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which of these would you go for if it was your money?
morcus - 7/4/12 at 08:28 PM

Hopefully I'm going to swapping my '09 plated car for something more than ten years old next week and in doing so save my self some monies each month (at the moment I drive to tesco once a week and my nans once a month). My plan is to pretty much drive whatever I buy till it dies and then do the same again, it only has to last 6 months for there to be an actual saving and that doesn't count what I'd get for scrapping it.

I've narrowed it down to 2 cars that I like but choosing between them is difficult as the pros and cons balance out.

The Cars are a y reg Jaguar S-type 3 litre sport and an R reg Vectra 2.5 CDX that have done about 130K and 80K respectively, I'm not really bothered about millage though cause last year I did about 3.5k and that was when I was driving to work.

At the moment the only thing thats swinging it is the Jag tyres cost three times as much, all the other costs are the same ball park as it's only an extra £10 a month insurance (And I've not looked at specialist/club insurance yet) and an extra £50 a year in tax.

I'm hopefully going to be sorting this out tuesday, both are at neighbouring garages so I might see if I can get a better deal on either car by playing them against each other. Both are P/X to clear cars being offered with a years MOT.

Is there anything in particular to check on either car? I've done all the basic stuff but I'm not expert on either car.

So what would you go for?

gazza285 - 7/4/12 at 08:46 PM

I'd be looking for something more reliable than the Jag and something more exciting than a Vauxhall.

Volvo T5?

balidey - 7/4/12 at 08:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by morcus
So what would you go for?

The jag for 2 reasons.
1: Its not a vectra.
2: My dad bought one very cheaply from auction a couple of years back. Every job that has been needed was easily fixed DIY and its a nice car. He wished he had bought one years ago. Still look nice too, they haven't dated as badly as some cars of the same age.

sdh2903 - 7/4/12 at 09:03 PM

quote:
Still look nice too,


You sure? I thought they were fugly when new! let alone now

All in IMHO of course

Ben_Copeland - 7/4/12 at 09:14 PM

So your trying to save money buy buying an older car with a big uneconomical engine? which costs more money for tax and insurance?

Why not go for something a bit smaller, save on insurance and tax. Plus smaller lighter car is going to be more economical and probably more fun to drive.

Unless you specifically need a bigger car ?

mookaloid - 7/4/12 at 09:19 PM

of those 2 I'd have the Jag but then there very few cars I wouldn't have before a Vectra which has to be one of the worst cars ever

how about a Saab 9-5

Slimy38 - 7/4/12 at 09:20 PM

It's going to make me sound really old when I'm not, but I'd go for the Jag. Having owned a Vectra 2.5 Sri and only realising recently that it was such a 'nothing' car I'd want something a bit more 'something'.

I can't comment on the looks of the Jag, but the Vectra ain't no supermodel!

snapper - 8/4/12 at 05:07 AM

Check the Jags auto box carefully, they do go wrong and they cost thousands to fix.

T66 - 8/4/12 at 05:53 AM

What you save by selling the new car, your going to immediately lose by going back for petrol even more often.

Doesn't make sense to be honest.


You will soon get equally as sick putting petrol in them.



An old Saab Coupe can be bought for washers, and will do 30mpg, and give you a speed rush.



Sorry for pouring cold water a bit.


Cheers.

morcus - 8/4/12 at 06:12 AM

How it came to these specific two is fairly complex, I could save more money and have a smaller car but there aren't any really that do everything I want and for the most part I'm board of having a small car. Buying a small car with an auto box for the money I'm looking at means buying something in full Granny spec, and most likely a 1.6 so tax would be the same. I'm still sort of looking but of the many cars I've been to see the last couple of months these two have best met what I want. It is looking like it will be the Jag, I like the way both cars look for what it's worth but I reckon the slightly off retro style of the Jag makes it look abit more timeless.

I did all the normal checks I've heard of the auto like checking all the settings work without any fuss is there anything else to check? Both options are being treated as disposable, so if it dies it dies. If I get a years motoring out of it without having to really do anything I'd be happy.

roadrunner - 8/4/12 at 08:08 AM

If it's out of those 2, it would definitely be the Jag. The Vectra doesn't come close, IMHO.

mookaloid - 8/4/12 at 08:13 AM

I've always thought the Jag would make a good engine/gearbox donor for a 7 type car so you could run it for a year or two then use it as a donor

CRAIGR - 8/4/12 at 08:17 AM

U2u'd u Morcus with a similar alternative.



[Edited on 8/4/12 by CRAIGR]

[Edited on 8/4/12 by CRAIGR]

JoelP - 8/4/12 at 08:20 AM

well id have the vectra.

T66 - 8/4/12 at 08:25 AM

guy at work has that Jag with a diesel, and its a mare of electrical faults. Lovely car inside and out.

coozer - 8/4/12 at 08:27 AM

What about an old Merc?

scootz - 8/4/12 at 08:55 AM

Jag all day long!

PS - I'm sure if you shop around you'll find tyres for it that don't cost three times the price of those for the Vectra!!!

morcus - 9/4/12 at 02:02 AM

I did consider a Merc but all the ones I went to see were either terrible or not really what I wanted. I really wanted a 190 till I drove one.