Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Of course, I'm due to have bad luck with a car and this is bound to be the one.

My wifes Megane was trouble free for 4 years and I've had 3 trouble free Alfa 156's over the years too.

We're having one last look in the Ford garage again when we do the test drive tomorrow as the dealer there has a Ghia X that looks interesting. Problem though is that to match the same price as the Laguna we're looking at cars that are a few years older with a good number of miles on them.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Yes, it's cheap, we get a full three year warrenty when/if things go wrong and a big chunk of depreciation has gone.

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

Thats what I've got. For reference it was £7k from a dealer for a 53 plate with 51k miles.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the reference

It's the same age as the Megane we're changing and whilst older cars don't bother me (age or miles) my better half has a thing about only changing her car for something a lot younger.

Still, I'm happy in my 6 year old Scooby that's about to get my mods installed and another AndyF remap to take it over 300

KLR16V

iTrader: (2)

mondeo tdci 130 zetec s comes with 18" alloys and body kit ,cheaper to insure than the st and cheaper to buy , got 54 plate full dealer service history still with warrenty ,41,000 miles for £7,900 been great just check out the pulleys don't vibrate on tick over comon fault on them covered under warrenty , they change pullys and tensioner for uprated ones to cure had it done on mine straight away , also check handbrake is working on both sides you can just look under at the back to check as another common fault on the mondeys drives great and comes with all the toys ,fitted parking sensors for the misses only cost £30 for the kit and fitted myself . Great car to drive

Mark

KLR16V

iTrader: (2)

Remember they were facelifted on 04 plates different interior and extra toys .

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

53 plates were the facelifts, round about sept 2003. Mine is a facelift on a 53. Would be classed as 2004 models.

Think my pulleys are vibrating now that you mention it. Wondered what the noise was, still 5 months left of dealer warranty happily

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Sounds like the best choice for us will be to go with the better car (mondeo) but accept that it will be 2 years older.

Got to say that I would love the diesel for the torque.

We'll see what tomorrow brings but I think my wife is 80% set on the Laguna (cheap price, 3 year warrenty, decent space and best in class safety). After the three years warrenty are up we can either extend that or trade it in for something else. Hopefully my wife's new business will be making some decent cash by then so she can buy us both nice new toys

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

Its not worth upsetting the wife though! 3 year warranty is worth its weight in gold, just make sure you are happy with what is covered. Electrics are a bad area on Laguna's if i remember rightly, but I'm sure there is more than that.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

I think they have improved with the 05 face-lift - but without the warranty I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

It's the full manufacturers warranty on the car so should cover everything (excluding consumables of course). It's a main Renault dealer.

Brendan Hughes

Not sure about Lagunas but I remember reading many people on here with Clios saying they'd never go near Renault dealers again. Suggests that even if it has a warranty you wouldn't find it a nice experience to claim on it (which, with Renault's reputation, you might do quite often). Maybe you've again been lucky with yours or perhaps I'm confusing it with those Clios that are no longer in warranty - but I don't think so.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Yes, they probably certainly aren't anywhere near Lexus standards. Hopefully it won't be too painful but something else to consider.

escott

iTrader: (1)

Mazda 6? Very reliable, well equipped, cheap, spacious and comfortable. had one before the scoob, it did the family job very well.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

I forgot about the Mazda 6 - away for a quick look on Autotrader!

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Size wise how does the Mazda 6 compare to a Mondeo/Laguna/Vectra?

escott

iTrader: (1)

similar to Mondeo, can't comment on others.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Thanks - going to have a look tomorrow morning.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Test drove the Laguna this morning and it was just fine.

Thankfully we also dropped into the Mazda garage and my wife is really taken by the Mazda 6. Probably can get a 12 month old one, 1.8 TS 5 door, for around £9,500. £1000 more than the laguna but better to drive, looks better, more reliable and worth more when we sell it later. Test driving one this weekend.

Brendan Hughes

Mazda used to have some sort of partnership with Ford. Does that mean the 6 is a Mondeo with a different skin (or vice versa)? I don't know when the partnership ended.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Just back from the Mazda 6 test drive and wow - what a lovely car to drive. Thankfully my wife was blown away by it as well. Looking good for us going down that route - just need to work out the costs and see what trade-in they will offer.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Just to close this thread off. We're definately going for a Mazda 6 - though going to wait until early 2008 as the new model is coming out then plus the reg change - both should help drop the prices of the old model. Probably try and get a 2.0 TS 56 or 07 plate.

The 1.8 TS we tested was pretty nippy (more so than I was expecting from the reviews) but the 2.0 is supposed to be really sweet and comes with a 6 speed box. The steering and handling was a delight.

Thanks to everyone for their advice, suggestions and input. You managed to save us from getting a Laguna!

dpb

Same rack as the MX5 apparently so it should indeed be good .

bossurk

go for a v.w passatt t.d.i 50 plus to the gallon. plenty of room big boot all the toys . on a 54 plate 6 to7 grand top moto

logiclee

He's already gone for the Mazda 6 and he wanted a hatchback

Besides the Moneo TDCi is a far better drive than the old model Passat, the engine is smoother with more torque as well.

Cheers
Lee

dpb

Its pretty damn good,everbody was right - ive just bought one(estate that is)


Btw 54 plate passat for 6 k

escott

iTrader: (1)

Good choice going for the Mazda - it does get overlooked but second hand it's a bargain, and it SO reliable. I think the 6 looks good as well and as I said above it does everything else pretty well too.

I had a 626 for 5 years and it cost me nothing except petrol, tyres, servicing and never went wrong.

When I bought it, I remember my dad asking a friend of his who worked for an independant Mazda specialist what he thought. The guy owned one himself and said 'It's started to smoke a bit recently'. We were a bit worried until he pointed out it had done 250,000 miles - not bad for a petrol!

One more piece of advice if you have young kids - go for leather seats if you can, it's much easier to clean banana/Ribena etc off them. I've banned food and drink in the car since I got my (cloth seated) Subaru. Bet whoever gets my old Mazda is surprised by the number of raisins they find under the rear seats.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Good advice on the leather - we got that for the Megane and it's been a godsend. Must admit to being tempted to just get cloth with the 6 but I'll have a good look around to see if there are any leather options.

Out of interest - was it an option or only fitted on a particular spec?

Cheers
Richard.

escott

iTrader: (1)

Mine was standard on a 626 gxi - not sure about model names and specs on the 6 though.