Car Buying Advice

Pedalstool

I am looking to update my 06 Impreza.

Ideally I want something reliable. Reliability is my main concern.

Obviously I want to get something a little more frugal too. I think I'll get around 3/4 grand trading in the Impreza and I'm willing to put 6 with it.

If its decent to drive and nice to sit in that is also a bonus. But I'm willing to settle for something dull this time round, just for the economics of it.

All suggestions greatly appreciated, I'm going around in circles here myself.

Alanstrainor

What Impreza is it? Engine? Spec?

You'd be better off selling it privately if that's something you have the time to do?

Pedalstool

Alanstrainor wrote: »

What Impreza is it? Engine? Spec?

You'd be better off selling it privately if that's something you have the time to do?

Its only the standard 2.0ltr. I don't really have the time to sell it privately, looking to get rid of it before I have to do the timing belt, 4 tyres and some other small bits.

randy hickey

Honda Accord?

Pedalstool

randy hickey wrote: »

Honda Accord?

Probably a bit pricey to get one with decent milage. Probably not that economical either.

What I have been looking at is an Auris, Avensis (no laughing), Focus, Octavia, Seat Leon, Peugeot 308/408, Volvo c30, Mitsubishi Lancer, Opel Astra, Honda Civic...

JohnBoy26

Pedalstool wrote: »

Probably a bit pricey to get one with decent milage. Probably not that economical either.

What I have been looking at is an Auris, Avensis (no laughing), Focus, Octavia, Seat Leon, Peugeot 308/408, Volvo c30, Mitsubishi Lancer, Opel Astra, Honda Civic...

If your considering the likes of an Auris, you should also consider a Kia Cee'd or a Hyundai i30 aswell. Both cars are very reliable and are very well built. They are also a better cars than the Auris imo.

Pedalstool

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

If your considering the likes of an Auris, you should also consider a Kia Cee'd or a Hyundai i30 aswell. Both cars are very reliable and are very well built. They are also a better cars than the Auris imo.

I will check the Ceed and i30 out. I'm not overly gone on the Auris anyway. Looks overinflated.

bazz26

Honda Civic saloon:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Civic/1.8i-SES/30913503204983070/

Pedalstool

bazz26 wrote: »

Honda Civic saloon:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Civic/1.8i-SES/30913503204983070/

Milage is a bit high Bazz. Looking for something below 55k. Love to know what people think of the 308 or astra?

colm_mcm

Pedalstool wrote: »

Milage is a bit high Bazz. Looking for something below 55k. Love to know what people think of the 308 or astra?

I've the same mileage on my 07. Still tight and no rattles, squeaks, bits falling off, niggles, nothing.

JohnBoy26

Pedalstool wrote: »

Milage is a bit high Bazz. Looking for something below 55k. Love to know what people think of the 308 or astra?

The Civic is a much better car than both an Astra and a Peugeot 308. Also that car that Bazz linked has low mileage, 76k miles is nothing.

Also Imo you should judge a car on condition and how well it was maintained and cared for rather than just the number on the clock.

What would you rather? A 30k mile car that has been trashed all it's life and has been poorly maintained, or a 70k mile car that has got the best of care and the best of maintainance?

bazz26

Pedalstool wrote: »

Milage is a bit high Bazz. Looking for something below 55k. Love to know what people think of the 308 or astra?

76k miles on a 5 year old petrol car is hardly high, it's above average alright but definately nothing to be concerned about especially on a Honda Civic. I'd rather a Honda Civic with 76k miles than a 308 or Astra with 55k miles.

Pedalstool

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The Civic is a much better car than both an Astra and a Peugeot 308. Also that car that Bazz linked has low mileage, 76k miles is nothing.

Also Imo you should judge a car on condition and how well it was maintained and cared for rather than just the number on the clock.

What would you rather? A 30k mile car that has been trashed all it's life and has been poorly maintained, or a 70k mile car that has got the best of car and the best of maintainance?

I know what your saying Johnboy, the angle I'm coming from is that I will probably put 75 to 80 k on it over the next three years.

Planned obsolescenece and all that.

Of course if the general consensus is that the Astra and 308 are poor then of course the civic is the better buy.

colm_mcm

08 civic ima with small miles


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201302195401297/sort/default/usedcars/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/price-to/6000/body-type/saloon/maximum-age/up_to_5_years_old/model/civic/make/honda/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/postcode/bt126hr/page/1/radius/1501?logcode=p

€7000
Vrt €634
Travel €366

Finished at €8k




Edit, says £7949 on the windscreen...

Pedalstool

colm_mcm wrote: »

08 civic ima with small miles


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201302195401297/sort/default/usedcars/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/price-to/6000/body-type/saloon/maximum-age/up_to_5_years_old/model/civic/make/honda/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/postcode/bt126hr/page/1/radius/1501?logcode=p

€7000
Vrt €634
Travel €366

Finished at €8k

Will they have any issues with me trading in my car?

colm_mcm

You'd have to sell yours privately. You'd be better off doing that either way

Pedalstool

colm_mcm wrote: »

You'd have to sell yours privately. You'd be better off doing that either way

Do you reckon I would make more selling it privately?

