New (used) car suggestions?

BizzyLizzie

Hi guys, I'm just wondering if anyone could recommend any cars in or around €1500 or less?

I've been looking at a few Focuses, Meganes and the like. The Focus seems to cost a lot more for the same year as a Megane but lots of people are telling me to steer clear of Renaults. Would a 98-00 Megane have all these electrical problems I keep hearing about and are they as expensive for parts as I've been told?

I don't really have any major requirements from a car but I will be travelling a few hundred miles every 3rd week or so and about 50 miles every day Monday-Friday if that makes a difference to the kinda car I should be looking at. Any ideas, through em my way! Thanks

tankbarry

donedeal have toyota cars on it for 1500.... u could try that they are good cars...

BizzyLizzie

I forgot to mention that I prefer hatchbacks and I'm not really a fan of Polos/Golfs/Starlets/Micras. I'm really making this easy :pac:

rotinaj

Petrol or diesel? Any limit on the size of the engine. Where are you based?

BizzyLizzie

Diesel would probably be better for the miles I'll be travelling but I wouldn't say no to a petrol either so it doesn't really matter. I'm in Munster. All I'm wondering is what kinda makes/models of cars I should start looking for, not really specific cars that are currently on sale...if that makes sense

rotinaj

Fair enough. Here s a few suggestions.

Mazda 323

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1884768

Peugeot 306

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1887668

Almeara

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1799742

Just using the ads as a guide not suggesting you buy them.

BizzyLizzie

Thank you

Anyone know anything about Renaults like I was asking in my first post?

hzhang

BizzyLizzie wrote: »

Thank you

Anyone know anything about Renaults like I was asking in my first post?

Bought a meagne(00) 3 years ago for 2700 euro, after about 6 months water pump was leaking, timing belt had to be changed, cost me 800 euro get it fixed. Sold it for 15000 euro.

BizzyLizzie

I know next to nothing about cars... is that expensive? Or is that what you'd expect to pay for that repair work on most cars?

rotinaj

BizzyLizzie wrote: »

I know next to nothing about cars... is that expensive? Or is that what you'd expect to pay for that repair work on most cars?

My sister owned a 00 megane. The worst car I've ever seen.

Needed a whole new exhaust
Immobiliser failed
Wiper motor failed
Heating system failed
Needed the coil pack changed twice
Sunroof leaked
Rear wheel fell off
Passenger window failed

All this in 10 months. Do yourself and your wallet a favour and stay away.

If your want a small diesel car for 1500 go for a 306. Fantastic little car

BizzyLizzie

Thanks for that.

I've seen a 98 Focus for sale for €1200 with a new nct...does that seem a decent price? Again, no idea about cars and having never bought one before I've no clue what's a good or bad price for one... :rolleyes:

hask1965

look in carzone or done deal ford focus good cars in the snow or hyandia accent cheap car have one never let me down yet will go any where :cool:

BizzyLizzie

hask1965 wrote: »

look in carzone or done deal ford focus good cars in the snow or hyandia accent cheap car have one never let me down yet will go any where :cool:

So would the price I mentioned above be decent for a Focus?

Jimmy Bottlehead

hzhang wrote: »

Bought a Meagne (00) 3 years ago for €2700, after about 6 months water pump was leaking, timing belt had to be changed, cost me 800 euro get it fixed.

Sold it for 15000 euro.

That's some profit.

hask1965

if ya look hard you will find 1 carzone or donedeal:eek:

BizzyLizzie

hask1965 wrote: »

if ya look hard you will find 1 carzone or donedeal:eek:

I have looked... I was just asking if the one I saw was a fair price is all...

Ricardo G

Spend your 1500 quid wisely, a 2000 reg focus hatch could be got for the money he's looking for 98 one !! (if you look hard enough)
Another option is a Toyota Corolla hatchback, japanese and a simple all round reliable motor.
Nissan almera, you should get a 02/03 reg at this stage for 1500, although i believe (and many people do) the 99/00 hatch model to be a better car.
01 Mitsubishi Colt, another great little runaround and cheap to run.


Plenty of cars to choose from, bring someone that knows about cars and you'll be fine !!

BizzyLizzie

Thank you

hask1965

dont rush into it bring someone with ya that has afair idear on cars and bargan with them plenty of cheap cars around hyandia accent spelt wrong good car go any where dont let ya down and cheap to buy:pac:

zilog_jones

Many consider the 1.4 in the Focus is underpowered, same goes for a lot of similarly sized petrol engines in this class. With the kind of mileage you're doing you may be better off with a diesel anyway.

BizzyLizzie

Given the choice between a 96 Golf 1.4 petrol and a 98 Megane 1.4 petrol, both for €900...which would be the better option?

Ricardo G

BizzyLizzie wrote: »

Given the choice between a 96 Golf 1.4 petrol and a 98 Megane 1.4 petrol, both for €900...which would be the better option?

For 900 euro i would'nt go for either ideally, having said that if i was pushed into one it would be the Golf despite it being older it would'nt have the electric issues and nigly problems the renault endures. I presume their is NCT on them?

bazz26

€900 for a 15 year old Golf is just madness.

OP,

Have a look at something like this:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1889542

Timing belt and water pump done recently and 12 months NCT. Very little goes wrong with the 323.

slave1

I had at at differnet times/different models Renault/ 97/98/04.
Lovely cars, comfort wise I found them great and well laid out on the inside.
I will be kind and say that the electrics were not great, replaced ECU/windows/locks/breakdowns/cats/tows etc, at the time they were the best car I could afford from a cash perspective.
I do not recommend a Renault from the time period you are looking at.

I'm now driving a Ford and Toyota and much happier driving.

Anan1

BizzyLizzie wrote: »

Thank you

Anyone know anything about Renaults like I was asking in my first post?

Just for balance, an ex of mine had an 01 Megane for 5 years, during which time the car needed nothing more than routine servicing and the odd bulb. For €1500 you want to be looking at the actual car in front of you, rather than the make/model.

hask1965

golf or hyandia accent have a 01 its never let me down:D

BizzyLizzie

Thanks guys and yep they both have really long NCT's on them

-Corkie-

I wouldnt be buying a Renault that old. It will break you..

hask1965

golf better but look around cars are going for nothing might even get 2000 2001 carsireland a good site and beepbeep look them up and dont rush:D