Help choosing new car please

Wyldwood

posting on behalf of my OH who's not a boardsie. We have a 2004 Mazda6 sport h/b, (lovely car but getting old). Looking for 1.6 engine as we don't so a lot of mileage (only 55,000 on Mazda). Short list is Mondeo Zetec, Hyundai i40 Exec. & Laguna. Any advice on these or suggestions for others by the experts here greatly appreciated.

Anan1

First off, what do you want from a new car that the Mazda doesn't give you?

Wyldwood

That's the problem, the Mazda has everything we want but getting old so think it's time to replace it. The spec was great on the Sport h/b when we bought in 04 & looking at new cars there doesn't seem to be much extra in any of them in the €25,000 - €30,000 bracket.

Anan1

Is it misbehaving or starting to show its age in any way?

Wyldwood

no, it's never given us a days trouble, great car. OH fancies a change I think!

Anan1

Wyldwood wrote: »

no, it's never given us a days trouble, great car. OH fancies a change I think!

I think you can guess my advice..

Wyldwood

yes I know & last year when we went out to change it that's what happened so I think this time it will be changed.
I think the i40 is the preference but just nervous that it is a new, untested model, the Mondeo is a close 2nd but that model is due for a change in 2013 according to the Ford dealer so might not be the wisest choice, same with the Laguna.

GERMAN ROCKS

i would pick the laguna out of those three. the new ones are fierce reliable. if buying new it will still probably be better to go a diesel because it hold its value a lot better.

Matthewjohn

Why dont you go for the new Mazda 6?

Wyldwood

engine size is bigger than we want, we only do city driving for the most part. No kids in back anymore either, just the two of us.

sentient_6

Wyldwood wrote: »

engine size is bigger than we want, we only do city driving for the most part. No kids in back anymore either, just the two of us.

The i40 only comes in a 1.7 diesel....be wary of going diesel if its mostly city driving.

Wyldwood

There seem to be very few petrol cars in the class size so looks like diesel is the only option unless we go for smaller car which we don't really want to do.

challengemaster

You'll only cause a list of problems for yourself by getting a modern diesel for short city style driving.

Why don't you want to go above a 1.6?

sentient_6

Wyldwood wrote: »

There seem to be very few petrol cars in the class size so looks like diesel is the only option unless we go for smaller car which we don't really want to do.

You'll have that most new/recent saloons alright, does it have to be new though.....what about petrol volvo s40? Something like this:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/S40/S40-1.8-/201210207239643/advert?channel=CARS

Wyldwood

OK I'm getting out of my depth here now & OH is gone out.
Basically, we didn't feel we needed a very powerful car for the amount of driving we do so staying under 2 litre. Also tax band is cheaper & cars larger than 2L likely to go up again next budget. Just wanted a nice comfy, well spec'd car to last another 7/8 years to follow in Mazda's footsteps. Have looked at lots of models & narrowed down to the three mentioned which seem to fit the bill.
We quizzed some of the garages about driving a diesel around town mostly & were told no problem, but I guess that was sales talk.

Sentient_6 we looked at the S40 & 60, didn't like 40 but 60 was nicer, but deisel.

gyppo

Get a Citroen C5 with VTR+Nav spec, all the toys you will ever need, 50+mpg, and limo like comfort

http://www.jjbyrnecarsales.com/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=6213330163819390

<edit - I don't mean buy the actual one above, its just there as a handy example>

<edit#2 - Oops, didnt see the requirement for a petrol engine in the earlier posts >

ninty9er

If you want a smallish petrol and a bigish car Opel has just dumped the 1.6 in the Insignia for a 1.4 Turbo. The VW Jetta?

Matthewjohn

Vw Passat 1.4 tsi
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Passat/1.4-COMF/201213207519310/advert?channel=CARS

challengemaster

Wyldwood wrote: »

OK I'm getting out of my depth here now & OH is gone out.
Basically, we didn't feel we needed a very powerful car for the amount of driving we do so staying under 2 litre. Also tax band is cheaper & cars larger than 2L likely to go up again next budget. Just wanted a nice comfy, well spec'd car to last another 7/8 years to follow in Mazda's footsteps. Have looked at lots of models & narrowed down to the three mentioned which seem to fit the bill.

Being honest when you're going to be spending a substantial amount, a few quid in difference between tax for the year shouldn't be a major deciding factor.

Jimbob 83

TSI Golf/Jetta or even Polo (the new ones are really nice)

Wyldwood

Thanks for all the replies folks, plenty of food for thought there.

gyppo, the C5 looks very interesting, will look at that next week. Not particularly looking for a petrol, but because of living in suburbia it seems diesel is not a great option according to some.

Nonoperational

I'd have a serious think about a 1.8 petrol Mazda 6 too. I know it's a bit bigger than you want engine wise but it's ridiculously reliable and a genuinely nice car too.

Wyldwood

gpf101, a 1.8 Mazda6 is what we have & have loved it but the new Mazda6 only comes in a 2.2l engine, unfortunately, otherwise we'd be buying another.

Think it's going to be a Mondeo we'll go for.

Matthewjohn

Why don't you go for a 2010 version the 1.8 petrol was around then you could get a nice one €15500

ninty9er

Wyldwood wrote: »

gpf101, a 1.8 Mazda6 is what we have & have loved it but the new Mazda6 only comes in a 2.2l engine, unfortunately, otherwise we'd be buying another.

Think it's going to be a Mondeo we'll go for.

The 2.2 is €225 to tax for 12 months, and since tax is you main concern I wouldn't be worried about it. The 2.0 auto petrol is €677 to tax, which isnt much more than the one you have.

bazz26

Forget about the Laguna, they have been discontinued and were never ground breaking even with new.

The thing is that there are very little large family size cars available in petrol form at the moment. The VW Passat is available in 1.4 TSi and the Opel Insignia recently became available with in 1.4 litre turbo form also. Another option is the Nissan Qashqai which is still available in 1.6 litre petrol.

BTW motor tax will be increasing for everyone on the Co2 system in December's budget, not just +2.0 litre diesels.