Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2021 14:41:18 GMT
I have long contended that Scotland and to a lesser extent Wales are far more European than England. However, the points you make about useability in upland regions will be more compelling to a resident of the Llyn Peninsula or the Grampians than a boy in Reading.
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Post by Humph on Feb 12, 2021 14:55:59 GMT
Sure of course.
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Post by dixinormus on Feb 12, 2021 21:15:19 GMT
A Panda is a great idea. I bought a new fairly basic one with the 1.1 FIRE engine back in 2005 or so. Fun to drive and remarkably spacious inside. They still look good too in my eyes. Can’t be expensive to maintain, and Al likes Fiat doesn’t he?!
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Post by Humph on Feb 13, 2021 10:36:35 GMT
One of my son's mates has a Panda of that vintage, a red one. He does look a little bit incongruous in it being a 6' 5", 20 stone, muscle bulked rugby player with a huge mop of black curly hair and a woodcutter beard.
But as my son says, no one is going to tell Luke that his car looks a bit naff are they...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2021 8:45:05 GMT
A Panda is a great idea. I bought a new fairly basic one with the 1.1 FIRE engine back in 2005 or so. Fun to drive and remarkably spacious inside. They still look good too in my eyes. Can’t be expensive to maintain, and Al likes Fiat doesn’t he?! Al Jr does not like Panda. |
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Post by dixinormus on Feb 16, 2021 7:20:05 GMT
Beggars and Choosers... as Humph may have said elsewhere?!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2021 9:05:10 GMT
Whilst that is true, there can be some level of choice here. There will be a certain budget, certain requirements, and a range of options will present, from which it wouldn't be unreasonable for me to choose something with which he is happy. I don't have to buy a Panda, it's not that it's infinitely superior to other models which he would prefer.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2021 15:40:57 GMT
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Post by EspadaIII on Feb 17, 2021 16:21:45 GMT
The Ford 2.3 auto was supposedly a total dog if I recall, not that fast and rather thirsty. But it looks like a nice clean car and if you're not doing too many miles - who cares. Huge boot - you won't need an estate with that car.
The Punto looks fine - you can't go wrong with a 1.2 8v. A bit of street cred and cheap to maintain and fix.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2021 16:29:08 GMT
Yep, those are my thoughts too. The 2.3 petrol only came with a TC auto, and in Ghia/Titanium/X spec, so was only bought by old duffers, not fleets. Most of them seem low mileage, single owner, full history examples. I expect they make a good buy. A 163bhp TC petrol auto, how bad can it be. And like you say, don't care if it's thirsty, it'll do 1500 miles a year if it's lucky.
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Post by dixinormus on Feb 18, 2021 1:10:41 GMT
For an annual mileage of 1500 I think I would find a way to make do and buy nothing at all for the time-being..?!
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Post by Humph on Feb 18, 2021 7:55:45 GMT
What, like, for example, sell the Leaf and get a cheap learner car instead maybe?
😉
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2021 10:06:24 GMT
For an annual mileage of 1500 I think I would find a way to make do and buy nothing at all for the time-being..?! Whilst walking the dog yesterday evening, I did come back to the idea (which has been mooted here before) of a fleet comprising the Leaf and a half decent learner car such as a nearly new Tipo for about £6k, then renting a large/esatate car occasionally when required. Having the Tipo would then at least give me a reliable long distance option for an emergency solo dash to Wales for example, and would actually do for all of us on a short weekend break, so renting something more substantial/powerful for a very occasional long drive might be the most cost effective thing I could do. But I think I still prefer the idea of a low mileage 2.3 Mondeo Ghia alongside an old banger for the lad. |
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Avant
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Post by Avant on Feb 18, 2021 12:49:27 GMT
Doesn't this come down to whether you like the Honda? Financially there may not be much in it between the (I think you said) £200 a month for the Civic, to be paid off in the next couple of years, and the £4k 12-y-o Mondeo which will cost more in repairs unless you're lucky. And if the cost of the Civic is still a bit higher, then there are cheaper options for Junior.
But if you just feel like a change, then absolutely have fun looking around. I'm sure I've changed cars too often (23 in 51 years, not to mention about a dozen of SWMBO's), but I like it.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2021 12:55:35 GMT
No, I still like the Honda and ideally would like it keep it. But. Keeping it, and the Leaf (management diktat), and adding an extra car to run (insurance for junior being the longest pole in that tent) exceeds the amount of money I'm happy to shell out monthly on vehicles. I can use the £200/month PCP cost of the Honda across 2 older cars, including insurance, like the Mondeo/Punto combination. One slight downside of the Honda is emerging though - my lad is already taller than me (shock, horror) and struggling with legroom in it.
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