New car 5K (ish) Budget

Dingatron

Well time has come to start looking for a new car. I'd intend to drive this for at least the next 4-5 years and will be doing the standard services etc myself.

Plan 1
Requirements are in order of priority


1. Good mpg. I do around 20k mileage a year and am currently getting 34 MPG. I'd like to increase this to reduce costs.
2. NCT +1 year.
3. Reliability
4. Budget. Willing to move on this if the long term savings merit higher outlay
5. Tax. Probably 1.4-1.8 max.
6. Mileage < 70k miles
7. Timing belt replaced if required.
8. Preferably not a Jap car. (Sorry I think they are the blandest looking cars)

Currently the Citroen C4 1.6 HDi is the only one that's looking to meet a lot of requirements. Not sure on the reliability of them though.

Plan 2
Feck requirements and hang MPG/Reliability and get something unusual for a year or two.

colm_mcm

Mods: 1 month ban for anyone that says the O word please

murphyebass

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/GTV/6-2.5-2D/201103200932112/advert?channel=CARS


http://www.carzone.ie/search/Jaguar/XJ-Series/3.6...../201025198505539/advert?channel=CARS

you asked for something different.

darragh o meara

Citroen hdi tend to give DPF trouble iirc.

I've a 2004 Mondeo tdci I know it's a bit over the max engine size you specified but I said I'd mention it as it is bulletproof and returns 45-48 mpg. I've done 40k in one and apart from servicing haven't spent a penny more on it and its still going strong. They are known sometimes for injector failure and dual mass flywheels but we had one in the family with 200k and neither failed in it's lifetime nor has since we sold it there are pros amnd cons of every car so it pays to do your research the likes of a golf tdi might be an option or an Audi a3 tdi

darragh o meara

Oh forgot to mention C4 parts are very expensive too, I've one at home I'm turning into a rally car and for example rear brake discs on the Mondeo 50 euro, on the c4 300 as they are part of the hub and you need to replace the bearings when replacing the discs.

Dingatron

darragh o meara wrote: »

Oh forgot to mention C4 parts are very expensive too, I've one at home I'm turning into a rally car and for example rear brake discs on the Mondeo 50 euro, on the c4 300 as they are part of the hub and you need to replace the bearings when replacing the discs.

That's good to know about the C4. That's scrapped that idea. I'll do a bit of research on the Mondeo tci.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Ro...t?channel=CARS


http://www.carzone.ie/search/Jaguar/...t?channel=CARS

Like the Alfa a lot but not sure how I'd get it past the missus. Maybe if I parked it around the corner she mightn't notice.

Mr Magners

darragh o meara wrote: »

Citroen hdi tend to give DPF trouble iirc.

I've a 2004 Mondeo tdci I know it's a bit over the max engine size you specified but I said I'd mention it as it is bulletproof and returns 45-48 mpg. I've done 40k in one and apart from servicing haven't spent a penny more on it and its still going strong. They are known sometimes for injector failure and dual mass flywheels but we had one in the family with 200k and neither failed in it's lifetime nor has since we sold it there are pros amnd cons of every car so it pays to do your research the likes of a golf tdi might be an option or an Audi a3 tdi

Have to agree with the Mondeo, as stated it's a bit high on the engine side but they are pretty bulletproof. I have a 07 old shape 2.0TDCi with 224,000 km on the clock and it never even gives as much as a hiccup. Not the most exciting car in the world to look at but the reliability is there.

Only slight problem at the moment is that people think it's an unmarked Garda car. Funny tho.