Taxi Driver Online

first post, been lurking for a coupe of months now
has anyone used autofinders.ltd.uk?
Im just looking for my first cab as ive passed my street knowledge and nearly ready to drive... anyway, they are selling the new Skoda Octavia Classic 1.9 TDi PD for £11895 inc 12mths tax and reg fee.. took the deal to skoda, they could only go to £12293 but they implied that there was something fishy about autofinders. So i emailed them and they confirmed that its a UK car, has the full warranty, its not pre registered.
im just a bit weary of buying a car over the net.. anyone had probs buying from the net??

cheers

karl

I doubt there is anything fishy as there would be umpteen websites slagging them off if they are.

That said if you have any doubts, then in the grand scale of things, £400 over 3/4/5 years shouldn't be a deal breaker.

Have you got a price from the Taxi Centre?

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IDFIMH

I am in a similar position, looking at getting a new or newish car for private hire.

Whats the best to go for and what to avoid.

Would like a Toyota Avensis possibly an Estate, a Skoda Superb, or a VW Passat.

My last car was Peugeot 406, good big economical comfortable car but expensive and unusual things went wrong with it, whats present Peugeots like.

You reckon taxi centre is good to do deal with Sussex?

Skoda is bringing out the hatch version superb in the next 3 months, and the estate later this year.
Apparently the new pig 407 is costly to run

If you go to a Skoda dealer and you have the cash you can get them for 10K, if you want one on finance why not go for a demonstrator most Skoda dealers have some have a look on the Auto trader site put your post code in and the car you want and how old, then write down all the prices, go to the nearest one and you then have a bargaining tool as they will not want to miss out on a sale
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/

Done 63k since Dec 06, fully serviced every 10k.
Only I drive it, and as a very conservative driver I rarely push the car hard.

Good points:
Averages 44mpg around town, averaged 59mpg to Birmingham Airport the other week. Not bad for a 2.0 hdi/136bhp
Quiet diesel engine and a smooth and comfy ride with it's double wishbone front suspension.
6 speed, cruise control and ESP Stability Control as standard.
Euro NCAP 5 rating.
Plenty of leg room in the back.
Good boot space for a saloon due to multi-link rear suspension with dampers that are inclined rearwards.

Bad points:
Peugeot after Sales.
Warranty work - EGR valve and faulty timing belt replaced at 45k.
Warped front disks at 20k
Pressure plate went just under 50k costing £800, which is a little odd as I never ride the clutch and disengage it at traffic lights etc.
Particulate filter service at 120k will cost £500
Wind noise sometimes from large front grille.

I've just heard recently from two other 407 owners that theirs have just dropped a valve causing major and expensive damage. Although I'm not surprised with one of them as it didn't get a regular service.
Also, some have reported problems with the secondary flywheel needing replacement at around 80k costing £1,200. Mine was replaced under warranty when the pressure plate went.
EGR valve reported as a regular problem too.

I would get another if it wasn't for my experience with Peugeot after sales. [quote][/quote]

At the end of the day a car is a car, so ring them up and ask them how much and how quick.

I would sooner buy a car from those lads than Fowlers.

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IDFIMH

cheers, ill give the taxi centre a try too. ive heard good things about them. Been speaking to autofinders today, very friendly, cant complain so far.. just waiting on a quote for hire purchase..
ive got a feeling skoda will come down on the price tho, the salesman hinted they may be able to match it (although the manager said no initially) and with march approaching they have sales targets to meet if they are going to get can get there quarterly bonus.. always worth keeping that in mind..

spoke to the taxi centre today, they seemed to be desperate to sell me an octavia a4 (i want an a5).. the guy said they make better taxis and they return 15mpg more.. find thay hard to beleive wen you look at the a5's stats.i got the feeling he was just trying to get rid of old stock. Or is the old octavia better than the new? can anyone comment on this?

The old Octavia is/was a good motor, but too small for this job IMO. The new Octavia is far better.

If I was you I would buy the new version, or wait a while to get the new hatchback Superb.

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IDFIMH

They will stop making the A4 in 2 years time so they are in the process of winding down production, the A5 has a lot more room if you can afford it go for the 140tdi if not get the 105 tdi and get it chiped, and dont worry about getting it done it does not show at service this will bring it up to 140bhp for about £450

I would buy from the dealer, that way if you have any problems you can go back to the dealer to have a scream.

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stressed controller!!!

Avoid Alloy wheels if you can.
They may look nicer than wheel trims, but you'll save yourself £20+ per tyre (mid range brand) with steel wheels.

How can this be when the same size tyre goes on both they do on mine

My steel wheels are 16". I get Goodyear or Dunlops for £65 each.
The same model with alloys were £90 each

Not all, but most alloy wheels on modern saloons have a wider and lower profile tyre than the steel equivalent.