advice on buying new car

kaykay27

Hi All

Well im planning on taking the big step and buying my first car-eekkk

K so im still learning to drive but will eventually plan on driving up and down from cork so thin a 1.4 is the way to go

However, when it comes to what make and model im so confused:

my dad saying to get a renault, my boyfriend is telling me renaults are ****e and to get a vauxhall and then my car rep sales friend is telling me to stay away from French cars and buy a toyota

At this point im so confuesed....just wondering if anyone out there could make recommendations- i, personally like the ford ka but know in the long term its not economically and too small

Oh my budget is €3k-looking for something between 2000-2004

thanks

Tigger

astra 1.4

unkel

All those fellas are wrong and you are right

A Ka is a fine little car. Cheap to buy, reliable and fun to drive.

People will tell you it has an old fashioned 1.3l engine, not the most refined and economical out there. All true, but it is easier to maintain and it doesn't need expensive timing belt services (and worry about a broken engine should the belt fail)

It's still nippy enough to do long distance driving on our national roads or motorways.

kaykay27

had a look at the astra there and think it would be too big for a learner driver- looking for something compact

Padraig Mor

Standard Motors response to all new car queries:


Skoda Superb

or

Old V8 luxobarge.

Tigger

kaykay27 wrote: »

had a look at the astra there and think it would be too big for a learner driver- looking for something compact

not if yer driving any sorta miledge you don't kas and their class of car are for towns not for the pen road , sure theycan be used ...

also its easy to drive aan astra they are not a big car by any strech take about 3 days to get used to them if you've been learning in something small

zilog_jones

A Ka would not be a good choice for frequent long distance driving - I have driven my Fiesta (the Ka is basically just a shortened Mk. 4 Fiesta) from Limerick to Dublin many times, it is not very comfortable and quite tiring, also the 1.3 pushrod engines are quite noisy at motorway speeds (Ka got a new SOHC engine since 2002, should be more refined).

You'd be much better off with a small family car like a Ford Focus, Opel Astra, Seat Leon, Mazda 323, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, etc. Golfs are overpriced, and the last generation Nissan Almera don't seem as reliable as the the previous ones (plus they're rubbish to drive).

smcgiff

1.4l Peugeot 206 - You should be able to get a 03 / 04 for €3k. Certainly a 03 anyway.

Absurdum

I drove a Ka from Dublin to Tralee a few years ago, it was hell.

colm_mcm

I'd get something like a Skoda Fabia 1.4.
big car feel, comfy and cheap as chips.