Wrote off Car , need replacement

rakebackblogger

just wrote off my car this morning. It was a banger so not too upset just a nuisance to get a new one. I may not have a job in 3 months so I am looking for advice on a decent reliable car for under 3K, Some cars are supposedly notorious for having problems once they reach a certain milage so any advice on what makes and model people would go for/avoid would be very helpful. I wouldn't like to go for any thing before year 2000 if possible.

My preference would be a VW Passat but i hear they can cause a lot of trouble when they hit the 80km mark.
second preference is a ford mondeo but worried that they will have emissions trouble plus the electrics trouble on an old ford car i had has put me kinda off fords a bit.

oisin_t

I think your going to b stretching your budget if you want a car like a passat/mondeo newer than 2000 and half decent.

maybe a smaller car? or older?

alias no.9

When buying at that kind of budget, you're buying the car you see in front of you. Brand reputation means little or nothing in copmparrison with the treatment of the cars by the previous owner(s) which is usually evident from the condition of the car. Get a competant mechanic or someone you trust that knows what they're looking at to check over whatever car you're interested in and forget about brands and whatever half assed information you seem to have picked up down the pub or where ever.
Cars don't suddenly fall off a cliff at a certain mileage. There are countless cars out there with 100k miles and more on the clock. 200k or 300k wouldn't be unusual for a Passat. My old fellow had a 1984 Fiat Uno that did over 350k miles in about 8 years. It all depends on how cars are looked after.
What on earth has put the idea in your head that a Ford Mondeo will automatically have emissions trouble? Emissions on all cars are controlled by a broadly similar system of sensors, engine management systems and catalytic converters. All can have problems but usually it just requires one of the sensors to be replaced, any competant mechanic can do it.

langdang

this thread probably applies, if you just want a cheap reliable runabout:
Car <2k

2k ish for car, 1K ish for timing belt if needed and anything else that might crop up.

itarumaa

Based on my experience, Volvo S40 1,8 or 2l petrol around 98 year.

You have all the change getting a good car for that money but you also have a change getting a lemon.

More you know about cars the better.

Saab Ed

Here's a buddy of mine who deals in that kinda stuff. Ask for Jason if its any good to you...

http://www.rathcoolemotorcompany.ie/

rakebackblogger

thats the problem, i know nothing about cars. So i will be getting a mechanic to look over it first for me.

cantdecide

oisin_t wrote: »

I think your going to b stretching your budget if you want a car like a passat/mondeo newer than 2000 and half decent.

maybe a smaller car? or older?

On both counts, I would have thought the opposite, really.

Older family saloons are fantastic value in this country. http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1089109

oisin_t

cantdecide wrote: »

On both counts, I would have thought the opposite, really.

Older family saloons are fantastic value in this country. http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1089109

i guess it depends on which make as well, i mean a kia family saloon thats 10 years old will differ to say a toyota family saloon. but from the looks of it, they all seem to be under the budget (at around 01/02/03, any newer seems to be over budget)

but to be fair that mondeo looks quality for the price. definately a steal there.

rakebackblogger

I like the look of that mondeo too. Just a bit of a problem getting to view the car this week down in wexford. what do people think of the Nissan Almera either the 4 door hatchback or the saloon circa 2000-2002?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Nissan/Almera/1.5/200950196161882/advert?channel=CARS