it is and while the cabin is not particularly
spacious I suspect your son might like the sporty image and will, therefore,
mange to fit in.
Dear Matt
My beloved Alfa 146 is about to bite the dust at it's next MOT. It is the
only car I have ever had that really indulged my petrol-head tendencies. I
had always gone for the cheap, reliable (and dull) options before. I will
miss it very much. I now have 2 children aged 3 and 6, a large dog, a school
run to do and a job that involves a lot of driving and not very good mileage
payments. I do not want a people carrier of any description, I feel as if a
part of me would die if I got one of those. I need a reliable car that looks
ok, drives well with a bit of poke and can take the dog, children, extra
children and all the bits and pieces they need. Also not heavy on petrol. I
have about £3k and will take out a loan for a couple more if I need to, to
get a decent car.
Please advise as to the best buy!
Thanks
Anna Jauncey, UK
Per cortesìa Anna!
I think that’s Italian for hello, but I may have just ordered a coffee.
The arrival of children and a dog does not mean giving up the Latin spirit.
What you want is an Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon. Or, in English, Alfa 156
Estate.
A 2002 1.6 TS Lusso or Turismo are within budget at just £3,300 with average
mileage of 65,000. There are 16 checks to make, so that you can avoid common
problems and wear items. Check for those and there is no reason to think it
won’t deliver another 40,000 reliable miles.
Take out the loan and you can afford a 2005 year car with under 50,000 miles.
Which is probably the smarter move. You could also get a private warranty if
nervous about bills.
Dear Matt
I currently drive a 2004 BMW X5 and have a narrow fit car crate in the boot
for the dog which he has just grown too tall for. I can’t find a higher one
that doesn’t take up all the width of the boot, thereby leaving me no space
for the shopping. I was thinking therefore of using a headrest mounted
divider like this
to separate the boot from the rear seats, and then a further divider
down the middle of the boot to separate dog from edible items in supermarket
bags but can’t find anything. Do you have any ideas?
Many thanks
Regards
Nina Neicho, UK
Nina,
I don’t think anyone makes one. So at the risk of making myself look like a
burke, here are my ideas:
1) My late uncle had BMW make a baby seat for his Granddaughter from the same
hide as the car upholstery. So consider giving them a call.
2) Make one. Then take it onto Dragon’s Den and make your millions.
3) Buy some sturdy lockable plastic boxes to put the food in.
4) Put the food on the back floor.
5) Strap the dog into the passenger seat. I’m sure its illegal but I find it
hilarious when dogs act like humans.
6) Call the market leaders ‘Saunders’ and ask them – but I think we know the
answer
7) Put a plasma TV in the dog’s kennel so he’s not bored at home when you go
shopping?
Hi Matt
I read recently that VW are launching the Golf Mk 6 therefore I want to
sell my 2004 Mk 5 (1.9 TDI SE) and upgrade to an Audi A3 (2.0 TDI SE 54/05
plate). However after checking I see that Audi are launching a new style A3
next year. What is your advice on the effect of revamped models on residual
prices? Will the used A3 price be better value next year as a result of the
new model?
Regards,
Ryan O'Malley, UK
Hi Ryan,
A new model launch affects the price of nearly new cars that are for sale in
the months around the launch time. But that’s about it.
You car is worth £6,780 - £8,475. If someone has that kind of budget and
fancies a Golf, then they can’t get anything newer, so the new car is
irrelevant to that part of the trade.
You want a 2005 Audi A3, which is worth around £11,300 - £14,500. The new
model will be priced at least £19,820. So again, your purchase won’t put a
dealer under any pressure to reduce his price. Nor will anyone else’s and
therefore they will leave the prices of 05 cars as they are.
If, however you had £17,000 to spend, and in the last few weeks of the
dealer’s financial quarter you offered to take a brand new or nearly new old
shape A3, that should be worth over £20,000 he might take it to a) get rid
of the old shape stock and b) hit his target. That’s a 15 per cent drop you
have created.
But in 12 months your car will be worth the same as it always would have been.
So you are quids in.
Hi Matt
I passed my driving test last year, aged 26 and am FINALLY ready to buy my
first car. However, I am completely clueless as to what and where I should
buy! I'm an opera singer, and my car would be used for long distance travel,
rather than city driving. It needs to be reliable, and cheap to run as I'm a
struggling artist!
I have been given lots of different advice - my brother in law recommends a
Peugeot 206 (I think!), but my dad says that Japanese cars - a Honda or
Toyota or Nissan. So I think I am leaning towards a Japanese car, but I
really have no idea how to make my decision or what to look for when looking
at them. I have around £3000-3500 to spend.
Please help!
Michelle Foster, UK
Michelle,
Congratulations on passing your test. Your Dad is right, Hondas and Toyotas
are very reliable. But, you can’t afford a Honda Jazz. You can afford a 1.3
Toyota Yaris but only from 2000 or 2001 with 40-50,000 average miles.
As you are a struggling artist and an opera singer at that, here’s my idea:
your budget will buy a 2005 1.2 Fiat Punto, which is going to be cheaper to
run, will only have 22,000 miles on the clock and a bit of warranty left.
They have proven themselves time and time again to be a versatile, economical
and enjoyable first car. My friend has a yellow one. We took the mickey when
he got it, but everyone loves it really.
