The field is narrowing...a few lengthy conversations with a friend in the trade who has served his apprenticeship and headed up a few large automobile workshops.
Fortunately he’s a petrol head and some of his stories of oily bits letting go just out of warranty, the lack of manufacturer goodwill, and the cost to repair are eye watering. I won’t name marques, transmissions etc as someone will pop up and say that theirs has been 100% reliable, but he has strongly advised against a few potential purchases.
He still thinks I should buy a Focus ST estate and be done with it. He rates the 2.3 engine, but I have no desire to be the oldest boy racer in town. And it will be no good on rough mountain tracks in Spain.
I may well go for one of his recommendations, a very left field choice, subject to negotiating downwards on forecourt prices, and see how we get on. A few irons in the fire, and if we don’t get on I won’t lose a whole bunch on depreciation short term.
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