Diesel...What would you choose with 7k?

potsy11 · 30-11-2009 12:05pm #1

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320-D-Le/200943195611825/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Mondeo/2.0td/200908191917551/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazda6/comfort/200947195924573/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Passat/Highline/200948196014432/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Laguna/1.9DCi-S/200943195578097/advert?channel=CARS

Cant make up my mind.......Any suggestions? i am on a tight budget. 7k would be my absolute max. Preferably leather interior. ( I love the feel of it on my skin!!! Oh behave)

Please Help....Eventually sold my own car....So its a cash deal....

galwaytt · 30-11-2009 12:13pm

Avoid the Mazda - trouble-prone engine in that year.

If leather is a must, your list is shorter, if 7k your max, forget the Passat.

3-series, but check on the turbo.

I like the Renault, but it's not everyone's cup of tea.

kurant · 30-11-2009 12:20pm

I would go for 1-Laguna 2-BMW 3-Passat/cheap to run:D

potsy11 · 30-11-2009 12:27pm

kurant wrote: »

I would go for 1-Laguna 2-BMW 3-Passat/cheap to run:D

Is there that much of a difference in the laguna / BMW and Passat when it comes to MPG??

I thought they would all be around 40-45 MPG?

bazz26 · 30-11-2009 12:31pm

Volvo S40:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200938195255280

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200842190466120

kurant · 30-11-2009 12:50pm

potsy11 wrote: »

Is there that much of a difference in the laguna / BMW and Passat when it comes to MPG??

I thought they would all be around 40-45 MPG?

Yes about the same.difference in handling and runing cost

run_Forrest_run · 30-11-2009 1:03pm

The Passat was imported too, if that's anything to consider...

run_Forrest_run · 30-11-2009 1:07pm

bazz26 wrote: »

Volvo S40:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200842190466120

I like this! What's the S40 like? Are they a decent car? Reliable?

BlackWizard · 30-11-2009 1:07pm

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

The Passat was imported too, if that's anything to consider...

68k miles on a 2003 on a UK passat with high spec. Seems kinda odd. I would prefer to be buying a FSH 2003 with 105k miles. High price on that Passat too.

potsy11 · 30-11-2009 1:20pm

How can you tell the Passat if from UK?

I am favouring the passat at the moment. BMW 02 has serious Turbo problems so I think I will pass on that one.

Me thinks the Passat is worth 4.5-5k max. Am i correct in thinking this?

Cheers for all the responses so far.

cadaliac · 30-11-2009 1:21pm

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

The Passat was imported too, if that's anything to consider...

Classic signs of a clocked car IMO.
Timing belt done early and right around 65k on the clock??? sniff sniff.
There is also a different head unit for the radio (but its a 6-disk front loading player on the dash) this could indicate a lot of ware and tear. I'll bet the seatbelts are slow to retract as well.
it is possible but very uncommon for these cars to have that kind of milage for that year.
I would just be very careful about that one if I were you. (was there any mention of a service history?)
I would also avoid the Mazda diesel - (bad engine)
For me:
1 - modneo
2 - Laguna
3 - BMW
The BMW doesn't repesent any great value for money IMO. Too old. Better car than the others but in a few years it will be too old and dated - which it already kind of is.

run_Forrest_run · 30-11-2009 1:27pm

potsy11 wrote: »

How can you tell the Passat if from UK?

mywheels.ie

BlackWizard · 30-11-2009 2:10pm

potsy11 wrote: »

Me thinks the Passat is worth 4.5-5k max. Am i correct in thinking this?

You're correct. But you may pay extra for leather seats and high spec. So if you want high spec+leather then you are up around 6.5-7 asking price (selling price might be lower). I bought the exact same car over a year ago for 9k euro. I honestly think demand has kept the prices high on them.

You should read cadaliac and stay clear of that car. There are plenty more out there.

potsy11 · 30-11-2009 3:21pm

I think in terms of what I want and and have to spend and getting best value on running costs its either going to be the Passat or Mondeo.

while I am in no way tecnical about cars - What questions should I be asking when lloking at 02-05 models of these cars? Are there any pitfalls I should watch out for?

