Which 5 Door to go for...

Nervous Nigel

Hi Folks

We're looking to buy a 5 door and want to spend around €9k. Thinking of a Golf, an Astra, a Focus or a Qashqai. Would ideally like to pick up a '08 Qashqai diesel but €9k won't quite do it. Not really interested in Renaults, Peugeots or Fiats due to concerns about reliability. I'd be grateful for any advice/assistance that anyone can provide.

Thanks.

JohnBoy26

A Hyundai i30 or Kia Cee'd would be on my list. These cars are the same underneath and are mechanically identical. You can get these in 1.6 diesel and 9k should get you a decent example of either. They're should be a decent bit of warrenty still left on these as the Kia originally came with a 100k km 7 year warranty and the Hyundai came with a 5 year unlimted milage warranty.

Nervous Nigel

Nice one - Thanks - I'll check those out.

miller50841

Check out Toyota Avensis, Auris, VW Golf, Skoda Octavia, Ford Mondeo these would be in your price range and all very reliable cars.

Nervous Nigel

miller50841 wrote: »

Check out Toyota Avensis, Auris, VW Golf, Skoda Octavia, Ford Mondeo these would be in your price range and all very reliable cars.

Cheers for that.

We're not really mad about Toyotas...this is probably blasphemy and I know sweet FA about cars, but we prefer cars with heavy doors. By that I mean cars with doors that go "clunk" rather than "clink" when you close them.

No doubt someone will tell me that I'm talking nonsense!

miller50841

Nervous Nigel wrote: »

Cheers for that.

We're not really mad about Toyotas...this is probably blasphemy and I know sweet FA about cars, but we prefer cars with heavy doors. By that I mean cars with doors that go "clunk" rather than "clink" when you close them.

No doubt someone will tell me that I'm talking nonsense!

No problem:)

I have had and drive a lot of different cars and at the moment have a Octavia and honestly for what you pay for you get a hell of a lot for your money. If you havent been told already here goes but the boot is huge in the Octavia thats why so many taxi use them and great diesel engines.

Avensis some say are a bit boring inside but would not turn one down they are a great machine and have good space and 5door.

Bpmull

+1 on the octavia. We have two and they are great value for money. Extremely reliable and comfortable. I think they are well made and do have a great diesel engine which will easily achieve 55mpg on long runs.

miller50841

Nervous Nigel wrote: »

Cheers for that.

We're not really mad about Toyotas...this is probably blasphemy and I know sweet FA about cars, but we prefer cars with heavy doors. By that I mean cars with doors that go "clunk" rather than "clink" when you close them.

No doubt someone will tell me that I'm talking nonsense!

Oh yeah forgot to say your talking nonsense:D:D:D:D

bazz26

You do know that Renault have a large share in Nissan and the Qashqai uses a Renault diesel engine? The Ford Focus also uses a Peugeot/Citroen diesel engine and the Opel Astra uses a Fiat diesel engine.

Also this perception of a heavy door = safer or higher quality car is nothing more than that, a perception. All car makers have to meet certain safety standards these days, how much of a clunk the door has, would have very little reflection of safety. In fact the lastest thing now is to make cars lighter for improved emmissions and fuel consumption while not compromising on strength or safety.

Nervous Nigel

What is people's view on the Peugeot 308?

My understanding is that French cars are extremely unreliable. Am I off the wall?

Many thanks.

George Dalton

In my opinion the 308 is an under-rated car. They are almost as good a car as a Focus I reckon but common "knowledge" would have you believe otherwise.

colm_mcm

It's not extremely unreliable or anything, there were still electrical gremlins, a few recalls because of them, but on the whole they'd be no worse than a focus or astra.
Petrol 1.4 ones are really cheap, but they're quite depressing in rental car spec (which most are) and they're not particularly nice to look at, drive, or be in.

Nervous Nigel

Thanks Guys - Much appreciated.

The tax on a 1.6 Petrol 308 is only €200 per year which is good.

What's your view on the Opel Astra?

colm_mcm

Nervous Nigel wrote: »

Thanks Guys - Much appreciated.

What's your view on the Astra?

The tax on a 1.6 Petrol 308 is only €160 per year apparently which is good.

Tax on the the automatic petrol 1.6 is €570 and for an early 08 1.6 manual its cc based at €514 so emissions based has to be higher again.

1.6 petrol is very rare in manual, 1.6 auto isn't as rare but still didn't sell in any real numbers.

The 1.6 diesel would be low tax alright.

Nervous Nigel

colm_mcm wrote: »

Tax on the the automatic petrol 1.6 is €570 and for an early 08 1.6 manual its cc based at €514 so emissions based has to be higher again.

1.6 petrol is very rare in manual, 1.6 auto isn't as rare but still didn't sell in any real numbers.

The 1.6 diesel would be low tax alright.

Sorry, yes - Looking at a 1.6HDI for the Mrs.

Looks decent and low tax.

What do you reckon?

Thanks for your help.

colm_mcm

Not a fan of the 1.6 hdi engine but George would know them inside out though

bazz26

There are better cars out there in the same class as the 308. It's not a bad car, it's just that it does nothing better over it's rivals, to want one.

You should look at the Hyundai i30:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Hyundai/i30/DELUXE-1.4/31113572227997240/

colm_mcm

Thing is you can get petrol 08 308s for 4500

bazz26

I wouldn't want one even at that price.