New car ideas...

[STALLED]

307's are rubbish to drive. Crap electric steering and a numb chassis - Avoid.

For the money, a tidy V70 would be a good bet. Not the most dynamically exciting car in the world - but they take the miles well and are well built. A mate of mine has a XC70 which is approaching 180k (miles) and it's been fairly decent. Only concern is the highish fuel economy, but the shove from a T5 would make it worth it!

[highlander]

Found out you can't replace the headunit on the 9-3, so thats out the question

This is because the head unit also controls other things in the car. Saw this on my colleague's new Astra (which is also a GM product, just like the Saabs are). Pity, because the built-in sound system is shite. Might just be crap speakers though.

[Bailes1992]

Found out you can't replace the headunit on the 9-3, so thats out the question

This is because the head unit also controls other things in the car. Saw this on my colleague's new Astra (which is also a GM product, just like the Saabs are). Pity, because the built-in sound system is shite. Might just be crap speakers though.

You could take all the cables going to the speakers and convert these into RCA's and add an aftermarket amplifier. But it's the features I want a new head unit for. Proper iPod integration, bluetooth etc etc
Apparently the Saab 9-3 won't start without the OEM radio

[highlander]

Wow, that is bloody stupid...

The head unit on the Astra is a double-DIN-sized unit that is specially shaped to the dashboard of the car, and it comes in two versions - one with Bluetooth built-in, and one that doesn't.

The one with Bluetooth built-in is all-singing, all-dancing - has sat-nav, CD changer cartridge, etc.

The one without is crap. But the car still has all the buttons and switches related to Bluetooth, including the buttons on the steering wheel for answering and making calls. They just don't do anything.

AND - the dealers will not retro-fit the more advanced head unit because there's extra wiring to be run for the Bluetooth microphone(s) and the sat-nav system, and the CD changer cartridge, etc.

It's not a case of "we'll do it, but please provide us with your left arm, right leg, and favourite testicle in payment".

More a case of "No. We won't touch that. Should have picked it when you bought the car from new. What's that? You bought it second-hand? See ya."

It wouldn't be so bad if the car didn't rely on the controls of the head unit for configuration purposes, as you could at least just replace the head unit in the event that you didn't like how sh*t it is. But it seems Astra owners are stuck with the one they've got.

I wonder if that Saab would start if the head unit simply died one day ...

[Bailes1992]

A few people have relocated the radio to a compartment in the boot and then fitted an aftermarket radio. But what a complete farse that would be
I want to take away stupid electrics, not add to them

The mondeos winning my vote at the moment, mainly cause of cheaper insurance

[Doggy]

The mondeos winning my vote at the moment, mainly cause of cheaper insurance

You're only one logical step away from deciding the mondeo's a tad big, so what you really need is a Hocus-Pocus........

[/2d worth]

[Bailes1992]

The mondeos winning my vote at the moment, mainly cause of cheaper insurance

You're only one logical step away from deciding the mondeo's a tad big, so what you really need is a Hocus-Pocus........

[/2d worth]

Too big?
I love a big car
Loved my Peugeot, felt like it had presence on the motorway

[STALLED]

Omega Diesel - the one with the BMW derv lump?

[FarmerPug]

The bmw 320d has also got the bmw derv lump in it and that badge that seems to make it a bit better.

Its a shame merc didnt really offer any decent small diesel car back about 7 years ago

[sirwiggum]

Omega Diesel - the one with the BMW derv lump?

I looked at one years ago. Nice big cruiser, but this one had bad rust round the arches.

Something like a Citroen Xantia or an XM?

Or, if you like the BMW lump, a Rover 75 diesel?

I agree with the sentiment that if you buy another Ford, you're just going to run into issues again and again.

[FarmerPug]

rover 75 is a nice big wafty sort of car, top spec ones even had a tv system which was neat on the dash, and because it had bmw electrics, the software was fully updatable and expandable, they foresaw bluetooth and the like arriving so there was expansion ports at the back and you can install the bluetooth software.
Only problem with the rover 75 is it definatley is an old mans car, a pipe and bag of tobacco comes free.

[sirwiggum]

I like that though, in some respects the Honda is an old mans car too (and the likes of the 406 and Xantia were accused of being so too! ) because they're more mature than a Corsa or a Saxo, and it's nice to blast a bit of Rammstein out of what should be playing ClassicFM

If you still aren't convinced, the MG ZT looks very meaty!

[FarmerPug]

i still like the 75 im not an old man i like its olde look with the swathes of wood and chrome everywhere.
The MG is a bit sportier, especially the later ones with the single headlights, but then there was a big cost cutting execrcise at rover in the last few years so the quality isnt as good as early cars.

what about an audi a4?

[waue1978]

I think everybody is starting to lose track of who this car is for.

Sam is 18 years old with a £3k maximum budget, 1 yrs no claims & ridiculously high insurance quotes coming his way. Whilst we can all go & get BMWs & Audis with a £50 hike in insurance, Sam gets charged £200 for choosing a 406 over a Mondeo. An Audi A4 isn't a cheap car for an 18 year old to insure.

Sam - have you done what I suggested with the insurance quotes on Confused.com yet?

[FarmerPug]

im only 19 and insurance on one of the 90s a4s is cheaper than my peugeot. The newer ones though are more expensive than the pug.