Car buying advice - 2007 EOS vs 2008 Astra Twintop

LisaM2009

Howdy all,

In a bit of a predicament with a cary buying choice right at the min and wondering if any experienced car buyers had some advice.

Have been thinking about buying a car last year or so (been named driver on himselfs car last two years) and have finally narrowed down my search to two 1-2 year old cars.

I'm trying hard to make up my mind as to which one I'll actually seal the deal on but finding it very hard to make a decision on it as there are pros and cons to both.

Putting some summary info below and pros/cons and maybe you could let me know what you think.

Option 1: Opel Astra Twintop.
2008 car, 1.6 petrol, selling from garage, has 3 year manufacturer warranty and 1 year garage warranty (from day i purchase) also. Really fab car on the outside, standard enough on the inside (its the base twintop sport), almost 11000 miles, one owner, well kept, will sell for €19,500. Would include 3 months road tax etc.

Option 2: Volkswagen EOS
2007, 1.6 petrol, private sale, manufacturer warranty up as of June thsi year, 9000 miles, pretty sweet car on outside (but prob prefer Astra exterior), total wow factor on inside. half of roof is glass with optional sunroof aswell as full convertible, all cream lether interior, heated seats, parking sensors, alarm, etc etc. Wont go lower than €22,500 which makes it 3k more than option 1! She bought it for 34 last march and has already dropped from 26k so this is lowest price.

Pros of Astra:
- lovely car on outside
- Low mileage
- Great price - could get it for 19.5k
- would have both manufacturer and garage warranty (garage thats selling it is literally ten mins up the road from where i live

Cons of Astra:
- insides pretty basic
- felt a bit clunky to drive
- doesnt have the same appeal (wow factor)

Pros of EOS:
- Savage interior (cream leather, glass sun roof, teak edgings in car, all kinds of extra eg ipod plug in, built in blue tooth, heated mirrors etc)
- also includes some practical extras like alarm and parking sensors etc
- Volkswagen better/more reputable brand......?
- Very low mileage for a 2007 (8700 miles)
- Pristine condition inside and out

Cons of EOS:
- 3k more than option 1
- is a 2007 car (nicer to have a 2008 if i could....?
- Has a slightly more 'bubbly' look to the outside (astra has a slightly sleeker side to it)
- Buying private, no comeback.

I don't want to go higher than 1.6 so both of these cars suit me. There is negligeable difference between insurance etc. The servicing and tyres etc on EOS would prob be higher.

there is something really 'wow' about the EOS, even though i prefer the Astra from the outside. Plus would i not be mad to even consider paying 3k more for a car that is a year older with no warranty?

Both are just about in the bracket I am willing to spend. My head says Astra and my heart says EOS even though in 5 months time with EOS, I'd have spent a fortune on a 3 year old car!

Any thoughts, advice welcome.

Thanks

L

Sleepy

LisaM2009 wrote: »

Cons of Astra:
- felt a bit clunky to drive

That answers it for me... go for the EOS.

LisaM2009

Thanks Sleepy

I think the clunky could have been more me getting used to gears (I'm only driving last year and a half). Himself said he though there was much of a muchness between the two but the VW felt more solid (which is to be expected as it has bigger tyres etc)

What would you say based on rest of criteria?

I love the idea of buying as new a car as i can (hence the 2008 being so appealing) and would also be very nervous about buying private with mo warranty or cover etc. My family have all said go for the Opel based on the above. I just cant get the fab inside of the EOS out of my head, silly i know!

My sister's mate has spent a fortune on various repairs and services for her VW and I've heard that from a few other ppl too which is why the no warranty at all is worrying on what to me will be a 'new' car.

Thanks again

L

super106

LisaM2009 wrote: »

Howdy all,

In a bit of a predicament with a cary buying choice right at the min and wondering if any experienced car buyers had some advice.

Have been thinking about buying a car last year or so (been named driver on himselfs car last two years) and have finally narrowed down my search to two 1-2 year old cars.

I'm trying hard to make up my mind as to which one I'll actually seal the deal on but finding it very hard to make a decision on it as there are pros and cons to both.

Putting some summary info below and pros/cons and maybe you could let me know what you think.

Option 1: Opel Astra Twintop.
2008 car, 1.6 petrol, selling from garage, has 3 year manufacturer warranty and 1 year garage warranty (from day i purchase) also. Really fab car on the outside, standard enough on the inside (its the base twintop sport), almost 11000 miles, one owner, well kept, will sell for €19,500. Would include 3 months road tax etc.

