RIP my car, I need to buy new wheels

johngalway

Well folks,

Mechanic reckons my car is not worth fixing, mostly down to it's age, condition, recent engine issues which are making it unreliable I pretty much agree.

So, I'm on the look out for a new second hand car

I drive about 15k miles / 24k km a year. That's 99.5% R and N road driving. Motorway hasn't yet reached Connemara and I rarely travel beyond Galway city.

Current car is a 99 Mazda 323 1.4 something I believe.

I've been advised to go for a Toyota Avensis 1.6 petrol from 03-09, purely on reliability and low cost of maintenance.

My budget isn't great in or around €4k, there's a very slight outside chance of a little wiggle room, but not more than +1k. Ideally I don't want to pass €4k though.

Reliability and fuel efficiency are the most important factors to me.

Cost of normal maintenance repair also important.

I'm looking for informed opinions based on the above of what make/models I should be actively looking at. I know SFA about cars.

How would Skoda compare to an Avensis?

I have seen an Avensis I like the look of, but if there's a better option for me I'm all ears.

Been advised by the mechanic not to delay too long :pac:

Tigger

1.8 avensis petrol
if i was you

Big Nasty

M3 / MX5 / Octavia

carbon nanotube

Avensis, boring as f**k.

if you are spending 4 grand at least buy something decent.

a comfort-line skoda would be good but not for 4 grand probably.

colm_mcm

What are you doing with the mazda, I need coil packs for one.

rebecca 30

johngalway wrote: »

Well folks,

Mechanic reckons my car is not worth fixing, mostly down to it's age, condition, recent engine issues which are making it unreliable I pretty much agree.

So, I'm on the look out for a new second hand car

I drive about 15k miles / 24k km a year. That's 99.5% R and N road driving. Motorway hasn't yet reached Connemara and I rarely travel beyond Galway city.

Current car is a 99 Mazda 323 1.4 something I believe.

I've been advised to go for a Toyota Avensis 1.6 petrol from 03-09, purely on reliability and low cost of maintenance.

My budget isn't great in or around €4k, there's a very slight outside chance of a little wiggle room, but not more than +1k. Ideally I don't want to pass €4k though.

Reliability and fuel efficiency are the most important factors to me.

Cost of normal maintenance repair also important.

I'm looking for informed opinions based on the above of what make/models I should be actively looking at. I know SFA about cars.

How would Skoda compare to an Avensis?

I have seen an Avensis I like the look of, but if there's a better option for me I'm all ears.

Been advised by the mechanic not to delay too long :pac:

I think you should get a Skoda Octiva , maybe a 1.6 petrol !

colm_mcm

Mazda 6 1.8

hondasam

colm_mcm wrote: »

What are you doing with the mazda, I need coil packs for one.

Have you no heart at all, the man's car has just died and you are looking to dismantle it

2qk4u

If reliability and fuel economy are important then buy a Toyota Corolla...

colm_mcm

hondasam wrote: »

Have you no heart at all, the man's car has just died and you are looking to dismantle it

They're a nightmare to find parts for like

MetzgerMeister

colm_mcm wrote: »

What are you doing with the mazda, I need coil packs for one.

johngalway

Thansk for the replies folks

Tigger wrote: »

1.8 avensis petrol
if i was you

Why do you say 1.8? I have seen two ... God damn it, I keep typing AvAnsis... Avensis that I like, one is 1.6 and the other 1.8, same tax I think Would the 1.8 be more fuel efficient than the 1.6?

MCMLXXV wrote: »

M3 / MX5 / Octavia

Not gone on the first two, I presume you mean bmw/mazda? The octavia I'll do more looking at, any particulars?

carbon nanotube wrote: »

Avensis, boring as f**k.

if you are spending 4 grand at least buy something decent.

a comfort-line skoda would be good but not for 4 grand probably.

If boring means reliable, then I'm happily boring Not having a go I just cant afford to buy flash and get stuck between A,B, or C, or have a lot of repair bills. The budget is what it is I'm afraid, I gotta live within my means

colm_mcm wrote: »

What are you doing with the mazda, I need coil packs for one.

