bezzer, it is indeed the C8. The dealer has answered all my questions and sent me a dozen more pictures on Whats'app (his idea), including all the bits I asked about and more.

MrsC doesn't get why I don't just buy another closer one (or a completely different type of car...), but this one does seem to tick most boxes and, despite my record, I am trying to get the best value and best car I can.

Your idea is a good one, but I can't quite imagine explaining buying a car sight unseen to MrsC.

What happens if he agrees and delivers the car and it isn't as he says - could be ugly!

I'm looking at getting a return train ticket (4-hours each way, £44), which will be a pain, but hopefully will get the job done...

Jim, jbt is in Loughborough and also knows about pugs... Have you tried asking him nicely?

Jim, it's a C8, it is ugly

Why get a return? Surely if you like it you'll buy it there and then and drive home in it won't you? Or are you a real glutton for punishment and want to visit Loughborough twice!

BM's idea sounds a good one to me....

Thanks BM - I thought JBT was somewhere in that neck of the woods, but I haven't seen him round these parts for a while. It's a bit cheeky, but if you know where I can find him...!?

bezzer - single is £43, return is £44 (go figure), so if I get there and it's not what it appears, I can at least trudge home to face the mirth of MrsC without spending another £43.

I've spoken to the bloke at the garage; he's going to meet me from Loughborough station in the C8.

Unless something else happens in the meantime...

From another forum I frequent.


vauxhall zafira 2.0 dti 2004 elegance

Good points. Economical 45/50mpg,7 seats, New clutch and biomass Flywheel, Crankshaft pulley( had to be done as going on holiday last summer), starter motor last year, solid car with little rust, 11 months mot. Serviced every year without fail.New rear brake pads.



Bad Points Central locking remote doesn't work but locks with key, light dent in driver side door,134,000 miles, Mot advisory on two new tyres in near future



This motor has survived six years of the rural school run with pride ,very reliable only ever let my wife down when starter motor went. All the children have progressed to the 'big' school' with its own transport so now we can have something we really want for us.



£600 would be money well spent if you need a run round, or make me an offer as will soon have to change insurance.



No photo's as yet but will email if needed.



Oh and its black with alloy wheels.

Jbt posted the other day! His contact number is on here
I'm sure for a few beer tokens he'd help out.

Thanks TBirdX - I'll bear it in mind if my East Midlands Odyssey tomorrow ends in failure.

I'm booked onto the train(s), so fingers crossed it's a worthwhile trip...

I'll try giving Mr BravoTurbo a call... Thanks for your help, BM.

Good luck Jim!

Just had a phone call from the garage: C8 sold

Anyone want a train ticket to Loughborough?

FML

Now that is crap Jim.... Maybe it's fate and it was about to throw a belt and die.

Bummer Jim..but whats wrong with your lighthouse? ;-)

Something will turn up, it's a waiting game is all.

Thanks, guys. Just continually trawling the usual sites as well as... Facebook! There's a group for Eurovans...

Bummer about the C8, Jim. I had the same problem when looks for Mercs - found what I was looking for, arranged to see it the following morning and it sold that afternoon.

If you don't need it until July, I'd try to be patient. I've decided not to go to Spa so the Merc's available that weekend (sorted reversing sensor - £14)

Thanks Rich. At least it saved me a long trip to Loughborough! Also, having almost thought myself into that car, I'm now thinking what I'd want to be better on the one I do buy.
We have a few things we need to do before July (including a house-move run for MrsC's dad to Chester), so it would be useful to be sorted sooner rather than later - but I will definitely wait for a good 'un.

On the other hand, I suspect the Merc would be a much nicer drive to Sussex!

Thanks again.

Sorry to hear that the C8 sold before you could see it. I know how that feels even though I also know others will turn up.

It's a petrol, so you have already ruled this one out, right?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201602281466650?make=citroen&radius=50&onesearchad=new%2Cnearlynew%2Cused&search-target=usedcars&quicksearch=true&sort=default&postcode=gl52ln&model=c8&page=1&logcode=p

Thanks Neil. I'm afraid petrol is right out; the diesels aren't exactly class-leading in fuel economy, but at least they're noticeably better than the coupé. Unlike the petrol ones...

Yeah, they are big and heavy and not overpowered, which means they like a drink. I use my N.A. Coupe every day and it returns mid 20s on shorter journeys. A long and quite fast motorway trip at the weekend saw it returning up to 35. I was very impressed. Even felt perfectly happy at 180km/h (about 112 mph?). I was not feeling mean enough to make it work any harder.

Back to the C8 - there are two diesels, 110 and 130 bhp, right? Would you consider either or only the 130?

Blimey, that's a bit better than my coupé. Having said that, I didn't buy it for maximum mpg!

I'd look at any of the diesels with a preference for the more powerful 2.0 or the 2.2.

Economy according to the barefaced lies printed in the manuals seems to differ by only a couple, but I'd prefer any extra grunt I can get!

One reason I grew to love the Sedona was the 2.9 engine, which was agricultural, but it did at least have a bit of torque to get the big old bus moving: 130kmh uphill on a French autoroute with 7 people, a massive roofbox and a fortnight's camping gear aboard.

