4k budget

anoda_username

Looking for a hatchback max 1.4 engine due to insurance cover and price of tax. I had a corolla previously, wouldn't mind going for it again but they seem to hold their value and are pricey. What are astras like? Are parts expensive for golfs, more expensive than say a corolla?

I would do 20-25000km/annum

Mazda 3 might be worth considering, not too many about, you'd get a decent 04 one for your budget though, this 2006 one has high ish miles...

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4182639



Doing 25k km / annum though means in 4 years time a similar mileage one to that would have a little over 200k miles on it, not at all unfeasible so I wouldn't discount the likes of that if it checked out upon inspection.

anoda_username

Thanks for your reply

anoda_username

Just spotted an 04 with 65Miles in my price range, would I incur problems in future due to low mileage? Owner says timing belt has been recently changed. Thanks for any advice

anoda_username

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4381826

Chuck Stone

1.6 but might be worth a look.

Toyota Avensis
2004
1.6
4 Door Hatchback
104,560 Miles
Price: € 3,300





http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4346929

anoda_username

Chuck Stone wrote: »

1.6 but might be worth a look.

Toyota Avensis
2004
1.6
4 Door Hatchback
104,560 Miles
Price: € 3,300

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4346929

Great car thanks but it's a bit on the big side for me. I rarely have passengers! what do u think of the golf above?

bazz26

9 year old entry level petrol Golf for €4k is poor value imo.

JohnBoy26

anoda_username wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4381826

The 1.4 engine in these is a terrible engine. It's soft unreliable and underpowered. Id avoid it if I were you. You can do a lot better.

anoda_username

Thanks for the advice, what should i be looking at? Im keen to buy a corolla but hard to find one that has more than basic spec at a good price. 05 06 Focus seem to be plentiful on the market but wasn't there problems with those years?

de Ville

Wife has 02 Honda Civic for the last 3 years, hard to beat,imo.

JohnBoy26

anoda_username wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, what should i be looking at? Im keen to buy a corolla but hard to find one that has more than basic spec at a good price. 05 06 Focus seem to be plentiful on the market but wasn't there problems with those years?

Tbh a corolla like you mentioned would be my choice though they are quiet basic like you said but they are very reliable. Or a mazda 3 as has been suggested by another poster in this thread.

No im not aware of many problems with that model focus. Apart from power steering fluid leaks and problems on models fitted with keyless ingnition(avoid models fitted with this). The only other thing i can think of is maybe a coil pack but that's no big problem. Other than that the 1.4 engine is a bit underpowered but it's still a much better car than a Golf of the same age.

Gurgle

anoda_username wrote: »

Looking for a hatchback max 1.4 engine due to insurance cover and price of tax. I had a corolla previously, wouldn't mind going for it again but they seem to hold their value and are pricey. What are astras like? Are parts expensive for golfs, more expensive than say a corolla?

I would do 20-25000km/annum

The Astra is a good solid comfy little car. The best engine is the (surprisingly usable) 1.2, the 1.4 has a tendency to eat itself. (I may be a decade out of date here)

Golfs I don't rate. There's nothing special about them to justify the premium price. A cheap 8yo Golf is probably fcuked.

Volkswagon parts are generally cheaper than Toyota, but bits and pieces of suspension and steering tend to need replacing more often unless you're driving almost exclusively on main roads.

Personally, with €4k I'd go looking for an '06ish 1.4 Corolla with 100,000 on the clock.

bazz26

I'd be looking at something like this, looks tidy and probably had an easy life:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4348537

Should be some wiggle room on that asking price too.

JohnBoy26

Gurgle wrote: »

Personally, with €4k I'd go looking for an '06ish 1.4 Corolla with 100,000 on the clock.

You'l struggle to get a good 06 for that money even with a 100k miles on the clock.

anoda_username

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd be looking at something like this, looks tidy and probably had an easy life:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4348537

Should be some wiggle room on that asking price too.

I like the look of the Mazda 3, should I be wariy of such low mileage?

anoda_username

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

You'l struggle to get a good 06 for that money even with a 100k miles on the clock.

Very hard to find a good corolla around the 4k, dealerships seem to be overpriced. Hard to get a decent spec 04 for that price privately either

pred racer

anoda_username wrote: »

I like the look of the Mazda 3, should I be wariy of such low mileage?

No, there are people who dont drive much.
Obviously the usual checks need to be done.

anoda_username

pred racer wrote: »

No, there are people who dont drive much.
Obviously the usual checks need to be done.

its already sold

anoda_username

What would be a reasonable offer for this car?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4338077

anoda_username

Bearing in mind that tax is out

ghogie91

Chuck Stone wrote: »

1.6 but might be worth a look.

