Are there any of the knowledgable car men around today?

[peckarollover]

You may have read that my car was burnt to the ground in an arson attack a couple of weeks ago

Im looking for a new car.

I have 2 kids and will probably have another within the next few years.

I am also in the process of registering to be a childminder so a 7 seater is looking likely.

BUT and its a big BUT what is the cheapest I can get one for without it being realllllly crap. Any particular models to look for?

I would also really like something that is as economic to run as possible. Are there many that are diesel?

I have bought the auto trader today but my brain is hurting already!

Hi pecka, I'd go for the one you love and swallow the 500 quid difference. It's only 300 odd more if you factor in the CD player. Maybe show these two to the sales guy and s/he'd knock off 100 or 2 for you ?

But more important, what is the background to each vehicle ? Dealer ? Private Sale ? Number of Owners ? FMDSH ? Any accidents (declared or that you can see from imperfect panel gaps / overspray on rubbers / inside petrol cap etc.) ?

Also check some of the 'replaceables' you might need to replace soon - does one maybe have a new battery, or a couple of bald tyres or a more rusty exhaust system etc. ?

(Sorry if you can't get to see these two cars to have a poke and I'm only making the decision worse...)

They were both from Reg Vardy. One previous owner, full service history. The tyres on both were immaculate and both were getting a full service before the sale arghghg!

I have now found a 2.0 DTi for the same price?

what to do what to do

Still say go for the one you love, the black one.... I guess they've factored in a preferred colour combo on the outside and inside because it has 5K more miles but still costs £500 more, so they recognise it is more attractive. You'll be living with it for a fair few years, doing a fair few miles I expect, so you probably want to get the one that, to you, looks minxiest (if a Zafira can look minxy).

I don't know this model range to comment on the diesel...

Have you driven both ? That would really be the only way to decide whether you want the diesel or the petrol...

HTH (but bet it doesn't)

To add more to the angst have just found another for 6249. Dark metallic green. Higher mileage but dark interior

arghghghgh

this really is soooooooooo annoying

and NO zafiras are so UNminxy. Thats my problem I think. Im not getting that "oohhh lovely new car" feeling!

LOL @ your unminxy car choice.

Maybe get the black one and a new top or sommit ?

I am the original shopaholic - I dont need to buy a new car to buy a new top!

I WANT THE BLACK ONE

Is there any scope for getting a discount for buying with cash do you think? Or does it not work like that

Deffo. Cash talks. So does a punter who knows what's what and is ready to buy !

Go in with your new top and a pile of cash. And tell them you're not walking out without the black one for £6,500.

Put a £500 deposit on the table and if he can't do the deal, ask to speak to the dealer / sales manager who CAN.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ! HAVE FUN !

(And if it fails, you know you tried ! If you're new top is really nice, also ask for a tank of fuel and any little Vauxhall options / goodies you might have had your eye on).

Yes there should be scope, becca - they love cash buyers, their prices are fixed on the basis of a crappy old trade-in. Defo try to beat them down, even try walking away if they won't come down enough. (500 min I'd have thought?)

(Easy for me to say, am crap at this kind of thing! You want essbee who is an old hand and knocked 100s off the car she bought privately, if not 1000s.)

i love this thread! as we were just thinking of getting a Zafira and thought i'd do a 'search' to see if anyone has mentioned it... and lo and behold here you all were! what a knowledgable lot you all are...
we're sort of umming and ahhing about the new diesal 2005 version as before we wanted regualr diesal but some of you have mentioned that the new 2005 diesal is so much better....

i'll keep lurking! btw, we've come across this company anyone heard of them as there seems to be no showroomas such, you request the car you want, put down a deposit, they get it for you to view... and then you choose whether to buy it or not.... some of their cars are 2004 with mileage as low as 1000!

anyone keep up your very informative comments!

Bea - that site is brilliant! The prices are excellent. For the same price as Im about to pay you can get 14000 on the clock instead of 32000!

I wonder if they would deliver to newcastle and how much that would cost!

i'm pretty sure that they are a reputable comapny as they advertise in auto trader... however i would read the small print quite thoroughly! as dh mentioned something about losing your deposit if you didn't go for the one you requested... however, i could have got the wrong end of the stick... any way dh has e mailed them to enqure about a couple of cars so will keep you posted!.... also cam across this funny site which is well worth noting as i think somebody on here has already mentioned about the easy to steal spare wheel!

OMG - just bought a car over the phone from LMC Associates!!!!

Will I live to regret it? It comes on wednesday

Were you wearing a new top when you phoned up ?

Congrats. Hope you really enjoy it. Why not post price / model / year / colour etc. so others scanning this thread (now or in the future) can see what you ended up with ?

Go for a spin on Wednesday with your music up loud and tell us how minxy you feel in your new car.

Was it the almost-minxy black one, becca?

Congratulations anyway!

peckarollover! flippin' 'eck... talk about quick off the mark.... but ace as now i can pick your brains... what do you think of the service and the deal you got then? did it all sound reasonable etc... tell us what you got and how much you paid and any extra spare goodies you got.....

looking forward to hearing all!

Well.............Im rather scared! I kept saying to the bloke "This is bizarre"

Basically after seeing the good specs for good prices I rang up and he said just tell me what you want and I will get it for you.

I said well, I think I would like black and he said "Right, well a black one you will have, whats the point in having anything less.

They had an 03 plate in silver with only 14000 miles on for only 7500k but I wanted black GODDAMIT

He said lets have a quick look for you, right, yep got a black one here.

I said "errr, Im in Newcastle you know, is it a local service?"

"Noooooooooooooo Rebecca, we deliver anywhere, lets have a look that will be £100 to Newcastle."

02 Reg
21000 miles
BLACK SAPHIRE (!)
Dark Grey interior (which I decided I definitely wanted after seeing the lighter version) £6750

I was ummming and ahhhing about warranties etc he said "I tell you what for £7000 I will include"

Delivery to Newcastle
12 months MOT
Full Service
Full Valet
12 months Warranty

So I said "ooooo that sounds good but this is still very weird, what if its a banger"

"If its a banger, I wouldnt drive it to Newcastle and expect you to buy it but if for any reason you dont want it, you say so and you get your deposit back."

Lots of "Are you sure? This is very weird, I cant believe Im buying a car on the phone" ad nauseum

"Oh balls to it, I'll have it"

So I gave him a deposit of £300 using my credit card (hoping I will be covered if anything does go wrong!)

"When can I have it? Im very impatient."

"How about Wednesday afternoon!!!!"

"Wahey"

"Job done, thanks Rebecca, see you Wednesday"

tut tut

you wont listen to my very sensible advice will you?

Not sure if this will work but

THIS is my exact new car! Thats actually the one I will be getting I just noticed the reg plate and the price is higher on the website.

Mileage is 24k not 21k oops!

We were JUST ABOUT to ring up and buy the black one for the other day

For 7k that one had 33000 miles and no warranty included.

Sounds fab. Check it's not been written off etc. etc. (run a reg check or get LMC to fax you theirs) and then go and enjoy !

Did you see it H2D? You like?

How do I run a reg check?

dunno. Ask LMC or else look in autotrader or google for an online service. I haven't bought a car for years, and I just check 'em out with a toothcomb and a dollop of paranoia, but these services check it hasn't got HPI / been written off etc.

Lovely car. Very minxy.

hey peckarollover... what happenned? has it arrived, did you buy it? do you look minxy in it????

tell tell tell!!!!

hey peckarollover, you're making me nervous... did it turn up????