Please help me buy a car with 3000 euro

ordinaryhuman

Hi all,

I had a 1.4 Astra G and a 1.4 Escort in the past and now I need a diesel. I drive 120 KM per day (600+ per week) as I have to travel far to my workplace.

I have 3000 euro saved and could probably stretch that to 3500 but I'm keeping in mind that it's possible I'll need to spend maybe 500 after I buy the car once it's fully checked at a garage.

I've been told a Mark 4 Golf 1.9 TDI would be a good choice for that money and mileage. Can someone please advise me which engine they mean (according to Wikipedia there are 7 TDI engines. Link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Golf_Mk4#Engine_choices) and what else I should look out for if viewing one?

I have 3 years no claims bonus now so insurance cost isn't the biggest concern. Just looking for something reliable and fuel efficient. Feel free to suggest alternatives but spending so much time in the car comfort is essential.

Thanks!

dgt

Here you go

colm_mcm

Ill see your 406, and raise you 201

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4390330

colm_mcm

Or

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4387800

ordinaryhuman

The silver 607 looks lovely but do you have suggestions about the Golf please?

colm_mcm

You don't tend to get great value with them IMO.

ordinaryhuman

Ok thanks, but are you saying that with Peugeot you do get great value? A few people have told me to stay away from French cars because the suspension is unreliable. I know it sounds like a blanket statement but I'm trying to get a car that will last me for 2 years.

Thanks again

Bpmull

slightly over budget. The 1.7 engine is always said to be reliable.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4301398

ordinaryhuman

I don't think anyone is reading my post. I mentioned the Golf Mark 4, and which TDI engine is most reliable in general...

Bpmull

ordinaryhuman wrote: »

I don't think anyone is reading my post. I mentioned the Golf Mark 4, and which TDI engine is most reliable in general...

Golfs are generally expensive too buy and normally overpriced as they are in high demand specially diesel. There is a golf 1.9 tdi 100bhp which is a popular engine and is a good engine but there was plenty of others cars which had a similar engine e.g. octavia. I know the golf was also avalable in a 130 bhp and possibly a 90 bhp engine. I'm sure someone will come a long that has more knowledge in golfs. It will just be hard to find a genuine nice golf diesel for 3k euro.

Cee-Jay-Cee

ordinaryhuman wrote: »

I don't think anyone is reading my post. I mentioned the Golf Mark 4, and which TDI engine is most reliable in general...

For 3k your looking at a car that will be coming close to 10yrs old and will have high mileage. While they are generally reliable they get less reliable with age/mileage and could end up costing you asmall fortune in repairs. Golfs tend to hold their price better than many other similar size cars and so your going to get an older car for your money. I would suggest that if you simply need a car and don't mind about the badge, then go for an Octavia or even a Fabia. They have basically the same running gear as the golf without the price premium.

JohnBoy26

One of these would be a nicer car imo to a mark 4 Golf. http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4355245

Supertoucher

I'd usually suggest Japanese but if Diesel is the order of the day and given the budget, I'd be more inclined to look for something like a Mondeo.

sean1141

The older ve engines in the golf are slightly more reliable than the pd engines. The pd needs that extra bit of maintenance which the average irish motorists tend not to give. The 90 and 110 were the bhp of the older engines. 100 115 130and 150 were pd. There was also a sdi which you should keep away from. Dont mind what badge is on the boot as every second clown seems to advertise them as 130bhp ones.

Don't know if you would be interested but i put my 04 mondeo up on donedeal today. Shoot me a pm if interested or want to know more!

ordinaryhuman

Thanks everyone. I had been hearing a lot about how fuel efficient the 110bhp was (50mpg) but didn't realise they got so bad over time.

I was expecting to buy a 02 or 03 model for that money but I'm thinking some of the money would be wasted on the badge.

Idbatterim

how about a 320d? something like the below? id want cruise control if i were you op...

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4390367

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4333492

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4276899

those bm's r 150bhp...

or maybe a passat or a4?

colm_mcm

ordinaryhuman wrote: »

I don't think anyone is reading my post. I mentioned the Golf Mark 4, and which TDI engine is most reliable in general...

It'll all be 1.9 TDI, the 90 and 110hp versions are the earliest ones. I'd assume the majority you'd come across are the 100hp versions.

Bpmull

ordinaryhuman wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I had been hearing a lot about how fuel efficient the 110bhp was (50mpg) but didn't realise they got so bad over time.

I was expecting to buy a 02 or 03 model for that money but I'm thinking some of the money would be wasted on the badge.

