Reliable Used Car Recommendation?

Gumbyman2000

Hi,

Looking for a bit of help here. My car died and I need to buy another. I don't want anything fancy, just something that is reliable. What would you guys recommend? I can spend up to €10k and am looking for something diesel that will last me for at least 5 years without starting to die and require constant part replacements etc. Somehting big enough for two small kiddies although a roof rack is probably an option (for baggage, not for kids!!). I will be driving around 10k each year.

I don't know much about cars so any advice or tips would be very much appreciated!

Thanks,
Gumby.

Esel

What was your last car, and what did it die of?

bazz26

Only driving 10k miles a year does warrant buying a diesel car.

NIMAN

Reliability?

Go Japanese or German, preferably VW or Toyota.

Gumbyman2000

Cheers guys. Old car is a 99 focus. Everything just starting to go in it. Needs new clutch among other things and repair cost is >= value of the car.

When does diesel make sense? Like at what mileage? Going to look into VW Pasat.

TestTransmission

The figure generally thought of to justify diesel is 15k miles or more a year, in saying that I've never owned a diesel so hopefully someone who has can provide some more info.

bazz26

NIMAN wrote: »

Reliability?

Go Japanese or German, preferably VW or Toyota.

Ha, I wish I had a euro for every time I heard this tune. I'd be a millionare by now.

bazz26

Gumbyman2000 wrote: »

Cheers guys. Old car is a 99 focus. Everything just starting to go in it. Needs new clutch among other things and repair cost is >= value of the car.

When does diesel make sense? Like at what mileage? Going to look into VW Pasat.

Diesels are overly complex these days and they are designed to be driven. They are not designed for short trips or town driving, if doing low mileage like you are then any small savings you make when filling up could be whiped out by any number of big repair bills that are associated with modern diesel cars.

Also if you want something reliable then the 2005 onwards Passat is the last car you should be looking at.

dr.fuzzenstein

bazz26 wrote: »

Ha, I wish I had a euro for every time I heard this tune. I'd be a millionare by now.

Yep, hackneyed, tired old cliché, bit like a Pavlovian reflex.
Had loads of Focuseseses over the last 5 years and never a spot of bother.
Go for 04 Focus OP, the 1.4 is not very fast (but then again no 1.4 ever will be) or maybe the 1.6, petrol btw, under 20k miles diesel isn't really worth it.
And with the Fords I can speak from experience.

Gumbyman2000

Interesting..... sounds like the diesel is not for me so! Looks like I could get a nice 08 Focus petrol for around 10k and low mileage. If that car lasts 11 years like mine did then I'm looking at 2019 before replacing. Sounds good.....

Might see if I can get the clutch replaced on the cheap in the meantime - I can feel it is close to death..... Ford garage said it would cost €800. Anybody recommend any garage that could do it significantly cheaper? Thinking around €300? Might put another post here actually.

Thanks again guys!