I want a new car!

f1shfingers

Currently driving a 05 Astra, have it 3 years & have it in my head that I want a new car [used, not brand new, just new to me!]. Have the exact car I want in my head, now just need to find it.......

Have a few questions:
What is the rock bottom price I would expect to get offered for my current car in a garage? I know I can look up CarZone for similar cars but I don't know how much garages generally add on:

1. It's a 05 Opel Astra, 5 door, Club model, 111,000 KM, 1.4 Petrol, 2 lady owners, and will have NCT until May 2013

2. What are the differences between Zetec and Style models?

3. I'm thinking of changing to diesel, but there is more of a selection of cars I want with petrol, is the diesel worth it? I drive about 20,000 KM per year.

The car I want: 2008 [for the cheaper tax!] Ford Focus, 1.6, Diesel, preferably 5 door and preferably NOT silver [there's MILLIONS of them around]. It appears the Style is cheaper than the Zetec model, is it just alloys/foglights that differ?

colm_mcm

Just a recap from a recent thread

R.O.R wrote: »

They put the Zetec seats in the Style (3 "leather" strips on the backrest) eventually. Don't think it was as soon as they put the rest of the equipment in, but it wasn't too long after that.

If the Style had an armrest it would definatley be the one to go for. I really need an armrest for my driving and it's a pain not having one in the Focus style.

bazz26 wrote: »

Just to add, in late 2008 the Focus Style got equipment upgrades which included alloy wheels, bluetooth and air conditioning making it slightly better equipped than the Zetec.

If you are looking at a 2007 Focus then I would go for the Zetec Connection which was a special edition before the facelifted model arrived in 2008. On top of standard Zetec equipment the Connection model also got keyless entry, electric windows alround, 17" alloy wheels, voice activated bluetooth, digital climate control, dusk sensing headlights, rain sensing wipers and auto dipping rear view mirror.

captainspeed wrote: »

Style is poverty spec, which is why they are the most popular model, since most people in Ireland like buying the worst possible version of a car:rolleyes:.

Having said all of that, the 2010 models are good for equipment because they were run out models. A 2010 Style has all the basics, including Bluetooth. I'd even argue that is so well equipped there is no need to go for the higher spec models. But before 2010, Styles were poverty spec.

Zetec is mid range and therefore better than the Style. A/c, trip computer, alloys, fogs and a few other niceties (2010 Styles have all of this though and Bluetooth).

Then there is Ghia, that has auto wipers (no need for them), fake wood (no need for that either), auto dimming rear view mirror (brilliant feature) and a few other things that I've forgotton. Titaniums are the same but an alloy look dash and a better Sony radio. I think some Ghia/Titanium have bluetooth thrown in as well.

hobochris wrote: »

What he said.

Style is the poverty spec model with slightly nicer trim.

Zetec has better engine +nicer trim more features .

The step up from the Zetec is the Ghia.

The step up from the Ghia is Titanium(rarely seen in this country except for brand new focus's)

bazz26

20k km a year really isn't diesel mileage especially if that consists of mostly town driving. Also petrol cars are out of fashion at the moment so there are some good deals to be had on them.

Also the trade-in value of your car is not important, the cost to change price is the important figure. Pointless getting a super trade-in price from one garage if the new car you are buying is overpriced too.

f1shfingers

Thanks, had to laugh at Style being the 'poverty' spec, I had figured this myself but am I really going to use Bluetooth? Hmmm.

Thanks bazz also for your reply. I'm still thinkin of going with diesel, though I kinow they are more expensive to buy. Why do you say the petrols are going 'out of fashion'?

I had heard the 1.6 petrol engines weren't great. I want power, and don't want to go higher at the moment than 1.6 in case my insurance shoots up.

dr.fuzzenstein

bazz26 wrote: »

20k km a year really isn't diesel mileage especially if that consists of mostly town driving. Also petrol cars are out of fashion at the moment so there are some good deals to be had on them.

Also the trade-in value of your car is not important, the cost to change price is the important figure. Pointless getting a super trade-in price from one garage if the new car you are buying is overpriced too.