I don't know yet is the most honest answer I can give you. I'll get back to you.

rebecca 30 wrote: »

I think you should get a Skoda Octiva , maybe a 1.6 petrol !

I'm gonna buy a cheaper car than you did

colm_mcm wrote: »

Mazda 6 1.8

Yeah, I saw a nice Mazda 6 within budget, can't remember the engine size but I do think it was 1.8. Mechanic tells me they can be problematic, and I've read on here before they're not fuel friendly? (or at least that's the gist I got)

2qk4u wrote: »

If reliability and fuel economy are important then buy a Toyota Corolla...

I'm not gone on them to be honest Dad has a 05 D4D van which is nippy enough in fairness, though it has cost him a few bob, particularly replacing window switch.

colm_mcm wrote: »

They're a nightmare to find parts for like

That's true, my mechanics first port of call was always to ring around scrap yards if mine needed part, which I'm fine with, it's no racehorse. He reckons the older cars just get cubed now to make room for the newer more upmarket scrap :pac:

Nightshifter

Mystified why you haven't considered a Mazda 3
1.4 chain driven engine virtually unbreakable coupled with impressive economy
Avensis have a deserved reputation but take it from someone involved in the motor trade
Try sourcing a second hand engine for a 1.6 Avensis.......nearly impossible.....why i hear you ask
They eat engines at an alarming rate......not so much the engines fault (which aren't fantastic to be honest) The fault lies with the Irish car buying public who buy toyotas because of their legendary reliability and then proceed to drive them for three or four years without ever lifting the bonnet to do cursory checks or routine maintainence thus dispatching their trusty chariot to an early grave.
I have stopped selling Avensis because you can be absolutely sure the car was meticulously maintained trouble lies ahead
Sold a 2007 Mazda 3 to a guy in Galway recently and the car had over 200 klms but ran like a watch.....really cannot recommend these cars highly enough....Skoda OK but avoid 1.4 petrol as oil starvation due a blocked oil pick u on the sump (again as a result of poor maintainence) can be an extremely costly repair

Big Nasty

MCMLXXV wrote: »

M3 / MX5 / Octavia

johngalway wrote: »

Not gone on the first two, I presume you mean bmw/mazda? The octavia I'll do more looking at, any particulars?

Sorry, there's so many 'what car' threads lately the above is my new answer regardless of criteria. :cool:

Performance: M3
Fun: MX5
Cheap boring bland ****box with plenty of, eh, 'room': Octavia

Covers all the bases!

(Apologies if this wasn't the slightest bit helpful!)

166man

carbon nanotube wrote: »

Avensis, boring as f**k.

if you are spending 4 grand at least buy something decent.

a comfort-line skoda would be good but not for 4 grand probably.

Did you not read the OP? He actually want's something boring and reliable.

OP buy yourself an Avensis 1.6 with a full service history and it will serve you well.

sean1141

ford mondeo.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3496612
zetec is not top spec!!

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3438372


high spec
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3397266

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3461111

one with a nice bit of millage!
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3545565

reasonably reliable, parts are common and cheap

Bpmull

Skoda octavia 1.9 tdi all the way extremely reliable great car my uncle has a 2001 with 200k miles still going strong. They are also extremely economical you can't go wrong.

johngalway

I'm more confused about this now than I was before I started.

Reliability and fuel efficiency seem to be the car version of having your cake and eating it.

The biggest pain of running my current car is only getting about 400-420 miles per fill. 1.4 engine and I suppose not the most sympathetic driver, but stay within the speed limit.

Reading about the Avensis am I right to say I'll do no better than the above, in either 1.6 which seems underpowered or 1.8 which seems just a little underpowered?

Started looking at Octavias, 1.9tdi, but if a diesel goes wrong it's expensive? But they seem a lot more fuel efficient? What are the petrols like?

Had a quick look at Mondeos, not sure about them, don't seem to be particularly fuel efficient either?

The problem is that money is a problem. I was looking at getting the fuel efficiency up so the running costs would go down, then been tempted by the mechanic to go Avensis so there's F all repair bill according to him, but no saving on fuel from what I read.

I don't mind moving up a tax bracket if real and genuine savings are there, but rather not if it's just adding to my cost for bells and whistles which would be silly for me.