Shame it has the fuel pump achilles' heel, or I'd consider another.

35 mpg for a real 70 mph average door to door was OK in my book. We did 440kms, topped up nearly brim to really brim, I could only get 36.1 litres in. Our 115 bhp Impreza is worse.

Have you taken a look at this one. It is quite close:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201604072721299?postcode=gl52ln&price-to=2500&searchcontext=default&model=c8&fuel-type=diesel&page=1&radius=100&make=citroen&onesearchad=new%2Cnearlynew%2Cused&search-target=usedcars&sort=default&logcode=p

A bit further away:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201604122887879?searchcontext=default&model=ulysse&page=1&price-to=2500&radius=1500&search-target=usedcars&fuel-type=diesel&sort=default&postcode=GL5%202LN&onesearchad=new%2Cnearlynew%2Cused&make=fiat&logcode=p

A one owner car but further away still:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201604223241570?postcode=GL5%202LN&price-to=2500&searchcontext=default&model=807&fuel-type=diesel&page=2&radius=1500&make=peugeot&onesearchad=new%2Cnearlynew%2Cused&search-target=usedcars&sort=default&logcode=p

And a "nearly new" one:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201604233254499?sort=default&searchcontext=default&onesearchad=new%2Cnearlynew%2Cused&page=2&postcode=gl52ln&make=peugeot&radius=1500&fuel-type=diesel&model=807&search-target=usedcars&price-to=2500&logcode=p

Thanks Neil - yup, I've looked at all those (bar the last, "nearly new" one, which is way out of my league). They all have some merit, but as always, it's finding the combination of spec, mileage, maintenance (cam belt is pretty crucial) and - of course - price!

Jim, only just seen this update to your C8 search, what a shame.

Sounds as though you're in no great rush so I'm sure something will eventually pop up again.

Thanks bezzer. I'd like to get something sooner rather than later, but I'm trying to be choosy.

However, there's a cheap one down the road near Bristol that looks reasonable; clutch and timing belt done. It's not the spec I want and it's the smaller/lower powered engine, but it might be ok.

Might pop down to see it today.

Well, for better, or (very much more likely) worse, I parted with £800 for the above-mentioned shed.

It's a Peugeot 807 2.0HDI on a 53 plate. 135K miles. Clutch, cam-belt, aux belts and water pump all done at around 95K. The dealer took it on a trade-in and just wanted to get rid. He was much more interested in the coupe!

I know the pug needs at least 2 new tyres and a good service; any other horrors remain to be seen, but it goes, stops and steers and most of the electricals appear to function. It also has 11 months' MOT left. Hopefully, the modest amount I saved buying it will cover the new rubber and an oil change...

It doesn't have leather, or satnav, it's not the 2.2, it's got an ugly dent in the near side passenger door, the mileage is higher than I wanted and it's very dull.

Here's hoping it stays that way...

I thought you would Jim

Fingers crossed it serves you well and respects your wallet.

I'm sure you did not really want a 13 year old sat nav, leather is hot in the summer and cold in the winter, and you did not buy it for the performance!

Are you going to do the servicing yourself?

In the interests of everyone on the roads in the UK, that would be no!

Apart from that, it's just what you wanted

The only electrical glitch we had with our Ulysse was with one of the sliding doors. When opened, sometimes it would get halfway open and then close. On a couple of occasions one of my children would nearly lose a leg or be decapitated.

Drove the 807 home yesterday evening; goes OK - bit smokey, but that could be general tired diesel engine or filter coughing up its lungs. Sat at 70 with cruise control no bother, but will reserve judgement until I've driven it with 4 adults and camping gear in.

It needs 2 or possibly 3 (so 4) new tyres, but I'm not fitting them until it's been serviced, in case the garage tells me to take it out into a corner of the garden to say goodbye (you've seen the Supervet...).

Electrics? Well, you can't open the osr sliding door with the external handle - it's the keyfob or one of the interior buttons. None of the courtesy lights work, the passenger door mirror doesn't fold (though it adjusts fine) and - the only one I'm really bothered about - the drivers window doesn't work. The passenger one didn't either when I got it, so I changed the (blown) fuse and now it's fine, but the driver's side just clicks. I expect it'll blow the fuse again if I keep trying it, so when the Noah's Flood downpour finishes, I'll have to investigate further.

If only there were a P8CUK...

Oh, and I forgot to mention the handy "removable" seats. I just spent an hour sweating my cobs off trying to get the bloody things out. The last one nearly defeated me until I realised that the cable (like a bike brake cable) that was supposed to release the seat from the runner had snapped...

Sounds like you've got yourself a beaut there Jim

It is a good job you like tinkering with cars ...

... that is what you said, right?

Electric window - is the ticking a relay and nothing more happens or the motor running but failing to drive something? These things often have plastic clips and runners which go brittle over time and snap. Could be an easy and cheap fix.

These forums any help?

www.peugeotcentral.co.uk
www.peugeotforums.com
www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk

It's a cheap load lugger. Hopefully, not an £800 brick!