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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To get a Peugeot 206 as my first car?

72 replies

itsbetterthanabox · 08/04/2014 13:58

My mum is very against all French cars! And the engine size is a little big.
It's an automatic, 1.6 litre engine, hatchback, 51 reg. its going to be Â£800. Is this a bad/good idea?

OP posts:

RhondaJean · 09/04/2014 10:37

My dad is a motor mechanic and he has a Kia, so I guess they must be reliable.

I just don't like them but that's nothing to do with how good they are :-)

ComposHat · 09/04/2014 11:02

Depends on what model Kia. They've improved hugely in the last few years. The newer ones come with a great 7 year warranty.

Stinklebell · 09/04/2014 11:09

I've owned a Renault and currently own a Peugeot - had it for about 3 years

I love, love, love the Peugeot. Never had anything serious go wrong with it, never more than about £50 to get it through its MOT, never broken down (I don't want to jinx myself)

The Renault on the other hand - does anyone remember that Only Fools and Horse's thing about Trigger's broom? It's had 6 new heads and 8 new handles? Well, that was the Renault. Bloody awful thing and wouldn't buy a Renault again if you paid me (well, it would depend on how much you paid me, but you know what I mean).

My friend has a Kia - a couple of years old and she loves it.

ComposHat · 09/04/2014 11:45

If it is the Piccanto the mk1 is good, mk2 (post 2011) is excellent. Ideal first cars both.

Original poster

itsbetterthanabox · 09/04/2014 11:57

It's Kia mentor. 38000 miles, auto, 1.6 again!

OP posts:

VelmaD · 09/04/2014 12:03

I scrapped my 206 last year. It was a 51 reg but I cried when I added up all the repairs. It was a money pit. My friends 307 has gone the same way.

My mum has a 107 which has no street cred but cheap to run and drive and so far little problems.

But personally I wouldn't touch Peugeots again ever. And im not old at 30. And a bit.

VelmaD · 09/04/2014 12:05

And I now have Kia! Bloody ace cars, doubt I will ever go with anything else (even if the older ones do look a bit dull and boring!)

FrankSpenser · 09/04/2014 12:40

Toyota
Kia
VW

I personally wouldn't look at any other brand other than the above.

Juliaparker25 · 09/04/2014 14:05

Through work (Company Cars) I have been saddled with PSA Cars for 16 years . They all went wrong, some with trivial annoying electrical faults (Hard to diagnose , some hard to fix) to major engine components and ancillaries failures.........The Service from dealers has been universally petulant and bordering on the fraudulent (Unnecessary component replacement or lack of it ) Please do not buy anything with PSA written on it .............

ComposHat · 09/04/2014 15:12

Blimey the Mentor is a right barge. Same size as a Mondeo. Never sold in huge quantities in the UK and was made before KIA started upping their game style wise. I can't see why it wouldn't be reliable.

As a Toyota devotee abd the owner of Toyota Corrolla automatic. I would recommend looking out for one of those. Mine in 18 years old and still going strong.

HermioneWeasley · 09/04/2014 23:59

I had a 206 which was lovely to drive but a nightmare in terms of maintenance and things going wrong. In reliability tests the far eastern cars always come out best - try a Honda, Toyota or Hyundai. When I was forever calling out the RAC to my Peugeot the guy said he'd never been called out to a Honda and that was what he drove.

Original poster

itsbetterthanabox · 10/04/2014 11:07

Ok I have now found a vauxhall Astra 5 door hatchback, 1.6 2004.
I can't work out how big it will be!
Opinions on this brand? Ah mnetters and their wealth of knowledge

OP posts:

Lj8893 · 10/04/2014 11:59

My first car was an Astra but a 1.4 and it was very old. But I loved it!! It died after about 6 months but I driven lots of miles in it so it did me well (it really was old)
After that I had a corsa which was my favourite car I ever owned. It always had something wrong with it but was easily and cheaply fixed everytime.

lechers · 10/04/2014 12:25

My DH had a peugot 107, which he had for 8 years, racked up 100,000 miles without any serious repair work needing doing. But it's not a great car to drive.

I have a Yaris, and that's a great car. Never had any trouble with any of my Yaris cars. They just run and run. But their second hand value is high, so you don't get as much for your money.

We've also got a micra. That's also proving to be a very reliable little car. It's nowhere near as nice a car as the Yaris, but big improvement on the 107.