I see a lot of the same private sale cars, months later still for sale on Carzone.

colm_mcm

If you price it right. Tbh sadly I don't think a n/a 2.0 impreza is worth a whole pile.

Pedalstool

colm_mcm wrote: »

If you price it right. Tbh sadly I don't think a n/a 2.0 impreza is worth a whole pile.

Neither do I but I think I might get more against another car than selling it on its own.

I was offered 4 against another Impreza a while back. Whether I get 4 against another make I'm not sure.

At the moment an Avensis seems to be giving me the most bang for my buck. Just interested to see what other options are out there before I make up my mind.

colm_mcm

Its only play money. A dealer isn't realistically going to actually give you way more than its worth privately. A lot of the trade in price is margin built into the window price for just such a trade in. Given that Irish people focus more on the trade in price than the cost to change, they kinda have to do this,

Pedalstool

colm_mcm wrote: »

Its only play money. A dealer isn't realistically going to actually give you way more than its worth privately. A lot of the trade in price is margin built into the window price for just such a trade in. Given that Irish people focus more on the trade in price than the cost to change, they kinda have to do this,

Yeah I know. If I offer to buy a car straight I get a grand off right there and then.

I figure my car is worth 3k tops, with a trade against a 10k car, I might get 4k off the price.

This is all getting away from the point of the thread though!

Is there anything out there better value than an Avensis?

colm_mcm

I reckon a mazda6 new model is worth a look.

Pedalstool

colm_mcm wrote: »

I reckon a mazda6 new model is worth a look.

Just had a look there, yeah some nice ones available at decent prices. How reliable are they?

Pedalstool

Its turned into a straight up choice between two Avensis.

Trying to decide is difficult.

A 08 Avensis Aura, 1.8, 56,000 Miles Vs. 07 Avensis Strata, 1.6, 47,000 Miles.

Both for the same price.

Which one guys?

All help appreciated...

colm_mcm

Throw up links to the two cars. 1.8 aura quite rare.

bazz26

Why only those two given the amount of Avensis out there? I'd have a 1.8 litre over a 1.6 litre but not an Aura spec, Strata is not much better spec wise and could not live with the 1.6 litre. Would you not look for a 1.8 litre Luna model?

Pedalstool

bazz26 wrote: »

Why only those two given the amount of Avensis out there? I'd have a 1.8 litre over a 1.6 litre but not an Aura spec, Strata is not much better spec wise and could not live with the 1.6 litre. Would you not look for a 1.8 litre Luna model?

I've been looking for the last month or so. Those two top the list after all my searching. I have exhausted carzone so at this point I'm ready to make a decision.

Running cost is probably the main consideration.

colm_mcm

Have either of then given you a cost to change price?

All things being equal I'd have the 1.8 but it'd kill me to buy it.

Pedalstool

colm_mcm wrote: »

Have either of then given you a cost to change price?

Don't quite get what you mean Colm?

colm_mcm

As in have you been to see both cars and got the same end price including the subaru?

Pedalstool

colm_mcm wrote: »

As in have you been to see both cars and got the same end price including the subaru?

Seen the 07. Its immaculate, really good. Have to travel down to Limerick to see the 08 at the weekend. Both offering 3k for the Subaru against their cars.

I'm wondering is it worth it. Pros for the 07 are lower miles, less road tax, higher spec.

Pros for the 08 is more bhp, 08 badge.

Running cost is probably my main concern. Is the 1.8 much better to drive?

colm_mcm

Its better, a bit more grunt but not unlike the 1.6 really.

At a risk of sounding like a fanboi, have you looked at the 1.8 civic, they're very good on petrol

Pedalstool

colm_mcm wrote: »

Its better, a bit more grunt but not unlike the 1.6 really.

At a risk of sounding like a fanboi, have you looked at the 1.8 civic, they're very good on petrol

I have spent far too many hours looking at cars over the last month or so. I'm done!

I like Avensis more than the other contenders. Its well built, reasonably economical, I like the inside including the driving position. They are supposed to be really reliable so they tick a lot of boxes for me.

Not the biggest fan of the Civic styling.

dh0011

i have a 1.6 avensis strata and it is grand but i am thinking of changing. I drove a 1.8 last week. It was more refined and much nicer to drive. If you test both avensis i think you will probably want the 1.8.

Pedalstool

Just a quick update. Three months in the car has been an absolute breeze.

It's gear ratio isn't great for motorway driving but its very easy to drive around town, where most of my time is spent. Comfortable, economical up to a point (7.2 Ltr/100Km), handles pretty well and loads of space.

What it does give me is no headaches. I know its not going to give me any trouble and does as much as I need it to do.

Next time I'll get something fun but this is ok for the forseaable future.

dh0011

avensis

Pedalstool

dh0011 wrote: »

avensis

Yes indeed.