Help choose a more economical car for the sis in law please.

milltown

SIL has an Audi A4 1.8T auto estate (07 I think).
She wants to change to something more economical and newer and is thinking along the lines of a 1.6D Golf. She doesn't do much mileage, I'd guess 6-8k miles per year but she feels the €40 a week she puts in the Audi to get her in and out of work (Stepaside to town) and the €600 tax is too much.

I don't think a diesel really makes sense for the driving she does but I know nothing about the VAG 1.6D. Is it any better than the seemingly troublesome 2.0D? She'll be looking at 2010/2011 cars. I thought a 1.4 GT or TSi Golf might be a better bet but after a quick goo at Carzone there appears to be feck all 1.4s for sale apart from the wheezy 80hp variant.

Child seat and child accessories are a primary concern.

Any other suggestions along the same lines?

(I've tried explaining that the cost of changing will far outweigh any savings she hopes to make in tax and fuel unless she keeps it for a lot longer than she's likely to)

TIA

ghogie91

Volkswagen Passat Blue motion!

bazz26

Unfortunately this is the mind set of your average Joe Public, the lure of cheaper tax and a few cent saved at the pump overshadows any other cost involved. But I find trying to reason with these people is a waste of time.

Anyway, at that low mileage she should definately be looking at a petrol car.

Matthewjohn

Passat 1.4 tsi there should be plenty of them and there spacious, economical and there not very expensive either

colm_mcm

The reasoning here is way off.

unkel

She'll save a thousand a year in fuel and tax

She'll loose 3 thousand a year in additional depreciation, transaction cost and opportunity cost

And for that pleasure she'll get a smaller, less comfortable, less luxurious, noisier car with the potential for big bills

What an upgrade

keithclancy

milltown wrote: »

SIL has an Audi A4 1.8T auto estate (07 I think).
She wants to change to something more economical and newer and is thinking along the lines of a 1.6D Golf. She doesn't do much mileage, I'd guess 6-8k miles per year but she feels the €40 a week she puts in the Audi to get her in and out of work (Stepaside to town) and the €600 tax is too much.

A Diesel with DPF will be a big no no with that mileage.
You'll have to constantly be taking it for motorway runs at high revs to get it to regenerate.

Stick with the Audi, cheaper, shes only kidding herself on the tax thing

Get a 1.0L yaris, my Auntie has a 00 65 hp and deadly fun, I like driving it, :eek:

Cheap as chips and never gives any trouble, I can get 55 mpg + no problem, 40mpg @ 80mph on the motorway, lack of 6 speed box! Still great for town and urban travel!

Forget about diesel, way to little miles, And dpf can fail, especially driving in town all the time.

A diesel will not be much more efficient than a petrol in town. A 1.0L petrol will be more efficient than a 1.6 Diesel in town driving!

You can't loose much value on a 2k Yaris, And selling the 07 Audi would buy a few years worth of petrol, a no brainer if the objective is to save money! If the 4 rings appeals more, then she is just going to have to put up with it!

6-8k miles a year is nothing a 10 year old car can't do! Sell the A4, as far as I'm concerned the less tax given to the Government through fuel the better!

Sleepy

The only way she'll actually save money by changing the car is to go for something smaller and older. Maybe explain this to her in front of her husband? The question "so do you want a cheaper car to run or a newer reg? Cos you can't do both".

ongarite

No wonder there are so many great cheap petrol cars pre '08 for sale at the moment with thinking like this.

ongarite

ongarite wrote: »

No wonder there are so many great cheap petrol cars pre '08 cars for sale at the moment with thinking like this.

Indeed, this "diesel is so great" thinking is really ridiculous, people automatically chose the diesel over the 1.0L petrols because of the grossly overestimated manufacturer mpg claims + the cheap tax. The euro mpg ratings are to be replaced with real life tests in about 2015.

The reason for the over exaggeration claims are because of pressure to reduce emissions and fuel consumption, and sales. Not much more can be done to the ice bar seriously reducing the weight of cars, they are far too heavy! The next logical step is E.V.

A 1.0L petrol is going to be more efficient than a 1.4-2.0L Diesel in town and even if the diesel is better it won't be by much.

Sure the 1.6 TDI Golf will be more efficient than the 1.8 TSI, but

Pay 2k for a reliable efficient Yaris, or 18k for a new Diesel, hmmm who saves the most money? god knows how much was paid for the A4 in the first place ?

The days of bigger cars to drive one person are fading away!

Chuck Stone

Honda Jazz.?

FrontDoor

A ford focus diesel.

The DPF will be grand once she gets it out on the open road every so often, up the M50 or the like.

