The story so far...

I'm confident enough of being offered the change of job that I've started to think seriously about finding a suitable car. I've also decided to record the trials and tribulations of this in a blog.

My mental budget for the car started off at around £5000, which I hoped would include the cost of an LPG conversion ( I bought my current car, a Vauxhall Astra, as a factory-fit LPG conversion and I'm very pleased with the results. Fuel savings of 6p a mile over the last 100,000 miles have been well worth having.) and a couple of hundred left over for a new stereo system. I believe that the 406 Coupé comes with a CD-changer, but I bough an mp3-playing DAB radio for the Astra a few years ago and I'm quite attached to that.

A search on the internet suggests that I might have to pay around £4000 for a car with a decent combination of age and mileage, plus another £1800 for the LPG conversion. That leaves -£800 for in-car entertainment.

I'm gradually coming round to the idea of paying a little more than I'd hoped to, although I haven't mentioned this to my wife. She's okay with the idea of the car, as long as it's not dark blue, dark grey or black. Don't ask me why*.

I also have a mental budget for insurance, although that's likely to be busted too.

*I do know why, I'm just not saying.

Why Peugeot?

I need a new car. Not a new new car, but another car.

The reason for this is that I'm changing (or hoping to change) from a job where I can cycle to work to one where I'll be commuting 60-100 miles a day. I can't leave my wife and baby at home with no means of travelling long distances, so a new car is required.

So, why a Peugeot? and why a 406 Coupé?

Well, it's a great looking car, without a doubt. Reviews say that it's good to drive, and spacious enough for family use. My first car was a Citroën, and I've always found that PSA cars have been very comfortable to drive.

I've always wanted one, and now I may finally get one :-)