General Opinion on this Croma for sale?

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General Opinion on this Croma for sale?

KTF

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Feb 9, 2008
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I am looking to replace my car and this has been at a local dealer for what seems to be a few months now:

1.9 MultiJet Eleganza
2007 (07 reg)
42,000 miles
Manual
1.9L
Diesel
£4000

I cant post URL but Google for "Romsey Car Centre" and search for it in the stock.

For the year and mileage is is cheap compared to other brands but the list of issues that people list on here on a regular basis make me a bit wary and there is no mention of service history in the advert.

Any opinions, looks like it may be an ex-Fiat UK car from the Reading area registration but then I suspect more are...
 
It's a bargain, buy it (subject to usual checks etc).

I completely understand you're suspicious as it's too cheap, but that's how Cromas are. The same dealer is selling a 55-reg petrol Citroen C3 with higher mileage for the same price! The Croma will be as cheap to insure and will even give a higher mpg than the C3.

I'd say Cromas are possibly less reliable than average, and they do have certain issues, but far, far from a disaster. Remember that they're a Vectra underneath, so no better or worse than one of them (and there are plenty of them about). All issues are fixable for a reasonable amount (if you avoid Fiat dealers).

You're on a Croma forum, so you'll only see problems. Try googling for a forum on any other car and you'll see a similar story.

The main reason they're cheap is that people don't know what they are, and are snobby about brands (Fiat = cheap little cars, not big family cars). Also, it doesn't fit into a category - bigger than a hatchback, smaller than an estate, not a seven-seater.

I'd offer £3k then work upwards to meet at £3.5k+. If your first offer doesn't embarrass you then it's too high!

Let us know what you decide.
 
Thanks for the reply. I will go over at lunchtime for a look as I dont work far away and its worth seeing what its like.

I know what you mean about people only listing issues as that what is you expect form the forum. Have currently (and previously) had SEATs and they have all been problem free so am a little bit weary as FIATS do have a reputation although that has improved a lot recently.

Do you know what the cambelt interval on the 1.9/120 is? 5 years/50k seems to be mentioned on here so that is another angle for negotiation as its coming up to both based on the age/mileage as I suspect it hasnt been done.
 
I think the interval is actually 72k/5 years (would need to check the service book to be sure), but people are being cautious and changing earlier.

Mine's due for its first change, and it's reached 72k/5 years without any disasters.

You're right though - 5 years won't be far off for this one (depending on how early/late an 07 it is).
 
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I share the same view as Doofer, the Croma is not really any better or worse than many other mainstream cars, but you do get an awful lot of car for the money. As stated, this is a great forum for advice and if you do get a problem most are fairly easy to fix with aftermarket parts. Combined with astonishing fuel economy and spacious interior with a refined ride, I would go for it.

Bob (y)
 
It was first registered 30/03/07 according to the DVLA website so the 5 year cambelt interval isnt that far away so that will have to be taken off the price (£300ish? to do it) or they do it should I buy it...

I couldnt get away from the office to see it over lunch so going tomorrow morning instead as I suspect it will still be there. Hopefully it wont be lashing it down like it was as lunchtime today.
 
Have just got a quote for my timing belt today, as it happens...

£298.00 - 10% online discount voucher = £268.20 inc VAT, including a water pump and two tensioners. At Halfords autocentres.
 
You don't have to justify discount, just offer what you think it's worth and walk away when they say it's too low. Leave your mobile number with them (ready-written in your pocket).

Go to www.webuyanycar.com and get a valuation to get an idea of how much they'll have paid for it. I'd bet a lot under £3k.
 
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they've got a poor reputation and i wouldn't consider buying a set of car mats from romsey car sales let alone a car, i'm sure the owner is related to the local pikeys. if you do buy it check it check it again and then get an rac/mechanic inspection before you hand over your cash.

it's the place opposite romsey motor factors isn't it?
 
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Yes, thats them. Pretty much over the road in the industrial estate.
 
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Don't trust the car sales to do the cam belt, better to have the money and get it done properly.
Don't smile when coming back from a test drive.
 
I went and had a look at both the Croma and the Altea today. The Croma was in really nice condition and drove well with a full service history, etc. The reliability of it is still something that bothers me a bit so I said I would leave it for the time being to have a think about it (I doubt its going to be sold in the meantime).

The Altea had a few more marks, etc. both inside and out than I expected given the age and mileage so I passed on it but from a perceived quality point of view it all felt a lot more 'solid'.

There are a few other cars I am going to look at over the weekend and I am only a few miles down the road from the Croma where I work so can always go back again on Tuesday lunchtime.

Out of interest, webuyanycar.com values the Croma at £2540 which is similar to the ebay auction for the higher spec one.
 
SEATs are nice - I had two Toledos (the previous model saloon, not the more recent ice cream van).

Around 2000-ish, they were very decent VW/Audi cars with more toys at a lower price. Now they seem to have lost their bargain price.

I would say the Croma generally "feels" less chunky and clunky than the SEATs I had before. However, most of the apparent VW solidity is probably more to do with tactile feel than fact, e.g. the nice rubbery coating on the indicator stalks, the springy end stops on the gear change. It's all very nice but I'm sure it's just to make your mind think it's more solid. It may or may not be in reality.
 
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