Isn't there a bus anyway from stepsaside to the city ?

bubbuz

Just did a a big down grade myself, went from a 2ltr td mitsubishi galant ( beautiful car ) to a 1.6 petrol vectra and then to a 04 1.2 punto ( yeah I know " fix it again tomorrow " ) and tbh its the punto all the way, cheap to tax and a pure mizer on fuel...... luxury motoring....... hmmmmmm, think those days have gone, well for me anyways

bubbuz

bubbuz wrote: »

Just did a a big down grade myself, went from a 2ltr td mitsubishi galant ( beautiful car ) to a 1.6 petrol vectra and then to a 04 1.2 punto ( yeah I know " fix it again tomorrow " ) and tbh its the punto all the way, cheap to tax and a pure mizer on fuel...... luxury motoring....... hmmmmmm, think those days have gone, well for me anyways

Gone for most of us. Though in fairness I really like the Prius. It's comfortable, has a fair bit more room than the A4 b6 I had and can easily do 64 mpg.

I got 78.4 mpg the other day over 12 Kms! You do need to learn how to take advantage of the hybrid, and it doesn't mean driving like a granny!

Best of all was the price I got it, mainly thanks to the diesel lovers who think diesel is best. All the better for me!

milltown

Nearly everyone wrote:

Save money by changing to a newer car? Hahahahahahahahahaha!

I've tried having this conversation.

As I said, child and child equipment are a concern so a Yaris would be a no-no.
Hadn't thought of the little engined Passat. That's an idea alright.
I suspect there is also a hint of badge snobbery so I didn't even suggest a Fiat, though that's probably where I'd be looking if I were in her shoes.

Keep up the good work lads.

Nissan doctor

milltown wrote: »

I've tried having this conversation.

As I said, child and child equipment are a concern so a Yaris would be a no-no.
Hadn't thought of the little engined Passat. That's an idea alright.
I suspect there is also a hint of badge snobbery so I didn't even suggest a Fiat, though that's probably where I'd be looking if I were in her shoes.

Keep up the good work lads.

Just let here read this thread and see what she says.


As some have said, people with the mindset of your sis in law will never listen to any reason anyway.....all she will see is cheaper tax and cheaper fuel, she will never consider that a modern diesel simply isn't suited to her driving or that the cost to change cars cancels out the tax/fuel savings for several years usually.:rolleyes:

milltown

milltown wrote: »

I've tried having this conversation.

As I said, child and child equipment are a concern so a Yaris would be a no-no.
Hadn't thought of the little engined Passat. That's an idea alright.
I suspect there is also a hint of badge snobbery so I didn't even suggest a Fiat, though that's probably where I'd be looking if I were in her shoes.

Keep up the good work lads.

I see plenty of parents in a yaris with children ? I don't have children so can't say either way.

Saloon cars though for me are completely useless, more usable space in my Prius than I would have in a Passat, especially so than the older B6 A4 I had, useless.

If It's load lugger she wants then an old estate would be far more useful. Even a focus estate is more useful than a passat.

Chris_Heilong

Honda Jazz, best small car you can get.

Chuck Stone

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

Honda Jazz, best small car you can get.

I think it will be my next car. Fierce practical little cars.

keithclancy

If shes mad to splash the cash on a new new car, have low tax and low fuel costs :P



Nissan Leaf ?

15k a year would easily fit.

keithclancy

keithclancy wrote: »

If shes mad to splash the cash on a new new car, have low tax and low fuel costs :P



Nissan Leaf ?

15k a year would easily fit.

Indeed it would be perfect and cost to fuel tiny!

Cheaper than a golf 1.6 tdi now at 25 grand!

Nissan doctor

keithclancy wrote: »

If shes mad to splash the cash on a new new car, have low tax and low fuel costs :P



Nissan Leaf ?

15k a year would easily fit.

Oh christ....leave that for the EV thread.

keithclancy

Deleted User wrote: »

Gone for most of us. Though in fairness I really like the Prius. It's comfortable, has a fair bit more room than the A4 b6 I had and can easily do 64 mpg.

I got 78.4 mpg the other day over 12 Kms! You do need to learn how to take advantage of the hybrid, and it doesn't mean driving like a granny!

Best of all was the price I got it, mainly thanks to the diesel lovers who think diesel is best. All the better for me!

