€16k to Spend on Used Car

nimbinsurfer

Hi All,

I have €16k to spend on a used car and am just looking what would be the best option. I will be doing a good bit of driving so diesel is the only real option. Any suggestions on what would be a good purchase? Is it best to purchase from a dealer and get a warranty and pay a premium for this rather than a private seller? Also, is there much leeway in general in negotiations in their selling price?

Thanks in Advance

ABajaninCork

For that budget, I'd get a newish car! And I would most definitely buy from a dealer...

IMO, it's not worth buying a car brand new off the lot. Waste of money. You're better off getting either an ex-demo car or a car that does not yet need an NCT (i.e. 1-3 yo). Make sure you get an HPI check as well. This ensure the car isn't stolen/written off/has outstanding finance on it.

Matthewjohn

I'd have a look a t a 2010 Mondeo 2.0 tdci it's powerful,comfortable and good to drive a great car to eat up the miles in!
http://m.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=713237759581050

nimbinsurfer

Thanks for the replies. I see they are looking for €16,750 for the Mondeo, do you think there will be much negotiation as regards price as am kinda fixed around €16,000?

ABajaninCork

Most definitely! As you appear to be a cash buyer, the dealer will be more interested in cash rather than a finance deal...

Offer him 14.5k (or even 14) and take it from there.

Good luck!:)

Matthewjohn

They more than likely would especially if you aren't trading in anything.

Stallingrad

Do you need a big 4 door like the Mondeo, do you need it for friends and family? If not you could spread your search far wider.

For example from the left field...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Laguna/COUPE-2./26913427214790580/advert?channel=CARS

nimbinsurfer

No not confined to 4 door but would be an advantage due to convenience. Definately open to options from the left field.....

166man

I wouldn't spend €16k on a private sale. Too risky IMO

pete4130

Why €16K? Do you have €16K to spend and want to spend it all on a car? I'm not judging/begrudging. I'm just asking in case spending a smaller amount will fulfill your needs for a car, leaving you with cash leftover. Do you want/need a newer car or would you be happier with an slightly older model with low mileage etc?
For that money you could buy a new car along the Hyundai lines of an i20 if it was the right size for you and have a 5 year warranty over a used car of a more premium badge.

nimbinsurfer

pete4130 wrote: »

Why €16K? Do you have €16K to spend and want to spend it all on a car? I'm not judging/begrudging. I'm just asking in case spending a smaller amount will fulfill your needs for a car, leaving you with cash leftover. Do you want/need a newer car or would you be happier with an slightly older model with low mileage etc?
For that money you could buy a new car along the Hyundai lines of an i20 if it was the right size for you and have a 5 year warranty over a used car of a more premium badge.

€16k is what I have available and want to put it all into a car to get the best possible car really. I'm open to any date of car really, just want something reliable and efficient.

jimmycrackcorm

166man wrote: »

I wouldn't spend €16k on a private sale. Too risky IMO

I'd rather spend less on a private sale for an equivalent car and have money left over for any potential issues well past the six month warranty you'd only get from the dealer.

Zubeneschamali

nimbinsurfer wrote: »

want to put it all into a car to get the best possible car really.

There's no such thing. For 16K you could buy anything from a Mini to a Ford Galaxy, a Merc S-class to a Range Rover. You need to narrow it down a bit. Do you need to carry people? Lots of gear? Need a hatch, estate, 4x4?

You say you need a diesel for mileage, but you could buy a 2005 GTI for 10K, and have 6 K to fund the extra petrol for years, and get something that's actually good to drive instead of a Corolla D4D or whatever soulless tool you could get from A to B in.

nimbinsurfer

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

There's no such thing. For 16K you could buy anything from a Mini to a Ford Galaxy, a Merc S-class to a Range Rover. You need to narrow it down a bit. Do you need to carry people? Lots of gear? Need a hatch, estate, 4x4?

You say you need a diesel for mileage, but you could buy a 2005 GTI for 10K, and have 6 K to fund the extra petrol for years, and get something that's actually good to drive instead of a Corolla D4D or whatever soulless tool you could get from A to B in.

I suppose what I mean is that I'm looking for the most efficient model for 16k which has little history of problems. Don't really need to carry people, looking at saloons round the 08 year, seem to be nice 3 series BMW's at that price

Ursus articus

You would get a BMW for that money or Audi but remember the servicing and parts etc are more expensive on the premium brands! How about skoda Octavia? Astra sporthatch are a nice looking car not bad to drive either! The mondeo is prob a good bet you'll move it on again easily! Or a focus? You'd pick up a nice honda accord with good spec for around 10500-11000 leaving a bit to have it looked over and tidy any bits that need attention!