Toyota Avensis
2004
1.6
4 Door Hatchback
104,560 Miles
Price: € 3,300





http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4346929

This 1.6 petrol in this day and age? nahh

Get a 1.4 golf/astra

dunno if you can get a seat leon in a 1.4 but that too 1.4 diesel clio is always an option

Bpmull

What about a 1.3cdti Opel Astra. I have one and it is a great diesel car timming chain no dpf. They cause little trouble and do 55mpg also falls in under the 1.3 tax bracket so cheap to tax.

bazz26

ghogie91 wrote: »

This 1.6 petrol in this day and age? nahh

Get a 1.4 golf/astra

dunno if you can get a seat leon in a 1.4 but that too 1.4 diesel clio is always an option

For the love of God, we are not talking about a V8 gass guzzler here.

JohnBoy26

ghogie91 wrote: »

Get a 1.4 golf

1.4 diesel clio is always an option

I would'nt advise anyone to buy a 1.4 Golf. They are a pure rubbish of a car.

Also the clio never came in 1.4 diesel.

anoda_username

Would you think theres wiggle room with this price... on donedeal for ages and has no tax
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4283145



Edit: dealer looking for too much, still on the look out for something else

visual

Not a fan of diesel renaults been badly burned with the laguna II.

I've always found ople astra a good reliable car thats solid built.

Idbatterim

what about a 1.6 focus?

anoda_username

Idbatterim wrote: »

what about a 1.6 focus?

Thanks for your input, would that be a 1.6 diesel? Would you say they are more economical to run than the 1.4 corolla? I do approx 18/19,000 miles

anoda_username

Anyone know much about the 1.6 diesel focus who would like to comment. Thanks.

JohnBoy26

anoda_username wrote: »

Anyone know much about the 1.6 diesel focus who would like to comment. Thanks.

The 1.6 diesel engine in them is a peugeot engine. It is renowned for turbo failure due to a flaw in the engine which turnes the oil into sludge blocking the oil feed pipe to the turbo resulting in turbo failure. Many people say that regular maintainance will prevent this but this isn't true as even well maintained ones suffer the same fait aswell.

Other thing that are costly in them are dpf issues (on 110bhp models)
and DMF failures.

Tbh id avoid, If you have to get a focus id get the 1.8 diesel focus intead as this has a ford engine which apart from DMF failure is fairly reliable.

If I was looking for a Diesel car myself id be looking at a kia cee'd or hyundai I30 1.6 diesel ,as they are one of the more reliable diesel cars out there at the moment.

anoda_username

Cheers john boy, think I'll avoid. At the moment I cannot afford the Hyundai i30 or the KIA ceed tbh I am looking for a car that is economical to run but doesn't cost a fortune on tax or insurance. Ideally under 1.4 but could possibly stretch to a 1.6. A relative of mine in the uk has a skoda fabia 1.4 diesel had that in mind also but seems out of budget? I had a 1.4 corolla previously and
Found it a good reliable car thinking of going for it again but i remember i was only getting 400miles or so out of the tank.
What else would you recommend? I do mostly motorway miles with 45mile trip a day. Thanks

JohnBoy26

Something like this maybe http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4355245

or this http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/damagedcars/4465669

Ardennes1944

Grande punto? The 1.2 8v valve is extremely economical, looks nice and loads of choice

anoda_username

Thanks John but I cannot afford to go as far as a 1.8 engine for insurance and tax reasons

anoda_username

For many reasons, im still looking around for a car although need one asap now

Below is a 05 Astra gtc sport, high mileage any thoughts on reliablity, price
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4622956



Mazda 3
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4701330



Edit: not sure what I am doing wrong, can't seem to embed pics

faral

guys what would you choose from these three
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Corolla/1.4-LUNA/201312213898699/advert?channel=CARS
or
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazda3/1.6-COMF/201309212674056/advert?channel=CARS
or
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Hyundai/Elantra/LEATHER-/31713555020271890/advert?channel=CARS

colm_mcm

Not the elantra anyway :eek:

Probably the mazda, corolla saloon is a bit meh

Actually, def the mazda, the corolla was obviously owned by some sort of idiot.

anoda_username

faral wrote: »

guys what would you choose from these three
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Corolla/1.4-LUNA/201312213898699/advert?channel=CARS
or
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazda3/1.6-COMF/201309212674056/advert?channel=CARS
or
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Hyundai/Elantra/LEATHER-/31713555020271890/advert?channel=CARS

You have a thread on choosing a car already
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056881461

anoda_username

Anyone care to comment on how reliable the astras are in post #36