Citroen C5 2008 , Alfa 159 2008/09

r1_2010

Hi Guys,

Some background. Presently I drive a 2003 Saab 2.0t. I love it. It has all the bells and whistles, leather heated seats, xenon hid's, parking sensors, automagic box (having auto is nice but isn't a deal breaker), the kitchen sink.
I am however getting to the point where I am feeling like something newer, a bit fresher. Road tax is 710 at the mo and fuel economy is around 28-29 mpg. 30-31 on a push driving miss daisy. I like the grunt it has too and it handles really nice.

So I've been spoilt and I wish Saab hadn't gone out of business , but they have so time to look around again.

I would like to move up to something around 2008, I dont mind a bit older once the mileage is low.
I have in mind something diesel because I do a 50km round trip to work most mornings.. mostly motorways, but I enjoy going for a blast at the weekend too.
My budget is around 10k, might push to 11-11500 but looking to haggle to 10k ideally.

Contenders so far... I've looked at importing what looks like a nice Citroen C5 2.0HDI Exclusive and paying the VRT. Manualy would put it in 360 euro annual road tax, automatic would put it at 750.

Or could import a 2.4JTDM 159, manual only and road tax at 750.

Or... could get a Saab 93 ttid aero , low road tax again.

Can anybody advise on the reliability of each of these cars... what they are like to live with... things to look for when looking at second hand cars.

Obviously I would like to be in a place that I coudl sell the car on in a few years time. My father, tells me I'm crazy looking at each of these brands because obviously they depreciate like a heavy weight. But I figure buying second hand, somebody else has already taken the heavy depreciation for me and i can get a lot of car for the money. Still it would be nice to be able to sell in a few years and get something with a lot of toys, nice to drive, looks nice and won't break the bank to keep running.

Appreciate any advice.

r1_2010

pred racer

I was in the same boat, this time last year, coming from an old model c5 which I loved. First I had my heart set on a new model c5 2.0 exclusive but I drove one and I didnt like it, the inside is not airy and spacious like the old one. So I went for the 159 08 1.9jtdm, its a great car, no reliability issues. Not the most frugal car out there 45mpg would be about average for me (the 2.4 will get 35 mpg normal, 40 if you are really, really careful) the 1.9 is not cheap to tax at €570 so for tax go for the c5. But if you are a 'driver' go for the 159 its a fantastic car, and looks the business;)


I know nothing about the saab, but I presume it has the same engine as the alfa?

For the citroen, make sure the suspension works correctly, goes all the way up and down without any straining noises from the various pumps, dont listen to any horror stories about the hydraulic set up, the components last longer and are cheaper than shocks etc. also that there are no rattles or bangs driving over bumps. Oh and make sure all the electrics work.

For the alfa its the same, no suspension problems and all the electrics work, they do have egr/dpf issues, but with your type of driving you should be ok.

Happy shopping.

goochy

Wouldnt bother importing the 2.4dsl Alfa unless you're doing big miles you won't get you're money back in fuel saving or when selling would get the petrol version lambe & o Connor have a nice 2008 159 petrol with low miles fsh and hi spec for under 10k good buy

Stallingrad

Two very different cars.

The C5 uber comfy cruiser, the Exclusive version you are looking at Citroen at its best. They have an OK reputation for reliability, no worse than average. Superb cruiser and quiet on the motorway, less so on backroads even with the suspension on sport.

The Alfa much firmer and more sporty. I didn't get on with the firm ride, unsupportive seats and in diesel form it just feels heavy. The do look super though.

C5 Exclusive has all the toys, the Alfa less so.

I'd go with the Citroen as I like my creature comforts.

pajo1981

Out of those two, if it were me, I'd pick C5 exclusive. It feels more modern inside than a 159, IMO.

r1_2010

I had seen this C5 ... being sold privately up north :
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4413273

It looks nice, would have a good spec. Gets good reviews and is a viable alternative to a Mondeo, Insignia, 159, 93, Accord.
I like the idea of a comfortable drivers car.

The mondeo is also obviously a lovely car, but there are just so many of them around I wouldn't mind something a bit different.
The alfa looks beautiful , especially in Ti spec...
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4414657
That one in particular is stunning. The prob being that if I left the country in 3 years to travel/live abroad and had to sell , I reckon I would have a very hard time selling the citroen or the alfa .. or am I wrong? Suppose that is the trade off for getting a lot of car for the money.

