Car Change Opinions

Spipov

My wife got a yaris last year, so she would be able to learn and pass her driving test in (which she got 1st time), she did have an international licence for years, so the car was in no means badly treated at all, for example, i have only done the service on it, and the back door cervo lock motor is the only thing that needs replacing. When i drive it, its really fun and tight, i remember when i was looking for a yaris how bad some of them were when i was trying them, until i got into this one, and had to have it that day.

its a 00 1.0L terra with about 50k miles (i think). i bought it at 2200 a year ago in July 2011 - 1 previous lady owner, a couple of scratches on the body work, generally in great condition.


As she is driving now 50km a day on the m50, its becoming difficult to actually use it as there is a lot of road noise, and the 1.0L is doing too much work. we need to get a bigger hatchback at this point.

i am wondering what are people's opinions. I think we would need a 1.4L- 1.8L car, petrol as we still dont do enough miles to warrant a diesel, 5 doors as we will be keeping it for 3 years, and there might be the need for a car seat in the back soon.

Depending on how much i sell the yaris - Any ideas how much it would be worth?

i can add about 3000 euros in cash.


we fell in love with the BMW 1 series, but i think they are over budget - i could stretch a little if there was an ok one for not too much above budget but its the one i keep looking at in the ads...

The second on the list is an mk5 golf - but again, though they are coming down, i think for what they offer and the interior, i am not very keen on them, but i will consider them if there is a cheap one and no bmw is close to the price of it.

as a question, what do people feel about the mk4 compared to the mk5 at this moment in time?a late 03 mk4 would be achievable, but is it even worth it if only a small amount more needed to get an mk5?

the third would be an audi a3 04 onwards, but again, they are expensive for what they are.

when i compare the 3, the bmw still comes on top, even if it might be slightly more expensive.

i wish skoda made an equivalent for the golf, but we can't have everything.

i'm not terribly impressed with a seat leon's interior, and we don't particularly like the ford focus. we are welcome to suggestions though.

Thanks for the opinions!

shankespony

They do itscalled the fabia very good car what about a fiesta1.25 more poke than yaris and a bit heavier.

For something larger a honda civic h/b or saloon very reliable and nice to drive

Max Power1

If you are thinking Vag, dont get the 1.4 petrol whatever you do. Especially for motorway driving, you will regret it!

Spipov

shankespony wrote: »

They do itscalled the fabia very good car what about a fiesta1.25 more poke than yaris and a bit heavier.

For something larger a honda civic h/b or saloon very reliable and nice to drive

I thought about the fabia and it was a serious contender before I got the yards. But at the time, it was very slightly bigger than the yards, and we are moving to a bigger car class.

The Honda civic is interesting, but it's still a thin, light car, at least the pre 06 ET-looking new model which I do like. However, they are still expensive, on par with a BMW 1 series, though younger, for the same price.

Any experience of the civics from users/owners?

vectra

shankespony wrote: »

They do its called the fabia Octavia

FYP.

The Fabia is based on the Polo/Ibiza/

Spipov

Max Power1 wrote: »

If you are thinking Vag, dont get the 1.4 petrol whatever you do. Especially for motorway driving, you will regret it!

Definitely not a 1.4. I've read enough on them. Funnily that's the most commonly available on car sites, even though they are quite expensive!

166man

A quick gander online show's that the Yaris is selling around about €2k for the model you have. Add that to the cash you have and you have €5k to work with.

I'd avoid a Golf MkV at your budget because it's gonna be an older car, with a crap engine and base spec. You can do better for your €5k these days.

I'd suggest an Alfa 147 for something different:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3169393

It's a bit over budget but if you could stretch to another €500 I reckon you'd get it. It's a very ''new'' car for very little money.

shankespony

Have a 5 year old civic, mine for 6 years and never had a problem with it, brilliant reliability, id find it hard to move from Honda now, would love a 2.2dsl in accord or civic

bazz26

Spipov wrote: »

My wife got a yaris last year, so she would be able to learn and pass her driving test in (which she got 1st time), she did have an international licence for years, so the car was in no means badly treated at all, for example, i have only done the service on it, and the back door cervo lock motor is the only thing that needs replacing. When i drive it, its really fun and tight, i remember when i was looking for a yaris how bad some of them were when i was trying them, until i got into this one, and had to have it that day.

its a 00 1.0L terra with about 50k miles (i think). i bought it at 2200 a year ago in July 2011 - 1 previous lady owner, a couple of scratches on the body work, generally in great condition.


