Replacement car, feedback appreciated

PauloMN

Ok, so after almost 7 years with my 1.8T A4, it's time to say goodbye. I'm taking Mrs. Paulo's A4 Avant 2.0TDi and the replacement car will be hers.

Based on what she likes, our budget (prob. around €16k) and the requirement for a frugal low-tax car, these seem to be the ones she'd be interested in (in no particular order):

Audi A3 - well, we both like Audis, but even I have to admit that these A3s are getting pretty tired at this stage. Probably looking at a 2010 1.6TDi. Not my favourite really.

Golf - probably a 2011, 1.6TDi again, would need to be the equivalent of a UK SE model for equipment (she has cruise, climate and parking sensors on her current bus and wants all of these really). I do like Golfs, as does she. Trendlines are the crap spec in Ireland, right? Is Comfortline or Highline the spec I'm looking for?

i30 - not a bad looking car, no idea on them at all though, never even been in one. Worth considering or not?

Volvo S40 - I've kinda ruled this one out because the diesels seem to be poor in terms of emissions which is important to us. Seem like a nice car otherwise, lots of them well equipped with leather etc..

Insignia - bit of a curve-ball, I've always liked the look of them and still do. Tons of them available, especially in the UK, and Elite models with leather and a pile of extras seem to be reasonably common. Depreciate really badly from new which makes them a cheap buy 2nd hand, and could probably go with a 2010 or even 2011. 160bhp diesel seems frugal, and has low emissions, but still is a nice bit of power compared to an asthmatic 1.6 diesel Golf for example. Too good to be true? What's wrong with these cars apart from being from the GM stable?

Am I missing any other obvious ones? Just to save any unsuitable suggestions - Fiats, Renaults, Fords and Nissans are all completely out.

colm_mcm

Seat exeo, old model a4 but with the new cr tdi engine. You can get 131 reg for 20k so a 11 should be in budget

dh0011

What about one of these?
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mitsubishi/Lancer/1.8-4DR/31513541984897230/advert?channel=CARS
They are 21K new with an 8 year warranty and 280 p.a. in tax

bazz26

PauloMN wrote: »

Volvo S40 - I've kinda ruled this one out because the diesels seem to be poor in terms of emissions which is important to us. Seem like a nice car otherwise, lots of them well equipped with leather etc../QUOTE]

Not sure where you heard that, the 1.6d costs €200/€280 on the emissions system depending on the year. 2.0d would be under €390 or €480.

Old diesel

PauloMN wrote: »

Ok, so after almost 7 years with my 1.8T A4, it's time to say goodbye. I'm taking Mrs. Paulo's A4 Avant 2.0TDi and the replacement car will be hers.

Based on what she likes, our budget (prob. around €16k) and the requirement for a frugal low-tax car, these seem to be the ones she'd be interested in (in no particular order):

Audi A3 - well, we both like Audis, but even I have to admit that these A3s are getting pretty tired at this stage. Probably looking at a 2010 1.6TDi. Not my favourite really.

Golf - probably a 2011, 1.6TDi again, would need to be the equivalent of a UK SE model for equipment (she has cruise, climate and parking sensors on her current bus and wants all of these really). I do like Golfs, as does she. Trendlines are the crap spec in Ireland, right? Is Comfortline or Highline the spec I'm looking for?

i30 - not a bad looking car, no idea on them at all though, never even been in one. Worth considering or not?

Volvo S40 - I've kinda ruled this one out because the diesels seem to be poor in terms of emissions which is important to us. Seem like a nice car otherwise, lots of them well equipped with leather etc..

Insignia - bit of a curve-ball, I've always liked the look of them and still do. Tons of them available, especially in the UK, and Elite models with leather and a pile of extras seem to be reasonably common. Depreciate really badly from new which makes them a cheap buy 2nd hand, and could probably go with a 2010 or even 2011. 160bhp diesel seems frugal, and has low emissions, but still is a nice bit of power compared to an asthmatic 1.6 diesel Golf for example. Too good to be true? What's wrong with these cars apart from being from the GM stable?

Am I missing any other obvious ones? Just to save any unsuitable suggestions - Fiats, Renaults, Fords and Nissans are all completely out.

Without wishing to come across as a smartypants in any way - low tax really is not the be all and end all.

Fair enough you may not wish to spend a grand or whatever on tax - but id take the view that 600/700 quid tax is perfectly fine if it means you get into a much nicer car.

Wouldn't walk away from the Volvo if you like it - even if you have to pay slightly more on tax then its worth it imo on a 16 grand car - if you like it more then the others.

Insignias do look nice - I will give them that - be sure to take a good drive in one though - it seems some people like them - but others hate them. Oh and the 2010/11 Ecoflex suffers from gearing that's far too high by all accounts.

Passat might be worth a look - think they cured the build quality issues on the new 05/06 Passat in around 08 - and id say the common rail 2.0 tdi has probably sorted the reliability issues of the earlier 2.0 tdi (PD).

Finally theres also the Octavia VRs (petrol or diesel) to consider.

Bear in mind too that a lot of these very frugal low tax 1.6 diesel type machines don't always make their claimed fuel economy.

Wouldn't be changing to one from a 2.0 TDI on fuel economy alone - that's for sure .

Hope it all works out for you