1.4l or less, budget 3500-3800.

Diziet · 19-02-2013 10:20am #1

Long time on boards, first post in Motors!

I am replacing my ageing but super reliable Honda Accord, as I no longer need such a big car. I don't do much mileage, so I need something 1.4l or less, hatchback, reliable and nice to drive. It does not need to be particularly powerful, but not so basic as to be annoying :-).

I have narrowed down the search to the Focus 1.4, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla (don't see many of these second hand), of the Yaris. Or possibly a Fiesta. So the pattern seems to be either something Japanese or a Ford.

Are there any other models I should be considering? I am based in Cork, so have less choice than if I was located in Dublin I guess.

bazz26 · 19-02-2013 12:03pm

You should be able to get a 2004/2005 Mazda 3 on your budget. It uses the Focus chassis and they tend to give very little trouble. Alot cheaper to buy than a similar Corolla or Civic too and the 1.4 litre seems nipper than a similar Focus.

NIMAN · 19-02-2013 12:04pm

1.4 Golf?

bazz26 · 19-02-2013 12:26pm

That generation of 1.4 Golf has a poor engine, likes to drink plenty of oil and has a soft gearbox. They tend to be overpriced for what they are too imo.

JohnBoy26 · 19-02-2013 12:30pm

NIMAN wrote: »

1.4 Golf?

These have soft engines and are underpowered. Id avoid.

Out of that list the Corolla is the one to go for. They are very reliable and cheap to run and maintain. They also have much better performance compared to a 1.4 ford focus

The 01-05 Honda Civic hathbacks aren't as reliable as they should be given hondas high standards . They can have issues with gearboxes and electric power steering problems.

A Yaris or fiesta are from a class below but any of the two are good reliable cars. Both are also cheap and easy to maintain.

Idbatterim · 19-02-2013 12:33pm

if going for the focus get the 1.6L, the 1.4 would likely use at least the same if not more fuel as its underpowered to be pulling around the weight of a focus at 80bhp. There will be no difference in fuel, virtually no difference in tax. Your looking at spending E3800, frankly I dont see where E130 in tax a year becomes a factor...

Diziet · 19-02-2013 8:51pm

Thanks for the advice - I went to look at a Suzuki Liana today. 2003 vintage, drove very well, very low mileage as it belonged to a pensioner, nothing wrong with it at all. It was not something I would consider, is quite boring, but according to my mechanic it is reliable and it was only 2500, so I bought it. As a result, I have an additional 1300 of my budget to spend on fripperies and beer :-)

NIMAN · 19-02-2013 8:55pm

bazz26 wrote: »

That generation of 1.4 Golf has a poor engine, likes to drink plenty of oil and has a soft gearbox. They tend to be overpriced for what they are too imo.

Own a 2001 1.4 Golf.

Bought with 30,000 miles on the clock, now got 140,000 and never given any bother, other than a engine oil sensor being faulty.

I must be one of the lucky ones.

@ OP, now that you've got your wheels, good luck with your purchase.

1.4l or less, budget 3500-3800.

Comments