As she is driving now 50km a day on the m50, its becoming difficult to actually use it as there is a lot of road noise, and the 1.0L is doing too much work. we need to get a bigger hatchback at this point.

i am wondering what are people's opinions. I think we would need a 1.4L- 1.8L car, petrol as we still dont do enough miles to warrant a diesel, 5 doors as we will be keeping it for 3 years, and there might be the need for a car seat in the back soon.

Depending on how much i sell the yaris - Any ideas how much it would be worth?

i can add about 3000 euros in cash.


we fell in love with the BMW 1 series, but i think they are over budget - i could stretch a little if there was an ok one for not too much above budget but its the one i keep looking at in the ads...

The second on the list is an mk5 golf - but again, though they are coming down, i think for what they offer and the interior, i am not very keen on them, but i will consider them if there is a cheap one and no bmw is close to the price of it.

as a question, what do people feel about the mk4 compared to the mk5 at this moment in time?a late 03 mk4 would be achievable, but is it even worth it if only a small amount more needed to get an mk5?

the third would be an audi a3 04 onwards, but again, they are expensive for what they are.

when i compare the 3, the bmw still comes on top, even if it might be slightly more expensive.

i wish skoda made an equivalent for the golf, but we can't have everything.

i'm not terribly impressed with a seat leon's interior, and we don't particularly like the ford focus. we are welcome to suggestions though.

Thanks for the opinions!

They do, it's called the Octavia.

Have you looked at the Mazda 3?

Willard

I'd be partial to a Honda civic 1.4s if I was you. Had two older model civics in my time. Unbelievably reliable, they may seem light and tinny compared to their VAG counterparts, but don't doubt their build quality and the 1.4's are much more nippy & fuel efficient as well.

zinzan

166man wrote: »

A quick gander online show's that the Yaris is selling around about €2k for the model you have. Add that to the cash you have and you have €5k to work with.

I'd avoid a Golf MkV at your budget because it's gonna be an older car, with a crap engine and base spec. You can do better for your €5k these days.

I'd suggest an Alfa 147 for something different:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3169393

It's a bit over budget but if you could stretch to another €500 I reckon you'd get it. It's a very ''new'' car for very little money.

No room in the back of the 147 for their potential little one if they are taller people - I'm 6' 2" and can't sit comfortably in front of car seat in ours as the back of the front seat touches the car seat and leaves no room for little legs!

AltAccount

If you considered the Leon, why not check out the Fabia estate. You'll probably find a half decent one within your budget. We got one recently and it's perfect for the "low running costs and a baby seat" brigade

vectra

AltAccount wrote: »

If you considered the Leon, why not check out the Fabia estate. You'll probably find a half decent one within your budget. We got one recently and it's perfect for the "low running costs and a baby seat" brigade

Do posters no longer read replies before posting?
It has been pointed out the Fabia is based on the smaller Ibiza/Polo

Spipov

bazz26 wrote: »

They do, it's called the Octavia.

Have you looked at the Mazda 3?

yeh, but at this size, its more of a vs 3 series bmw size contender than a golf to be fair.

i like the mazda 3, i really do, but my wife isnt keen on them. our neighbour ( next car park slot has one) and she's pretty much made up her mind on not wanting them.

she's always dreamt of a golf before, but as i explained to her, its nearly the same price as other cars the price they command. i cant believe with the amount there are on the roads, that they are still so expensive.

a 1 series i can believe, because they were not sold as much (Even trawling through autotrader uk, i cant find decent ones for decent money!).

shankespony wrote: »

Have a 5 year old civic, mine for 6 years and never had a problem with it, brilliant reliability, id find it hard to move from Honda now, would love a 2.2dsl in accord or civic

is that the newer one with the funky looks? ill be honest, i do quite like them, im not sure on the prices though. i dont like the older hatchback model, as it looks too much like a honda jazz, and the interior with that gear being where it is.... eugh.

what prices are they these days, and whats to look out for in them? are they noisy when you are on the road?

Willard wrote: »

I'd be partial to a Honda civic 1.4s if I was you. Had two older model civics in my time. Unbelievably reliable, they may seem light and tinny compared to their VAG counterparts, but don't doubt their build quality and the 1.4's are much more nippy & fuel efficient as well.

id want the newer model, im not sold on the older one.

zinzan wrote: »

No room in the back of the 147 for their potential little one if they are taller people - I'm 6' 2" and can't sit comfortably in front of car seat in ours as the back of the front seat touches the car seat and leaves no room for little legs!

we are not big people, however we arent going to get an alfa or a fiat. its been drilled into us from our tender ages that there is always that percentage chance you might not get to your destination...