Option 2: Volkswagen EOS
2007, 1.6 petrol, private sale, manufacturer warranty up as of June thsi year, 9000 miles, pretty sweet car on outside (but prob prefer Astra exterior), total wow factor on inside. half of roof is glass with optional sunroof aswell as full convertible, all cream lether interior, heated seats, parking sensors, alarm, etc etc. Wont go lower than €22,500 which makes it 3k more than option 1! She bought it for 34 last march and has already dropped from 26k so this is lowest price.

Pros of Astra:
- lovely car on outside
- Low mileage
- Great price - could get it for 19.5k
- would have both manufacturer and garage warranty (garage thats selling it is literally ten mins up the road from where i live

Cons of Astra:
- insides pretty basic
- felt a bit clunky to drive
- doesnt have the same appeal (wow factor)

Pros of EOS:
- Savage interior (cream leather, glass sun roof, teak edgings in car, all kinds of extra eg ipod plug in, built in blue tooth, heated mirrors etc)
- also includes some practical extras like alarm and parking sensors etc
- Volkswagen better/more reputable brand......?
- Very low mileage for a 2007 (8700 miles)
- Pristine condition inside and out

Cons of EOS:
- 3k more than option 1
- is a 2007 car (nicer to have a 2008 if i could....?
- Has a slightly more 'bubbly' look to the outside (astra has a slightly sleeker side to it)
- Buying private, no comeback.

I don't want to go higher than 1.6 so both of these cars suit me. There is negligeable difference between insurance etc. The servicing and tyres etc on EOS would prob be higher.

there is something really 'wow' about the EOS, even though i prefer the Astra from the outside. Plus would i not be mad to even consider paying 3k more for a car that is a year older with no warranty?

Both are just about in the bracket I am willing to spend. My head says Astra and my heart says EOS even though in 5 months time with EOS, I'd have spent a fortune on a 3 year old car!

Any thoughts, advice welcome.

Thanks

L

O dear, the opel is an opel and the vw is a Volkswagen....

The vw eos is a good machine as long as it has a few options, leather was expensive on them and took 16 weeks to order... the opel would be just like any other opel since 1996, same dash etc...

wont go far wrong with the greek goddess(eos).

00D911

Opel for me definately, it is alot more econimical to keep/service/repair and at the end of the day the Eos is just a Golf Cabrio IMO

VeVeX

00D911 wrote: »

Opel for me definately, it is alot more econimical to keep/service/repair and at the end of the day the Eos is just a Golf Cabrio IMO

At the end of the day the astra is an astra cabrio aswell whats your point? The Golf MK5 chassis is an excellent base for any car.

Id say the average running costs would be near enough identical. The couple of thousand extra on the Eos is worth it for the extras and down the road when it comes to sell the Eos will be worth more then the Astra.







.

colm_mcm

LisaM2009 wrote: »

Option 1: Opel Astra Twintop.
2008 car, 1.6 petrol, selling from garage, has 3 year manufacturer warranty and 1 year garage warranty (from day i purchase) also.

You'd want to clarify with the garage how the warranty works, Opels have a 2 year warranty from new, also what does the garage warranty cover that the Opel warranty doesn't - I presume it runs at the same time as the manufacturers warranty?

Also, Mino Cooper cabrio, or Fiat 500 open are much cooler than either car mentioned.

My problem is:

the Astra is awful looking, and Opel doesn't really cut it as a badge.

Any EOSs I've seen are driven by large older ladies, they're a nice looking car though.

If it was an "either/or" situation, and if you've thought long and hard about this, and these are the only options I'd take the VW.

Matt Simis

The EOS looks like a cool coupe with the roof up. The glass roof alone is worth several grand extra, The EOS is a hybrid passat golf platform with some custom bits and pieces just for it. The Astra Twintop is an Astra with a very nice roof.

The interior on the Astra is fairly good, the EOS is excellent. The EOS has a huge array of both engines and interior options, the Astra has nothing more than a standard Astra (if you are happy with whats on offer, then disregard).

Given the price similarity and age closeness (cant believe you are questioning a 2007!) you would be sickened to choose the Astra after you came to your senses. The Astra looks like a good option when it was EUR8k cheaper (ie when both launched same year models) than the EOS, not 2.5k.

EPM

My choice above either so long as the roof seals have been done from a recall.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/COUPE/200914192377469/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/Zetec-Ca/200920192787706/advert?channel=CARS