4000 to 4500 to spend

johnmck

I've 4000 / 4500 to spend on a car.

It has to be a hatchback (for bike / dog) , maybe diesel.

Recommendations please.

How many miles a year do you do? Any engine size restriction (tax)?

johnmck

only do about 5 to 7k per year.
anything up to a 1.9 would be ok.

Have been looking at focus tdci's and skoda octavias - not many in that price bracket in their newer shapes.

Ardennes1944

for that kinda mileage i really dont think the added premium for diesels would be worth it, you just wont save enough on fuel and would probably end up paying alot more on tax too.
look at a 1.6 focus/leon/astra. cant really go too wrong there.
or if power doesnt mean anything, get a 1.2 grande punto. mizer on petrol and very good cars

Timmaay

If thats all the mileage you do its hardly worth getting a diesel. Most 2nd hand diesels are going for a stupid premium over an equivalent model/year with a petrol engine, and will tend to have much higher mileage. Theres plenty of value out there in petrol cars for that sort of money, you will find something with low mileage, good spec and clean for that definitely.

Edit: ha deutsch, ya bet me to the same point, only saw your post after I clicked enter!

johnmck

I want something with a little bit of weight behind it. I'm 6' 2" so I probably wouldn;t fit into a punto!

Ardennes1944

johnmck wrote: »

I want something with a little bit of weight behind it. I'm 6' 2" so I probably wouldn;t fit into a punto!

im 6'3" and i had loads of space in my old mk2 punto, and the grandes are even bigger, hence the name.

Compton

you should look out for how close the pedals in a car are, im 6'4 with sz 12s and a lot of small cars were ruled out

SV

johnmck wrote: »

I want something with a little bit of weight behind it. I'm 6' 2" so I probably wouldn;t fit into a punto!

6'2 aint tall. You'd fit grand

7K miles a year is 140 miles a week ish. Not really diesel territory. If you have €4500 to spend you can expect to buy lots of yokes with screen prices of €5000 id you don't have a trade in. You'll get no value at all buying a diesel for that. If you were willing to think outside the box as they say you could well pick up a nice petrol estate (A4 or similar) for that price range. Not huge demand for petrol estates so you could get quite a tasty car.

johnmck

Hmmm I like the A4 estates, but not sure the GF would be mad about me buying one

How would they be like on petrol - in the snow etc?

Would fit my mountain bike nicely.

Anybody see any 05 new shape focus' for around my price range.

Bloody work here has donedeal blocked!

An A4 estate won't be any worse than any other fwd car in the snow, if you are willing to roll back the years you could get a quottro one Mpg I wouldn't know to be honest, wouldn't be much worse than a focus, doing 140 miles per week it wouldn't be a huge issue anyway.

You'll struggle to get a 05 Focus for the budget
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/NT-LX-1./201107201315873/advert?channel=CARS

1.4 too, yuk :pac:

bazz26

Volvo V40:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201103200968586

Subaru Legacy:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201107201277422

Saab 9-5 estate:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201103200904894

Rover 75 Touring:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201103200969938

OP, as above go to 2.0l and enjoy a decent motor
No fun lugging a bike about in a little hatchback.

johnmck

they are maybe a little too big, the GF would kill me !

the mountain bike front and back wheels come off so not that big once taken apart.

I was looking at this

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1841997

Not sure how easy / difficult reselling a red car would be - never had a red car!

Hate the way people put in keywords on donedeal - makes searching for cars very difficult

sheesh

get a golf 1.6, a silver one, no one can object to a silver golf.

and audi A3 might suit too I have an 03 one that is still in good fettle. just passed the nct without anything needing to be done to it.

ford focus are good.

I cannot believe anyone would object to a saab though, even if it was an estate,

Hal1

Don't get a golf :pac:. That focus on DD looks good though.

MrDerp

johnmck wrote: »

they are maybe a little too big, the GF would kill me !

the mountain bike front and back wheels come off so not that big once taken apart.

I was looking at this

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1841997

Not sure how easy / difficult reselling a red car would be - never had a red car!

Hate the way people put in keywords on donedeal - makes searching for cars very difficult

Looks decent. Zetec trim, judging by the extras.

At that price its almost certainly due its first timing belt and water pump though *, so you'd want to include that in your driving costs for the next year.

* Lots of debate on the timing for this, but my main dealer just checked the condition at 100,000 km. They can go to 160,000km I'm told, but should be checked every service from 100,000km, or just done for peace of mind.

MrDerp

MrDerp wrote: »

* Lots of debate on the timing for this, but my main dealer just checked the condition at 100,000 km. They can go to 160,000km I'm told, but should be checked every service from 100,000km, or just done for peace of mind.

Presumably all they can check for is oil or coolant contamination though?

MrDerp

RoverJames wrote: »

Presumably all they can check for is oil or coolant contamination though?

Haven't a bulls notion. But they stuck a tick on the timing belt condition box. Any awareness of mechanical stuff on my part is on a need to know basis (what's likely to cost me in the next year of motoring). Probably getting stiffed.

bazz26

MrDerp wrote: »

Looks decent. Zetec trim, judging by the extras.

At that price its almost certainly due its first timing belt and water pump though *, so you'd want to include that in your driving costs for the next year.

* Lots of debate on the timing for this, but my main dealer just checked the condition at 100,000 km. They can go to 160,000km I'm told, but should be checked every service from 100,000km, or just done for peace of mind.

It is the LX "First Edition" model. A limited edition model based on the basic LX trim but they added alloy wheels, cruise control, front fog lights and I think air conditioning.