Old banger or shiny new motor - what kind of car have you got? And which model/company would you recommend?

[MissScarlett]

We've had 3 cars in the last five years, all have cost about £1000 and have been pretty old. We've always saved up for them and then paid outright.

However, they've variously broken down and had to have bits replaced and it's cost us a fair bit to keep them roadworthy. DP is suggesting a new car - something small for about £6,000 on the basis that it'll run better and not need to be replaced any time soon - but we will have to pay the dealer on a monthly basis and it's going to be over £100 per month, maybe more.

We are having real trouble making a decision, especially as we're just about to move to a cheaper rented property to increase our savings (trying to get together a deposit for a mortgage at some point). What do you think we should do?

Also, what car would you recommend for a family of four? - my only considerations are that it's safe, cheap to run and won't break down in the near future.

Cars are like football, don't you think? An incomprehensible boy thing.

I usually buy a new car and keep it for 3 years. However with all the creditcrunching going on, I'm keeping the current one for 5 years.

The thing about new cars is that you get precisely the colour and spec that you want. Also you get free servicing and warranty cover for the first three years so no repair costs.

Depends Quattro what your spec is.

Mine is, to have a car that I never feel guilty about not washing, never worry about muddy shoes or crisp crumbs in the back and one that most definately doesn't have that horrible 'new' smell that makes me feel sick.

I also hate my eardrums popping when new car doors close, and a bit of rattle and a bit of a draft helps keep travel sickness at bay.

Inverted snob - moi?

I had a vauxhall corsa 1.0 for 10 years without any problems at all and it was already 3 years old when I bought it! Dh also had a Vauxhall Cavalier which done more than 250,000k before we scrapped it - so loving the Vauxhalls.

Cheap to tax run and insure.

Will never have another Renault - was off the road more than it was on it.

Loved my Passat but drank fuel.

DH has a volvo v40 which we bought off ebay for half the price we would have paid on the forecourts. Ex-police so extremely well maintained and they do a safety check before it is decommissioned so you roughly know what you are getting. Have had it for nearly 2 years without problems. Is roomy with excellent boot space (we have 3 dcs btw) and fairly economical.

I know have a Mondeo 2.0 Zetec. Nice looking car, fairly spacious and lovely to drive but drinks fuel like the Passat.

My mechanics motto (which I obviously ignored) is don't buy Ford, French, or Fiat. He recommends Nissans which apparently go forever with little maintenance and cheap!

Btw to answer the question - would never buy new - especially in the current climate!