Retirement car

noddyone2

Hi all,
Due to retire in a year or so. Looking for advice: Couple, no kids, no ties, have an 08 Suzuki Grand Vitara petrol. Like the high driving position, reliability and 4WD, not keen on the fuel consumption. Would like something with style, bit of go, not all that keen on diesel. Not too big. We like to tour. Like the look of the Mini Coupe and the soon to be launched Beetle. Anyone any other suggestions or advice? Thank you.

EPM

Budget? Annual mileage?

Matthewjohn

Audi a1 1.4 tsi

noddyone2

30 thou. Euro max, 10/12 thou. mile year.

cozzie55

noddyone2 wrote: »

30 thou. Euro max, 10/12 thou. mile year.

I know i'll get slatted for suggesting this, cause its diesel.
But what about a BMW X1? My Mum has one, lovely car, has the high seating position of your vitara. Its not that big a car either and is comfortable enough to carry 3 adults in the back if needed. The 2l diesel engine puts out 141 Bhp, and is good smooth engine, with excellent consumption
One like the one in the link comes in under 30k

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/X1/X1-sDriv/201137204504355/advert?channel=CARS

Most new "jeepy" cars have diesels engines as the powerful ones tend to be 1.8 or 2l's. Not many people want that size petrol these days so brands have dropped them from there lineups. if you want to stay with the higher seated cars with a bit of power then you will need to look at diesel.

Have you any particular year you want to stick too?

Bearcat

Your retiring sir, you probably deserve more than a mini. I say spoil yourself, leather comfy seats is a must.

If it was me I'd go off and buy as mint as I could find ls430 for small money and enjoy it.

Besta luck and congrats on your retirement.

Gael23

If you would consider a diesel I would look at the Nissan Qashqai 1.6 4x4. This give good MPG, band B tax and would leave you with some change from the budget depending on which spec you go for.

Matthewjohn

noddyone2 wrote: »

Hi all,
Due to retire in a year or so. Looking for advice: Couple, no kids, no ties, have an 08 Suzuki Grand Vitara petrol. Like the high driving position, reliability and 4WD, not keen on the fuel consumption. Would like something with style, bit of go, not all that keen on diesel. Not too big. We like to tour. Like the look of the Mini Coupe and the soon to be launched Beetle. Anyone any other suggestions or advice? Thank you.

Volkswagen Scirocco, style good to drive and not to big
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Scirocco/1.4-TSI-/201206206879277/advert?channel=CARS

heate

As mentioned the x1 makes the most sense or a freelander td4.
If you're doing 10-12k a year fuel economy isn't a huge concern

deandean

The Quashqui (will learn to spell it before I retire) is I believe a popular car for your 'segment'. Best of luck!

Or you could service that itch and for the same money buy a used E60 M5.

bazz26

Hate saying this but it looks like the Nissan Juke might suit your needs. Tall driving position, available in 1.6 petrol form so light on fuel, no 4wd though.

Poulgorm

Have you looked at the Golf Plus? About 4 inches higher off the road than a normal Golf. Very nice to drive, suspension very comfortable. Nice tidy size.

Available with 1.2 Tsi petrol engine (105 hp) -more than adequate.

Well worth a test drive, I suggest.

CrackisWhack

bazz26 wrote: »

Hate saying this but it looks like the Nissan Juke might suit your needs. Tall driving position, available in 1.6 petrol form so light on fuel, no 4wd though.

My God! that is one ugly looking car, reminds me of Homer Simpsons car design

Gophur

noddyone2 wrote: »

Hi all,
Due to retire in a year or so. Looking for advice: Couple, no kids, no ties, have an 08 Suzuki Grand Vitara petrol. Like the high driving position, reliability and 4WD, not keen on the fuel consumption. Would like something with style, bit of go, not all that keen on diesel. Not too big. We like to tour. Like the look of the Mini Coupe and the soon to be launched Beetle. Anyone any other suggestions or advice? Thank you.

Skoda Yeti. A huge range of engines, transmissions and spec, and highly sought after should you ever wish to trade, down the line.

r3nu4l

Skoda Yeti
Nissan Qashqai
Ford Juke (?)

We own a Qashqai and it's used to ferry our daughter to nursery.

Pros - high driving position, available as 4 WD, the Tekna spec has loads of kit including heated leather seats, xenon lights, headlight washers etc.

Cons - A petrol one probably won't be very fuel efficient and a 2L petrol will probably cost loads in Motor tax if the proposed new rules come into play.

StaggerLee

Gophur wrote: »

Skoda Yeti. A huge range of engines, transmissions and spec, and highly sought after should you ever wish to trade, down the line.

+1 on the Yeti, My father in law got one as his retirement car, for your budget you could get a real nice spec too.

tfitzgerald

The ford kuga is a lovely car . Very nice to drive

MuppetCheck

Gophur wrote: »

Skoda Yeti. A huge range of engines, transmissions and spec, and highly sought after should you ever wish to trade, down the line.

I'd go with a Yeti, really comfortable car to travel in, supportive seats and good engine choice. You'd get a new or nearly new 170tdi 4x4 for that money too.

