Car for M.I.L.

Mr.Boots

MIL looking for a new car.
This is an A to B car only so please dont recomend any BMW's or anything like that. it can be as boring as you like.
So whats inportant?
comfort
reliability
cost of running
newer than 07
nothing french im afraid
diesel
max 14,000

she was thinking a 08 golf tdi but these seem to give trouble???
others i was thinking about,08 octavia tdi, 08 focus tdci, 07/08 mondeo tdci, 07 saab 93 tdi.
Anything else i should look at?

For Forks Sake

Mr.Boots wrote: »

it can be as boring as you like.

Nissan Tiida. Doesn't get more boring than that.

bazz26

Honda Civic 2.2 i-CDTi:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201043200036846

Seth Brundle

Some inspiration?
http://jalopnik.com/#!395953/which-car-is-the-biggest-death-trap

Bigus

Not diesel ... but a Prius ?

crosstownk

Something with no brakes...........

Mr.Boots

How about a civic hybrid? any good?

johnos1984

Corolla D4D Saloon

It will go forever, cheap to run and boring as they come

Mr.Boots

johnos1984 wrote: »

Corolla D4D Saloon

It will go forever, cheap to run and boring as they come

Yea was thinking about one of them.
Prius from what ive heard isnt all its cracked up to be....corect?

johnos1984

It all depends on how and where you drive it.

Prius should be better at city/town driving while the Corolla is good at long trips.

The Corolla is a pleasant car, not going to set your world on fire but it ticks all the right boxes for someone wanting hassle free motoring.

I always think they are solid enough, you should get good mpg form the engine and its very reliable from all reports I've heard.

People will rubbish it here at times just because its bland and boring but give it a chance

crosstownk

Mr.Boots wrote: »

nothing french im afraid

Why?

If you want diesel then the PSA 1.6HDi is one of the best around. A 1.6 diesel Ford will have this engine.

Mr.Boots

How about the 08 1.9 tdi golf...yay or nay?
its the older shape car she is looking at btw

Mr.Boots

crosstownk wrote: »

Why?

If you want diesel then the PSA 1.6HDi is one of the best around. A 1.6 diesel Ford will have this engine.

Yea i know the ins and outs of it....she just dosnt like french cars cos their flimsy

johnos1984

Mr.Boots wrote: »

How about the 08 1.9 tdi golf...yay or nay?
its the older shape car she is looking at btw

I'm driving an 06 Passat with the same engine.

I've had no problems what so ever since my purchase in Nov. Got it with 112k miles and just passed 119k this evening. No issues and none according to the previous owner. I bought from a garage and she had no reason to lie when telling me this as it was an ex reps car ('she' was the rep who used it)

Over mixed driving I average about 47-50mpg

Others will tell you a VW will blow up as soon as you look at it though

colm_mcm

KIA cee'd, should get a nearly new one within budget.

Tea 1000

Mr.Boots wrote: »

How about the 08 1.9 tdi golf...yay or nay?
its the older shape car she is looking at btw

Why must it be diesel? What mileage does she do per year? The reason I ask is that if it's less than 15,000 miles then I'd recommend a Civic 1.8 petrol. €302 tax post 08, cheaper, more reliable, nicer, more powerful and nicer to drive than the Golf, will last much longer, and is actually very fuel efficient.

JJJJNR

Seriously WTF this is the motors forum.

cantdecide

What is it about cars that means that all personal standards go out the window. People proud-as-punch to say 'I don't care if it's hideous/ boring/ impractical etc as long as it conforms to the following ill-informed prejudices;'.

You wouldn't go to a fashion forum and ask 'I couldn't give a monkeys about my new coat as long as it keeps the weather out- in fact, there's a bin liner in that cupboard, I'll wear that if it's cheap'.

Anyway, +1 on the civic. It's a very snazzy practical, reliable car. It's yer only man, IMO

Henry Ford III

My MIL drives one of these - great in traffic.

colm_mcm

cantdecide wrote: »

What is it about cars that means that all personal standards go out the window. People proud-as-punch to say 'I don't care if it's hideous/ boring/ impractical etc as long as it conforms to the following ill-informed prejudices;'.

You wouldn't go to a fashion forum and ask 'I couldn't give a monkeys about my new coat as long as it keeps the weather out- in fact, there's a bin liner in that cupboard, I'll wear that if it's cheap'.

Anyway, +1 on the civic. It's a very snazzy practical, reliable car. It's yer only man, IMO

Have you picked the 1.6 petrol passat up yet?

robtri

how about the Polo Bluemotion.... cheap as chips to run...... very very economical to run

shamwari

If you can get one, what about Fiat Bravo. 1.9 or 1.6D.

A truly excellent and underrated car.

shamwari

Henry Ford III wrote: »

My MIL drives one of these - great in traffic.

You're lucky. Mine's one of these ......

JJJJNR

robtri wrote: »

how about the Polo Bluemotion.... cheap as chips to run...... very very economical to run

Its 2.50 for a bag of chips from my local chipper, rip off basdrds

Lex Luthor

Mr.Boots wrote: »

Yea was thinking about one of them.
Prius from what ive heard isnt all its cracked up to be....corect?

I know someone with over 300,000 miles on the clock. Driven all over Europe...not a stitch of trouble with it

Mr.Boots

Just to clear things up lads,
-Diesel is prefered because of anual mileage.
-French is out because they feel flimsy.
-I said boring because she sees cars differently to most people on here....ie. she dosnt lie in bed thinking about them ( but id say she would love a Alfa if given one)

Thanx to all for sugestions (even the broom)

So shortlist....
07 Saab 1.9tid
08 Honda civiv Hybrib
08 Honda Civic diesel
08 VW Golf tdi
08 Toyota Corolla d4d
07Volvo S40 D
08 Ford Focus tdci


I might trow an alfa into the pot for the crack.
Anyone have experience of any of the above?
Which would offer the most reliability and cost the least to run?

marzic

I'd recommend a focus diesel. Plenty power, nice to drive (bear in mind you might occasionally drive it), reliable, economical - 14k would probably get 07

colm_mcm

Rule out the s40 and saab anyway.

Mr.Boots

colm_mcm wrote: »

Rule out the s40 and saab anyway.

Any reason?

Zubeneschamali

How about a Mini Cooper D?

Mr.Boots

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

How about a Mini Cooper D?

Good idea
How is the 1.6 petrol on juice?

Zubeneschamali

Mr.Boots wrote: »

Good idea
How is the 1.6 petrol on juice?

The wife gets 33 mpg out of her petrol Cooper around town.

colm_mcm

Mr.Boots wrote: »

Any reason?

I worked for a saab dealer and paw the issues they throw up even when minded, parts are expensive, and unless you're a saab person and buy into the aircraft heritage and image you may as well be driving a vectra. Granted they're a lovely looking car, but you need to budget for things like wishbones, electrical gremlins, tyres on bigger wheeled models etc.

The volvo for similar reasons but less so. They're a jumped up focus but not as good to drive, they have a fantastic interior and great seats though, but a newer focus would probably be a better bet if her expectations arent huge.

bazz26

If she doesn't need alot of space how about a Fiat 500:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201026198657332

Brand new with the 4 year Fiat warranty left.

Alternatively maybe a Suzuki Swift diesel:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201043200034880

cantdecide

colm_mcm wrote: »

Have you picked the 1.6 petrol passat up yet?

Ouch