Car Choice: The Nissan Primera is the ideal alternative to the Renault Laguna

George Cochrane has been offered a cheap Renault Laguna for less than £1000 and he’s not sure whether to buy it

Nissan Primera: uncomplicated and runs well even in its twilight years

A car for the head

Cheap cars ideally should not be complicated ones. The more extras and electricals they have, the worse it could be for reliability. My experience of Renaults in general and recent French cars is not particularly good. When it comes to a cheap reliable car then Nissan, who are closely related to Renault may have the answer, The Nissan Primera is a similar size to the Laguna, but it has a much better reputation for being able to cope with high mileage. I found a 2004 1.8S with 100,000 miles and lots of extras, which worked at £495.

A car for the heart

Tempted as I am to suggest a large petrol engined BMW, I think that there are some more mainstream models that are worth a closer look before they disappear. A Vauxhall Omega is an old school luxury saloon. With a 3.0 litre petrol engine, it becomes a performance car. Elite specification means that every useful extra, airbags, parking aid, air conditioning and cruise control. The Omega was built in Germany to a very high standard which means they are very reliable. A 2003 example with 147,000 miles at £895 is a lot of car for not much money.

The Omega was built in Germany to a very high standard

If you would like James Ruppert to help with your car choice, email james@bangernomics.com. For more motoring views visit freecarmag.com