It's time to let the Salon go

[Benner]

After it's recent break down that I am waiting on bits for, I have decided it's time to let my beloved Salon go in favour of a new and more reliable motor.    It's sad as I genuinely like this car, but after owning it for 3 years now and it hitting 140k miles and 14 years old, it's got to that stage where everything seems to be going wrong and costing a fortune.

On the plus side I get to go car shopping which is just awesome. 

[Mr. Whippy]

What are the candidates?

[Benner]

Well although I'd love to go sporty and flash, I need a decent sized car that is suitable for the family so I have to be sensible. 

So far for my budget Vauxhall Zafira's, Citroen Xsara Picasso's and Chevrolet Tacuma's all fit in well and are all decent sizes.  All 3 of those are available with low mileage (especially the Chevrolet) and not too old a plate.  Warranties are great as well which is going to be a large part of what I go for.

[Gareth]

I know the feeling mate, sometimes it just better to cut your losses though.  

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

Mike will be crushed...he won't be able to make jokes about the Salon anymore

[Benner]

Mike will be crushed...he won't be able to make jokes about the Salon anymore

As long as there is plenty of room in the back he'll be happy. 

[Benner]

BTW, if anyone has any thoughts/ experiences on any of those above I am keen to hear them.  Also, if anyone knows of any other similar models (I have looked through every manufacturer I can think of) that are available from a Main dealer for under £5500 I would be keen to hear about those as well.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Mike will be crushed...he won't be able to make jokes about the Salon anymore

Well let's get Mike's reply out of the way then....

You need to get one of these mate!

(Image removed from quote.)

Sue & the kids will love it as much as me and the boy like ours!

As for me, I'd love to help, but none of those cars seem to have any counterparts on this side of the pond.

Def

[Benner]

 

You forgot to moan about tintops though. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yes well, while we may try from time to time, there's really only one Mike, and I'm pretty certain we can all appreciate that! 

Def

[John]

Any chance Ben that I could have the nail?  i could give it new life!

[Sean]

OMG, seriously do you have a salon?  I bought one years ago and got bugged alot by friends
but you know it was a GREAT car.  I loved the damn thing.   Mine was just like this but in
yellow.  

[Benner]

Erm, not that Salon. 

[John]

Erm, not that Salon. 

Was it cubed? 

[yud]

I would get one of a Chevy Avalanche



sorry just finished it in photo shop and wanted to show off

[John]

I see you 

How much is shipping? 

[MultiMat]

There can be only one Chariot for the Banning clan, it be




The Vauxhall Monaro VXR , Aussie made 2 door V8  .
Just ignore its a 2 door & what ever you do do not tell Mike what the fuel economy is 

[Gareth]

Have you looked at the Ford C-Max (5 seats) or S-Max (7 seats)?  It's hard to find fault with Ford's range of cars these days. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Yes well, while we may try from time to time, there's really only one Mike, and I'm pretty certain we can all appreciate that! 

Def

Just be very grateful for that fact

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

If you have to go down the icky, fuel guzzling route How about a Honda Fireblade for you, and a bus pass for Sue 

[Gareth]

Yes well, while we may try from time to time, there's really only one Mike, and I'm pretty certain we can all appreciate that! 

Def

Just be very grateful for that fact

We are.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Yes well, while we may try from time to time, there's really only one Mike, and I'm pretty certain we can all appreciate that! 

Def

Just be very grateful for that fact

We are.(Image removed from quote.)

[Gareth]

Yes well, while we may try from time to time, there's really only one Mike, and I'm pretty certain we can all appreciate that! 

Def

Just be very grateful for that fact

We are.(Image removed from quote.)

 

[Benner]

Have you looked at the Ford C-Max (5 seats) or S-Max (7 seats)?  It's hard to find fault with Ford's range of cars these days. 

With my budget I may be able to afford the interior of one of those and just pretend I suppose. 

About £10K too much I'm afraid.

[Gareth]

Have you looked at the Ford C-Max (5 seats) or S-Max (7 seats)?  It's hard to find fault with Ford's range of cars these days. 

With my budget I may be able to afford the interior of one of those and just pretend I suppose. 

About £10K too much I'm afraid.

Ah, I was thinking a bit older then you were perhaps.  £5500 would get you something from 2005 I reckon (I've not been looking for the last year so I may well be wrong on that).

[Benner]

Have you looked at the Ford C-Max (5 seats) or S-Max (7 seats)?  It's hard to find fault with Ford's range of cars these days. 

With my budget I may be able to afford the interior of one of those and just pretend I suppose. 

About £10K too much I'm afraid.

Ah, I was thinking a bit older then you were perhaps.  £5500 would get you something from 2005 I reckon (I've not been looking for the last year so I may well be wrong on that).

No 05 is fine, but from a Main dealer which is where I am looking it ain't gonna happen for anywhere near my budget.

[Benner]

Ok, after literally hours of searching I have found a few more possibilities, so I am currently looking into;

Citroen Picasso
Chevrolet Tacuma
Vauxhall Zafira
Kia Carens
Hyundai Matrix
Nissan Almera Tino

All of those are available from main dealers with decent mileage and on a '04 plate or newer in my £5500 budget.

[Gareth]

Have you looked at the Ford C-Max (5 seats) or S-Max (7 seats)?  It's hard to find fault with Ford's range of cars these days.  

With my budget I may be able to afford the interior of one of those and just pretend I suppose.  

About £10K too much I'm afraid.

Ah, I was thinking a bit older then you were perhaps.  £5500 would get you something from 2005 I reckon (I've not been looking for the last year so I may well be wrong on that).

No 05 is fine, but from a Main dealer which is where I am looking it ain't gonna happen for anywhere near my budget.

Ah, OK.  I'm normally happy with a small dealer but you're right there are advantages with a main dealer.

Do you know the Parkers site?

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/prices/#manu=2514&model=1151

Good guide as to what the market prices are for any given model.  Whether it's from a private seller of main dealer.

[Benner]

Parkers has been my car bible for a long time.    Superb site that one. 

I'm just sick of dodgy bloody motors and just want an aggro free car.  I live very near an industrial estate and nearly all the main dealers are a 5 minute walk from my house.  At least if anything goes wrong, especially in the warranty period, I can just drop it round the corner.

[Benner]

Ok, not a looker by any means, but another good sensible option I am looking into is a Citroen Berlingo.  Great sized boot on this one.