I'm loking for a car for my OH

Blackpitts

hi guys
i'm looking for a small car for my gf.
The budget is 1000/2000 and she want a small one - hatchback, petrol engine - basically just for commuting 20 miles a day.
I've told her about the Toyota Starlet but she was not very happy about it
We are looking into Punto, Polo, Matiz and Seicento...what do you think of them?
I've also found a couple of old Tigra...a really cool car...but not really popular here? how come?

thank u in advance for any suggestions :cool:

TheJones

The Polo is the only model half acceptable in your quoted list however for that price range you'll be forced to accept a fairly old model with enormous mileage and subsequent mechanical issues to come making it a false economy in the long run.

Suggest you increase your budget significantly before shopping around as you do not want to pay a couple of grand on a punto or worse a c*ntogetinto (seicento) only to have it spend a sizeable portion of the year taking up floor space at your local garage.

Wossack

fiesta 1.25 ghia crackers!

Max Power1

Wossack wrote: »

fiesta 1.25 ghia crackers!

yeah i bought a 96 fiesta 1.3 for 600 euro a while ago, (touch wood) no problems so far

hobochris

Renault Clio 1.2 maybe?

Blackpitts

mmm...Polo...

I've just found this 1.9SDi here...
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Polo/1.9-SDI-/200944195658656/advert?channel=CARS

any comment?

mildews

Blackpitts wrote: »

mmm...Polo...

I've just found this 1.9SDi here...
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Polo/1.9-SDI-/200944195658656/advert?channel=CARS

any comment?

Annual Road tax on that would be just over half your lower budget

Blackpitts

mildews wrote: »

Annual Road tax on that would be just over half your lower budget

doh! :eek:

Eoin

No Micra in the list? Wouldn't be pushed about a polo of that vintage.

meesa

oops...sorry...I thought this was a swap request...:D

argosy2006

BUY A MERC !
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/A-Class/A-CLASS-/200934194985078/advert?channel=CARS GOOD BRAND, yet cheap
Alloys, CD Player, Multiple Airbags, Power Steering, READY TO DRIVE AWAY, Driver airbag, Passenger airbag, Side Impact Protection System, Radio/CD, Immobiliser, ABS, Alloy wheels, Half leather interior, Bumper and mirror in color, Windows front electric, Colour coding - Body, Roof rails. wont get all that in a micra!

Max Power1

that same exact a class was for sale 6 months ago for 2950! :eek:

sean1141

stay away from the faits!! nothing only trouble! as said above the polos in that price range will be high milage and low spec! my mother had a 99 matiz. bloddy great car. not the best looker but a very reliable car which she drove for 3 years wit not one bit of trouble. sold it to a local girl starting off driving about 2 years and it never gave her any trouble either! going for small money too!!

EPM

Wossack wrote: »

fiesta 1.25 ghia crackers!

Best option by a mile. Just make sure it's a 1.25 and not the old 1.3. There's a world of difference between them

spank_inferno

I'm going to throw my oar in for the Skoda fabia
As things go its better than a similar priced Polo on which it is based.
Decent equiptment, very easy to drive, well spaced and comfortable
Good N-cap safety rating. good on fuel... etc etc

Blackpitts

argosy2006 wrote: »

BUY A MERC !
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/A-Class/A-CLASS-/200934194985078/advert?channel=CARS GOOD BRAND, yet cheap
Alloys, CD Player, Multiple Airbags, Power Steering, READY TO DRIVE AWAY, Driver airbag, Passenger airbag, Side Impact Protection System, Radio/CD, Immobiliser, ABS, Alloy wheels, Half leather interior, Bumper and mirror in color, Windows front electric, Colour coding - Body, Roof rails. wont get all that in a micra!

interesting, but few cars of the same model and same year are on sale for more (500k up to 2k), so the price of this car is below the average...i wonder why...

Mr Benevolent

For god's sake avoid the sub €2000 Polos, they're a heap of sh!t. Fiesta all the way.

hobochris

eoin wrote: »

No Micra in the list?

He's asking about cars not go karts...

Max Power1

EPM wrote: »

Best option by a mile. Just make sure it's a 1.25 and not the old 1.3. There's a world of difference between them

Interesting ...

whats the difference (from an owner of one of the said 1.3 fiestas)

Wossack

is the 1.3 the same as the one used in the Ka? ...as its absolutely ancient (~1960's? as seen (albet in earlier form) in the ford anglia)

dont think it is though...

