Which Petrol Medium Sized Car?

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On the lookout (no rush) for a car for my ma.

She has a 01 Civic 1.4 and is/was agreat car with great reliability and given super service.
Basiclaly getting long in the tooth now and she does quite a lot of driving. Hates big cars and will not look beyond this size-ish car.

Another Civic would be great and would try stretch to the newer model. Budget is smallish enough (under 7k) but have seen quite a few of the 1.8 model Civic for this budget. Mainly the saloon model. I understand the MPG would not be that much more but as a typical Irish motorist she baulks at a "big" engine :rolleyes::D. What are they really like?

If not the Civic, what else? Personally hate the Auris and they don't look well finished/trimmed and overpriced. A step down from the Civic in my view. Same view on the Golf, overrated and under specced.

Mazda 3 is another definite contender and the magical "1.4" also on offer.
Seat Leon potentially as well but I worry about those with reliability as they are VAG.

All advice and suggestions greatly appreaciated. She is not gone on the idea of diesel and having owned a few i'm with her...any savings can easily be blown on EGR valves etc, especially at this budget!!

Chuck Stone

Mazda 2 Sport SE
€6,500
1.5 Petrol
49 mpg (parkers.co.uk)
2008
97,555 M / 157,000 KM
Owners 1
NCT July, 2014

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazda2/1.5-5DR-/31813528874182410/advert?channel=CARS

Green Hornet

Well I had the 1.8 Civic saloon model, outgoing model now I guess. It was great on fuel actually. I do an 80 mile daily round trip and was getting 42mpg from it. That model is a big improvement on the 01 model that your mother has. Nice and roomy with CC and stuff as standard.

road_high

I love the 2 as well but I think she'd like something a bit bigger. Had one a few years ago as a loan car and it was real zippy and light and great fun car. Very economical as well.

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Green Hornet wrote: »

Well I had the 1.8 Civic saloon model, outgoing model now I guess. It was great on fuel actually. I do an 80 mile daily round trip and was getting 42mpg from it. That model is a big improvement on the 01 model that your mother has. Nice and roomy with CC and stuff as standard.

They look like good value and to be fair that's all the 1.4 would do...but try telling her that!! And if "it's hard on petrol" guess who'd get the blame

Yea it's a lot more of a solid car. Are they all hybrids those saloon ones?

colm_mcm

I've a civic 1.8 hatch and I'm getting early 40s out of it.


Saloon is either 1.8 iVTEC or IMA hybrid. Saloon is a big enough yoke though.

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colm_mcm wrote: »

I've a civic 1.8 hatch and I'm getting early 40s out of it.


Saloon is either 1.8 iVTEC or IMA hybrid. Saloon is a big enough yoke though.

Cheers, is the iVTEC just the standard engine then Colm?

I would chance the 1.8 myself but I know she mightn't be happy. We will try one and see perhaps. Just was sussing out the MPG in the real world and 40 mpg sounds alright to me.

jmcc99_98

Great car, cheap to run and very good price http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4233040

bazz26

Kia Ceed:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/KIA/Ceed/1.4-EX/201240210289011/

Will still probably have the balance of the 7 year or 150k km warranty remaining.

Or a Hyundai i30 if she can stretch upto a year younger, sister car of the Kia:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/KIA/Ceed/1.4-EX/201240210289011/

MuppetCheck

jmcc99_98 wrote: »

Great car, cheap to run and very good price http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4233040

Your photos a shocking.

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jmcc99_98 wrote: »

Great car, cheap to run and very good price http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4233040

Thanks jmcc have read so much bad things about the 307 and 308 to be honest I'd be hesistant unless I knew the car very well or something.
Friend had a new 08 308 and was starting to have problems before he got rid.
Car is good value if it is a good one.

Green Hornet

Mine was the 1.8 I-VTEC. They are tuned for fuel economy. They are quite a size alright. Not much difference in terms of interior space than the Accord at that time actually. Comfortable too and had independent rear suspension while the hatch only used a torsion bar I think.

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Green Hornet wrote: »

Mine was the 1.8 I-VTEC. They are tuned for fuel economy. They are quite a size alright. Not much difference in terms of interior space than the Accord at that time actually. Comfortable too and had independent rear suspension while the hatch only used a torsion bar I think.