A 1.9tdi octavia is 105bhp and will do 55mpg easily. They have alot of the same parts as that golf just not the badge that's the main difference. From experience they are reliable for 3k you would easily get a nice 2003 model. If you don't like the octavia then have a look at the other suggestion you can't really go wrong with the ford mondeo. And the 406 is a great car very under rated I think and they can be bought for bargain prices. But if you are dead set on a golf I'm sure you will find one it will just take some extra looking to get a clean one for your budget.

Not a person

The suggestions for Peugeot 406s and 607s and Jaguars all look great for long journeys.

The thing that worries me with bigger cars, is that if something is to go wrong/need to be replaced i.e. the clutch,flywheel, suspension bits.. the cost would be a lot more than similar jobs on smaller cars??

Or is that a bit too much of a generalization?

sean1141

ordinaryhuman wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I had been hearing a lot about how fuel efficient the 110bhp was (50mpg) but didn't realise they got so bad over time.

I was expecting to buy a 02 or 03 model for that money but I'm thinking some of the money would be wasted on the badge.

They wont be any different than any car of that age. Every car will suffer from wear and tear

George Dalton

You can't buy a €3k car based on reputation. You need to keep an open mind regarding make and model and judge each individual car on its merits. Mondeo, Golf, Octavia, 406 are all good cars but €3k examples are all old cars at this stage so if you buy a bad one it can break your heart and your wallet. However if you find a clean, well minded car it will give you great service. Unfortunately there are a lot more cheap bad cars than cheap good cars for sale so you need to do your homework when buying a car in that price range.

JohnBoy26

sean1141 wrote: »

They wont be any different than any car of that age. Every car will suffer from wear and tear

Yes but some take the miles better than others. At this stage i would'nt touch a peugeot 406. They get very messy with age.

sean1141

Not a person wrote: »

The suggestions for Peugeot 406s and 607s and Jaguars all look great for long journeys.

The thing that worries me with bigger cars, is that if something is to go wrong/need to be replaced i.e. the clutch,flywheel, suspension bits.. the cost would be a lot more than similar jobs on smaller cars??

Or is that a bit too much of a generalization?

The cost to replace a ball joint (part only) on the mk4 golf would be about 20euro. On a peugeot 206 your looking at about 80..

Idbatterim

the cost would be a lot more than similar jobs on smaller cars??

Or is that a bit too much of a generalization?

Id say the difference would be small IF there was a difference at all...

below is another possibility...

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41307

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4389648

ordinaryhuman

Looks like stepping up another 1000 euro opens up a lot more doors. That 320d looks.. gorgeous. Cruise control and leather seem to be common in them.

So, is it safe to assume a 320d bmw is a reliable car?

sean1141

ordinaryhuman wrote: »

Looks like stepping up another 1000 euro opens up a lot more doors. That 320d looks.. gorgeous. Cruise control and leather seem to be common in them.

So, is it safe to assume a 320d bmw is a reliable car?

No more or less than any other car of that era. They have there own problems the same as any brand

Wicklowandy

Plenty of 406s reach intergalactic mileages (300m+) but the fact is any car whether its a vw, bmw, or peugeot abused and neglected wont reach it.

A few people have already said it, when buying a car on a budget, ignore the badge and mileage and judge on its individual merits

bazz26

Nice tidy looking Rover 75 here which has the same engine as the BMW 320d:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4354001

Think €4k is a bit expensive though given the mileage.

JohnBoy26

Wicklowandy wrote: »

A few people have already said it, when buying a car on a budget, ignore the badge and mileage and judge on its individual merits

It's all well and good to take that advice if all cars were as reliable as one and other. But the fact of the matter is they are'nt. You really have to take the badge and milage into consideration when there are cars out there like a Mazda 6 diesel or a Peugeot 407 1.6hdi both very troublesome cars.

George Dalton

I don't think it is fair to tar the (not all that bad) 407 1.6HDI with the same brush as the (frankly awful) Mazda 6 diesel :pac:

dgt

sean1141 wrote: »

The cost to replace a ball joint (part only) on the mk4 golf would be about 20euro. On a peugeot 206 your looking at about 80..

Are they not the screw in type? A set for a 406 is about €20, for both sides. Parts only

George Dalton

dgt wrote: »

Are they not the screw in type? A set for a 406 is about €20, for both sides. Parts only

Part of the wishbone on the 206, can't be replaced separately, just like a Fiat :pac:

JohnBoy26

George Dalton wrote: »

I don't think it is fair to tar the (not all that bad) 407 1.6HDI with the same brush as the (frankly awful) Mazda 6 diesel :pac:

Ok the (not all that good :P) 407 might not be as bad as the awful Mazda 6 diesel. But they still give their fair share of problems.