New car!

Tragedy

Looking at buying a car as I'm doing a lot more trips of Dublin > Limerick// Dublin > Galway in the future(and also the fact I've passed, love driving, and would love something a little more enjoyable).
Have around 8k to play with, but would prefer as cheap(but good!) as possible.

Looking for something with good fuel economy(be doing 200-300miles a week, but I realise paying more for better MPG can be false economy), comfort, good to drive and with reasonable pep(overtaking on 100km/h national roads in a 90hp 1.3 is not fun at all).

Been looking at cars from 9-3's with the 150BHP diesel to Fiat Coupe 20V's, and just looking for general suggestions to help me out really.

Would probably be importing from the UK too.

PS: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/860004.htm = ****ing sex
PPS: Bear in mind I'm 24 with 1 years no claims, so insurance could bite on certain cars!

L-M

I'd reccomend a Passat 130bhp diesel, Saab 93 150bhp diesel, Golf Tdi and the likes.

Will you need the space or what's your preference? I can't think of a wider variety of cars that include a Fiat Coupe and a Saab 93:D

mickdw

200 to 300 miles per week is small mileage so you shouldnt be overly concerned with mpg.

You could get a nice face lift (angle eyes) bmw 520i for alot less than you want to spend
2002, 2003 reg.

HashSlinging

2 - 300 miles per week! I do that in a day.. dont bother with a diesel.

Get a 525i seen a nice one on carzone a while ago.. serious machine.

Tony Broke

Alfa Gt

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/879377.htm

Hyundai Coupe 2.0

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/877142.htm

If you need room

SKODA OCTAVIA VRS Turbo

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ni/cars_popup.jsp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=block&sort=&hassearched=Y&make=SKODA&min_pr=75&source=0&model=OCTAVIA&max_pr=&miles=1500&agerange=&mileage=&postcode=m52ty&variant=vrs&bodyid=0&trim=&fuelid=0&colour=&transmissionid=0&keywords=&ukcarsearch_full.x=0&ukcarsearch_full.y=0&start=10&distance=21&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200905328083619

S.I.R

Limerick man wrote: »

I'd reccomend a Passat 130bhp diesel, Saab 93 150bhp diesel, Golf Tdi and the likes.

Will you need the space or what's your preference? I can't think of a wider variety of cars that include a Fiat Coupe and a Saab 93:D

i agree, with the 93/passat anyways... golfs are over rated... ( uncomfortable, relyable, more common then a pregnant junkie )

passats also have them ecu tuning boxes available which when you feel the need for speed, its their as well as the fact that the saabs just a well built car ( dawns the flame suit )

saab would be my pic but hey, thats just me... :rolleyes:

jimmyc06

i'd say go far a diesel passat, run well keep going forever and plenty of power for when you need it. also you can pick them up fairly cheap at the moment!

Tragedy

Noticed when getting quotes on premiums that going diesel saves me a good few pennies too, might look into an e39 5series as I always liked their looks!

More I've been looking the last month, the more I've liked the 9-3 1.9 150bhp though. Damnit.

Dont particularly need the space, but I enjoy having a decent sized car around me. Also like hatchbacks as dad has a saloon and find my current hatchback much easier for carrying the odd load around!

8vjohn

I don't think golfs are over rated in the slightest. Get a nice 150bhp gttdi and you won't look back. Try vagdrivers.net

Sqaull20

Go for a few test drives here before you go over to the UK.I took the new Sirocco 2.0tdi for a spin in town on tuesday and I didnt think they were that great.They had a good bit of power at the start and then boring.It was incredibly noisy too, for such a modern car.The racket out if it was incredible, for what is suppose to be a sports car.

I had a spin in a Lancer gsr a while ago and although dated tech at this stage, it was some machine compared to the Sirocco and my dads diesel A4 ( I think its 130bhp ),anyway it had so much power in every gear and made even less racket with a pretty big exhaust.If it wasn't for the fact that you have to pay 5k for a 10 year old one, I would get one.I dont know what modern cars have a similar engine to that, but its worth checking out.

Edit just looking on carzone and you can get 2.0 petrol turbo Saab's and Volvo's for nothing.Are they worth looking at?

Bluefoam

Alfa GT

Tony Broke

This would be perfect imho.

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=95626&cpage=3#poststart

rocknchef

I was in the same situation as yourself and picked me up a 02 320D 150BHP on friday. I know I only have it two days but wow its a dream:)

pburns

Passats? Golfs? Pah!:rolleyes: Also in Ireland 99% of VW diesels of that age/price-point will be the 1.9 tractor engine...Double Pah!

I'm not the biggest BMW-head in the world but a 320d is hard to beat at any price level. Bear in mind some of the older models had turbo problems (01-02-ish cars?). Search past threads here for more info.

BTW I've bought cars with:
(i) the heart (and regretted it)
(ii) the head (and regretted it)
(iii) a combo of the two (no regrets!)

If the Saab floats you boat I'd say it's a sensible enough proposition - should be some great bargains given the precarious state of that company (and economy in general) and that 1.9 engine (Fiat:eek:!) has a pretty good reputation. Don't mind the 'Vectra-in-drag' jibes - with the right spec they're tasty and classy motors.

Tragedy

I know it's terribly annoying, but I've spotted something and it's gone and made me think.

Volvo S60's are cheap as chips, meant to be reliable in general, amazingly comfortable seats, high spec, and high performance. I can also get quoted on a 2.4l one for not amazing amounts of money.

Does anyone have experience with them? 2.0 / 2.4 / T5 ones, as diesels are a lot more expensive.

modm3

Tragedy wrote: »

I know it's terribly annoying, but I've spotted something and it's gone and made me think.

Volvo S60's are cheap as chips, meant to be reliable in general, amazingly comfortable seats, high spec, and high performance. I can also get quoted on a 2.4l one for not amazing amounts of money.

Does anyone have experience with them? 2.0 / 2.4 / T5 ones, as diesels are a lot more expensive.

S60 T5, better in every way than the 2.0 and the 2.4. Utterly reliable, mind-bending straight line speed, the most comfortable car I've ever driven, seats are unrivalled - we do Limerick-Dundalk run a lot of weekends and you never feel tired afterwards. Huge space, economy is actually better than the 2.0 in real world driving, lots of torque so you don't need to drop gears or use a heavy foot, can be chipped very easily to 300bhp and not much would stick to you with that much power. It's not a 0-60 car, a sports tourer. Have put 50K on ours so far (now at 90K) and no issues other than front tyres and drop links - which are cheap.

IMO you ain't going to get any better for the money, E46 - Pah! no contest, I've also gotten an E39 Touring very recently, but that's just a big van (was cheaper too!)

PS; Pro-Logic stereo is best OEM audio of any manufacturer out there.

Tragedy

Sorry to bump this up, just been researching more(and banking more) in the meantime and come up with this:


The MPG is the extraurban listed on autotrader.co.uk, so it's only a guideline - but it's an equivalent for all cars. Fuel is 107.9 for petrol and 101.9 for diesel.

Surprised me just how close all the cars are after 3 years, though resale will be massively different I'm sure.

Johnboy Mac

Looking good so for the Honda...........................