Yea they are a fine "lump" of a car! Will defo put it on the list for test driving so, cheers. They are very good value as the sheep are running to diesels :rolleyes:

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Cheers bazz, the Ceed is a definite for the short list so.

bazz26

Seriously, recommending a 307 to someone used to the reliablity of a Civic is like recommending someone who is afraid of hights to base jump from the Grand Canyon.

colm_mcm

The iVTEC engine is standard on the saloon.
The 1.4 in the hatch is the iDSI, same as what you have I think.
The 1.4 iDSI got replaced by the 1.4 iVTEC around 2008 and was more powerful and economical. These are rare enough though.

iVTEC is basically variable valve timing for economy.

If you're considering the civic saloon, also consider the current mitsubishi lancer

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bazz26 wrote: »

Seriously, recommending a 307 to someone used to the reliablity of a Civic is like recommending someone who is afraid of hights to base jump from the Grand Canyon.

That's my thoughts too I'm afraid ...the Civic has been amazing so I'm threading carefully as regards changing with her. That's why we are so keen on another.

colm_mcm

jmcc99_98 wrote: »

Great car, cheap to run and very good price http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4233040

That's some pretty shameless shilling just there!

Marcusm

The Jazz was designed for this segment wasn't it; slightly (very) raised to allow easy entry and egress.

colm_mcm

Jazz is out since 01 and was (and still is) sold alongside the bigger civic.

road_high

Jazz is more supermini class. Good car but I don't think she will/should go down a class. Granted I know she would like the Jazz.

robertxxx

Civic is my real world dream car. Next year!

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robertxxx wrote: »

Civic is my real world dream car. Next year!

They are great cars. Do everything well with no fuss. I dunno why they are not selling better here. I see they have a new 1.6 diesel out so no doubt that will help :rolleyes:

jmcc99_98

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Your photos a shocking.

What are wrong with the photos?

colm_mcm

jmcc99_98 wrote: »

What are wrong with the photos?

They're a weird panoramic size, they don't show the car properly and the location is really dreary. Car isn't polished, but mainly its the angles the pics are taken from. Don't know what the idea of having all the doors open was.

Then there's the price. A workmate bought an 08 308 for €4500 last year.

Sorry to derail your thread mfitzy

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colm_mcm wrote: »

They're a weird panoramic size, they don't show the car properly and the location is really dreary. Car isn't polished, but mainly its the angles the pics are taken from. Don't know what the idea of having all the doors open was.

Sorry to derail your thread mfitzy

To show they still work...LOL...Sorry I couldn't resist! Well it is a 307

jmcc99_98

Ha ha, yes looking at it know I have no idea why I took a photo of it with all the doors open?!

I can see that Peugeot have a bad name from reading this thread, genuinely I or my wife have had 5 Peugeots over the past 10 years and never a days trouble (touch wood)

Good luck with the search MFitzy

JohnBoy26

A kia cee'd or hyundai i30 as another poster has suggested, are good cars. They are very reliable and a very nice mechanically. The only downside I see with them is that the interior is a little bland.

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JohnBoy26 wrote: »

A kia cee'd or hyundai i30 as another poster has suggested, are good cars. They are very reliable and a very nice mechanically. The only downside I see with them is that the interior is a little bland.

Not a huge worry at this budget and not a concern for the mother!

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jmcc99_98 wrote: »

Ha ha, yes looking at it know I have no idea why I took a photo of it with all the doors open?!

I can see that Peugeot have a bad name from reading this thread, genuinely I or my wife have had 5 Peugeots over the past 10 years and never a days trouble (touch wood)

Good luck with the search MFitzy

I thought the photos look fine, just maybe a bit of a polish perhaps.

They have, the older ones were great but since 2001/2 they have damaged their name in many eyes, dynamically and reliability wise. Sad but their fault. I hope the new 208 and 508 improve things.
Best of luck with the sale mate.

JohnBoy26

mfitzy wrote: »

Not a huge worry at this budget and not a concern for the mother!

In that case look in to them. I don't think you or your mother will be dissapointed.

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Looking again,. She might actually change this time :rolleyes:

Merc A-Class Markk II, what are they like? Seen a few around the budget and look like decent value. Are there any horror stories? Petrol ones...