It's looking like the end of the road for shite motoring for me

[D-Dubya]

Well, as it says really, our 306 has to go soon. I've not decided whether to sell it on privately or use it as a part ex, but despite making it the most reliable it's ever been if or the last 12 months, it's getting to the point we can't risk using shite for a second car as the mrs now uses it for her business, and if it breaks down, that's no money earned till it's fixed. Plus some of her patients have started commenting on it too as it looks a bit tired and sounds loud (diesel, no cat).

 

I still drive some possible future shite though which I'll be hanging on to (fiat bravo sport we had since new)

 

But all isn't in the bin, she wants something that's even more likely to become future shite than my fiat.... She wants the new MG3.

 

We've test drove it, it has weird engine for a supermini, no low end power and heavy steering, but she likes it though. I know asking for opinions on such a new to market car on here is possibly daft, but is it future shite? Is it worth a punt?

[cort16]

If you get it for 6 grand then yes else no buy a Fiat 500, Citroen DS3 or Vauxhall Adam.

 

Bear this is mind - MG6 RRP new £17,000 nut 1 year and 14,000 miles later £6999.

http://www.motorpoint.co.uk/VehicleAdvert/MG%20MOTOR%20UK/MG6/428987

[Jim Bell]

A punt.

 

Sports adjective.

 

American peanut cuddling / chasing term for "kick up the middle of a field"

 

Scores no points, but is dramatic.

[Cavcraft]

It's worth a stab if you're happy to lose about 97% of it's residual value several minutes after you've left the showroom. 

 

What engine is in your 306 by the way? If it's a 1.9 TD I may be interested if the price is right.

[mercrocker]

Sorry to hear impending disposal of shite....At least the Bravo has a future shite role much more so than,  I would have thought, that Chinese thing.  Which ever way you add that up its an enormous loss of equity for a dubious pleasure.   A small car  with heavy steering is going to  be hard  to  shift to  the only market sector I  can see wanting the car...

[D-Dubya]

It's worth a stab if you're happy to lose about 97% of it's residual value several minutes after you've left the showroom.

 

What engine is in your 306 by the way? If it's a 1.9 TD I may be interested if the price is right.

the depreciation is the main thing that's putting me off. the steering feels heavy for a small car as its hydraulic steering. She's got it in her head that its the car for her. she's not a car person so doesn't see the things i see. we've looked at the panda and the 500 and the Adam. unlike the Adam the most but they are expensive for what they are unless I can get an ex demonstrator.

 

the 306 is a y plate meridian 90 5door 1.9Hdi

[nigel bickle]

Y plate feels new, to me!

[londonm]

If you're going to do this look up the least depreciating cars in the UK, seriously. I bought a new mini cooper for 13k a few years back, px ed it for 7k five years later. The servicing was ok with the 5yr plan. I currently have a fiat 500 which is gutless but also holding its value. I should imagine the beetle is the same. I will buy shite next time, but only something as runaround that holds value like a classic mini. Be careful out there, and when they offer finance at 10% call their bluff and say you have cash. They'll instantly go down to 2% because they're twats.

 

I would not buy any mass produced tin box by GM or Ford new, they halve in value as you drive away.

[Mr Livered]

Me too, Nigel.

 

Dubya, good luck with your car shopping, but I would urge you not to fall into the trap of thinking that new = guaranteed reliability. The newest car I've ever bought was easily the least reliable.

[Justin Case]

A Honda Jazz just a few years old should prove totally reliable and depressing Not sure though if it is universally accepted as Futureshite, or is the jury still out?

[hairnet]

civic mazda 2

 

if the mg6 halves in value over 12 months then the 3 will do the same and unproven - even for  a new car

 

kia ftw

[skattrd]

Sorry, but buying a modern for reliability makes no sense to me.

 

I'm a contractor, so not getting to work means no money for me. The newest car I own is the boring (1999 VW TDi) and I wouldn't have newer. To me, if the car is well maintained then it should be reliable. Personally I just make sure I have at least one fully working and road legal back-up just in case work shite #1 has issues.

[skattrd]

If you're bothered about image for work, then I'd suggest getting an old Merc, BMW or something bordering on classic status, nothing too old though.

I did 70k in a 1989 mk2 Scirocco a few years back and it was much more enjoyable than any modern. I'd also venture to add it was a damn site more reliable than a new MG3 would be.

[barefoot]

The wife has done over 200,000 miles over the last two decades in a 944.

It's shite.

[brickwall]

A good car needs bedding in anyway. The stats for new cars being lemons are frightening.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

How close are you to an MG dealer?

[D-Dubya]

tell me about new cars being lemons, had shitloads of beef with a Renault Megane saloon.

 

the 306 is the wrong car for her work, short journeys, start stop, and although I've sorted an electrical issue causing it not to start in winter, it's the amount of little things on it that are giving up the ghost I no longer have the time or space to put right.

 

the bravo has been reliable so far, it popped a radiator at 18 months old but they changed it under warranty and been alright since. only consumables replaced. that said it ended up on a flatbed truck on Monday but I think the garage who serviced it forgot to do something but all is right now.

 

she still misses our saxo and actually wanted another... until I pointed out they haven't made them for ten years....

[Barry Cade]

Panda petrol. The only car anyone really needs.

