Could do with some suggestions please

Shelli

Hi all,

Just looking for some suggestions from those who know what they're talking about, well more so than me anyway!!

I'm looking to buy a new car in the next week or so, I've been driving a fiat punto for 3 yrs now and it's finally time to upgrade a bit.

I'm due a baby soon too, and would really like a 5 door hatchback.

My dad is pushing me to get a Jap car, like a Nissan Almera or similiar.

I really like th Citroen C3.

Any feedback or suggestions?

(PS, I like "round" cars, and I also prefer higher cars to low sporty models)

Atomic Pineapple

how much have you got to spend?

what year are you looking for or are you goin for something new?

does it have to be a hatchback? theres some nice saloons about these days

bazz26

I don't think a C3 is that much bigger than a Punto to be honest.

Shelli

Doesn't really have to be bigger, just better quality, newer model. I've been driving a very basic punto, no extras really. I'd just like something with a bit more comfort.

I'd like to go up to a 03 or 04.

I could probably strech to 8k at a push.

cantdecide

http://www.usedcars.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=697945

hatches are a pain if you're not into hot hatches. if you have no preference or if you don't care much for cars, this is a car you can keep for a long time- it will be practical, economical, comfortable, spacious and reliable. if you got this, you wouldn't know why you put up with a punto for so long.

you'll find that there's a million good options out there if you forget the cliches

Shelli

OK, so now the option is that my boyfriends parents are considering buying us a car in the UK. By boyfriend has been living here for a 1.5 yrs now. Is there any way of avoiding VRT.

We do travel back and forward to the UK a lot on the ferry and this will probably increase when the baby arrives.

Edit: We have actually pretty much decided to go for a Focus, just watching for one that suits now, looking at prices it'll prob be a 00/01, preferably with Air Con and a 5dr hatch back, not the saloon or estate model.

Oh and not green or navy

PauloMN

cantdecide wrote:

hatches are a pain if you're not into hot hatches.

vengeance52

i dont think the mods will let people dicuss how to avoid paying VRT on the thread. AFAIK, the car must be bought and in your name for more than 6months in the UK before it can be imported into ireland exempt from VRT. and the government is very scrict on gettin proof of this.

Shelli

I didn't mean that I wanted to know how to scam VRT or anything, just wondering if anyone knew of any clauses relating to gifts of cars, or becuase he's a UK citizen who travels back and forward is he exempt?

Now, one more question, where do you find is best to buy a used car? Online, paper etc. The cars in the paper seem to be cheaper. I'm totally new to all this so any advise at all would be highly appreciated.

cavanmaniac

www.carzone.ie works for me.

Tonnes of cars, both dealers and private. I've wasted manys the hour at work dreaming in there.

Happy hunting.

cantdecide

if you buy a very new car like 1 or 2 years old, you probably get a manufacturers warranty to fall back on so you can buy privately (thus cheaper) and only have to worry about tyres/ servicing etc. you should ALWAYS get a used car checked by a trustworthy mechanic just in case it was crashed or has had serious repairs already which demonstrates poor maintenance.

main dealers will charge the most but you will probably get the most facilities like maybe a 12mth guarantee if it isn't very old. a lot of main dealer now give free 12mth AA membership on newer cars.

if you get an older car out of the buy and sell etc. or websites (i find carzone.ie the best but try autotrader.ie and cbg.ie also) they will be a fair bit cheaper than main dealer forecourt prices but you must make sure the car has no imminent servicing (timing belts etc.- usually very costly) or repairs. if it's over 3 yrs old you will have no warranty so this is where the trustworthy mechanic becomes really important. if its like 10 years old you could get mechanics and do it all properly but STILL get caught- this usually happens to people with rose coloured glasses but can happen to anyone.

if you get a car from an independant used car dealer (we all know the types) more often than not, all except the best will offer kind of a watered down version of main dealer facilities-ie shorter warranty (warranty work often given begrudgingly and cheaply so be careful this is where bodge repairs can happen. this is because their margins are usually tight) and if things like tyres are half ok, they won't change them. but they're not all bad- if it's a reasonably fresh car and you have heard positive feedback about the seller, your mechanic gives it the go ahead, you're probably onto a winner. in fact this will probably be the way you'll get your new motor.

Vigilence is the key...