Car choice advice

RonnieL

Hi Guys.

I have a 06 Saab 9-3 1.9 TID Linear Sport, with 80K miles on the clock. We've had it three years and it's been a lovely car in general. However, it's always been a bit tight on legroom, and now we have two kids I find the boot a bit on the small side when we're doing one of our regular cross country trips to visit in-laws. On top of that, it broke down a few weeks back, and I had to have a clutch pipe replaced. This morning I got an email to say the tax is up at the end of the month, so I'm thinking maybe we should get rid of it and get something a bit newer.

So, I'm looking for some advice in general.

Firstly, how much should I be expecting to get on a trade in?

Assuming I have about 7K to add to the trade in value, any thoughts on cars I should be looking at?

I'd like a saloon, with a big boot, similar power to the Saab, and like everyone else, I'd like something economical. We don't do big mileage - I think in three years we probably did about 30000 miles, or maybe less (can't remember what mileage was on it when I bought it).

I'm thinking a ford mondeo maybe?

Thanks!

PS: I'm based in Galway

bazz26

Your car is probably worth about €5.5 to €6k as a trade-in but the figure to focus on is how much it will cost you to trade up to the newer car as trade in prices can be made out to be very attractive but the dealer can add the generosity back onto the newer car.

At that low annual mileage you probably would get better value looking at buying a petrol car.

RonnieL

bazz26 wrote: »

Your car is probably worth about €5.5 to €6k as a trade-in but the figure to focus on is how much it will cost you to trade up to the newer car as trade in prices can be made out to be very attractive but the dealer can add the generosity back onto the newer car.

At that low annual mileage you probably would get better value looking at buying a petrol car.

Cheers Baz. I've been poking around in the Motors threads a bit over the last few days, reading old threads etc, and I'm getting the feeling that people around here think that benefits of Diesel are overstated?

Just to add a little more information. The car will typically be used for getting to and from work. That's about 10 km each way. On top of that, it's just regular family stuff at the weekends, and a monthly trip to Dublin (from Galway) and back.

bazz26

Ok, to put it in more detail, what sort of driving is it mainly used for? Is the commute constant motorway style driving or is there a lot of urban stop/start type driving? If it is constant stop/start driving then a diesel car is really not suitable.

RonnieL

bazz26 wrote: »

Ok, to put it in more detail, what sort of driving is it mainly used for? Is the commute constant motorway style driving or is there a lot of urban stop/start type driving? If it is constant stop/start driving then a diesel car is really not suitable.

A mixture of both I'd say. So, in the mornings it probably takes 25mins to make the 10K spin, so when I think about it, there is a fair bit of time spent in traffic. In the evening it's a bit quicker, with 10 mins in traffic and 10 on dual carriageways and local roads.

RonnieL

So, does anyone have any recommendations on suitable car models, considering the budget and the few requirements I mentioned in the first post (big boot, similar power to the Saab etc)?

dgt

Volvo V70?

RonnieL

dgt wrote: »

Volvo V70?

Cheers dgt. Just had a quick look on carzone and there's not much about in the price range. I've never been mad about estates in general, but wouldn't rule them out entirely, especially since I'd like a decent boot.

Are Opel Insignia's good cars? Spacious boot?

bazz26

You will pick up a 2008/2009 Mazda 6 petrol for half decent money these days. Avoid the diesel though, not very reliable.

Opel Insignia has poor rear visibility and headroom due to the sloping roofline.

VW Passat has a large boot but they tend to be expensive even second hand.

Idbatterim

most cars you buy their tax will be up, its not bad on a 1.9L here, your going to be saving what? 200-300 max? If you go to sell it privately via the donedeal route, I cant see you getting that much for it... I certainly wouldnt change to "save" money, because you wont be...

bazz26

A Citroen C5 might fit the bill. The current model is a pretty decent car:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Citroen/C5/1.6-HDI/36513719188848970/


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Citroen/C5/1.6-HDI/37613765996332760/

RonnieL

Idbatterim wrote: »

most cars you buy their tax will be up, its not bad on a 1.9L here, your going to be saving what? 200-300 max? If you go to sell it privately via the donedeal route, I cant see you getting that much for it... I certainly wouldnt change to "save" money, because you wont be...

Sorry, I was a bit unclear in my post. We're not thinking of changing the car to save money on road tax. It's more the combination of the Saab acting up a bit, and us outgrowing it having recently had a second child.

RonnieL

Thanks for the replies Bazz. The Citreon C5 might well be an option. The two you linked at 1.6's, so I might have a search for one with a bigger engine.

Any thoughts on the Qashqai? My other half has gotten involved and she likes the look of them. There's a 2010 1.6 petrol XE on carzone in Galway that we might have a look at.

bazz26

RonnieL wrote: »

Thanks for the replies Bazz. The Citreon C5 might well be an option. The two you linked at 1.6's, so I might have a search for one with a bigger engine.

