New Car - What to Buy

FernandoTorres

Hey,

I'm 25 and have up to €8500 to spend on a new car. I'm not that into cars so I just want something that looks nice and is fairly reliable, I wouldn't generally be using it for long trips or need much space in it etc

I've been looking at 3 door versions of Audi A3 (2004+), Opel Astra (2005+) and Hyundai Coupés (2004+). Anyone got any advice on any of these or have anything else they think might be good for me?

FernandoTorres

Anyone got any experiences, good or bad with the above?

kildare.17hmr

FernandoTorres wrote: »

Hey,

I'm 25 and have up to €8500 to spend on a new car. I'm not that into cars so I just want something that looks nice and is fairly reliable, I wouldn't generally be using it for long trips or need much space in it etc

I've been looking at 3 door versions of Audi A3 (2004+), Opel Astra (2005+) and Hyundai Coupés (2004+). Anyone got any advice on any of these or have anything else they think might be good for me?

£ door a3 is the only A3 to get, 5 doors are practicly sale proof! they are quite heavy on petrol so you may have to consider this as short trips will cost ya more! Great car tho and relitivly trouble free

The astra is a decent enough car altho you do have to change the timing belt every 40k which is expensive, some models do come with timing chain tho so check before you buy! no comparison to the others you mentioned, not even in looks.

Hyundai coupe has always been a good car, very reliable, looks great drives superb if ya get a decent one and not expensive to get top spec and feel like your in a real sports car!

Out of the 3 you mentioned id say the hyundai is the best option!

djimi

Youre actually 26 and the amount of money you earn a week Im sure you can afford more than €8500... :rolleyes:

Tea 1000

Gen 7 Celica I'd add, nicer looking than the Hyundai, and dynamically much superior.

Treehouse72

Can I ask about used A3's. I notice a lot of them have high mileage. In one sense this is reassuring as it suggests a reliable and well-built car. But when I see 80k miles+ it's natural to pause for thought. I am a light car user (2 or 3 times a week tops for local trips to see family and friends, do shopping etc.)...would you guys trust an A3 with high mileage like this (assuming my mechanic will be giving it a once-over too)?

Cheers.

kildare.17hmr

Treehouse72 wrote: »

Can I ask about used A3's. I notice a lot of them have high mileage. In one sense this is reassuring as it suggests a reliable and well-built car. But when I see 80k miles+ it's natural to pause for thought. I am a light car user (2 or 3 times a week tops for local trips to see family and friends, do shopping etc.)...would you guys trust an A3 with high mileage like this (assuming my mechanic will be giving it a once-over too)?

Cheers.

No reason not to if your mechanic gives it the ok. A car with high mileage(80k is not really considered high these days) if it has been looked after and serviced regularly would be ideal for someone in your situation who does not drive everyday, you will get the car cheaper because the mileage is a bit higher and if you keep it for a few years and drive short journies every other day when it comes to changing it in a few years time it will probably have similar mileage to the low mileage ones of today and therfor worth about the same!
Win win
The A3 is a great little car, the diesel can give a bit of trouble but the 1.6 petrol is great and very trouble free.
how much are you looking to spend on your car?

Treehouse72

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

No reason not to if your mechanic gives it the ok. A car with high mileage(80k is not really considered high these days) if it has been looked after and serviced regularly would be ideal for someone in your situation who does not drive everyday, you will get the car cheaper because the mileage is a bit higher and if you keep it for a few years and drive short journies every other day when it comes to changing it in a few years time it will probably have similar mileage to the low mileage ones of today and therfor worth about the same!
Win win
The A3 is a great little car, the diesel can give a bit of trouble but the 1.6 petrol is great and very trouble free.
how much are you looking to spend on your car?

Thanks for feedback K. Since I just need a run-around, I was looking to spend under €3k, but I've noticed you can get nice looking 2001 A3's for just a bit over €3.5k, so I would stretch to that if I can get a nice example, like these:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A3/1.6-SE-3/201026198638396/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A3/201028198775989/advert?channel=CARS

Yummy. If I could get either of those for €3.5k I think that would be a great deal. A wee bit to haggle off them though!

EPM

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

The A3 is a great little car, the diesel can give a bit of trouble but the 1.6 petrol is great and very trouble free.
how much are you looking to spend on your car?

The 1.6 isn't trouble free. The engine itself is reliable if very old tech but some of the ancillaries are troublesome such as lambda sensors. Also the gearbox it's paired with is notorious for giving trouble. Nine started making noises after 78k km of motorway driving. That cost a grand, more if you need a clutch too. They are plentiful secondhand as they are always swapped out and rebuilt. I would not touch that engine again

kildare.17hmr

Treehouse72 wrote: »

Thanks for feedback K. Since I just need a run-around, I was looking to spend under €3k, but I've noticed you can get nice looking 2001 A3's for just a bit over €3.5k, so I would stretch to that if I can get a nice example, like these:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A3/1.6-SE-3/201026198638396/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A3/201028198775989/advert?channel=CARS

Yummy. If I could get either of those for €3.5k I think that would be a great deal. A wee bit to haggle off them though!

Ah yeah sure let us know how ya get on! reckon ya'll be wel in with 3500 for ether of those.

kildare.17hmr

EPM wrote: »

The 1.6 isn't trouble free. The engine itself is reliable if very old tech but some of the ancillaries are troublesome such as lambda sensors. Also the gearbox it's paired with is notorious for giving trouble. Nine started making noises after 78k km of motorway driving. That cost a grand, more if you need a clutch too. They are plentiful secondhand as they are always swapped out and rebuilt. I would not touch that engine again

I havent had much problems with any A3s iv bought or sold and there has been alot of them at this stage!! at one stage last year i had 6 at one time on the forcourt ranging from 01 to 08. its like this, 2nd hand cars give trouble, it can be a fiat punto or a toyota corolla or anything in between you can get a bad one or a good 1! corollais a really reliable car but iv seen my fair share of bad ones and on the other hand puntos are rubbish as we all know but iv also seen some great ones!

all in all the A3 is a decent car and would be great for this guy and the driving he will be doing, but ya should have it checked out before buying that goes without saying!
pain in the ar$e bout your gearbox man

RandomAccess

Treehouse72 wrote: »

Thanks for feedback K. Since I just need a run-around, I was looking to spend under €3k, but I've noticed you can get nice looking 2001 A3's for just a bit over €3.5k, so I would stretch to that if I can get a nice example, like these:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A3/1.6-SE-3/201026198638396/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A3/201028198775989/advert?channel=CARS

Yummy. If I could get either of those for €3.5k I think that would be a great deal. A wee bit to haggle off them though!

Eh... the second one is a 1.8 litre Automatic ! Your search seems a bit wide to be honest. Not to mention the fact that the 1.6 litre one has a horrible velour interior that will be a magnet for dirt, oversize wheels that might deaden acceleration, make the ride harder and will increase the cost of replacement tyres.

Be careful what you buy.

RandomAccess

If this Golf is as good as it appears then you should take a serious look at it,
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Golf/1.6-HIGH/201030199018798/advert?channel=CARS

or a clean looking A3, its a five door but the early one managed to pull it off in my opinion.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A3/201031199078596/advert?channel=CARS

colm_mcm

5 grand for a 10 year old 100hp small hatchback?

ah come on.. I know it has gebuine Audi floormats, but that's still expensive.