520d or passat DSG

Suasdaguna1

Budget 25k....sold both my cars so we use 1 and me on bike.

Need a heads up and honest opinions about best family car option.

Have what I want down to a 09 last model 520d low miles or a 2011 passat DSG low miles/kms. I read with horror on another similar thread even the 09 520d's are prone to timing chain wear or worse snapping.

Had a trip home in a dsg passat taxi recently and I was very impressed with the engine/dsg gear change etc. loads of room for family and the front seats albeit not leather were very comfy for my bad back. Ride though not as good as Bm.

Had two 530ds in the past and liked the seats.

I'm edging towards a passat, couldn't give a frig about image...those days are well gone...it's a newer car with less issues.

Really appreciate your comments as they may be the deciding factor.

keithclancy

Mmmm ... I'd go for the Passat, being newer and for the same money.

Wicklowandy

Maybe a passat cc? So much classier than the default 520d.

I love the e60 in sport guise, but they really are getting as common as muck, and plenty of early ones seem to be purchases as replacements by the pisshat tdi brigade;)

high horse

Have you considered the Honda Accord?

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Accord/2.2i-DTEC/35413675717955030/

Suasdaguna1

Has to be auto for the mrs.

Blazer

Be very careful of DSG...VW was forced to do a huge recall in China over flaws in it's design. Now the fallout was pretty small ,something like 0.1% but still if you were one of those? expensive
Its grand if you get one with a warranty etc but research first

Same goes for the 520D ..the N47 engine is known for timing chain failures which is over 6k to fix outside of warranty..you can go to an indy and get it done for around 2.5k etc..
The N47 was used in 1,3,5 series cars between Sept 2007-2010.
Mainly the 320D,520D etc..not too sure about the what models under the 1 series.

Looking at your choices probably the passat since it's 2 years newer and presume 2 year warranty at the least?

MuppetCheck

Just a suggestion - similar car to the Passat but with more room and a much better spec but how about a Superb Elegance 2.0 TDI 170?

It's more powerful than the majority of 2 litre the Passats in Ireland which tend to be 140's, has much of the same running gear but not image.

How many miles do you do ? and does diesel have to be the first choice ?

15-20 mpg difference over 10,000 miles is only around 550-580 in the difference, if you're spending 25K on a car the petrol is hardly going to break the bank ? or the extra few hundred in road tax ?

The tax on the BMW 2.5L petrol 08+ is only around 700, not sure if that's for the auto.

There were issues with the E60 BMW 2.5 L petrols from 2008 coil packs I think ? more knowledgeable BMW enthusiasts can advise you more.

Also the BMW 330D would be better as their 3.0L diesels seem to be sound, if it must be a diesel.

As people here on boards have opened my eyes to, depreciation is the biggest costs a lot more than fuel especially when spending 25k on a car.

Maybe consider an older Petrol BMW loose less and have fun with a 3.0L ?

jimgoose

How about this for a plan. Hear me out:

1) Tell the blasted Germans to take a running jump into something good and solid.

2) Pick up this here Jaaaaag for 22K:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4892388



3) Spend the change on a week cruising around the South of France with the missis.

:cool:

Jag is nice on the outside but I hate that interior. The silver is soooo tacky.

jimgoose

Deleted User wrote: »

Jag is nice on the outside but I hate that interior. The silver is soooo tacky.

I test-drove one back in 2008. They're a good deal more elegant in real-life.

bazz26

Is the OP happy to pay the annual €1k in motor tax on the Jag though?

If he's spending 25 k on a car 1 extra k a year is hardly going to break him and if it does then maybe he shouldn't be spending 25k in the first place ?

Interest + deprecation adds up to a whole lot more.

bazz26

Deleted User wrote: »

If he's spending 25 k on a car 1 extra k a year is hardly going to break him and if it does then maybe he shouldn't be spending 25k in the first place ?

Interest + deprecation adds up to a whole lot more.

