School run car- Rusty 323, Slow Focus, boring Corolla, overrated Golf, etc etc

kwazar wrote: »

Which one (if any)?

'03 Focus: more miles, more expensive, newer, private:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-focus-2003/7689663

'99 Almera: less miles, cheaper, older, dealer:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-almera-1-4-nct-02-2015/7453464

'02 323: sportier(?), more tax
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mazda-323-f-glx-for-sell/7539241

or maybe '00 Golf or '99 Corolla instead?

There is too much choice!

The Mazda, without a doubt. Have a 1.6 GLX here as an emergency car and its a great little yoke. Look out for oil burning on startup and be aware that parts can be pricey and hard to come by.

kwazar wrote: »

This is what I would probably get but I don't think my wife will appreciate it. What would be your second choice? Fun of driving is least important in this case.

Second choice would be the focus m8

kwazar wrote: »

Even with that mileage?

Yes m8, it's had a lot of work done already and claims to have full service history, so if that checks out you should be fine

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

I wouldn't touch a 323 of that vintage at this stage, they are rot boxes.

Not all are,not be fair. That one claims to have been through an NCT recently. (must be backdated) the one I have here isn't rusted either.

those almeras were the model which followed was a lump of ****e

Dont know how reliable the petrol Golf is but it is still a good looking car compared to the others.

colm_mcm wrote: »

A rotten car will pass an NCT?

I'm sorry John, its great that you have opinions, but I've checked underneath the 1.6 I have, and it will be going through the test again in the coming months.
My friends 02 diesel and my other friends 99 1.5 petrol (my mothers old car actually) both passed NCT this year.

I'm not saying they don't rust, but you should take each car on its merits.

No they really are terrible for rust. They are one of the worst modern cars in that regard imo.

I couldn't find a good rust free example when I was looking for one back in 09, and I looked at many examples. Ended up with a corolla instead.

My neighbor had to send their 2003 example to the scrapper last year because it was so bad underneath. It's a shame they are so rust prone because they are a nice enough car and reliable enough apart from the speedo giving trouble on the facelifts

And yes a rusty car will pass a test as long as there is no holes showing. Don't take the test as a guarantee of a rust free car.

It's true you should take each cars on their merits but from my experience with these I just wouldn't bother with one at this stage tbh.

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Dont know how reliable the petrol Golf is but it is still a good looking car compared to the others.

:eek: Golfs were never, ever, good looking.

1.4 golf is a saleable car, no matter what, sold one 2 weeks ago for a friend.
Put it up on DD on sat night and had cash for the car on Sunday evening.
Edit: in relation to the posts above

CianRyan wrote: »

This is why I don't get Ireland.
They're so ****.

1.4 tax with the VW badge, and basic spec! That's what sells!


Conveniently forgetting the 1.0 performance and 2.0 fuel economy!

bladespin wrote: »

:eek: Golfs were never, ever, good looking.

Well their a hell of alot more better looking than them japs. Almera 323 yuk looking.

kwazar wrote: »

OK, Golf off my list then.
Will have a look at Almera and Focus.

Cheers!

A corolla would be a better option than an Almera.

alan partridge aha wrote: »

They are far less bland looking than the japs of that vintage. Still look good even after 16 years. Can't say that about alot of cars.

I don't agree that they are far less bland looking tbh. They may have aged well and they may look more upmarket than other cars of the time in that class, but a mk4 golf is anything but exciting.

The petrols were also very soft and build was only average.

Japs of that vintage where so far ahead of vw for reliability and quality

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Well their a hell of alot more better looking than them japs. Almera 323 yuk looking.

In your eyes possibly but either way the golf has never been a stylish or good looking car by any stretch, practical - yes, functional - yes, economical - maybe, reliable - not as good as made out to be but more bland than flour, white flour.

bladespin wrote: »

In your eyes possibly but either way the golf has never been a stylish or good looking car by any stretch, practical - yes, functional - yes, economical - maybe, reliable - not as good as made out to be but more bland than flour, white flour.

Well if they are white flour what is an almera, corolla,323 etc.