Thanks again for all the advice.

nogoodnamesleft · 01-12-2009 3:01pm

BMW

Known turbo issues on 01 -03
Electric window regulators

Passat (I drive a highline myself)

Electric window regulators go
Coolant temperature sender goes
Rear boot actuator goes
C.V. joints and boots
Top Arms on the Wishbones
Where was it serviced? (serviced with spec correct oil?) Pollen filter often get over looked even @ main dealer
Water inside the passenger side of the car due to debris in the phelumn chamber blocking car drains. CCU (Convienence Control Unit) gets wet v v expensive to put right.

potsy11 · 01-12-2009 3:09pm

...eh... Didnt realise the Passat was so bad. I was under the impression that it was one of the most reliable diesels out there. Am i wrong in thinking this?

Tragedy · 01-12-2009 3:16pm

I'd go for the Laguna, but bargain him down and be prepared to walk*

Later models are solid as nails, it's apparently a great engine, it's great spec and they eat up the miles.

PS: It's a 130bhp model and not registered as an import

bazz26 · 01-12-2009 3:25pm

potsy11 wrote: »

...eh... Didnt realise the Passat was so bad. I was under the impression that it was one of the most reliable diesels out there. Am i wrong in thinking this?

The TDi engines are pretty reliable but as listed by the previous poster other components are not. The Passat is far from trouble free.

BlackWizard · 01-12-2009 3:44pm

nogoodnamesleft wrote: »

BMW

Known turbo issues on 01 -03
Electric window regulators

Passat (I drive a highline myself)

Electric window regulators go
Coolant temperature sender goes
Rear boot actuator goes
C.V. joints and boots
Top Arms on the Wishbones
Where was it serviced? (serviced with spec correct oil?) Pollen filter often get over looked even @ main dealer
Water inside the passenger side of the car due to debris in the phelumn chamber blocking car drains. CCU (Convienence Control Unit) gets wet v v expensive to put right.

That's pretty much the TDi Passat in a nutshell. I still bought mine knowing all of this.

My windows have been fine. Check all the windows work before buying..this is costly!
Coolant sensor is fine. Really cheap and very easy to fix.
Boot actuator is fine. Cheap fix anyway.
Pollen filter should be changed when you get the car. It's cheap to do as it is forgotten about. It's about 9 euro and very easy to change. Service the car yourself when you get it. Just to make sure you have the right oil in it.

The water leak is kinda avoidable. My windshield is glued onto the leaf deflector thing which stops a fair bit of water going to strange places. I cleared out my drainage plugs which are under the battery when I bought the car. But only recently I noticed they were clogged again causing my car to steam up when raining

I just took out the rubber plugs..useless things. You could possibly get a garage that knows of this issue to do all of this for you though.

C.V. joints and boots, check this on all cars before buying. But it's not too hard to put right. I sometimes think that the comfort of the Passat makes people think they can drive through 3 foot pot holes at 50kph.

GERMAN ROCKS · 01-12-2009 4:12pm

id also get the laguna. it looks mint. nice colour. lowish mileage. good price. nice spec. its the newest. the later ones are bulletproof

VolvoMan · 01-12-2009 4:18pm

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

I like this! What's the S40 like? Are they a decent car? Reliable?

Very reliable, extremely comfortable but just a little uninspiring. I don't think that diesel engine is half bad either.

VolvoMan · 01-12-2009 4:21pm

bazz26 wrote: »

The TDi engines are pretty reliable but as listed by the previous poster other components are not. The Passat is far from trouble free.

Another problem with them is that they're so quick you'll probably lose your license, particlularly the TDI.

Tragedy · 01-12-2009 4:36pm

The S40 is the very last of the old model, worse spec than the Laguna, less interior space, higher mileage, older type diesel engine.

hipster2009 · 01-12-2009 7:07pm

GERMAN ROCKS wrote: »

id also get the laguna. it looks mint. nice colour. lowish mileage. good price. nice spec. its the newest. the later ones are bulletproof

Dont go near the Laguna

lagunas are all style and no substance!!!
I have never known anybody who didnt have lots of trouble with them!!!
Also not half the comfort or space of the passat!

Lagunas are cheaper for a reason!!!!!

However the mileage looks a bit suspect on his particular passat so find another passat!

bazz26 · 01-12-2009 8:20pm

Tragedy wrote: »

The S40 is the very last of the old model, worse spec than the Laguna, less interior space, higher mileage, older type diesel engine.