Ursus articus

Ursus articus wrote: »

You would get a BMW for that money or Audi but remember the servicing and parts etc are more expensive on the premium brands! How about skoda Octavia? Astra sporthatch are a nice looking car not bad to drive either! The mondeo is prob a good bet you'll move it on again easily! Or a focus? You'd pick up a nice honda accord with good spec for around 10500-11000 leaving a bit to have it looked over and tidy any bits that need attention!

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Accord/EX-I-CDT/30113439227334090/advert?channel=CARS

i71jskz5xu42pb

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Most definitely! As you appear to be a cash buyer, the dealer will be more interested in cash rather than a finance deal...

I'd always assumed they'd prefer the finance?

• In a finance deal the dealer will get his cash from the finance company and presumably get a commission from them as well.
• In a cash deal he just gets cash

Or is that not how it works?

ABajaninCork

In Celtic Tiger times, when everyone was living in sin with the bank manager/credit union, then yes -finance would've been the way to go. Everybody got paid!

Now - with the economic times we're in, then cash is king. More flexible, and more room to negotiate. That's what we did when we bought our car. Cash on the hip and negotiate. Don't forget that the dealer will be unlikely to move on price if you're taking out finance. (assuming of course you can get it!)

Unless of course the OP has taken out a loan in which case my theory's blown out of the water!

delad

Get a Mercedes cls:

http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=826439&r=s.php%3Fm%3D53%26o%3D2174%26g%3D0

Classy, luxurious, comfortable, fast and still the best looking saloon car there is.

leeomurchu

A friend of mine bought a diesel Mazda 6 ts2 a while back for 13k it was an 08 (new tax bracket) Diesel lovely car to drive an it has all the bells and whistles I'd be lookin at one if I'd the money to spend.

The Pontiac

delad wrote: »

Get a Mercedes cls:

http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=826439&r=s.php%3Fm%3D53%26o%3D2174%26g%3D0

Classy, luxurious, comfortable, fast and still the best looking saloon car there is.

30mpg and €1,390 to tax. High servicing costs etc.

The OP said they were looking for some economical.

mackeire

i have a 00, 1L micra with 80,000 on the clock. i'll give you that for 10k so you'll even have enough left over for a nice holiday.

Ursus articus

If wer selling our wares I've a 01 bora more miles than a space shuttle but running like a clock! ;-) 9950 she's all yours! I'll even fill it with diesel!

delthedriver

nimbinsurfer wrote: »

Hi All,

I have €16k to spend on a used car and am just looking what would be the best option. I will be doing a good bit of driving so diesel is the only real option. Any suggestions on what would be a good purchase? Is it best to purchase from a dealer and get a warranty and pay a premium for this rather than a private seller? Also, is there much leeway in general in negotiations in their selling price?

Thanks in Advance

Dacia Duster from €14999, brand new , 3 years warranty!

166man

delthedriver wrote: »

Dacia Duster from €14999, brand new , 3 years warranty!

So so so so so many better ways to spend €16k cash these days...

art davidson

166man wrote: »

So so so so so many better ways to spend €16k cash these days...

Id rather buy a opel mantra and refurb it than buy a duster made in china.

166man

art davidson wrote: »

Id rather buy a opel mantra and refurb it than buy a duster made in china.

I'd rather neither...:p

readytosnap

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I'd rather spend less on a private sale for an equivalent car and have money left over for any potential issues well past the six month warranty you'd only get from the dealer.

i just bought a 6 year old car from a bmw main dealer and i got a 2 year unlimited mileage warranty including an NCT gaurantee, so not all dealers give you a 6 month warranty, all approved BMW's now have that 2 year warranty, get yourself a nice 3 series for that kinda money.

partyatmygaff

Why not get a Jag?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Jaguar/X-Type/2.0-D-LE/29913452098341890/advert?channel=CARS

2010, approximately 60k miles, heated seats, diesel and a lot nicer to drive and be in than a Ford Mondeo. Meets your budget too.

delthedriver

art davidson wrote: »

Id rather buy a opel mantra and refurb it than buy a duster made in china.

Made in India!

GavMan

<Ollie> wrote: »

30mpg and €1,390 to tax. High servicing costs etc.

The OP said they were looking for some economical.

