New car advice

anthony4335

I am looking for a new car. This time I want something economical . I have 10k to spend and would like it to be 08 or newer with low mileage if possible. So far I have looked at Toyota prius and Auris models, Honda Civic IMA, and I also like the Citreon C5 and Renault Laguna III diesels, but I am worried about the reliability of these. I don't do a lot of mileage about 17k KM's per year of which at least 60 to 70% is motorway. Any thoughts on the above cars and any other options. One thing I would like is cruise control, it also has to be comfortable, lower back problems. Cheers in advance.

166man

Avoid used diesels anyway. I'd go for the Prius, I'm starting to like them in ways that no true petrolhead should...:D

colm_mcm

I wouldn't rate the Prius seats though.

166man

colm_mcm wrote: »

I wouldn't rate the Prius seats though.

Really? I heard the leather one's were very good...

Good to know for future reference anyhow.

colm_mcm

I just found them small, low down, and unsupportive.

MuppetCheck

166man wrote: »

Avoid used diesels anyway

II wouldn't agree. If bought right the OP's mileage, although low, should suit a diesel as the majority is motorway.

A Kia Ceed with a couple of years warranty left should be possible on that budget. It's sister car the Hyundai i30 is another good purchase.

colm_mcm

I might be wrong, but the only i30s I've seen with cruise are the 2.0 diesels.

166man

MuppetCheck wrote: »

II wouldn't agree. If bought right the OP's mileage, although low, should suit a diesel as the majority is motorway.

A Kia Ceed with a couple of years warranty left should be possible on that budget. It's sister car the Hyundai i30 is another good purchase.

10k miles a year - wouldn't bother with a diesel.

Don't think the Kia Ceed's seats are particularly comfortable from what I remember.

You can't tell how a diesel was driven previously, hence my comment. You could buy a well looked after diesel that has a FSH and the DPF could throw a fit some day and be circa €1000 to fix. Not the kind of bill I'd like and that difference would buy a fair few tanks of petrol. Also the cost of a DMF at some stage would be another cost.

Add in the fact that a petrol Prius/Insight/IMA Hybrid Civic while not the most fun cars to drive are quieter and generally smoother and I fail to see a case for taking the risk on a used diesel in Ireland.

IMO of course.

MuppetCheck

166man wrote: »

10k miles a year - wouldn't bother with a diesel.

Don't think the Kia Ceed's seats are particularly comfortable from what I remember.

You can't tell how a diesel was driven previously, hence my comment. You could buy a well looked after diesel that has a FSH and the DPF could throw a fit some day and be circa €1000 to fix. Not the kind of bill I'd like and that difference would buy a fair few tanks of petrol. Also the cost of a DMF at some stage would be another cost.

Add in the fact that a petrol Prius/Insight/IMA Hybrid Civic while not the most fun cars to drive are quieter and generally smoother and I fail to see a case for taking the risk on a used diesel in Ireland.

IMO of course.

Old an new model Ceeds at home in my parents, I've never had an issue with comfort in them. And I have suffered extensively in recent years with my back so finding a seat/driving position that I am comfortable in is not always easy.

The only con I can see with a Ceed is a dmf, although I do not believe them to fail all that often on them from looking at owners forums prior to the purchase of the diesel. Still its a possibility all the same, but the fact that most of the rest of the car is covered up to 7 years and or 150k is reassuring to know.

Possibly an auto (like a Prius) may mitigate that to an extent? This might need some bargaining and it is an estate but it gives a flavour of what's out there.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/KIA/Ceed/1.6-EX-D/34513640522007080/advert?channel=CARS

MuppetCheck

colm_mcm wrote: »

I might be wrong, but the only i30s I've seen with cruise are the 2.0 diesels.

I think LS spec on the Ceeds had it but that would be a UK import. I seem to remember reading something somewhere about it being possible in a Ceed but I don't know for sure. Would be handy if it was a matter of getting the buttons and programming it.

166man

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Old an new model Ceeds at home in my parents, I've never had an issue with comfort in them. And I have suffered extensively in recent years with my back so finding a seat/driving position that I am comfortable in is not always easy.

The only con I can see with a Ceed is a dmf, although I do not believe them to fail all that often on them from looking at owners forums prior to the purchase of the diesel. Still its a possibility all the same, but the fact that most of the rest of the car is covered up to 7 years and or 150k is reassuring to know.

Possibly an auto (like a Prius) may mitigate that to an extent? This might need some bargaining and it is an estate but it gives a flavour of what's out there.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/KIA/Ceed/1.6-EX-D/34513640522007080/advert?channel=CARS

Good to know, from what I had heard and only experienced briefly the seats weren't the best in them.

DMF and DPF would worry me. As said earlier you can't know how a car has been driven hence I see, especially at 10k miles a year, the buying of a diesel as an unnecessary risk.

AFAIK the auto boxes were more of a slushbox. If they were anything like what was in the Santa Fe of that era which I would wager they are then I'd avoid. Utterly useless box that could never get it right.

MuppetCheck

166man wrote: »

Good to know, from what I had heard and only experienced briefly the seats weren't the best in them.

DMF and DPF would worry me. As said earlier you can't know how a car has been driven hence I see, especially at 10k miles a year, the buying of a diesel as an unnecessary risk.

AFAIK the auto boxes were more of a slushbox. If they were anything like what was in the Santa Fe of that era which I would wager they are then I'd avoid. Utterly useless box that could never get it right.

Well from actually using/driving both generations as opposed to briefly sitting in them or hearing about them they are one of the better ones for a bad back I can assure you, surprising for me as I thought they wouldn't be sufficiently padded.

If the cars going to be used on the motorway I doubt there will be dpf problems, and then there is the warranty for that.

Never driven the auto, you seem to have experience of that so I couldn't possibly comment as much as yourself:)

Was only meant as a suggestion to the OP to look at as a possibility anyway and see what they thought.

colm_mcm

I've driven the i30 in an auto and it was lively enough. Didn't really notice the lack of a 5th gear.
It was a joy compared to the MMT gearboxes I was used to.

bazz26

The regular Honda Civic saloon is worth looking at. The 1.8 litre i-VTEC engine is light enough on fuel and they are nippy too. It has cruise control as standard among other creature comforts.

For example:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Civic/1.8I-SES/34213611917144950/

anthony4335

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Well from actually using/driving both generations as opposed to briefly sitting in them or hearing about them they are one of the better ones for a bad back I can assure you, surprising for me as I thought they wouldn't be sufficiently padded.

.

By both generations, can I assume you mean the Prius. What were they like as a daily driver.

As for the Kia , I am currently driving my parents c'eed 1.4 ,and find it comfortable ,but I do miss the cruise control.
I am not married to the idea of an automatic ,love them but I can live without it. As for the MMT, the worst I have ever driven, thought the box was shot or at least in need to a oil change.

the culture of deference

10k will get you brand new

anthony4335

So it looks like the prius won, 2009 new shape T4 model. Only marginally won over the C'eed. The 3 criteria were, comfort, reliability and economical. Picked it as trying to get the best mpg is like playing a game.