Any thoughts on the Qashqai? My other half has gotten involved and she likes the look of them. There's a 2010 1.6 petrol XE on carzone in Galway that we might have a look at.

C5 is available with a 2.0 litre diesel engine also but most are 1.6 which while no rocket is well able to keep up with motorway traffic.

By all means try out a Qashqai but just be aware that the boot is not huge on them as they are really a tall hatchback with higher ground clearance made to look like a SUV.

RonnieL

bazz26 wrote: »

C5 is available with a 2.0 litre diesel engine also but most are 1.6 which while no rocket is well able to keep up with motorway traffic.

By all means try out a Qashqai but just be aware that the boot is not huge on them as they are really a tall hatchback with higher ground clearance made to look like a SUV.

Cheers Bazz.

I went for a look at some cars on Friday, including the second C5 you linked to earlier in the thread. It's a grand car alright, and the 1.6 didn't seem slow. Here's a link to it on carzone: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Citroen/C5/1.6-HDI-/37613765996332760/advert?channel=CARS

As you said, the Qashqai boot is too small, and it's also small in the back, so we ruled that out fairly quickly. Desipte what was said about the poor rear visibility, I also liked the Insignia. He had this 2011 one: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Insignia/2.0-CDTI/26213425174151850/advert?channel=CARS

So, with my Saab, he said he's do the Citreon for 7950, or the Insigna for 10650.

Any thoughts?

Obviously the Citreon is closer to budget, but I'm thinking for a 2011 Insignia, maybe it's worth spending a few quid extra, for resale reasons alone?

Either way, I was a little disappointed on the trade in value he gave me on the Saab.

bazz26

That Insignia is the base model and looks terrible imo, mileage is also on the high side for the year so I'd cannot see how you think it will retain a whole lot more in resale value over the C5 when you go to sell it considering you have to fork out nearly €4k extra for it to begin with. Personally I think the C5 is a nicer car, higher spec in a better colour than that particular Insignia which looks very old imo.

Also have you considered selling the Saab privately? You would probably do better on the deal and being diesel with low mileage it should not be too difficult to shift.

RonnieL

bazz26 wrote: »

That Insignia is the base model and looks terrible imo, mileage is also on the high side for the year so I'd cannot see how you think it will retain a whole lot more in resale value over the C5 when you go to sell it considering you have to fork out nearly €4k extra for it to begin with. Personally I think the C5 is a nicer car, higher spec in a better colour than that particular Insignia which looks very old imo.

Also have you considered selling the Saab privately? You would probably do better on the deal and being diesel with low mileage it should not be too difficult to shift.

And that's why I'm getting your advice!

I'd agree about that particular Insignia - after I came back from the garage, I did a search to see if it was ok value and saw a garage in Loughrea has a couple of nicer ones. This is one: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Insignia/SC-2.0-C/37613795932083980/advert?channel=CARS

Now I know the price is creeping up, but I'd only go for that if I could get a decent trade in price. On the resale point, I suppose I'm thinking there would be more demand for Insignia's in general because Irish people seem to like Opel's?

Regarding the private sale of the Saab - I'd really like to avoid the hassle if I'm honest. I like the idea of being able to do a deal on a new car and just leave the Saab behind, rather than trying to manage the finances to buy a new one outright, and then selling the Saab.

Finally, when I look at the figures I got for the Insigna vs the C5, the trade in value he is giving me on the Saab goes from €4600 against the Insignia vs €2950 against the C5, which seems like a big difference. Maybe I'll call him and see if he can come down on the C5.

Odyssey 2005

What about a Skoda Octavia or Superd. Huge legroom and even bigger boot

RonnieL

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

What about a Skoda Octavia or Superd. Huge legroom and even bigger boot

I'd consider an Octavia alright.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

RonnieL

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Thanks draiochtanois. My budget is about 10K + the trade in value of the Saab, and I'm thinking it would be best to focus on cars where I can get a fairly new model, like 2009 onwards. Sometime without big mileage too. So I think that rules out a 5 series BMW.

bazz26

What about a Ford Mondeo:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Ford/Mondeo/ZETEC-2.0TDCI/36313699146815160/

RonnieL

bazz26 wrote: »

What about a Ford Mondeo:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Ford/Mondeo/ZETEC-2.0TDCI/36313699146815160/

Yeah I'd be on for a Mondeo - that one is sold, but maybe I'll have a look. I guess I'll do some searching on carzone, focussing on Galway garages, and do a quick spin around a few of them on Saturday.

I appreciate the replies :-)

bazz26

Toyota Avensis is worth considering too:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Toyota/Avensis/2.0-D4D/36613759061115000/


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Toyota/Avensis/2.0-D4D/37713758902165970/

RonnieL

Thanks Bazz. The Avensis does look good. I'm hoping to make it to see a few on Saturday.