10 grand-what to buy!

spitonmedickie

Hey all,
Apologies for the length and non specific nature of the post in advance.Need a bit of guidance, currently got an 03 clio, its gotten too small for me so need to move up a segment. I'm looking in the 10k-12k bracket but could go to 13-14k (at a push) for the right car.

Would love to move up to at least 07 but not sure how realistic it's looking. Anybody have any suggestions? Focus is a bit boring for me, everyone's saying I'll end up with a golf but the range, trim, extras etc of them is bewildering.

Then saw this and thought 'maybe'-know its a mark v, prob cost a fortune to run and it is pushing my budget beyond the limit really.

A3's seem expensive for essentially a golf, Alfa 147s seem a bit too wild, not sure how durable a Citreon C4 is (coupe's gorgeous but will it fall apart or sell in 3 years time). Not sure about 3 dr Astras. Even considered a seat leon!

Can't really think of any other possibilites. Any body have any advice or recommendations? Need something relatively cheap to run, tax and insure. Residuals in 3 years are a factor.

What year should I be looking at in the sector for my budget? should I stretch it and try move up as new as possible considering all cars will be a year older in 3 months time?

Any help appreciated-clio was the nicest car available that I could afford at the time, its more complicated this time and I'm not 100% sold on the golf idea but the range and price variations baffle me!

Willing to hold out for the right model-decent spec, nice colour etc (nice alloys, leather would be great)

rocky

spitonmedickie wrote: »

Then saw this and thought 'maybe'-know its a mark v, prob cost a fortune to run and it is pushing my budget beyond the limit really.

80 bhp costs a fortune to run? I don't think so. It takes ages to get up to any sort of decent speed, I agree

What kind of mileage are you doing? >15k pa, diesel, < petrol.

mickdw

Kia proceed 2008 €14000. Good car by all accounts with 7 year warranty

Gumbo

what are your main requirements - do you need 4 doors, diesel or is it just when something pops up and i know its right kinda thing?


best of luck in your search OP.

techie

Op, if you are willing to travel here's the perfect solution for you :

http://www.carzone.ie/search/KIA/Ceed/1.4-EX/200917192580554/advert?channel=CARS

I have 2 of them and they are brilliant, 6 year warranty left on this one also.

johndaman66

rocky wrote: »

What kind of mileage are you doing? >15k pa, diesel, < petrol.

My own two cents is you would need to be doing a hell of a lot more than 15k per annum to justify the extra tax (generally speaking), repairs and servicing, and general extra heartache if anything goes wrong with a diesel. Perhaps one of the exceptions to this is the 1.4 litre Toyota Corolla diesel. I had reason to drive the van version of this some time back and must say it is a little cracker. Would put many a larger engined petrol car to shame. Suppose to be an absolute miser on fuel also. Out of the cars you mention I would be inclined to go for the Ford Focus. Pretty solid and cheap to maintain. I do believe the golf is very much over-rated. Build quality and reliability took a nose dive with the 98' model and even moreso with the 04' model. It is probably the good name which it built up prior to this which still makes is somewhat more sought after.

Generally speaking I'd be inclined to steer clear of French cars or Fiats. This is from my own experience with a Renault and stories I heard about puntos and bravos but I'm sure the next man (or woman!) may have had different experience with them and a different take on it.

Probably worth thinking outside the box a wee bit too perhaps. A Hyundai Coupe is worth considering maybe for example and am sure there are many more alternatives that would not fall into the immediate category of cars you mention. A budget of 10k upwards is a lot of money available to spend on a car these times. With some savvy bargining skills you should be able to buy a lot of car for the money, Best wishes in your endeavors.

Plug

Ford focus ghia? maybe a 06 one.

EPM

johndaman66 wrote: »

My own two cents is you would need to be doing a hell of a lot more than 15k per annum to justify the extra tax (generally speaking), repairs and servicing, and general extra heartache if anything goes wrong with a diesel. Perhaps one of the exceptions to this is the 1.4 litre Toyota Corolla diesel

Most of that simply isn't true. Some pre-08 models may have higher road tax but fuel economy would be better and no reason why there should be any noticeable difference in servicing really. Beats thrashing an underpowered 1.4 golf.