Ah you remind me of that lad I met in a shell Garage near Nederweert, he was filling his Prius with LPG you see, I asked him how much money he saved. I was curious as i'd never seen a Prius converted to LPG before

He said "A whole lot, but sometimes i'd love a nice car"

keithclancy

keithclancy wrote: »

Ah you remind me of that lad I met in a shell Garage near Nederweert, he was filling his Prius with LPG you see, I asked him how much money he saved. I was curious as i'd never seen a Prius converted to LPG before

He said "A whole lot, but sometimes i'd love a nice car"

I like the Prius but of course I miss my Audi, but in the end it's saving money over the A4. and has less maintenance.

Nissan doctor

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Oh crist....leave that for the EV thread.

I swear you must be scanning the motors section of boards.ie for e.v posts by me.

And by the way if the op's sis in law wants a newer car that she doesn't have to spend so much money on petrol or diesel and she drives to from stepaside to the city and back, then what's wrong with the Leaf ?

galwaytt

keithclancy wrote: »

Ah you remind me of that lad I met in a shell Garage near Nederweert, he was filling his Prius with LPG you see, I asked him how much money he saved. I was curious as i'd never seen a Prius converted to LPG before

He said "A whole lot, but sometimes i'd love a nice car"

OMFG. You mean the Über wagen had to be converted to LPG to justify owning it... ?

Nissan doctor

Deleted User wrote: »

Go away to some petrol head's thread.

I swear you must be scanning the motors section of boards.ie for e.v posts by me.

And by the way if the op's sis in law wants a newer car that she doesn't have to spend so much money on petrol or diesel and she drives to from stepaside to the city and back, then what's wrong with the Leaf ?

But you posted it so I couldn't resist! :-)

Urm....no.

I didn't say the leaf wouldn't work for her situation, my post was because if anything is posted anywhere about an EV, the EV heads have to come bounding in with a debate.....which you have proven.

keithclancy

galwaytt wrote: »

OMFG. You mean the Über wagen had to be converted to LPG to justify owning it... ?

Well at the time I think Petrol was 1.78ish a liter and LPG was 70-75 cent a liter.

Got the best of both worlds, cheap long distance due to the LPG, great mpg in the cities, no motor tax as its below the Co2 limit.

But ffs it was a Prius with a big massive tank using up the boot

Nissan doctor

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Urm....no.

I didn't say the leaf wouldn't work for her situation, my post was because if anything is posted anywhere about an EV, the EV heads have to come bounding in with a debate.....which you have proven.

Proven what exactly ?

The OP asked a question and if his sis in law wants to buy a new car and not pay so much on fuel, should I not at least give them the opinion and let them decide ?

You might think it's better to buy the ice car based on your travel requirements or your opinions, I'm simply saying the option is there!

Nissan doctor

Deleted User wrote: »

Proven what exactly ?

The OP asked a question and if his sis in law wants to buy a new car and not pay so much on fuel, should I not at least give them the opinion and let them decide ?

You might think it's better to buy the ice car based on your travel requirements or your opinions, I'm simply saying the option is there!

Proven that EV can't be mentioned without a debate on their suitability....which you are still proving.



I haven't said a single word in this thread about an EV being suitable or not.

keithclancy

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Proven that EV can't be mentioned without a debate on their suitability....which you are still proving.



I haven't said a single word in this thread about an EV being suitable or not.

Well with the ops lady friends concept of saving money, buying a Leaf will make her money/ be totally free.

That's the reason I said it was a good idea, after realising that money to buy the car is not necessarily an issue. I can understand not wanting to pay so much for fuel.

MuppetCheck

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Well according to some of the threads electric motors never break and will function until our sun goes super nova. I have a box at home that has a number of brushless motors at home that are damaged and are fit for the bin.

A quick google shows that there are a few glitches but they chose to ignore this.

BostonB

Deleted User wrote: »

That's the reason I said it was a good idea, after realising that money to buy the car is not necessarily an issue. I can understand not wanting to pay so much for fuel.

I know someone with a 1.3 cdti and they just wanted to have to fill less often (they do it once a month) and have a great range when they were off for the weekend or holidays. The car was only 2k or so more to buy than the 1.4 petrol alternative.

Nissan doctor

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Well according to some of the threads electric motors never break and will function until our sun goes super nova. I have a box at home that has a number of brushless motors that are damaged and are fit for the bin.

All of the logical minded people can see that its the same as most eco arguements. Only the facts that suit them are considered relevant.

Huh ? who said electric motors never break ? They are far more reliable than any engine and require much less maintenance but they are not bullet proof!

The controller would probably break before the motor though, or the charger!

E.V's are a lot simpler mechanically but far more complicated electronically!

Once the electronics are properly engineered and use quality components it's like anything else.

My bike motor or electronics has not died yet, sure I smoked a few controllers while in test and having fun learning all about it. But now that I know what I'm doing I chose components that I know will take the power and have the least chance of failing!