Your average motorist doesn't see it that way though.

jimgoose

bazz26 wrote: »

Is the OP happy to pay the annual €1k in motor tax on the Jag though?

He can tax the thing for three years on the remainder of his budget, and he won't have to drive around in a Volkswagen and have small children point and laugh all the time. Win-win!!

bazz26

bazz26 wrote: »

Your average motorist doesn't see it that way though.

True!

Just look at an 06 BMW Msport 2.5 Petrol after 7 years worth 8500 with 100k on the clock.

so say 16K depreciation + interest on loan, kinda makes road tax and fuel look cheap, that's why these days I'd be more likely to get one for 6-8K 3.0L least I can't loose 16K + interest on a 6-8K car.

Convert to lpg and have bigger than diesel fuel savings and 6 cylinders of sweetness singing to me every time I hit the throttle !!!

MuppetCheck

Deleted User wrote: »

True!

Just look at an 06 BMW Msport 2.5 Petrol after 7 years worth 8500 with 100k on the clock.

so say 16K depreciation + interest on loan, kinda makes road tax and fuel look cheap, that's why these days I'd be more likely to get one for 6-8K 3.0L least I can't loose 16K + interest on a 5-6K car.

Convert to lpg and have bigger than diesel fuel savings and 6 cylinders of sweetness singing to me every time I hit the throttle !!!

At 6k you could nearly sell the Prius, buy an E60 (or to cover motor tax for a few years an E30) and convert it.

jimgoose

bazz26 wrote: »

Your average motorist doesn't see it that way though.

Your average motorist has never tried an eight-speed ZF transmission.

MuppetCheck

MuppetCheck wrote: »

At 6k you could nearly sell the Prius, buy an E60 (or to cover motor tax for a few years an E30) and convert it.

Don't be putting thoughts like that into my head, herself would never go for it. You know yourself. Jaysus how much to tax ? bla bla currently she drives the prius now 60 odd miles a day and unless there was LPG in Carlow Town that distance would add up quickly on petrol then if I get another job in Dublin it would be at least 110 miles a day, but I could fill up in Kilcullen.

I like the E60 a lot.

Imaging me going from Prius to E60 2.5L ? :eek: I'd think I'm on the starship enterprise !

But an E60 BMW 2.5 -3.0L on LPG for not much more than to run a prius on petrol appeals to me very much !!!

jimgoose

jimgoose wrote: »

Your average motorist has never tried an eight-speed ZF transmission.

What's the tax with that new 8 speed in the petrols that is ?

jimgoose

Deleted User wrote: »

What's the tax with that new 8 speed in the petrols that is ?

The eight-speed isn't used in the petrol models, just the six-speed. More gears keep the diesel in its sweet spot.

jimgoose

jimgoose wrote: »

The eight-speed isn't used in the petrol models, just the six-speed. More gears keep the diesel in its sweet spot.

Ah ok, I think I read somewhere where in the 8th gear the revs would be somewhere like 1500 @75 mph ?

I remember the multitronic being very close to that at 75 mph.

I worked out that the BMW on LPG @ 82c/l would cost an extra 1200 a year over the Prius to run inc road tax @ 750 kms a week + lpg service ?

An extra 3800 on petrol alone lol

But just counting LPG the BMW would work out around 13 Euro a week more expensive leaving tax out of it. Tax is an extra 600.

Suasdaguna1

bazz26 wrote: »

Is the OP happy to pay the annual €1k in motor tax on the Jag though?

Unfort....a big no. I've just moved on a jeep costing max tax p/a. I am fed up giving those govt bloody suckers money. Vote is still out. Really am grateful for all the comments.

Preset No.3

2 pages of comments and only 1 person has mentioned a skoda! Whats the world coming to????

MuppetCheck

Preset No.3 wrote: »

2 pages of comments and only 1 person has mentioned a skoda! Whats the world coming to????

Great suggestion by yourself there.