AltAccount wrote: »

If you considered the Leon, why not check out the Fabia estate. You'll probably find a half decent one within your budget. We got one recently and it's perfect for the "low running costs and a baby seat" brigade

3 words: ugly as hell.

other words: well, thats basically a stretched fabia. if it was going to be an estate, we'd get a bigger one. i know we are sounding very picky, but those estates are another sight to behold all right.


we are not going to buy and look at something we dont like the look of for 3 years...

vectra wrote: »

Do posters no longer read replies before posting?
It has been pointed out the Fabia is based on the smaller Ibiza/Polo

Exactly!

AltAccount

vectra wrote: »

Do posters no longer read replies before posting?
It has been pointed out the Fabia is based on the smaller Ibiza/Polo

Untwist your knickers there Vectra, if the OP's considering a 1Series then interior space obviously isn't that much of a concern.
If baby buggies are on the horizon, I wouldn't touch the 1 Series, and would probably think twice about the A3 too...

johnos1984

Spipov wrote: »

is that the newer one with the funky looks? ill be honest, i do quite like them, im not sure on the prices though. i dont like the older hatchback model, as it looks too much like a honda jazz, and the interior with that gear being where it is.... eugh.

Ignore how it looks and drive it.

It's very natural and a bloody entertaining car to go. If you want something a bit more normal how about the saloon version.

Nice cars to drive, impressive reliability and a bit of comfort and space they are a nice package.

Although if you don't want one just ignore. I reckon a newer saloon and maybe a hatch might just make it into budget. You'd have the pick of the older range though. Interiors are a bit bland but once you get over the gearstick positioning it all just makes sense

Spipov

johnos1984 wrote: »

Ignore how it looks and drive it.

It's very natural and a bloody entertaining car to go. If you want something a bit more normal how about the saloon version.

Nice cars to drive, impressive reliability and a bit of comfort and space they are a nice package.

Although if you don't want one just ignore. I reckon a newer saloon and maybe a hatch might just make it into budget. You'd have the pick of the older range though. Interiors are a bit bland but once you get over the gearstick positioning it all just makes sense

my wife's parents have the 02 saloon - she drove a lot in it, and it has suffered a bit on the roads.

we arent going to get a saloon. if we were, it would have been the e46 saloon ( i had one before). ill look into the hatchback properly, but im hoping there'll be an 06 version affordable in the next couple of months!

johnos1984

Spipov wrote: »

my wife's parents have the 02 saloon - she drove a lot in it, and it has suffered a bit on the roads.

we arent going to get a saloon. if we were, it would have been the e46 saloon ( i had one before). ill look into the hatchback properly, but im hoping there'll be an 06 version affordable in the next couple of months!

The value is there and they are coming down. The 5 door older version while looking a bit **** is a nice driver and very easy to live with

vectra

AltAccount wrote: »

Untwist your knickers there Vectra, if the OP's considering a 1Series then interior space obviously isn't that much of a concern.
If baby buggies are on the horizon, I wouldn't touch the 1 Series, and would probably think twice about the A3 too...

Are you saying a 1 series is the same size as a Fabia :P

Spipov

johnos1984 wrote: »

The value is there and they are coming down. The 5 door older version while looking a bit **** is a nice driver and very easy to live with

looked at the interior.

i dont think its going to be easy to live with looking at it... i appreciate the thought though, but i do not like the interior one bit.


im going to seriously think of an mk4 golf now.

ive looked on donedeal, options are still mk5, focus (06 shape) are about the only things that could even be affordable.


on the other hand, im looking at hyundai tucsons and starting to wonder about that class of SUVs as a possibility.

ive never driven one before, so i dont know what to expect though

Spipov

vectra wrote: »

Are you saying a 1 series is the same size as a Fabia :P

as much as the heart and every fibre of our beings want a 1 series, i think its going to be really really tough to get one as they are over our budget. its either a car of that price or a baby, but since we are going to rent a house in south dublin as from july, well, it seems the dreams of a 1 series are sloooowwwlllyyyy fading away away away...

bazz26

How about the Kia Ceed:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3148955

The MkIV Golf is a 14 year old design these days.