Looking For A Car

closeline

Well lads. I have 3000 to spend. Hopefully looking for a car 1998-2002. Preferable car would be a volkswagen golf or maybe a toyota corrola. Max amount of miles would want to be 100000. Also, what should i go for diesel or petrol

Atlantis50

Have a browse on carzone for price ranges etc.

Also, this UK based website is very good for reviewing cars. Just type the name of the car in the search box on the top right. Here's the review for the 02-06 model corolla http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/toyota/corolla/hatchback-2002/

Vicxas

It depends what mileage you're doing OP. I have a 00 Corolla and i do about 400KM round trip each month. I spend about 200 on petrol a month.

From what Ive heard VW golfs of that era are heavy and thirsty. But maybe im biast

Farmer Pudsey

Very hard tp buy mid sized diesel cars in this age group as alot of these car are bought orginally by people doing high milage and the same with subsquent owners. It also depends on you milage as you will pay at a 1000 euro extra for a diesel. As the cars you will be looking at are over 10 years or nearly over ten years of age I would not worry about the age instead I would be trying to find a clean two owner if possible car. If not buying privately make sure the small dealer you are buying off is reputable. There is a chance if you call to main dealers they may have one or two owner cars coming in or even on the forecourt that they will sell you trade get a mechanic to check them out.

If a petrol I would get a corolla as you will have to do the test every year and i know a few people that have them and they are all bombproof. If you are doing high milage you may have to opt for a diesel if it was me I try to find a low milage avensis if I could not come accross a corolla it will cost you extra on tax but you will have extra comfort and it will stand the hacking

MidlandsM

OP, knock any idea you have of a petrol golf of the list, crappy engine.

bazz26

Most stuff from 1998 to 2002 is going to have 100k miles or more on it, even a 2002 car is 10 years old, 100k miles on it is below average mileage for it's year. The Irish hang up on 100k miles is laughable as if a car will implode once it passes that milestone. There is nothing to fear from a car with 100k miles on it as long as it was maintained properly by it's owner. Remember there are alot of cars out there with lower mileage and they can be in bits.

closeline

I am in college at the moment so I would be travelling 35km to get so about 70 km's a day for five days a week. Taking the weekend in the account too and everthing else I would say about 400-450 km's a week!! What do ye think? I am also still on my learner permit and insured under my mother. Would that affect insurance a lot. Thanks

Jimbob 83

Golf might not be as fuel efficient as a Corolla but the 00 Golf is a much nicer place to be than the 00 "arse dragging on the ground/paper doors 00 Corolla"

Owryan

driving a 00 opel corsa and cover about 400 -450 km a week in it . Average petrol cost per week is about 50 euro ,

Farmer Pudsey

Owryan wrote: »

driving a 00 opel corsa and cover about 400 -450 km a week in it . Average petrol cost per week is about 50 euro ,

With the age of car you will be buying it is not all about the cost of petrol you are doing 450 which is 280 miles about 7 gallons 40mpg it will cost you 50 euro/week @ 50mpg it will cost 40 euro/week and @35mpg it will cost 58 euro/week so fuel will vary about 500 euro/ year

Car tax 1L=185 1.4=258 2.0l= 660

But the biggest bogey could be the NCT as you will have to do one every year you will need somthing that is easy to maintain now on a 10 year old car 100,000 is not huge milage on a corolla but on a Fiat punto??? however if you come accross a 10 year old punto belong to some old lady that has only 40,000 on it and was serviced ever year it will be grand

Insurance will not be a huge issue for a young lady for a young man he will have to limit his choice of cars. You seem to want a mid sized car even though you are only doing a 20 mile each way journey I'd go for a Focus or a Corrolla if you go mid sized.

closeline

Thanks for the help lads. I have been driving a corsa for 4 years which is bad enough so I won't be getting a punto. Realistically my choices are golf, corolla, focus. Very unlikely to get any other car.

Farmer Pudsey

closeline wrote: »

Thanks for the help lads. I have been driving a corsa for 4 years which is bad enough so I won't be getting a punto. Realistically my choices are golf, corolla, focus. Very unlikely to get any other car.

I stay away from a petrol Golf as well they are a nice drive but very heavy on petrol on small journeys

closeline

What about diesel farmer? Would you make up the difference with the tax?

Farmer Pudsey

closeline wrote: »

What about diesel farmer? Would you make up the difference with the tax?

At 450 Km a week the most you would save in diesel in a year is abou 750 euro so yes you would make up the car tax however usually diesel car sell for a 1000-1500 euro more than a petrol model so includeing car tax the payback period would be at least 3 years also in the car you are looking for Focus/Corolla it will be very hard to find a clean diesel as the people who buy them tend to put up a lot of milage . However there are more petrol car available so you have a bigger choice.

closeline

Ya Farmer I would be looking for a diesel golf or a petrol corolla/focus. Would like something newer than 01/02 but dont think that is possible with only 3000.