The Prius is also very reliable, no problems with inverter or motor and It has a very good record, so I see why full e.v's once properly designed should not last a very long time, there are many Prius's that last 300,00+ miles and have no issues!

Joe 90

Deleted User wrote: »

Get a 1.0L yaris, my Auntie has a 00 65 hp and deadly fun, I like driving it, :eek:

Cheap as chips and never gives any trouble, I can get 55 mpg + no problem, 40mpg @ 80mph on the motorway, lack of 6 speed box! Still great for town and urban travel!

Forget about diesel, way to little miles, And dpf can fail, especially driving in town all the time.

A diesel will not be much more efficient than a petrol in town. A 1.0L petrol will be more efficient than a 1.6 Diesel in town driving!

You can't loose much value on a 2k Yaris, And selling the 07 Audi would buy a few years worth of petrol, a no brainer if the objective is to save money! If the 4 rings appeals more, then she is just going to have to put up with it!

6-8k miles a year is nothing a 10 year old car can't do! Sell the A4, as far as I'm concerned the less tax given to the Government through fuel the better!

Funny you should say that. I hired one of those for a weekend in Dublin a few years ago and was pretty underwhelmed. I seemed to be a gear lower and using lots more revs all the time than I would have been in my wife's Ka. This was just driving at traffic speeds around Dublin.
I would in fact say that the Ka is hard to beat. Basic Ka 1 is simple with no fancy electric windows or mirrors to cost you money when it gets a bit older, no cam belt and easy on juice.
I took it to East Sussex from here, Ilford, and back a month or so ago and it did somewhere just over 50mpg. That was a mixture of traffic and motorway and the motorway bit was at a genuine 75-80 mph. Here in England if you stay under a genuine 80 your as likely to get nicked as to win a Euro rollover.
Cheap to service, this year service and MOT (NCT equivalent) was £129.

Pottler

Joe 90 wrote: »

Funny you should say that. I hired one of those for a weekend in Dublin a few years ago and was pretty underwhelmed. I seemed to be a gear lower and using lots more revs all the time than I would have been in my wife's Ka. This was just driving at traffic speeds around Dublin.
I would in fact say that the Ka is hard to beat. Basic Ka 1 is simple with no fancy electric windows or mirrors to cost you money when it gets a bit older, no cam belt and easy on juice.
I took it to East Sussex from here, Ilford, and back a month or so ago and it did somewhere just over 50mpg. That was a mixture of traffic and motorway and the motorway bit was at a genuine 75-80 mph. Here in England if you stay under a genuine 80 your as likely to get nicked as to win a Euro rollover.
Cheap to service, this year service and MOT (NCT equivalent) was £129.

Don't come on here with your logical thinking!:D Obviously the OP's sil should buy a 320d in order to save on road tax and get the best possible economy. Many people heres idea of "saving money" on motoring costs come from Planet Zanussi and is really a sort of code for "I'm bored with this yoke and fancy a change, so I will rationalise buying a madly expensive premium motor as a means of 'saving money". It takes a while to get it, but eventually you will get into the swing. Personally, I'd recommend a 320d, in black, with leather. It will "save" her a fortune. (Am I doing it right?)

BostonB

BostonB wrote: »

I know someone with a 1.3 cdti and they just wanted to have to fill less often (they do it once a month) and have a great range when they were off for the weekend or holidays. The car was only 2k or so more to buy than the 1.4 petrol alternative.

The 1.3 cdti in the fiats and opel is a good engine obviously not the most powerful and has a bit of lag, but I liked it in the combo, and it's heavier than the Cora or pinto.

But that 2k or so more would have bought a fair bit of petrol !

Joe 90

Pottler wrote: »

Don't come on here with your logical thinking!:D Obviously the OP's sil should buy a 320d in order to save on road tax and get the best possible economy. Many people heres idea of "saving money" on motoring costs come from Planet Zanussi and is really a sort of code for "I'm bored with this yoke and fancy a change, so I will rationalise buying a madly expensive premium motor as a means of 'saving money". It takes a while to get it, but eventually you will get into the swing. Personally, I'd recommend a 320d, in black, with leather. It will "save" her a fortune. (Am I doing it right?)

No. I'd say that an M3 would be much better from the long term financial point of view. Probably the last true(ish) M car so bound to appreciate in future. No DPM filter thin to worry about either.:)

Pottler

Joe 90 wrote: »

No. I'd say that an M3 would be much better from the long term financial point of view. Probably the last true(ish) M car so bound to appreciate in future. No DPM filter thin to worry about either.:)

Never thought of that, but is an M3 not petrol? Just think of the road tax!:D