Anyone fancy recommending a 2nd hand car to me?

Thoie

Hoping someone is kind enough to stop and consider this for a few minutes. Just looking for some makes/models to consider checking out - I don't necessarily need links to exact cars (though won't refuse them )

First - my requirements/normal usage:

• Normal usage is approx 8000km per year.
• 95% of the time I'm alone in the car.
• The other 5% of the time I've got 2-3 people with me, the shortest being 6'3, none of them skinny.
• Mon-Fri the car travels a length of the M50 in relatively stop start traffic.
• At weekends the car might not move at all, might go about 15km, or might do 500km.
• Insurance not a consideration.
• Due to the low annual mileage (kilometerage?) I don't see much point paying huge road tax, so a 1.4-1.6 litre would suffice.
• I'm equally at home with manual or automatic.
• Budget approx 10k - might go to 15k if I particularly liked something.
• I rarely feel the need, the need for speed, (guess my age!), but neither do I want to take 30 minutes to build up to 120kph on the motorway.

Second, my current thoughts. I've been having these thoughts for a few months, and will continue having them for a few more months. Current estimated date to change cars is approx June, I just like to do my planning in advance. If I see a particularly good deal between now and then I might just go for it.

Currently thinking of something like the Nissan Note or Renault Megane, but open to consider absolutely anything except Opels. My only objection to Opel is that in any I've driven, the stupid light switch is down by my knees, which is a ridiculous place for a light switch. If they've changed this and put them in the normal place, feel free to suggest an Opel. Besides the standard engine, 4 wheels and a roof, things I like are

• stereo remote on the steering wheel,
• electric windows and
• electric mirrors (I hate the rigamarole of adjusting the passenger side mirror).
• Must have front fog lights (for driving in actual fog, which I do relatively regularly)

I'm not entirely sure why I'd need heated mirrors. A sunroof would be nice about 5 days a year. Ditto aircon. A default stereo with MP3 input would be nice, but not crucial.

Feel free to mock my driving habits/car choices, but if doing so, you must suggest a car first, mock second.

mumblin deaf ro

If you want a smaller car, then a Ford Focus or VW Golf; if you want a saloon then think about a mondeo or an octavia.

They are all sure things and you would get a reasonably new car within your budget.

bazz26

Volvo S40:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1312419

stratos

1995 Jaguar xj6
cost 4000 E
Tax 1500 E
Ins 400 E
8000 kms a year is 5000 miles is 1300 E in petrol @22 mpg
Electric everything magic carpet ride

7200 E includes first year running costs excluding servicing.

Sounds mad eh ? get the right one and these cars go forever have gent club interior and look fabulous.

Grace pace and space.

or you could buy a mondeo but it will cost more.

ninty9er

Most of the cars suggested have the light switch near the door by the air vent....non runners:p:p

Seriously, that IS now the normal place for light switches, it avoids flicking by accident when indicating etc, ans unless you're 11' 3" hitting it isn't going to be an issue.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/318i-AUT/200844190704207/advert

Thoie

ninty9er wrote: »

Most of the cars suggested have the light switch near the door by the air vent....non runners:p:p

Seriously, that IS now the normal place for light switches, it avoids flicking by accident when indicating etc, ans unless you're 11' 3" hitting it isn't going to be an issue.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/318i-AUT/200844190704207/advert

So you're telling me that every car manufacturer in the world ganged up and said "What's the single small change we can make that's guaranteed to annoy Thoie?", and they all agreed to put the light switch somewhere awkward? Wow, now I wish I'd said I hated front and rear mounted machine guns, with rocket launchers behind the number plates. And an eject button on the passenger seat.

Anyway, thanks for the ideas, keep them coming

kuro_man

Given low annual mileage and driving on your own 95% of the time (but need back seats) what you need is a 2+2 coupe.

Mercedes E220 Coupe W124 - 2.2L - Automatic, comfortable and refined.

Mazda RX-8, suicide rear doors, rotary engine (1.3 but taxed as 1.8), sporty

Biro

A lot of manufacturers have always had the light switch down below the vent on the door side of the wheel. VW's have gone one further step of annoyance at one point and had the Polo light switch turn anti-clockwise to turn on the lights and the Passat clockwise!!
Heated mirrors are a blessing. Fogged up mirrors are clear in seconds!
Anyhoo... 5 door Honda Civic, 1.6 will fit your bill nicely. More reliable and better engine than the Note or Megane, more room, easier to sell after you're done, and well equipped.

kazul

So now the brake pedal being the wrong size is not the issue? This year's problem is light switch position?
TBH I don't think you'll change car this decade.

Thoie

kazul wrote: »

So now the brake pedal being the wrong size is not the issue? This year's problem is light switch position?
TBH I don't think you'll change car this decade.

I know - I'm starting to feel the same! Sadly finances are dictating the likely change date, but I reckon June will definitely be it. There is an option of reducing the budget which would allow a marginally earlier change, but only by a month or so. The brake pedal size is still an issue, but from the helpful comments in the last thread it seems that can be sorted by bolting on an extension.