The last of the old S40s were well speced, granted the diesel engine is old now but that Renault unit was pretty refined and frugal for it's day and no expensive common rail technology to worry about going bang.

Tragedy · 02-12-2009 1:31am

bazz26 wrote: »

The last of the old S40s were well speced, granted the diesel engine is old now but that Renault unit was pretty refined and frugal for it's day and no expensive common rail technology to worry about going bang.

Never heard of problems with the renault diesel engines, generally its fiddly electrics that are shoddy(and not in later cars).

Not saying the S40's linked were bad spec, but compared to the laguna they are.

Laguna Sky's have:
- Glass electric sunroof
- Climate control air conditioning
- Auto parking brake
- Rear proximity sensor
- Alloy wheels
- Rear spoiler
- Electric windows and mirrors
- Hands free door opening and ignission

And if I'm not mistaken(which I could well be), it looks the laguna sky linked also has cruise control and steering wheel mounted stereo controls.

A good step above the S40's.

run_Forrest_run · 02-12-2009 10:04am

Tragedy wrote: »

Laguna Sky's have:
- Glass electric sunroof
- Climate control air conditioning
- Auto parking brake
- Rear proximity sensor
- Alloy wheels
- Rear spoiler
- Electric windows and mirrors
- Hands free door opening and ignission

And if I'm not mistaken(which I could well be), it looks the laguna sky linked also has cruise control and steering wheel mounted stereo controls.

A good step above the S40's.

call me old fashioned or whatever but whenever I see lots of fancy features on a Renault that happen to require electricity to work I tend to run a mile.

HashSlinging · 02-12-2009 10:44am

Surprised no one has mentioned the 156 yet, some bargains out there and a fantastic car also.

nogoodnamesleft · 02-12-2009 10:46am

Lagunas used always suffer with the Keycard they introduced. The French and car electronics usually doesnt end well.

Few of the lads in the office have new enough citroens and they are a nightmare to diagnose problems due to the fact that all the electrical circuits are multiplexed i.e. different signal voltages over the same wire! try fault finding that!!

Passats have their probems but are reliable once they are correctly serviced. They have a few niggles as I mentioned earlier in the thread but are light years ahead in terms of reliability compared to the new B6 Passat

Some of the problems can fixed easily enough but its diagnosing is the hard part and I wouldnt say cheap either due to the lack of independant specialists around Ireland.

galwaytt · 02-12-2009 12:42pm

hipster2009 wrote: »

Dont go near the Laguna

lagunas are all style and no substance!!!
I have never known anybody who didnt have lots of trouble with them!!!
Also not half the comfort or space of the passat!

Lagunas are cheaper for a reason!!!!!

However the mileage looks a bit suspect on his particular passat so find another passat!

..as distinct from Passat's which have neither style NOR substance....:rolleyes:

bazz26 wrote: »

The last of the old S40s were well speced, granted the diesel engine is old now but that Renault unit was pretty refined and frugal for it's day and no expensive common rail technology to worry about going bang.

..always a good thing, irrespective of the brand...

nogoodnamesleft wrote: »

Few of the lads in the office have new enough citroens and they are a nightmare to diagnose problems due to the fact that all the electrical circuits are multiplexed i.e. different signal voltages over the same wire! try fault finding that!!

...you're not supposed to. CANBUS requires proper equipment - you cant just lash on a Multimeter and hope it all goes well.
As for not including multiplexing, well get used to it, there won't be a car on the planet without it, shortly. All new Germans use it..........

nogoodnamesleft wrote: »

Passats have their probems but are reliable once they are correctly serviced. They have a few niggles as I mentioned earlier in the thread but are light years ahead in terms of reliability compared to the new B6 Passat

...indeed. New ones seem to be terrible.

nogoodnamesleft wrote: »

Some of the problems can fixed easily enough but its diagnosing is the hard part and I wouldnt say cheap either due to the lack of independant specialists around Ireland.

Told you: Germans.

galwaytt · 02-12-2009 12:44pm

hipster2009 wrote: »

Also not half the comfort or space of the passat!

...whatever about good/bad, I have yet to drive an uncomfortable French car.