Bearcat

I have to agree, the yeti 4x4 170tdi is a brilliant piece of kit.

Poulgorm

Bearcat wrote: »

I have to agree, the yeti 4x4 170tdi is a brilliant piece of kit.

The man said no diesel. And the Yeti is too ugly. Worse than the Juke. Bad for the image.

Also, resale value is questionable - very few of them around.

MuppetCheck

Poulgorm wrote: »

The man said no diesel. And the Yeti is too ugly. Worse than the Juke. Bad for the image.

Also, resale value is questionable - very few of them around.

The only petrol is an anaemic 1.2tsi and the diesel is pretty decent. Plus resale is there due to rarity. They are snapped up secondhand and the prices are strong.

Agree on the looks though. I think all Skodas look odd:)

Gophur

Poulgorm wrote: »

Bearcat wrote: »

I have to agree, the yeti 4x4 170tdi is a brilliant piece of kit.

The man said no diesel. And the Yeti is too ugly. Worse than the Juke. Bad for the image.

Also, resale value is questionable - very few of them around.

Beauty will be in the eye of the OP, not your good self.

As for Yeti resale value? The reason there are so few of them is to do with the 7 month waiting list for new ones. Irish drivers do not, typically, order so far in advance and dealers will be reluctant to spec one up without firm orders from customers.

r3nu4l

The OP said no diesels but just in case...I also own an A3 quattro with the 2.0TDI 170PS engine and while it's no slouch I've had the turbo blow (under warranty, phew!) despite not abusing the turbo and letting it spool down after use.

I wouldn't bother with the yeti if it only has a 1.2 in the petrol variant.

Poulgorm

Gophur wrote: »

Beauty will be in the eye of the OP, not your good self.

Agreed. The Yeti would be great for bringing bales of silage out to the cattle, but the OP did not say that was a prerequisite

Zubeneschamali

Poulgorm wrote: »

The Yeti would be great for bringing bales of silage out to the cattle

Eh, no. The Yeti, Qashqai, Kuga etc are not Jeeps or Land Rovers, they are just jacked up cars. Most aren't even 4WD. However, since the OP likes the Mini Coupe, he apparently doesn't need anything jacked up.

I'll suggest a Mito or Giulietta.

Gophur

Poulgorm wrote: »

The man said no diesel. ..........

He didn't, actually. He expressed a preference for petrol and stated he was "not all that keen on diesel", but didn't rule it out.

Poulgorm

Gophur wrote: »

He didn't, actually. He expressed a preference for petrol and stated he was "not all that keen on diesel", but didn't rule it out.

The man will be retired, so mileage is likely to be on the low side.

In that scenario, a diesel would not suit at all, at all. Unless his pension is very good indeed.

I still think he should have a look at the Golf Plus, 1.2tsi petrol

noddyone2

Guys, thanks for all the replies - keep 'em coming - I'm learning all the time!

Gophur

Poulgorm wrote: »

..........

I still think he should have a look at the Golf Plus, 1.2tsi petrol

He said he was retiring, he didn't say he wanted to be bored to death! :eek:

r3nu4l

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Eh, no. The Yeti, Qashqai, Kuga etc are not Jeeps or Land Rovers, they are just jacked up cars. Most aren't even 4WD. However, since the OP likes the Mini Coupe, he apparently doesn't need anything jacked up.

However, he did say he likes a higher driving position, hence the suggestions for 'jacked up' cars. The Mito is nice but a little small imo and they are only 3-door. If the OP expects any grandkids in the near future then it isn't all that practical to have a 3-door car compared to a 5-door car.

Zubeneschamali

r3nu4l wrote: »

The Mito is nice but a little small imo and they are only 3-door.

Have you seen the Mini Coupé yet? It's like a Mini, only smaller.

Poulgorm

Gophur wrote: »

He said he was retiring, he didn't say he wanted to be bored to death! :eek:

But that's what happens, when you retire

cozzie55

OP if you like the mini then have you considered a mini "Countryman".

Wouldn't be my cup of tea, but then i'm not really a mini fan but the countryman has the mini styling and high seated position and you could get a countryman S with 184BHp so it should be no slouch for about €31k, depending on the type of deal your doing, ie straight or trade in, you may be able to get one for around €30k

r3nu4l

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Have you seen the Mini Coupé yet? It's like a Mini, only smaller.

Just looked. I've never understood the 'new Mini' thing at all but the figures are impressive for a car that size. Sounds like a fun drive but wouldn't be for me. Well I can see that this Mini doesn't have a raised driving position

EDIT: Yes, the Countryman is a bit of a Monster 'Mini' and really stretches the name 'Mini' to a new definition.

Poulgorm

The OP is, obviously, a man of distinction, a great big spender. He likes a high driving position, but likes a Mini Coupe or the new Beetle. He won't get much of a high out of either of those.

vectra

Mazda 6, EPM bought one and retired within 2 weeks.. :pac:

Eric Cartman

your retiring, now is time for 7 series, jags, X5's , range rovers. Go mad