[oman5]

Dacia Sandero.  cheap to buy, 3 yr warranty, forecast to have a good re-sale value and amazingly cheap to run. The basic 5995 one really is basic, next one up a better bet.

[Mr Livered]

Sorry, but buying a modern for reliability makes no sense to me.

 

I'm a contractor, so not getting to work means no money for me. The newest car I own is the boring (1999 VW TDi) and I wouldn't have newer. To me, if the car is well maintained then it should be reliable. Personally I just make sure I have at least one fully working and road legal back-up just in case work shite #1 has issues.

This^^.

 

I have two daily drivers: Saab 900 and Mercedes 200te. They are both good cars (dearer than I could afford when new), with a good reliability record. The two cars combined cost less than one new car to maintain, even a rubbish cheap one, and way less to buy. Neither has ever let me down in a serious way, but having two means that there's a backup if one did.

 

I could sell both and get a cheap brand new car (adding cash too of course, they're only worth a grand each if I'm lucky) but not only would that be less fun, I'm not convinced that I could be assured of never breaking down.

 

I don't know what your other half does for a living, but if it was me I might consider a change of vehicle to suit the business - but stay with classics. How about a tax-deductible classic van (Morris Minor springs to mind but there is plenty of choice) which you could have sign written if required, and a new or overhauled engine for reliability? Going down that route could yield a very cool motor that could save some tax and still be potentially just as reliable, for similar money or less than the new MG?

 

Then there's depreciation: something old won't change much in value but is just as likely to go up in value as down. The MG - the only question is whether it's still going to be worth more than scrap money in a decade's time.

[scruff]

Agree with Tiff - Fiat Panda all day long.

 

Or buy her a Mini 850 and tell her to lump it.

[cort16]

I like Panda's too. My Mrs hads a Citroen C1 for a couple of years and I really liked it. Dead nippy and good on fuel. Cheap road tax too. Down side is the boot's tiny and it's not exactly luxury inside but I thought it was a good car.

 

What about something like a Hyundai i20? Shite credentials, 5 years warranty and not too expensive.

 

Autoshite's favourite evil uncle Arnold Clark is selling them for £7995

http://www.arnoldclark.com/new-cars/hyundai/i20/1.2-classic-3-dr/brand-new/ref/blk_t7oez3l5qbcllny7/

[jonny69]

Buying new never makes economic sense, people buy new because they want new.

 

But I also agree that buying a depreciation monster from new makes absolutely no sense at all, whichever way you look at it. Peugeots are an example - worth about half their value by about 1.5 years old and 10k miles - it's crazy! Let someone else take the depreciation hit and buy a year old one if you want that MG, or as mentioned there's also the 500 (though it's a bit smaller), DS3, Adam and at a stretch the Fiesta as alternatives.

[gary_davidson]

I think I'd rather have a Dacia Sandero than the MG3, renault parts bin special over unknown chinese quality.

[dollywobbler]

Another vote for Citroen C1 in petrol form. If I had to buy something fairly new, it'd be one of these. Or possibly a Panda.

[D-Dubya]

the MG dealer is only 5 miles away from where we live.

 

the idea of buying new is to keep it as long as possible, probably about ten years. she speaks about 10k miles a year too but it's all little journeys to patients houses.

 

the C1 and it's clones was actually out first choice but the boot is far too small. the other car I want her to drive is the swift.

[oman5]

Sanderos have massive boots....

[Lord Sterling]

Forgive me for being a little unknowledgable here, but have you considered giving the Bravo Sport to your wife or is that impractical for her work?

 

As some have said, buying new for reliability doesnt make sense, you buy new because you want new. Most late 90s cars seem to last well given basic maintenance and bodywork anti-rust protection. MOTHA_Sterling's 1998 S-plate Micra is doing sterling service taking her on a round trip of 80 miles everyday, its really more of a little town car than an M-way cruiser and she won't drive anything bigger otherwise I'd lend her the Rover Sterling of doom.

 

I'd say buy something used that you can easily maintain at home, maybe do actually consider another Spaxo, or a later posr 2003 Micra or something if the age of the car matters, otherwise plump for a 98-02 bubble-shape Micras ala: Ma_Sterling/Micrashed as these just go on forever and ever, plus they can be picked up for pennies.

[D-Dubya]

Forgive me for being a little unknowledgable here, but have you considered giving the Bravo Sport to your wife or is that impractical for her work?

 

As some have said, buying new for reliability doesnt make sense, you buy new because you want new. Most late 90s cars seem to last well given basic maintenance and bodywork anti-rust protection. MOTHA_Sterling's 1998 S-plate Micra is doing sterling service taking her on a round trip of 80 miles everyday, its really more of a little town car than an M-way cruiser and she won't drive anything bigger otherwise I'd lend her the Rover Sterling of doom.

 

I'd say buy something used that you can easily maintain at home, maybe do actually consider another Spaxo, or a later posr 2003 Micra or something if the age of the car matters, otherwise plump for a 98-02 bubble-shape Micras ala: Ma_Sterling/Micrashed as these just go on forever and ever, plus they can be picked up for pennies.

I've suggested her having mine but she thinks it's too big and powerful and doesn't like driving it.

 

again, I don't understand why she loved the saxo as it was a piece of turd, and broke down more than the 306 ever has done.

[Jim Bell]

Best be safe.

Get her a Scammell.