Am I looking for too much?

Guidance appreciated, I know ye get a lot of what car threads but leave out the stock answers please.

I have seen some nice cars online, and I have had benefit from this forum particularly the second hand car buying guide, I'm just a bit lost, because I don't want to end up costing myself a heap of €.

In Galway city now and going to have a troll around the garages, not looking forward to it I have to say.

gerardk55

Hi Johngalway, I'd be another +1 on the Mazda6, have a 1.8 from new since 2005, great reliability, if you stay away from the motorway fuel economy is good on regional and national roads. Very comfortable. Well spec'd cars are very cheap at the minute as long as you don't mind the road tax. Currently have 327,000kms on mine and would consider the same model/engine if I need to change anytime soon.

Shadow Woodword

Oh yes I'm confused as well....
I can't afford a new car and to be honest don't want to spend over the odds. My problem is the rip off prices the garages are trying to sell them at without a trade in. The list prices seem over priced and they are not deducting alot for doing a straight.

Any help would be appreciated...

I want a medium sized car, low tax, fuel efficient, diesel, reliable, nice drive, looks and spec would be a nice bonus ... most importantly good price

The Kia Ceed Estate seems to be ticking all the boxes but don't know anything about them. Any other suggestions would be great. I'm based in Galway don't mind travelling to get the right car.

Also, if anyone has brought in a car from the UK...and if it was worth it.

Cheers

colm_mcm

Ceed estate a great car, most are 89hp though, it's Hyundai cousin gets the 116 hp engine, albeit with 2 years less warranty.

Def worth a trip across the pond.

Leonard Hofstadter

johngalway wrote: »

I'm more confused about this now than I was before I started.

Reliability and fuel efficiency seem to be the car version of having your cake and eating it.

The biggest pain of running my current car is only getting about 400-420 miles per fill. 1.4 engine and I suppose not the most sympathetic driver, but stay within the speed limit.

Reading about the Avensis am I right to say I'll do no better than the above, in either 1.6 which seems underpowered or 1.8 which seems just a little underpowered?

Started looking at Octavias, 1.9tdi, but if a diesel goes wrong it's expensive? But they seem a lot more fuel efficient? What are the petrols like?

Had a quick look at Mondeos, not sure about them, don't seem to be particularly fuel efficient either?

The problem is that money is a problem. I was looking at getting the fuel efficiency up so the running costs would go down, then been tempted by the mechanic to go Avensis so there's F all repair bill according to him, but no saving on fuel from what I read.

I don't mind moving up a tax bracket if real and genuine savings are there, but rather not if it's just adding to my cost for bells and whistles which would be silly for me.

Am I looking for too much?

Guidance appreciated, I know ye get a lot of what car threads but leave out the stock answers please.

I have seen some nice cars online, and I have had benefit from this forum particularly the second hand car buying guide, I'm just a bit lost, because I don't want to end up costing myself a heap of €.

In Galway city now and going to have a troll around the garages, not looking forward to it I have to say.

I've driven 1.6 and 1.8 Avensis, and the 1.6 is definitely to be avoided because it's not powerful enough. Also the 1.6 runs at much higher revs (to partially compensate for its lack of power) so it will be heavy on juice at higher speeds and is also very noisy as a result.

Others may have said perhaps a little smugly that there is no reason for you to have a boring car - and they're right. You can have a nice car like a Mazda 6 and have reliability thrown in for good measure. A 6 is more reliable than an Avensis IMO, which can be prone to burning oil and gearbox failure.

That said, a non-oil burning Avensis will serve you well and those engines are very tolerant of not being serviced properly, just as well with the average mindset of Irish motorists who thinks that anything more than filling a car with petrol is a needless waste of money:rolleyes:.

A Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI won't give any engine trouble unless it's been seriously abused, it's an old school diesel and won't go wrong simply because there is nothing in it that can possibly go wrong:)! That applies for any 1.9 TDI car you're considering (apart from the 150 bhp version).

Electrics can be weak on those cars - the days of German engineering counting for something are long since gone and you'd find Fiats and other so-called 'unreliable' makes of car easily outperforming VWs on the reliability front.