audi or a lexus

samhail

Im split between getting an Audo A4 (maybe 1.9 TDi) or a Lexus IS200. ive got about 15/16k so spend so the audi would be about 2002, and lexus about 2003.

whats the feeling ?

the last car i had has an alfa romeo 156, and ive been driving a nice big 3l land cruiser recently.

Plug

samhail wrote: »

Im split between getting an Audo A4 (maybe 1.9 TDi) or a Lexus IS200. ive got about 15/16k so spend so the audo would be about 2002, and lexus about 2003.

whats the feeling ?

the last car i had has an alfa romeo 156, and ive been driving a nice big 3l land cruiser recently.

Get an A4 with something different that 1.9tdi ,maybe the 2.0tdi;)

samhail

could go for a petrol A4

Frankie Lee

IS 200 are far superior cars, but have the downside of boy racers importing Toyota Altezzas which is off putting. Plus Alan Partridge drove one.

If going the Audi route, if practicality is not too much of a concern I'd recommend a 04 A3 2.0tdi 3dr, very quick cars and gorgeous to boot.
Would be available privately in that price range.

Plug

Frankie Lee wrote: »

IS 200 are far superior cars, but have the downside of boy racers importing Toyota Altezzas which is off putting. Plus Alan Partridge drove one.

If going the Audi route, if practicality is not too much of a concern I'd recommend a 04 A3 2.0tdi 3dr, very quick cars and gorgeous to boot.
Would be available privately in that price range.

Far superior car, Boyracer?:rolleyes:

@samhail if going for a petrol try out the 1.8 turbo, theres no power from a 1.6 in a car that big.

samhail

Im going to find an Audi dealer to have a look at the A3, think i prefer to go with an A4/A6 though with the boot. personal preference i suppose. ill see how i like it at the weekend.

another thing i need to go with a dealer (loan i got)

Climate Expert

If you spend €16K on a 02 A4 TDI then you have some serious issues. You can get a 02 745i for that money.

If you want an Audi A6 then you can get decent value.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A6/1.9-tdi-/200843190565016/advert

Dealer car

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A6/1.9-TDI-/200840190271546/advert

nialler

There's an 02 CL500 going for that type of money around town 90k on the clock, now that's a superior car. Although you could get the 745 and tax it as a limo.

Plug

samhail wrote: »

Im going to find an Audi dealer to have a look at the A3, think i prefer to go with an A4/A6 though with the boot. personal preference i suppose. ill see how i like it at the weekend.

another thing i need to go with a dealer (loan i got)

Forget the A3, remember an A3 is a VW golf, Not that there a bad car or anything.

Climate Expert

nialler wrote: »

There's an 02 CL500 going for that type of money around town 90k on the clock, now that's a superior car. Although you could get the 745 and tax it as a limo.

Could you link me up, sounds quite cheap.

rabbitinlights

samhail wrote: »

ive got about 15/16k so spend so the audo would be about 2002, and lexus about 2003.

Is importing one not an option, 16k would get you a low mileage late 2005 A4 2.0tdi S-line, which is the new shape.

S.

samhail

rabbitinlights wrote: »

Is importing one not an option, 16k would get you a low mileage late 2005 A4 2.0tdi S-line, which is the new shape.

S.

i checked out importing today and it didnt look all that good.
2004 was selling up north of 11k £ which came up to 14k €, and needed to add about 4k of VRT onto it. hmmpf.

Sandwich

You mean :

wannabe BMW with corners cut OR rebadged Toyota with all the extras ?

eire2go

There isn't a car company out there that are upping their game like Audi right now, new A4 & A5, georgous cars

bazz26

samhail wrote: »

i checked out importing today and it didnt look all that good.
2004 was selling up north of 11k £ which came up to 14k €, and needed to add about 4k of VRT onto it. hmmpf.

Cars are cheaper in the mainland UK than up North.

Some examples:
http://www.autoquake.com/cars/make-audi/model-a4

bazz26

eire2go wrote: »

There isn't a car company out there that are upping their game like Audi right now, new A4 & A5, georgous cars

Hardly relevant to the OP though since he is looking at 03/04 cars.

Climate Expert

A newer model A6 thats just about in your price range.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A6/V6-New-M/200844190715347/advert

samhail

looks nice.

would it be better to wait a few months ? is this 2nd hand car sales thing gonna shoot back up ?

samhail

anyone have an idea ?

Tony Broke

samhail wrote: »

looks nice.

would it be better to wait a few months ? is this 2nd hand car sales thing gonna shoot back up ?