I just discovered at lunch today that I could get a GS300 Lexus 2006 with really low mileage for well within budget. Beautiful car, lots of power, lots of toys, incredibly well built and lovely inside... but the thought of handing over 1400 euro a year in road tax would break my heart. Although if I did something like that I could convert it to LPG..... might make the road tax more bearable!
And realistically i would be stuck with the car forever. Also hoping the govt don't increase the tax bands on pre 08 cars any more than they have....
My mates are all pushing to consider the lexus (I know its a diff class of car)....
My father got burnt with trying to sell a citroen AX almost 20 years ago and has never forgiven citroen. Keeps telling me how hard they are to sell, how the dealer network used to destroy the second hand market by heavy discounting, reliability etc... but that c5 up there looks nice...

Bigus

Your dad's right about Citroen's

, personally I'd go for a high mileage, 08 520 d low tax auto from the uk, you should land one for within budget if you go north of 100,000 miles.

I know you like low miles but search autotrader for high miles stuff and there's great bargains to be had now that clocking isn't as rampant,

not long ago all this high miles stuff was mopped up by dealers and sold over here with low miles, lots of people never being any the wides because motorway miles put up in a sort time really doesn't wear out a car if its got service history.

goochy

No way you can get a 08 520d BMW with Vrt paid within budget you will pay heavily in grt and changing money if it was possible used car dealers would.be doing it not. Buying most of their stk locally ! Also he doesn't want to follow the herd !

Padraig Mor

r1_2010 wrote: »

I had seen this C5 ... being sold privately up north :
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4413273

It looks nice, would have a good spec. Gets good reviews and is a viable alternative to a Mondeo, Insignia, 159, 93, Accord.
I like the idea of a comfortable drivers car.

The mondeo is also obviously a lovely car, but there are just so many of them around I wouldn't mind something a bit different.
The alfa looks beautiful , especially in Ti spec...
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4414657
That one in particular is stunning. The prob being that if I left the country in 3 years to travel/live abroad and had to sell , I reckon I would have a very hard time selling the citroen or the alfa .. or am I wrong? Suppose that is the trade off for getting a lot of car for the money.

I just discovered at lunch today that I could get a GS300 Lexus 2006 with really low mileage for well within budget. Beautiful car, lots of power, lots of toys, incredibly well built and lovely inside... but the thought of handing over 1400 euro a year in road tax would break my heart. Although if I did something like that I could convert it to LPG..... might make the road tax more bearable!
And realistically i would be stuck with the car forever. Also hoping the govt don't increase the tax bands on pre 08 cars any more than they have....
My mates are all pushing to consider the lexus (I know its a diff class of car)....
My father got burnt with trying to sell a citroen AX almost 20 years ago and has never forgiven citroen. Keeps telling me how hard they are to sell, how the dealer network used to destroy the second hand market by heavy discounting, reliability etc... but that c5 up there looks nice...

Having moved from that model c5 to that model GS300 a couple of years ago, well......I think you can guess which I'd pick from your list!

Bigus

goochy wrote: »

No way you can get a 08 520d BMW with Vrt paid within budget you will pay heavily in grt and changing money if it was possible used car dealers would.be doing it not. Buying most of their stk locally ! Also he doesn't want to follow the herd !

Here's an 09 for 520 d auto for 7890 sterling and vrt on an 08 AUTO is 4679

If you paid 7500 sterling for an 08 it would work out at 9000 euro plus 4700 vrt plus expenses.

Nothing wrong with the herds instinct

I'd prefer to take my chances with a high miles bmw then a low miles Alfa or citreon, but all three would be hard to sell on to different degrees




http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301044791428/sort/default/usedcars/maximum-age/up_to_4_years_old/maximum-mileage/over_100000_miles/model/5_series/make/bmw/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/postcode/bt39jp/radius/1501/page/1?logcode=p

goochy

That's a lot.more than €10k for the BMW then ! Wouldn't touch that hi mileage 159 jtd as soon as it hits 100k mls it will be worthless ! What about a volvo. S80 ?

r1_2010

Hi,

The Volvo s80 is a beautiful car. I really like it and in general really like Swedish cars. Beautiful looking, looks to be well built, gets good reliability. The D5 option is supposed to be very good.
However I couldn't find any 2008 D5's available... pretty much most of them are Flexifuel 2.0 models...

As a car what is your experience with them? Reliable.... would I still be able to sell on a 08 s80 in 3 years time or is it going to be difficult.

Actually on that note. Would it be worthwhile upping my budget to 14-15 and going for a 2.2 dtec accord ( 08 onwards). As in , in 3 years time would it be very hard to shift. (obviously a golf or focus would be the easiest to shift) but given that I want something that looks nice, bit of go, all the bells and whisltes and comfy....