If you're just pottering about (and 20k is just about pottering), diesel isn't worth it.
And a diesel with DPF is guaranteed trouble at that rate.
If you want a Focus go for the 1.6 petrol, the 1.4 couldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding.

colm_mcm

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

If you want a Focus go for the 1.6 petrol, the 1.4 couldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding.

Agreed, the 1.4 is dire. There's some fancy 1.6 petrol engine in some of the Focuss. (TiVCT) That'd be the one to get IMO

f1shfingers

I guess I FEEL like I do a lot of driving as I live in Dublin but visit my parents in Galway a fair bit, but don't have much of a drive to work so save that way. I drove to Belfast and Athlone recently too but they'd be once off trips really so I guess I'll go by the actual mileage on the car!!!

1.6 petrol I'll be looking at so, and hopefully I'll get that for around 11,500. Should get about €5,000 for my own. Fingers crossed................!!!

bazz26

If you look at a 09 petrol Focus then the 1.6 litre costs the same to tax as the 1.4 litre under the new emmissions based system. €445 per year afaik.

If you are overly concerned about low road tax then take a look at a UK import Toyota Auris 1.33 litre petrol, they only cost €156 to tax. The UK got the new engine in 2009 whereas we didn't get it here until the facelift of 2010 due to there being lots of old 1.4 versions still unsold. Plenty of 2009 UK imports for sale here now and they tend to be a little bit better equipped than Irish models. Not as nice to drive as the Focus though but alot roomier inside.

colm_mcm

The Auris isn't a great car to be fair, the engine is lovely but the interior is miles off.

f1shfingers

f1shfingers wrote: »

What is the rock bottom price I would expect to get offered for my current car in a garage?

Depends on the garage, I'd say 3000 - 3500 trade in if your lucky.

f1shfingers

I don't want an Auris. It's only a Focus I want

And thanks bazz, but thats a bit 'techy' for me. I'm purely looking for something I can nab off carzone or something in a dealer - test drive it, get my Dad to give it the once over & hand over the money :P

f1shfingers

LUCKY? €3000?! LUCKY!?

I paid 14000 for her

colm_mcm

How about a 1.6 Volvo S40?

f1shfingers

f1shfingers wrote: »

LUCKY? €3000?! LUCKY!?

I paid 14000 for her

That's the way things are at the minute, a lot of garages are swamped with cars and finding it hard to sell them on, especially big engines. If you went to sell it private or went to buy one at a dealers today you would be looking at around 4500 to 5500 with around the same mileage as yours, that's all they are making. I wouldn't pay anymore than 6000 for an '05.

f1shfingers

Aren't they quite big? I just want a hatchback style. It's only myself I'll be driving, I'd see a Volvo as a 'family' car!!

colm_mcm

C30 then


Focus is everywhere these days.

f1shfingers

That is nice Colm, off I go to Carzone to see about prices!! If I'm only going to get €3 for my car, I really don't want to go higher than about 11,000. I still owe nearly 6k to bank for my last loan.

bazz26

Nice C30 here:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201120202439622

bazz26

Concentrate on the "cost to trade up" price.

colm_mcm

Bazz is right. figures will be all over the place.

Is the money that's owed on the car hire purchase or just a general purpose/car loan?

f1shfingers

It's a personal car loan. My Dad thinks I'm nuts for buying another car when I haven't the loan paid off, but there's no issue of me losing my job so I don't mind having the loan to pay off. I've been looking at cars online all afternoon. Time for me to log off now! Thanks for your help. I'll search again later when Ive had a break

f1shfingers

Why are there 4 owners I wonder when it's only a 08. I actually checked out the carzone website and picked that one out before I saw your link! My Dad said stay away - there must be something wrong with it with 4 owners........!

Del2005

f1shfingers wrote: »

Aren't they quite big? I just want a hatchback style. It's only myself I'll be driving, I'd see a Volvo as a 'family' car!!

