What car - budget around 15k

tomcollins97

Hi,
Hoping to buy a used car fairly soon but I am clueless about what to get - and the Top Gear website only provides limited info!

There are a few must haves:
Must be 4 or 5 door - preferably a hatchback
Diesel - I do a lot of country mileage (based in Dublin) so need this for a bit of fuel economy
Ideally the car should have lowish milegae when I buy so that I can put some miles on it before bits start dropping off!
Any fancy extras are a bonus but really want a comfortable, reliable car

Looking forward to any suggestions!

Tom

colm_mcm

there are a huge number of cars that fit the bill, any suggestions will be personal preferances.

I have a crazy idea. let's with the OP, figure out how large a car he needs, what engine size would be best suited to his needs, and exactly which extras he wants.
I propose that nobody suggests a particular car until tomorrow.

Then we can start the usual arguments about buying a 10 year old BMW or an Octavia, reason that a Focus is the best car ever made, and that Japanese cars aren't that reliable anyway!

OP, how many people will be travelling in the car, and how many of them have child seats?
What do you drive at the moment, and how do you find it?

tomcollins97

OK so - a few more specifics!

Min 1.8 engine - I have driven ( & drive) smaller before but you really dont get much powere for overtaking or motorways. Also, as I am looking for a diesel engine any smaller would be too small - I think!
No kids yet so child seats not an issue!
Extras - air con & elec front windows - not too much to ask

I drive an old Ford (97) at the moment with 1.3 engine!!! Has been reliable for the few years I've had it so that it why I have been looking at Fords. The car will be an longish term investment - I'm not really a car person so not obsessed with changing every three years. So I suppose the impostant things are reliability & enough space to cater for whatever the next few years have in store!

E92

The Mondeo and Avensis are very good cars, and I'm told that the Mazda 6 is a great car too, so I would say try any of these three and see which you prefer.

Since you already have a Ford, perhaps the Mondeo is the best?

ninty9er

thought about a Golf TDI 150 bhp, in the Audi league

Irishboy29

Mg Tf....beautiful Car

E92

Irishboy29 wrote: »

Mg Tf....beautiful Car

Stop trolling.

Makaveli

Mazda 6 for sure, although dunno what they're like regarding diesel.

bazz26

Mazda 6 diesel is as good as other offerings in this class of vehicle.

ninty9er

E92 wrote: »

Stop trolling.

I assume he did what most people did on the 31k thread and just skipped the OP and replied to the question....hardly trolling...annoying as fu<k at times; yes!!

HashSlinging

Had a look at this while my own car was being serviced, (SEAT Altea) and thought it was very well put together. Also won some award recently on top gear.

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=721332

Oilrig

Don't touch the Mazda, parts cost is in re-mortgage territory.

All things considered, The Focus is peerless in this segment.

HashSlinging

Thought the mazda came from the last mondeo. Same sort of relationship in the VAG group with other makes. So parts should be fine, through a specialist.

Biro

Oilrig wrote: »

Don't touch the Mazda, parts cost is in re-mortgage territory.

Absolute rubbish.

Irishboy29

ninty9er wrote: »

I assume he did what most people did on the 31k thread and just skipped the OP and replied to the question....hardly trolling...annoying as fu<k at times; yes!!

Correct and apologies- Some people have such a chip on their shoulder i.e E92