Not an expert, but I wouldnt think Audi's or Lexus type brands would be that much cheaper.

I would be going for the IS200 myself, you could get a 06 one from the uk for €17000 including Vrt.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ni/cars_popup.jsp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=block&sort=3&hassearched=Y&make=LEXUS&min_pr=75&source=0&model=ANY&max_pr=&miles=1500&agerange=5&mileage=&postcode=m52ty&variant=&bodyid=0&trim=&fuelid=2&colour=&transmissionid=0&keywords=&ukcarsearch_full.x=5&ukcarsearch_full.y=8&start=3&distance=38&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200845322858254

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ni/cars_popup.jsp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=block&sort=3&hassearched=Y&make=LEXUS&min_pr=75&source=0&model=ANY&max_pr=&miles=1500&agerange=5&mileage=&postcode=m52ty&variant=&bodyid=0&trim=&fuelid=2&colour=&transmissionid=0&keywords=&ukcarsearch_full.x=5&ukcarsearch_full.y=8&start=4&distance=194&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200845322855113

You would be crazy to buy here imo.

samhail

hmmmmm something to think about.
that looks like a nice car.
tax for a 2.2l is like 791/year. does it matter that its so new ?
(I havnt copped on about this new co2 emissions thing yet)

samhail

"CO2 EMISSION LEVEL RATES FROM 1 JULY 2008
The attached document sets out the rates of motor tax for brand new vehicles/imported vehicles registered in this country after 1 July 2008. Cars registered before 1 January 2008 will continue to pay motor tax on the basis of engine size (cc rates are shown in previous link)."

if im like registering a 2006 car in 2008, do i pay the old tax or new ?

samhail

http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/search/vehicleDetails.asp?id=16574
(nice site link too)

would be paying 420 vat if its goin by the CO2

samhail

damn im spamming this thread sorry (ill leave my sig off this time )

the loan i have, im only allowed to buy directly from an irish dealer
which is a damn pity ! saving over 10k euro on that model there !

any ideas on how i could get around it ?

Voodoomelon

Climate Expert wrote: »

If you spend €16K on a 02 A4 TDI then you have some serious issues. You can get a 02 745i for that money.

If you want an Audi A6 then you can get decent value.

Damn straight, it blows my mind why people want to spend so much money on A4s and Golfs just to be like everyone else. Why get an A4 when you can get an A6? Much more elegant looking and far less of them on the road. How about some individuality people.
My 728i Sport was €12000 fully imported with 68k on the clock. You wouldn't even get a 2004 Golf for that.

Demand is the only reason A4s have such high prices, they aren't worth the money at all in my opinion...

samhail

does your 728 swallow the fuel whole ?

Voodoomelon

22MPG around town, 33MPG on the motorway so not really. Suprisingly economical. €115 fills the tank.

Tony Broke

With the money you are spending I would go 2006 Samhail, you wont have to Nct a 06 import for over a year.Even though a straight 04 BMW, Lexus etc should pass the test no problem, its still a bit of a risk to go importing a 04/05, even if you can get a super 728.

The 2.0 163bhp BMW 320d has very low emissions, just 153g.

This one for example is yours for just about 17k including Vrt.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ni/cars_popup.jsp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=block&sort=3&hassearched=Y&make=BMW&min_pr=75&source=0&model=ANY&max_pr=&miles=1500&agerange=1&mileage=&postcode=m52ty&variant=&bodyid=2&trim=&fuelid=2&colour=&transmissionid=0&keywords=&ukcarsearch_full.x=27&ukcarsearch_full.y=13&start=7&distance=152&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200845322820472

Hell of a car for that price.Average of 50mpg, 0-60 in a in less than 9secs.

samhail

my understanding of my bank loan is that the bank will write a cheque right to the dealer... so it would have to be in ireland. will call them on monday.

Anan1

samhail wrote: »

damn im spamming this thread sorry (ill leave my sig off this time )

the loan i have, im only allowed to buy directly from an irish dealer
which is a damn pity ! saving over 10k euro on that model there !

any ideas on how i could get around it ?

Get a personal loan, as opposed to a car loan.

rabbitinlights

samhail wrote: »

i checked out importing today and it didnt look all that good.
2004 was selling up north of 11k £ which came up to 14k €, and needed to add about 4k of VRT onto it. hmmpf.