OP, have you had a look at the civic. Its cool looking and should be very reliable. Also a decent car. The diesel Kia Ceed and Proceed are also worth a look, especially with the 7 year warranty. Golfs are nice but you do pay for the privilege. I bought a Leon two years ago and haven't had any real problems with it doing 1000km a week. Good equipment levels and interior too if you chose the right spec

spitonmedickie

Cheers for all the replies. Do about 20k miles a year so a diesel wouldnt be out of the question. Agree about most comments on the golf, seems to be alot of cash for a brand that's nothing spectacular.

Is a focus the best alternative? I know its s*** and maybe its too much clarkson but I don't know if I could admit to owning a Kia! Something like a Hyundai Coupe thats not a Hyundai would be the biz!

EPN what leon did you get?

rocky

Could you get a new Megane coupe diesel for around 15k? Worth a try, no?




Otherwise, an 08 Focus...

spitonmedickie

they're stunning alright but 15k's pushing it-will check it out tho, hadnt even considered it really.

If it was in 2 r 3 years time Id love one of those or a scirroco. if it was 2 years ago alot of now dated cars would've been spot on.its a bind

johndaman66

EPM wrote: »

Most of that simply isn't true. Some pre-08 models may have higher road tax but fuel economy would be better and no reason why there should be any noticeable difference in servicing really. Beats thrashing an underpowered 1.4 golf.

It depends EPM. Nobody is downright right or wrong in discussing such matters but I fail to see how see in real terms, all other things being equal how a diesel could be justified for circa 300 km per week. Getting down to the nuts and bolts of it in real terms if you are doing that amount of driving for around 40 quid per week (which would be high water) in a petrol such as a 1.4 or 1.6 golf I fail to see how you could do it for anything much less than 30 per week in a diesel golf. Now how many weeks per year would be needed at a tenner a week to cover the extra road tax on a 1.9 or 2.0 litre diesel golf which would be the immediate diesel alternative? You will be eating into a big chunk of the year if you are looking at it this way. This is before you look at the few grand extra it would be to buy. I'm seriously not sure if you would ever see this few grand back. Resale value maybe yeah, but how much of it? I have a friend at work with a 2005 2.0 tdi audi a4 and being honest I don't envy him when I hear of the trouble it gives him. I'm sure the 1.4 golf for example may be more than adequate for the OP if they are doing mainly city driving for example where lets face it most of the time you are only as fast as the car in front of you.

NLane

im in the same sort of situation as the OP so this has made for interesting reading... i made another post looking for advice on 147s, so if anyone could post there i'd be very grateful!

im leaning towards the 147 at the moment but gonna have a look at a few astras and focus just to see what i can get for €10-11k. had my eye on a lovely Leon but it sold while i weighed up my options :mad:

EPM

johndaman66 wrote: »

It depends EPM. Nobody is downright right or wrong in discussing such matters but I fail to see how see in real terms, all other things being equal how a diesel could be justified for circa 300 km per week.

Apologies - was assuming 15k miles a year. Agree with you on 15k km:)

spitonmedickie wrote: »

Is a focus the best alternative? I know its s*** and maybe its too much clarkson but I don't know if I could admit to owning a Kia!

EPN what leon did you get?

Focus is one of the best alright. You really should have a look at a Proceed - very like an A3 from some angles. My Leon is a 1.6 petrol. Was looking for a diesel one when I started doing higher mileage but couldn't find a decent one at the time. If you're looking for one, the 1.9tdi is a little rough but still reliable and the 2.0tdi is a bit smoother and more powerful. Same engines as the Golf as it's the same car underneath. You would need to go to the higher end of your budget to get one though I'd say. Stylance with the sport-up pack is the best spec IMO to make the most of what is a pretty boring interior otherwise

spitonmedickie

Ok people,
Back again, going to try look at a few Leons, any one have any experience of the Volvo C30? Saw one here and think they're stunning, that kinda price is pushing the envelope a bit-in general what sort of price reductions can haggling get ya in the current climate (hate that phrase but you know what I mean).

Volvo S40's nice too. Heard stories of Volvos costing a bit to run and service

Interesting101

Cant say i like the look of the Volvo myself.

A focus or maybe an Astra Sxi. I reckon in the current climate youd pick up a decent 07/08.