I still feel that off wheel light switches are an inconvenience, but at the end of the day they won't cause me to crash the car, and if that's where manufacturers are putting them, I'll just have to live with it (though I'd still like a rear mounted machine gun). Having my foot slip off the brake pedal could be a much bigger issue

Par72

Thoie, what are you driving at the moment?

Thoie

A 12 year old Megane that I've had from when it was about 3 months old Hence why I'm looking for recommendations - haven't been car shopping in a long time, so no real idea what the norms are these days. I'm spending a lot of time checking various sites, and peeking into showrooms - I don't want to bother salesmen directly yet as I know I won't be buying immediately.

The old style Micras used be too small for me (not enough leg room), but I believe they're a bit bigger now. Other cars I drive from time to time include a Laguna, a Camry, a few Mercs, a Lexus (can't remember specifics), a Honda Accord(?). Of various hire cars, the Seat Altea stuck out in my mind as being nice. Of the others I do like the Camry, but reckon it's a bit stupid for the amount of driving I normally do.

kazul

Thoie wrote: »

I know - I'm starting to feel the same! Sadly finances are dictating the likely change date, but I reckon June will definitely be it. There is an option of reducing the budget which would allow a marginally earlier change, but only by a month or so. The brake pedal size is still an issue, but from the helpful comments in the last thread it seems that can be sorted by bolting on an extension.

I still feel that off wheel light switches are an inconvenience, but at the end of the day they won't cause me to crash the car, and if that's where manufacturers are putting them, I'll just have to live with it (though I'd still like a rear mounted machine gun). Having my foot slip off the brake pedal could be a much bigger issue

I was bein' a bit sarky. I remember trying to sell you a nissan note
Now that I'm back plying my original trade and using my real name I can "come out" a little on boards. I used to be "Tony" in Merlin :cool:

Thoie

kazul wrote: »

I was bein' a bit sarky. I remember trying to sell you a nissan note
Now that I'm back plying my original trade and using my real name I can "come out" a little on boards. I used to be "Tony" in Merlin :cool:

I'm not surprised

If it's any consolation, I was recommending you to loads of people, and had kept all your details for when finances were stable - I'll have to stop now if you're not there any more. And I really did appreciate your help that day, but in the current economic climate (horrible phrase) my personal circumstances are changing almost weekly. If I remember at the time I turned up in jeans looking a wreck - now you're more likely to meet me in a suit And to be fair - I was straight up with you that day - even to the point of telling you the flaws with the current car!

Anyway, if you suddenly start selling cars again around May/June, give me a shout.

Mickeym530

would u be interested in a bmw 318ci 1.9 petrol-taxed for 6 months,nct 2years,imola red ,full mpack includes sports bumpers,seats with tigh supports,electric windows and mirrors,6 cd player,bluetooth handsfree kit,full bmw service history 88,000miles,new tyres last wk,full service last month,13000 eur...very good price its d cheapest of this model at such a high spec..

colm_mcm

re: the light switch thing, lots of cars have the headlight switch in the same place as Opel, but as far as I know, Opel are the only ones to have the switch for the interior lights on the headlight switch.

Thoie

Mickeym530 wrote: »

would u be interested in a bmw 318ci 1.9 petrol-taxed for 6 months,nct 2years,imola red ,full mpack includes sports bumpers,seats with tigh supports,electric windows and mirrors,6 cd player,bluetooth handsfree kit,full bmw service history 88,000miles,new tyres last wk,full service last month,13000 eur...very good price its d cheapest of this model at such a high spec..

It sounds lovely, thank you, but as mentioned, it will be June-ish before I'll actually be buying anything - thanks.

Thoie

colm_mcm wrote: »

re: the light switch thing, lots of cars have the headlight switch in the same place as Opel, but as far as I know, Opel are the only ones to have the switch for the interior lights on the headlight switch.

Freaks. The lot of them. When I was young we used just have a man with a candle, two squirrels and mirror walk along in front of the car to guide your way. None of this confusing switches all over the place malarkey!

Tony Broke

You dont do much driving, so the emphasis should be on enjoyment imo.

Octavia VRS would be my choice.

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1325010

Thoie

Tony Broke wrote: »

You dont do much driving, so the emphasis should be on enjoyment imo.

Octavia VRS would be my choice.

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1325010

What are the smaller engines like on the Octavia, would you know? I'd imagine that the car might be a bit heavy for anything less than the 1.8 litre (but have nothing to base that on). €560 a year (or so) road tax for something that spends most of its life at 30kph seems a bit silly, but maybe I'm just mean

I'm torn over engine size. I really like bigger engines, but I just don't do the driving that make the most of them. Similarly my past experience with 1.0 and 1.2 litres were a bit offputting on the long trips. Am I being silly sticking to the 1.4-1.6 range?

colm_mcm

The Octavia weights roughly the same as the Golf, despite looking much bigger and heavier.

Personally I'd avoid the 1.4, the 1.6 100hp would be be bearable, a TDI would be nippy enough.

Legroom on the newer shape is better than on the old ones,