I dunno. I've on merc boards you can get 40 motorway cruising. 1400 tax is not the worst thing in the world for such a magnificent car. Think about it, its only 20odd quid a week

He also clarified that he wanted something 'economical for my needs'. Which i presume means not necessarily an economical engine.

the culture of deference

At 16 grand you are in brand new renault megane 1.5dci, or hyundai or kia territory, with 5 year + warranty. All the new diesels will do 60mpg as well. Why buy 2nd hand

lookitsme

its in your budget, nice car, spacious, and a bit of a head turner, cheap tax might not be to good on juice
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Cadillac/De-Ville/201233209626011/advert?channel=CARS

partyatmygaff

lookitsme wrote: »

its in your budget, nice car, spacious, and a bit of a head turner, cheap tax might not be to good on juice
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Cadillac/De-Ville/201233209626011/advert?channel=CARS

Or on maintenance or on spare parts or on insurance...

But well worth every penny if you can afford its running costs

lookitsme

what about a skoda octavia vrs, its a good family sized car, i imagine a nice car to drive, fairly quick, ok looking, diesel, ok running costs. and a good sized hatchback boot

pete4130

with 16K you can get pretty much anything you want at all thats a few years old and reliable...and be able to pay tax, insurance and fuel and have €1000's left over for fuel for a few years....

franfield

My suggestion to you would be a Honda Accord Exec as something different. I had one, put up 170k kms on it & have to say I enjoyed getting into it every single day. I did a lot of long journeys & that 2.2 engine is fantastic. It delivers 50mpg too. You should get a 2008 for your money. The road tax will be high but it really is worth looking at imo.
Good luck with whatever you go/get.

bazz26

readytosnap wrote: »

i just bought a 6 year old car from a bmw main dealer and i got a 2 year unlimited mileage warranty including an NCT gaurantee, so not all dealers give you a 6 month warranty, all approved BMW's now have that 2 year warranty, get yourself a nice 3 series for that kinda money.

BMW dealers look for well above the odds for their used cars so that they can offer a 2 year warranty on a car of that age. So you are basically are paying extra for the longer warranty, it's the only way they can offer a 2 year warranty on a 6 year old car and make it look like a super deal.

gowley

because the minute you drive it out of the showroom it loses shed loads of money

bazz26

The road tax on a 2008 Accord diesel is €330 per year, I would hardly class that as high.

gowley

the culture of deference wrote: »

At 16 grand you are in brand new renault megane 1.5dci, or hyundai or kia territory, with 5 year + warranty. All the new diesels will do 60mpg as well. Why buy 2nd hand

the minute you drive a new car out of the showroom it loses shed loads of money

gowley

i would recommend a ford mondeo highly for driving however ive just got a skoda superb and all though you couldnt say its exciting to drive the spec is unreal and its really comfortable and great value

readytosnap

bazz26 wrote: »

BMW dealers look for well above the odds for their used cars so that they can offer a 2 year warranty on a car of that age. So you are basically are paying extra for the longer warranty, it's the only way they can offer a 2 year warranty on a 6 year old car and make it look like a super deal.

oh ok, so is your advice to pay less with no warranty?, i know i would rather pay the extra for the peace of mind but each to their own.

mick4_2000

OP i bought the missus a 09 Passat, 2.0 TDI, 140BHP, 6 speed with full cream leather, Heated Electric Seats, all the extras really except a sunroof for a K under what your budget is.

Nice car to drive and returning between 50 and 60MPG.

Tax is 330 for now anyway.

leeomurchu

mick4_2000 wrote: »

OP i bought the missus a 09 Passat, 2.0 TDI, 140BHP, 6 speed with full cream leather, Heated Electric Seats, all the extras really except a sunroof for a K under what your budget is.

Nice car to drive and returning between 50 and 60MPG.

Tax is 330 for now anyway.

sounds good nice car to drive aswell

bazz26

readytosnap wrote: »

oh ok, so is your advice to pay less with no warranty?, i know i would rather pay the extra for the peace of mind but each to their own.

Paying extra is your choice but your post made it out as if BMW dealers were doing great deals offering 6 year old cars with 2 years warranty. They are just adding the price of the warranty onto the retail price of the car they are selling.

BTW I bought a 3 Series almost 2 years ago considerably cheaper than what Mr BMW dealer wanted for one, it had 12 months left on the BMW warranty at the time. The money I saved over buying from the BMW dealer is still there to go towards future repairs, your money has already been spent on a warranty that expires whether you need to use it or not.