The S40 and Focus are the same car, they have slightly different panels but the rest is the same.

f1shfingers wrote: »

It's a personal car loan. My Dad thinks I'm nuts for buying another car when I haven't the loan paid off, but there's no issue of me losing my job so I don't mind having the loan to pay off. I've been looking at cars online all afternoon. Time for me to log off now! Thanks for your help. I'll search again later when Ive had a break

Have you applied for a loan yet? Banks aren't giving out money as easy as before and an outstanding loan could have an impact. Maybe better to find out if you can actually buy a car before you find one you want to buy.

furtzy

You definitely won't get the 6k to clear the loan thats for sure. 3 - 3.5k trade in I'd say. As others have said concentrate on the "price to change". Personally wouldn't change with that outstanding loan balance. Keep the Astra for another year or so and bring down the loan. If you have to go down the motor loan route from a bank be prepared to have to pay around 10% deposit. Things have changed radically over the past couple of years in the car finance world. They will also only give finance on the book value of the car

f1shfingers

f1shfingers wrote: »

It's a personal car loan. My Dad thinks I'm nuts for buying another car when I haven't the loan paid off,

I tend to agree with your Dad, loans are a pain in the arse.

Dilbert75

+1. In fact when I had my first car 2 years I went into the Toyota garage in Carlow and was looking at a bigger car there. Salesman must have had a fatherly moment when he asked me how much was left on my car and promptly advised me that he'd recommend that I clear it off before changing. So I did and never regretted it.

Its better to regret not buying a car than to regret buying a car (wise words from a friend of mine).

PaulKK

f1shfingers wrote: »

Thanks, had to laugh at Style being the 'poverty' spec, I had figured this myself but am I really going to use Bluetooth? Hmmm.

You think you won't use it but it is the handiest feature ever.

I have integrated bluetooth on my current car and it will be top of the list of requirements for me when I am car shopping next time.

f1shfingers

I'm not really bothered about what's left on my loan, as I will merely look for a top up. I had a 3k loan out first and had nothing paid on this before I topped it up to 14k. Okay, so banks aren't as generous as before, but I'm in a secure job and have 5 years good credit rating with never even so much as a late payment. Banks are crying out for people like me!!!!!!

I'll give it a bit more thought. I was set on getting a different car but undecided now. Nothing to do with my loan per sé, but more so as to whether I want to save for a house or not. Cars can be dead money, but I dont think I'm 'mature' enough or responsible enough for that just yet so figured cars were my little avenue of letting loose. Considering cars are supposed to be 'rock bottom' I thought it would be a nice time to change, as I've had my current car for 3 years. I'll see. Like the look of the Volvo, but nobody answered why a 2008 car would have had 4 owners yet...............bit suspicious to me!!!!

f1shfingers

I see no issue with having a loan. I couldn't have afforded 14k straight out, and it suits me to pay a couple of hundred each month. The interest, over the 5 years isn't HUGE. I can certainly allow for it consideringn the amount I borrowed. If I thought my job was in jeopardy, I wouldn't bother borrowing, but I'm 100% my job is fine, so thats why I don't mind paying the few hundred per month for a nice car.

Looks like you'll be owing 14 grand to drive around in an 11k car. Three years ago you owed 14k on a car you bought for 14k. If you fancy a change now I can't see you going the next 5 years without fancying a change again, I have no doubt you'll get the finance but do you really want it?

colm_mcm

Re the owners, it may be a misprint. There'll be other cars anyway if this one doesn't suit.
I think the focus was a fairly safe choice, with the money you're spending there are so many exciting options available to you.
I chose the c30 as its a bit left of field but still conventional. I think spending the money is a lot easier if you get something you can get excited about.

The focus you're looking at and the astra you have are quite similar. They're of the same generation and cost the same new. One isn't demonstrably better than the other. You're essentially changing the reg number. Nothing wrong with that but something to think about.

There are plenty cars out there that will cost no more than your astra to run but will put a smile on your face every day. I've had new cars, nearly new cars, company cars but I've got more fun and attachment from sports cars over 10 years old and under €7k than all of them combined. With your budget you can get something you can be proud of. A focus won't give you that. The number plate will age.

Ardennes1944

Plus, isn't a 1.6 in a s40 just criminal?