1.25 zetec was a deadly wee yoke

TheJones

saw that ad for the Polo and again follow the general theme of advice and stay well clear of older model VW's, Although you'd expect any 97 car to have a few scrapes in the body work etc, judging the photo's posted its obvious by the considerable gap between the lower bonnet and the front wings that this sorry car has had seen some unfortunate incident in its old age and been repaired accordingly.

A couple of better choices have been mentioned and suggest you consider the fiesta or fabia but not before securing more finance to achieve a far better, economic and safer motor. Also has there been a severe lack in intelligence on this forum lately, nobody buys a car in the later months of the year simply cause you can expect far better deals in the new year being able to subsequently buy a newer model for less money. WAIT and get a monthly bus ticket unless absolutely necessary!

Mr Benevolent

TheJones wrote: »

Also has there been a severe lack in intelligence on this forum lately, nobody buys a car in the later months of the year simply cause you can expect far better deals in the new year being able to subsequently buy a newer model for less money.

Secondhand prices are not going to come down very much in January for reasons that have already been discussed. On the contrary, that shows foresight on the part of the Motors regulars.

OP, either buy a secondhand Fiesta or Fabia or save a bit more. It makes more sense to get the car before the new Budget as things are going to get expensive after it.

TheJones

Your a long way from Ireland Confab and the Queensland sunshine may be clouding your judgement, normally I'd agree that you'd have to wait until at least march before you start reaping the benefit of lower prices on the previous years models however the commercial motor industry has changed significantly in the last few months so much so that the prices available on new cars are falling month on month leading to a problem in shifting older second hand models crowding the backlots of dealerships throughout the country.

Agreed the budget is going to hurt in early December but no one expects this to affect motorists more than other groups in society, waiting until at least Jan-Feb will bring a better bargain but their initial budget needs to increase to gain anything more than a car needing continuous servicing and parts to keep it on the road.

TheJones

That A class advertised is good value and if everything turns out to be kosher then it should tick all your boxes for a cheap small car which still has two years on its NCT and enough extras to make a 09 Polo blush with embarrassment!

How bout taking it at least for a test drive, parts if anything goes wrong will be expensive but have heard few horror stories about the A class so its worth a look if nothing else

Absurdum

Merc A Class is a heap of ****e, I wouldn't take it if you paid me.

zilog_jones

Blackpitts wrote: »

hi guys
i'm looking for a small car for my gf.
The budget is 1000/2000 and she want a small one - hatchback, petrol engine - basically just for commuting 20 miles a day.

What kind of roads? I couldn't recommend something small like a Matiz or Seicento for regular motorway driving, for example - they are far from safe at crash test speeds (50-60km/h) never mind motorway speeds!

I've also found a couple of old Tigra...a really cool car...but not really popular here? how come?

They're pretty much just a Corsa but they don't drive any better and are less practical. The rear seats are too small for adults. A Ford Puma is much better if you're looking for something like that.

Max Power1 wrote:

whats the difference (from an owner of one of the said 1.3 fiestas)

1.25 Zetec-SE/Sigma is a 16 valve DOHC unit delivering 75 bhp, launched in 1995 and designed with some input from Yamaha.

The 1.3 Endura-E is an 8 valve pushrod engine delivering 60 bhp, the design originating from the 1959 Anglia (although significantly modified since then). As it's a pushrod engine it's a lot noisier than the 1.25, and fuel economy is not great, but it does deliver more torque at lower revs than the 1.25 which is arguably more suited to everyday driving.

Neither of the engines seem to take too well to a lack of servicing. I think mine (1.3, '98 80k miles) has been neglected by a previous owner (the sporadic service history suggests this too) as the valves in one of the cylinders are banjaxed I've also heard of worn camshafts, plugs rusting into the heads and other problems with these engines so you're probably better off with the 1.25.

@OP, with that budget you're putting yourself just outside the price range of the Toyota Yaris, Skoda Fabia and some other good newer models. I wouldn't recommend the A-Class - they seem to give a lot of trouble, but then again one that's lasted this long might be ok. Mk. II Fiat Puntos aren't as unreliable as their down-the-pub reputation makes them out to be - just avoid the 8 valve engines. 1.0 Polos are lethargic, so I would avoid those too. Also consider the Seat Ibiza which is pretty much the same car with different body panels (before anyone says anything about "German build quality", Polos are built in Spain too) but without the badge snobbery so you should get a better deal on one. Also as others have said, the Renault Clio is also worth looking at.