I have just cleared an Oct 2005 2.0 TDI Audi A4 S-line with every extra available for just over 16K, I would hate to think what it would cost to get that car here in Ireland. 23K-26K?

S.

samhail

Anan1 wrote: »

Get a personal loan, as opposed to a car loan.

not that easy i was only approved for the car loan. ill see what restrictions on monday

rabbitinlights wrote: »

I have just cleared an Oct 2005 2.0 TDI Audi A4 S-line with every extra available for just over 16K, I would hate to think what it would cost to get that car here in Ireland. 23K-26K?

S.

oh yeah ? get it through autotrader ?

rabbitinlights

Yeah, the UK Autotrader site from a smaller independent dealer outside London.

mullingar

The biggest expense of any car is depreciation.

How about a 2001/2 Lexus GS300? Very rare car, replaced in 2005 with new shape



I have a 98 GS300 now 3 years and it is the best car I have ever owned. I get an average of 27mpg and that is not with light driving. Light driving I would easily get early-mid 30's.

The car has never missed a beat as it is a glorified toyota so you get total reliability and with all the toys. 100% recommended.

It has the brilliant bullit-proof Supra (non-turbo) engine and can be modified very easily. There is even a rarer imported GS300 called the Toyota Aristo with the crazy Supra Turbo engine!

Anan1

samhail wrote: »

not that easy i was only approved for the car loan. ill see what restrictions on monday

Just bear in mind that any loan that makes you pay more for your car is a very expensive loan. Could you maybe get a personal loan but for a smaller amount?

samhail

I think in this loan i dont have to spend the entire amount. need to verify.

Anan1

samhail wrote: »

I think in this loan i dont have to spend the entire amount. need to verify.

The problem, though, is that you have to spend it a dealer.

samhail

aye. might a dealer give you a cash back ?

Anan1

No, that'd be fraud. What i'm trying to tell you, though, is that Irish dealers are expensive. You'd be better off with a personal loan, that way you can get the best deal on your new car.

samhail

seriously ! ? its fraud. i didnt know that atall.
well if the bank is only going to give me that type of loan.

bazz26

Maybe you need to change banks then. Did you try a credit union?

You should be looking for the best deal for you not the best deal for your bank.

Climate Expert

Tesco loans.

Whats the loan for...home improvements.

samhail

nah... been trying to get loans for a few months now... kinda messed up my credit rating when i went to Australia. Ill see what they say on Monday.

and tried credit union... but never got around to making an account with them, so cant take a loan out of that much so quickly.


are tesco loans good ? i thought i looked at them and they were a good bit more expensive.

Voodoomelon

mullingar wrote: »

The biggest expense of any car is depreciation.

How about a 2001/2 Lexus GS300? Very rare car, replaced in 2005 with new shape



I have a 98 GS300 now 3 years and it is the best car I have ever owned. I get an average of 27mpg and that is not with light driving. Light driving I would easily get early-mid 30's.

The car has never missed a beat as it is a glorified toyota so you get total reliability and with all the toys. 100% recommended.

It has the brilliant bullit-proof Supra (non-turbo) engine and can be modified very easily. There is even a rarer imported GS300 called the Toyota Aristo with the crazy Supra Turbo engine!

A very nice car, take a look at this:
http://www.keycops.co.uk/viewcar.asp?cID=138

Same garage where I got my 728, the lads in there are sound. That price has dropped big time, he had it back in May when I got my yoke. Great price.

samhail

the GS300 looks gorgeous... but the 1100 euro tax bill dont.

rabbitinlights

I got my loan from Tescos, I took 3-4 weeks but the rate is 3% cheaper than the rest so it was worth it!

Will your loan be secured on the actually car?

samhail

i dont know to be honest. when the girl from aib rang me she just told me that i was approved, didnt give me much time to come up with all the questions i wanted to ask
getting a list together for tomorrow.
who underrights(underwrite? *shrugs*) tescos loans ?

rabbitinlights

Ulster bank in belfast

skyhighflyer

Pity about the loan being limited to an Irish dealer. For €15k cleared I would have this from the UK:

2006 159 1.9JTD, 79K miles, full Alfa history. Nice, nice car.

samhail

hmmm interesting.
might put in a loan request in to them.

samhail

skyhighflyer wrote: »

Pity about the loan being limited to an Irish dealer. For €15k cleared I would have this from the UK:

2006 159 1.9JTD, 79K miles, full Alfa history. Nice, nice car.

that is nice alright !
i had an 2002 156 for a few years there, didnt have any problems with it (luckily). lovely car !