ComposHat · 11/04/2014 12:10

Never owned a Vauxhall and only ever driven a Vauxhall. They are popular with fleet managers as they are cheap to buy and run, so there are lots of high mile ex company Vauxhalls knocking about. Sounds cheap, how many miles has it done?

I tend to buy cars at the budget end of the market (500-1000) pounds and it doesn't pay to focus on the make of car at the expense of the condition of the car you are looking at. For example, I own a Toyota Corolla, renown for its reliability and durability, but there are plenty of Corollas out there with sky high mileage (they were a popular choice with minicabbers) have sky high mileage and have received next to no maintenance and will cause a world of trouble. Equally there might be a 206 that has been looked after extremely carefully and have a full service history and given trouble free motoring. I was lucky to get a decent mileage, well maintained Corolla for a good price

I would identify the size of car you want and your budget:

then prioritise

Mileage (a very low mileage isn't always a good thing)
Service History
Cambelt changed (circa 50,000 or more)
Long MOT

then Manufacturer. (There are some makes and models with known faults that can be costly so would make an older/cheaper car uneconomical to repair) but at this end of the market it doesn't do to prioritise brand at the expense of condition.

Go and visit a few cars, test drive them, size up the owner/seller.

Out of interest where are you finding the Mentor/Astra and 206 you've mentioned here?

BigBoobiedBertha · 11/04/2014 12:33

Ha, all this prejudice over French cars! I have had various Peugeots for the last 25 yrs, starting with the 205 GTi and have just got a new one (308 - voted European car of the year since I bought it too). They have come a long way in 25 years in terms of build quality but I can't say I have ever had one that requires that much maintenance. They have all been very robust - they'd have to be to survive the French driving style. I was going to change to a different manufacturer this time but still ended up with a Peugeot. German ones were too expensive and very dull plus very limited engine choices and the Japanese ones weren't rated any higher than the Peugeots in the reviews I have read. I wasn't buying a small hatchback though. The Seat was the closest I got to swapping brands but in the end the bench like back seats did for it - it was a driver's car but not great for anybody who wanted to share the experience with you. The German influence again I think. In the end the Peugeot matched the driving experience and had the comfort for the passengers.

And just to say, my DH has an Audi. It is a lovely car to drive and be driven in but that has been off the road more than my last Peugeot which was 11 yrs old German is not necessarily better.

I totally agree you have to take each car on its merits. If you can get a qualified mechanic to give the car the once over before you buy it would be a good idea but other than that, make sure the service history stacks up, it has been well looked after and the cambelt has been changed and all that. Don't be put off by the badge on the front if it has otherwise been a good car.

Original poster

itsbetterthanabox · 11/04/2014 13:16

The 206 was from a friend selling her car.
The others I have found on autotrader and local garages.

OP posts:

Original poster

itsbetterthanabox · 11/04/2014 13:18

I am prioritising service history, mileage and mot. I've just also got my mum breathing down my neck about certain brands

OP posts:

ComposHat · 11/04/2014 13:23

Ignore her. If your friend is the type to look after her car properly, I would go for that rather than taking a leap into the unknown with a dealer person out of the paper. Regardless of the badge, does the 206 fit what you want in terms of space, price and condition? If so, go for that rather than taking a leap into the unknown. It is less likely that your friend will unload a lemon onto you if she has to see you regularly.

Equally don't feel pressured to buy it just because she is your friend.

Original poster

itsbetterthanabox · 11/04/2014 13:31

The only thing is my friend has only had the car since January. She needed as a stop gap before she got her beetle. So although I trust her she doesn't even know that car that well iyswim.

OP posts:

ComposHat · 11/04/2014 13:36

Hmm that puts a different complexion on it. If It had been a well looked after family car then I'd say go for it. But then she may equally be in the dark as you.

Scratches head, gets splinter in bum.

BigBoobiedBertha · 11/04/2014 14:01

I was actually going to disgree with Compos and say beware of buying from friends because if there is something wrong and she didn't realise or chose not to disclose it, it could become an issue between you. Don't mix business and pleasure because it could get tricky. Given that she probably doesn't know much about the car, I would say that was even more of an issue.

If you think it might be a good car and your friend has been happy in the short time she has had it, don't let it put you off though. Get it professionally checked over if you can, just don't rely on your friend to know all there is to know.

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