Reliable second hand car options

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Originally Posted by Homestar

I should take one for a drive - it's for my Daughter and while she can drive a manual, based on the driving she does, an Auto would be more suitable - what are the Renault slush boxes like as far as reliability goes - and these vehicles in general - being a Pom, French cars aren't high on my list... [bigwhistle]

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Don't buy anything with a 4spd automatic. That 5spd and 6spds autos I'm pretty sure are quality gearboxes... I think the 6spds are all AM6 boxes and known a really nice gearbox that is reliable.

My criteria when looking for daughter/wife cars:
-must not be the 1.6 petrol turbo (psa/bmw)
-must not be the 1.6Hdi diesel (psa)
-must not be an early 4spd auto (dpo -renault, al4 peugeot/citroen)
-no stupid CVT/duel clutch/automated manuals .... 'cos I don't like them, even if they might be reliable ?


The 2 litre diesel motor is an absolute gem. All the N/A petrols seem endlessly bulletproof.

The nicest car modern car I've driven lately is the 3 cylinder citroen cactus. The ride quality is spectacular for a small car ... they ride like an old time Renault. Oh, they will have the 3cylinder turbo which is a neat little motor. you need to make sure its had the recalls done as they have a wet cambelt. on the early cars the belt deteriates (not in a way that causes breakage) rather the lining on the back of the belt breaks up and clogs the oil pump pickup.

I know everyone thinks these cars are unreliable.... But gee's I've had a run out of them buy waiting a few years, and picking the reliable models (eg: I go for the 2litre diesel and 6spd manual. My wife has done 250,000kms in her poogoe over the last decade.... the only thing its had other than minimal normal servicing is a flywheel/clutch really early on. This happened with all manufacturers as the dual mass flywheels died on just about every manufacturers car before they got them right).

I ended up with this for my daughter

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-c...ml#post3166194

I probably paid twice the market value .... and it has a stupid robotic change manual gearbox..... But it only had 55,000kms on it and was registered and roadworthy for $5K.

I don't recommend something like this for high milage, its been to warnanbool quite a few times, the 45profile tyres are very unsuitable for the appalling state of the country roads (though its so agile you can miss nearly everything so long as its not over a crest or hidden by a corner).

I spent ages .... just ages looking. My wife told "We are not getting a ****ty unreliable citroen like I've always had to get". We looked for months ... and guess what she agreed to buying after all the hugely expensive high milage rubbish that was out there. I reckon it was nuts paying substantial $$ for an old popular branded car with 250k++++ kms on it. Any automatic for starters is pretty much completelly worn out at this milage.

Remember to budget for a full service and cambelt change on anything that doesn't have evidence of a recent cambelt change :)

I'll keep a lookout. There is a diesel in her price range - a manual (probably not a deal breaker) but doesn't come with a RWC - which I don't have time to sort myself, but I might go take it for a spin as it's close and I can get a feel for them. :)

I'll see about taking a petrol version for a spin too. The diesel option is quite attractive as far as economy goes.

Ok, apart from being as ugly as a hat full of arseholes, is there any reason to avoid something like this - carsales.com.au

Would she care if its an ugly people mover looking type thing?

carsales.com.au

low milage, they are actually quite small. It has the 2litre diesel and should be the AM6 Asian 6spd automatic. I've never driven one, but I'm pretty sure they are vast inside, you could fold up/down rows of seats and make it into a big van.

Don't be tempted by anything really cheap with the clutchless manual or 1.6turbo diesel. The car above is the same driveline used in millions of cars ... and probably still being used in the current cars. If you're really lucky check the VIN number for letters "RHH" -- these go waayyy better. My wife has the 407 with a RHR motor and the RCZ with the RHH motor (same motor, different turning) .... and the different is remarkable. RHR cars are the lower powered versions, but are still excellent.

See the prices ...... $5k .... if that had a japanese badge at that milage it would be 4 times the asking price!

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Originally Posted by Homestar

Ok, apart from being as ugly as a hat full of arseholes, is there any reason to avoid something like this - carsales.com.au

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2litre 5spd manual. Yep, I'd already be looking at it. I'm unsure of the reliability of hardtop mechanisms --I honestly don't know--, but if it ever played up, I'd just unplug the switch so it stays a hardtop ( Yes I'm that dodgy [bigrolf] [bigrolf] )

I like oddities such as this (my wifes RCZ is the same thing). You see they have either been a second car that lives in a shed and lived a pampered life..... Or I reckon more likely especially with the RCZ they have been purchased by childless gay people and lived a very pampered life. No I'm not attacking gay people..... But look at the award my wifes car won when new [bigwhistle]

Buzz Car: European Gay Car of the Year 2011: Peugeot RCZ

That absolutely fits the bill - apart from no RWC but it certainly expands the search. She's used to the room a wagon gives so this would be perfect.

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Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

2litre 5spd manual. Yep, I'd already be looking at it. I'm unsure of the reliability of hardtop mechanisms --I honestly don't know--, but if it ever played up, I'd just unplug the switch so it stays a hardtop ( Yes I'm that dodgy [bigrolf] [bigrolf] )

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It's a little out of the way and might not have enough room in it for here but I thought for the price it looked pretty good. Yeah, if the hardtop played up or leaked I'd fix it permanently. [bigwhistle]

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Originally Posted by Homestar

It's a little out of the way and might not have enough room in it for here but I thought for the price it looked pretty good. Yeah, if the hardtop played up or leaked I'd fix it permanently. [bigwhistle]

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I like oddities such as this (my wifes RCZ is the same thing). You see they have either been a second car that lives in a shed and lived a pampered life..... Or I reckon more likely especially with the RCZ they have been purchased by childless gay people and lived a very pampered life. No I'm not attacking gay people..... But look at the award my wifes car won when new [bigwhistle]

Buzz Car: European Gay Car of the Year 2011: Peugeot RCZ

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Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

I like oddities such as this

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The username gave it away....