German cars oth, some are rock-hard, and not in a nice way !

nogoodnamesleft · 03-12-2009 2:40pm

galwaytt wrote: »

..as distinct from Passat's which have neither style NOR substance....:rolleyes:

..always a good thing, irrespective of the brand...

...you're not supposed to. CANBUS requires proper equipment - you cant just lash on a Multimeter and hope it all goes well.
As for not including multiplexing, well get used to it, there won't be a car on the planet without it, shortly. All new Germans use it..........

...indeed. New ones seem to be terrible.

Told you: Germans.

Im quiet familar with the concept of CANBUS i was meerly explaining how it works in lay mans terms. Even with non CANBUS cars (for example odb2) the 1st thing you do to diagnose a fault is to run a diagnostic on it.

It would be incredibly difficult to tap cables or ribbon cords in some cases with a multimeter to check for extremely small voltages especially with electronics. Considering the extra resistance and attenuation you would introduce on the electronic circuit by approaching it in this manner especially with certain french cars as they have enough trouble as it is

DF1 · 03-12-2009 5:02pm

Are toyota electrics as complicated as the french or germans ?

nogoodnamesleft · 03-12-2009 7:57pm

Totally off topic but:

All car electrics operate on the same principal, wiring looms ,switches etc and still do to a certain degree.

However car manufacturers and now turning to multplexing (i.e. combining different signal voltages on the same wire to operate devices) instead of running seperate electric cables for each device. The principal of multiplexing has been used in computers for years in the form or Buses its now being applied to cars.

The benefits for car manufactures its that production cost is lower, less wiring and faster to manufacture.

JHMEG · 03-12-2009 8:10pm

You might just about squeak an Accord diesel for that money or a wee bit more. A mate brought an 04 one in from the UK for about 6k incl VRT.

Failing that the Mondeo.

Dave147 · 03-12-2009 8:13pm

Have an Audi A4 for sale here if you want it.

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=163079&cat=500

She's on Irish plates now, but those are the original pics.

JHMEG · 03-12-2009 8:16pm

Dave147 wrote: »

Have an Audi A4 for sale here if you want it.

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=163079&cat=500

She's on Irish plates now, but those are the original pics.

9 years old, 140k miles:eek:, no leather for €7k... you're having a laugh, right?!

gleep · 03-12-2009 8:22pm

Tragedy wrote: »

Never heard of problems with the renault diesel engines, generally its fiddly electrics that are shoddy(and not in later cars).

Not saying the S40's linked were bad spec, but compared to the laguna they are.

Laguna Sky's have:
- Glass electric sunroof
- Climate control air conditioning
- Auto parking brake
- Rear proximity sensor
- Alloy wheels
- Rear spoiler
- Electric windows and mirrors
- Hands free door opening and ignission

And if I'm not mistaken(which I could well be), it looks the laguna sky linked also has cruise control and steering wheel mounted stereo controls.

Disclaimer: All of the above extras and gizmos will fail, and for some bizarre reason your car may not start if when the elec mirrors, parking sensors are broken. As someone else has already said, THE LAGUNA IS CHEAP FOR A GOOD REASON!

Dave147 · 03-12-2009 8:22pm

JHMEG wrote: »

9 years old, 140k miles:eek:, no leather for €7k... you're having a laugh, right?!

Sorry I wasn't aware it was December 2010. Where did you get your calendar? These TDI audi's don't come with leather, only 1.8's and 2.5's have it as an option. Car is in absolute mint condition with full S line kit, 2006 Audi Navigation Plus system, 4 excellent tyres, FSH, timebelt done.

So no, I'm not having a laugh.

JHMEG · 03-12-2009 8:43pm

Dave147 wrote: »

Sorry I wasn't aware it was .. 2010.

4 weeks away.

Sorry, but it seems very expensive.

bazz26 · 03-12-2009 8:52pm

Dave147 wrote: »

Sorry I wasn't aware it was December 2010. Where did you get your calendar? These TDI audi's don't come with leather, only 1.8's and 2.5's have it as an option. Car is in absolute mint condition with full S line kit, 2006 Audi Navigation Plus system, 4 excellent tyres, FSH, timebelt done.

So no, I'm not having a laugh.

Sorry mate and no disrespect to you or your car but in just under a month it is will be 9 years old, that's all a buyer will see and be prepared to wait if necessary. Alot of garages are selling used cars now at January 2010 prices.

