Car Shopping

HiGlo

Sorry, I'm sure there's a million threads here with people looking for help or suggestions!!!

I am in the market for a new car. Budget is only about €5k give or take... I have seen a 05 Ford Focus online http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/NT-LX-1./213201457057430/advert?channel=CARS and it looks like a good possibility. It's being sold by a "dealer" but all the images are taken in what seems to be a housing estate.

Is there anything particular things I should be looking out for or aware of in this situation?

My thoughts at the moment are on a Ford Focus or Opel Astra (newer model of both).

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

PaulKK

No rules against posting links as far as I am aware.. unless you are selling the car

bazz26

Seems expensive to me for a basic LX model with ST replica alloy wheels. This looks better value imo, higher spec Ghia model and probably an easier colour to sell on:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201144205370411

Or this low mileage saloon:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201145205422315

HiGlo

Thanks. They look good. I actually have a 1.6 at the moment but it's killing me for car tax so im looking to downgrade from that perspective.
I actually really like the electric blue colour!! I'm such a girl. Haha!

PaulKK

HiGlo wrote: »

Thanks. They look good. I actually have a 1.6 at the moment but it's killing me for car tax so im looking to downgrade from that perspective.

So 445 is a killer on tax but 333 is not?


You will save €2.15 a week in tax dropping to a 1.4, is it worth it for that? The fuel economy will be more or less the same in both.

bazz26

Changing cars to save €112 in tax a year is madness.

HiGlo

Ha! Well, I drive an 12 year old car that needs a bit of work. I've been gifted some money to buy a new car. I'm upgrading my car but prefer to go down in capacity cause, yes, the car tax payment of €125, or whatever, per quarter is usually an expensive spend for me.

colm_mcm

Criteria is a bit bonkers, sell your existing car and use the money to tax the new car for the year

PaulKK

HiGlo wrote: »

Ha! Well, I drive an 12 year old car that needs a bit of work. I've been gifted some money to buy a new car. I'm upgrading my car but prefer to go down in capacity cause, yes, the car tax payment of €125, or whatever, per quarter is usually an expensive spend for me.

Well you are on about upgrading your car to save €2.50 a week, its €28 extra a quarter.

As colm said, criteria is bonkers.

I would use a small percentage of the gift money to do the "bit of work" and stick the rest in the credit union.

Its going to be tough enough to sell a car on that needs a bit of work anyway.

HiGlo

Ok, well, I appreciate the thoughts. The bottom line is, I'm looking to buy a new car.
I've mostly been looking on Carzone.ie but is there other sites I could check out?

colm_mcm

Done deal and carzone are the only ones worth looking at.

You'd get a uk model KIA ceed 07 within budget. 1.4 is quite nippy in them and theyre good on fuel.

Shadow22

PaulKK wrote: »

HiGlo wrote: »

Thanks. They look good. I actually have a 1.6 at the moment but it's killing me for car tax so im looking to downgrade from that perspective.

So 445 is a killer on tax but 333 is not?


You will save €2.15 a week in tax dropping to a 1.4, is it worth it for that? The fuel economy will be more or less the same in both.

Do not buy a 1.4 focus...i had a 2005 one love fords and all but i was only getting 26mpg..cars is too heavy for the weight of the car