Dear Matt,
My wife and I have just found out that we're having twins and need advice
as to which used car to buy. The wife's VW Beetle is just not up to the job!
My primary concern in selecting a car is its green credentials. Next up
would be boot space - 400 litres plus would be great. These two requirements
don't seem to sit happily together, and I'm struggling to find something
within my budget. I'd also be looking for reliability and build quality.
We will need the car fairly infrequently to transport two adults and the
two twins. I will be looking to keep the car for just a couple of years and
then downsize again once the era of prams and related baby paraphernalia has
passed. I have £5000 to spend. Any advice greatly appreciated!
Many thanks,
Chris Ormandy, UK
Dear Chris,
Your budget is a bit of a barrier to greenness really. Conventional wisdom
says the best you can do is an economical diesel. Although as diesels chuck
out carcinogens I’m really not sure how much longer it will be in vogue.
Here are my top family cars with big boots for under £5,000:
1) Volkswagen Golf Estate (500 litres). Long regarded as a benchmark for build
quality. You can afford a 2002 1.9 Tdi.
2) Vauxhall Astra (470 litres). Build quality is just as good – no, really.
You can afford a 2004 1.9CDTi.
And the one I would actually buy:
3) Saab 9-3 Sportwagon (419 litres). Build quality and style. You can afford a
2003 2.2 TiD.
Hi,
My wife needs to replace her much loved, but frankly knackered Metro. We
need a small 5-door petrol hatchback. But, the important thing is we need to
disable the passenger airbag as we want to put a baby seat in the front. The
budget is up to £5K. so far we are struggling to find something suitable
that can turn off the airbag....any suggestions?
Cheers
Daniel Spring, London, UK
Dear Daniel,
I think there are only two Metros left on the road. If yours is yellow, then I
saw it in Parliament Square the other week – it did look a bit jaded round
the edges!
£5,000 gives you plenty of options in terms of small 5 door cars, but trying
to find out if you can turn the airbag off is darned tricky! I believe you
can de-active the front air bag on Corsas, which should be perfect?
Hello I am asking for advice and confirmation
I have a 2002 Alfa Romeo 156 2.4 JTD. I understood VED to rise from £170 to
£210 for pre-2001 cars, then the bands up to M for post-2001. The VCA
helpline person the other week confirmed all this when I rang about my 2002
car
I'm still working to this
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/7293011.stm
with lookup on this
http://www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk
because i'm finding the lookup database and PDF lists are confusing on VCA
http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk
So what am I paying next year please, £300 then a reduction thereafter?
Did I make a mistake and bought a 2002-2006 model (currently band G) when I
should have bought a 2000 model? Shall I advertise my 1999 car for sale as
'cheaper to tax' than a younger design even with same engine?
Isn't this likely to encourage car-ringing thieves ?
Name and address withheld
Hi,
The government have made this pretty confusing – but, and I write this with
affection, you’ve just blown my mind.
The new tax bands apply to cars registered after 2001, so buying a 2002 or
later car means that yes, you are going to have the new tax bands applied.
I believe your car emits 155 g/km Co2 (but please check this on your car’s V5
registration document), so it currently sits in band D at £145.
Next year in the new bandings it will be in G and will be £150 and the year
after £155.
Hi,
I've been driving a BMW Mini Cooper S since they were first launched and I
must say I absolutely love it however I now need to trade up to something
larger that would suit my equally racy but expectant wife!
Ideally I'd like something as fun as the Mini, with good engine performance
but something that stands a chance of fitting a push chair in the back.
I'm currently considering the new Audi S3 Sportsback, a BMW 3 Series or
possibly a Ford Focus ST. Do you have any advice on what could be a fun but
practical larger car?
Thanks,
Paul, Brighton, UK
Hi Paul,
The Mini’s 160 litre boot is tiddly, isn’t it? You are more than doubling your
capacity with the suggestions you have made.
Also take a look at the Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Turbo with panoramic glass roof. It
makes for an amazing drive on a nice day. The windscreen reaches right back,
half way across the cabin and the turbo petrol engine makes it a hoot to
drive.
You would need to put quite a lot of extra cash in, but think about the Alfa
Romeo Brera too. Your racy wife should go absolutely nuts over that.
I am thinking of buying an MG TF for the summer. I am leaning towards the
1.8 160 VVC as, surprisingly, it is to be cheaper in tax with the projected
road tax changes than the less powerful derivatives and, hopefully, a lot
more fun. Are there any considerations to way up before buying such a
vehicle in the post MGRover world, such as servicing and parts?Also, are
there any major things to look out for when purchasing the car? I hear that
they are prone to head gasket failure.
Tony Wheat, Wells, UK
Hi Tony,
The MG TF is a good fun choice. There are 14 key things to look out for,
including whether the cam belt has been changed, the head gasket is OK and
the coolant pipes under the car are intact and corrosion free. It’s all
quite easy to check
this.
The parts business was sold long before Longbridge closed, so parts are no
problem. You might want to wait a while though. Now China is making them
again, the very firm prices we have seen over the last two years may start
to soften. You risk being caught out if you buy a used one now and the new
ones don’t sell well (because their prices will drop and who wants an old
one when you can have a new one?).
Further information: www.usedcarexpert.co.uk