A car is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it not what the owner thinks it's worth.

nogoodnamesleft · 03-12-2009 9:39pm

Dave147 wrote: »

Sorry I wasn't aware it was December 2010. Where did you get your calendar? These TDI audi's don't come with leather, only 1.8's and 2.5's have it as an option. Car is in absolute mint condition with full S line kit, 2006 Audi Navigation Plus system, 4 excellent tyres, FSH, timebelt done.

So no, I'm not having a laugh.

Really? here is a 1.9tdi 130bhp with leather.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A4/1.9TDI-S/200946195866773/advert?channel=CARS

and a considerably cheaper one on gumtree also 01 although I would be checking the mileage with a fine tooth comb.

http://www.gumtree.ie/dublin/19/46914619.html

Edit: Just curious.....your car is on 140k miles as stated in your advert and you have just changed the timing belt. Timing belt on the tdis are recommended to be changed every 60k miles or every 4years along with Timing belt tensioners and waterpump. So it should be on its 3rd belt, if it wasnt id be asking serious question regards what other maintenance jobs were not completed if I was a prospective buyer. Just my 2c.

potsy11 · 04-12-2009 11:02am

Wow....I think we may be going off topic a little...but loving it all the same!!

Thanks everyone for their feedback. Been looking at the UK sites also and listening to various other influences....

I know this is a smaller car but what do you think? I dont believe there are too many 1.9 in ireland. I rang the garage and this is a Cat -d car. It was stolen and then recovered. Insurance company had paid out on the claim so it was auctioned off to the current dealer. Going to get a mechanic to ahve alook at it me thinks.

Any opinions? I should get this back all in (flights, vrt etc) for 6500.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/200949347436938/sort/priceasc/usedcars/make/vauxhall/model/astra/price-to/5000/seller-type/trade_adverts/transmission/manual/maximum-mileage/up_to_80000_miles/engine-size-cars/1-7l_to_1-9l/price-from/3000/fuel-type/diesel/radius/30/page/1/postcode/b263qj?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fusedcars%2Fpostcode%2Fb263qj%2Fradius%2F30%2Fmake%2Fvauxhall%2Fmodel%2Fastra%2Fprice-to%2F5000%2Fseller-type%2Ftrade_adverts%2Ftransmission%2Fmanual%2Fmaximum-mileage%2Fup_to_80000_miles%2Fengine-size-cars%2F1-7l_to_1-9l%2Fprice-from%2F3000%2Ffuel-type%2Fdiesel%2Fpage%2F1%2Fsort%2Fpriceasc&anchor=advert200949347436938&logcode=p

Biro · 04-12-2009 11:03am

Dave147 wrote: »

Sorry I wasn't aware it was December 2010. Where did you get your calendar? These TDI audi's don't come with leather, only 1.8's and 2.5's have it as an option. Car is in absolute mint condition with full S line kit, 2006 Audi Navigation Plus system, 4 excellent tyres, FSH, timebelt done.

So no, I'm not having a laugh.

It's incredibly poor value at 7k to be honest, and over valued.

TM RACING · 05-12-2009 9:17am

SABB 9-3 Tid are good value at the minute

DF1 · 07-12-2009 7:40pm

What makes of cars dont use this multiplexing carry on ?

nogoodnamesleft · 08-12-2009 9:12am

DF1 wrote: »

What makes of cars dont use this multiplexing carry on ?

All older cars use the traditional way of electrics
VAG brought in CANBUS in and around 2005 for example with the Passat (B6 Platform) and the Golf (Mk 5).

French manufactures were one of the 1st to use it as mentioned previously one of my collegues has a 2002 citroen c5 and it has CANBUS technology.

Biro · 08-12-2009 10:05am

DF1 wrote: »

What makes of cars dont use this multiplexing carry on ?

Morgan maybe!

HashSlinging · 08-12-2009 10:16am

Damn, none of the cars in this thread have shifted at all except the 156, thats a first. The 6 - 8k price range must be what's holding people off.

I've a bad habit of going through old threads to see whats sold, some of the older cars 00 - 01 2 - 4k are walking off the car lots.

furtzy · 08-12-2009 10:22am

Friend in the trade says the only things selling for him at the moment are exactly that €6k -€8k diesels

Diesel...What would you choose with 7k?

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