screw it I'm breaking my budget - find me a better option

Reloc8

Your help appreciated - I've been buidling up to a serious (for me) car investment over the last couple of years.

Previous thread started by me set a budget lower than this, bearing in mind where I see (could be wrong) value I've decided to up this considerably from 12k to around 20k for a low tax low mileage diesel.

I'm eyeing up E90 (2008 pre facelift) 3 series diesels (156 quid to tax, great mileage, great drive).

For a low-mileage car that will put me into the 20k price point.

Help me spend my money - please treat it as your own i worked my nuts off for this car

Essential criteria in no order - 4 doors, good drive, low mileage, comfortable (leather) interior, low tax band, diesel (or petrol ! edit), 2 litre or plus, or close as makes no difference if its a great drive.

Thanks for the help

You do 6000 miles a year, buying a diesel is looney. Spend less than €15,000 and tuck the rest mentally away for tax, buy a decent petrol car.

EPM

But a cheap petrol accord. Job done. Diesel will kill you on repairs. I had mine for 45km urban driving today. 29mpg according to computer, most likely 25 tops.

Reloc8

RoverJames wrote: »

You do 6000 miles a year, buying a diesel is looney. Spend less than €15,000 and tuck the rest mentally away for tax, buy a decent petrol car.

Point taken - I do like the very low emissions of the 2008 diesel E90 - suggestions on what you would buy with this budget ?

Reloc8

EPM wrote: »

But a cheap petrol accord. Job done. Diesel will kill you on repairs. I had mine for 45km urban driving today. 29mpg according to computer, most likely 25 tops.

I test drove an accord...maybe its just because of being used to a rear wheel drive car but I found it easy enough to turn down - thanks for the suggestion though.

To this and previous post - I am thinking of potential resale value in 3 - 5 years time - I can't see how 2 litre 4 door 'old' tax rate petrols will be an attractive option for anyone versus a low emissions similar taxed on the new system.

EPM

You van buy them relatively cheaply compared to the diesel version. Plus low mileage and diesel cause problems! Google dpf.

Reloc8

EPM wrote: »

You van buy them relatively cheaply compared to the diesel version. Plus low mileage and diesel cause problems! Google dpf.

Can't I keep things working nicely with a bit of a blast down the motorway every Sunday ? (not exactly a chore )

bazz26

Reloc8 wrote: »

Can't I keep things working nicely with a bit of a blast down the motorway every Sunday ? (not exactly a chore )

It's not as simple as that.

DPFs need the engine to be running constantly at high temperatures so that the particles emitted from the engine can be burned away. Short trips or the odd blast down the motorway will not allow this so eventually the DPF will get totally blocked and will need to be replaced. You are looking at a min of €1k to replace a DPF.

Reloc8

cack - so I'm not a good candidate for a modern diesel (6000 miles per year) even with regular servicing ?

bazz26

The small savings on motor tax and fuel could potentially be cancelled out by a major repair if needed. Modern diesel engines are very complex and so far this new technology is far from being reliable.

Nonoperational

Every time this comes up I think it gets blown out of proportion. If you buy a 2008 3 series, service it regularly and go for a good blast once or twice a week the chances are you'll have no problems at all.

R.O.R

If you want a low tax, low emission, 2008 onwards 3 Series, then the Diesel is your only option.

I wouldn't p1ss on a 2007+ ED Petrol BMW if it was on fire. Let the fcukers burn and take the insurance money. They all give issues ranging from just blowing a coil, through to replacing all the injectors (twice on 1 523i) - BMW just don't seem to know how to fix it.

You're not an ideal candidate for Diesel at that mileage though, and if you don't want FWD you might be a bit stuck. Not sure on the reliability of the C180k or C200k as we don't have enough on fleet to make a fair judgement. If you can find one in Avantgarde or Sport specification it's a nice looking car. Can't remember what the emissions are though.

Other option would be to go back a few years and pay 1.8 tax if you can find a decent specification A4 quattro. Will probably have to have been imported as the standard Irish spec on those is pretty poor.

ninty9er

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/2.0-R-4D/201110201511749/advert?channel=CARS

QED

pajo1981

I have that same model ('08 [177BHP] 320d) with 90k on the clock and I've not had a single issue with it.

If you can find a well kitted out one within budget, then they're pretty much a no-brainer purchase.

Reloc8

ninty9er wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/2.0-R-4D/201110201511749/advert?channel=CARS

QED

I'm sure its great.

I'm looking for a low tax car though, 2 litre engine.

Reloc8

bazz26 wrote: »

The small savings on motor tax and fuel could potentially be cancelled out by a major repair if needed. Modern diesel engines are very complex and so far this new technology is far from being reliable.

Even on my mileage the savings are a grand a year - that's including the tax - and then there's the slower depreciation.

I'm not finding any huge issues online with this engine - I'll keep reading.

Reloc8

Reloc8 wrote: »

I'm sure its great.

I'm looking for a low tax car though, 2 litre engine.

You're on about spending €20,000 on a car that cheap to tax and won't consider cheaper cars as the tax is €600/annum. Spend €20,000 and you'll lose up to €5000 depreciation in the first year.

The Subaru is half the price of a €20,000 2008 reg low tax car.

The term false economy springs to mind.