A solid car for about 4.5k

Justin10

Hi lads, looking for a change of car. Have a 318i at the minute. Have been lucky to have only a few jobs to do on it.

Im thinking of a 1.6 EP civic, I know they have gearbox bearing problems but other then that they seem a really solid car.

Any other recommendations, no bigger then 2L and an all round solid car. No need for a diesel don't do enough mileage for one. Max I want to spend is 4.5k.

Thanks guys

dh0011

any interest in an avensis 7/8 years old with your budget?

Mandzhalas

Accord.bulletproof.good looking

Justin10

Mandzhalas wrote: »

Accord.bulletproof.good looking

Do they not have a manifold problem that can be costly.

Also don't want something that will juzzle fuel. I'm 23 also.

Thanks for the recommendation of an avensis but I wouldn't be interested. Although of course a solid car.

bazz26

Rochey18 wrote: »

Do they not have a manifold problem that can be costly.

Also don't want something that will juzzle fuel. I'm 23 also.

Thanks for the recommendation of an avensis but I wouldn't be interested. Although of course a solid car.

Your thinking of the early diesel models. Petrol Accord is as about as reliable as you will get. They are also not bad on petrol, is fuel costs such a deal breaker given you said yourself that you don't do a lot of mileage?

Sobanek

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-850i-v12-rare-model/5759675

Justin10

bazz26 wrote: »

Your thinking of the early diesel models. Petrol Accord is as about as reliable as you will get. They are also not bad on petrol, is fuel costs such a deal breaker given you said yourself that you don't do a lot of mileage?

No sorry wasnt referring petrol problems to the accord. More so towards other cars, an example be a Lexus is 200.

My 318 is fine on fuel. Although be a bit of a pain to get worse.

That's interesting. Will look into that, really like the accords.

dh0011

I was 23 when I got my avensis. All my friends made jokes about it - not the ideal car for a 23 year old.
If you want something a bit more credible look at a subaru legacy maybe.

Ardennes1944

I definitely cant see an Accord being any worse than a 318 tbh. 2 of my friends have 318s and theyre the same mpg wise as my 6cyl

Rochey18

Rochey18 wrote: »

Any other recommendations, no bigger then 2L and an all round solid car. No need for a diesel don't do enough mileage for one. Max I want to spend is 4.5k.

Thanks guys

Well, you won't get much more reliable than a Prius, you'll find a MK II 04-09 for around that price with 80K -100K, with a good maintenance history is no worry on a Prius.

They are known to go well over 300,000 miles.

If you want something more fun then maybe a GTI DSG Golf ? stick it on LPG.

barura

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Well, you won't get much more reliable than a Prius, you'll find a MK II 04-09 for around that price with 80K -100K, with a good maintenance history is no worry on a Prius.

They are known to go well over 300,000 miles.

If you want something more fun then maybe a GTI DSG Golf ? stick it on LPG.

Mad lad, you're almost convincing me that a prius is a young person car!!
Op, 1.8 litre vw Corrado would suit you. Can't post links. On my phone.

barura

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Well, you won't get much more reliable than a Prius, you'll find a MK II 04-09 for around that price with 80K -100K, with a good maintenance history is no worry on a Prius.

They are known to go well over 300,000 miles.

If you want something more fun then maybe a GTI DSG Golf ? stick it on LPG.

Mad lad, you're almost convincing me that a prius is a young person car!!
Op, 1.8 litre vw Corrado would suit you. Can't post links. On my phone.

barura

barura wrote: »

Mad lad, you're almost convincing me that a prius is a young person car!!
Op, 1.8 litre vw Corrado would suit you. Can't post links. On my phone.

You'll drive far worse than a Prius.

At 108 K miles it drives as good as it did when I got it with 45k miles. I like it and I know I won't have any diesel related problems and I drive one of the cleanest cars out there and it's Much cleaner than any diesel. Yet I've to pay a lot more motor tax.

My Prius hasn't had a single fault in it's history.

The Prius is proving to be the most reliable car I've ever owned. Cheap to insure, acceptable poke, cheap to maintain, minimum maintenance, 60-65 mpg what's not to like ? You could convert to LPG and it would have the equivalent of 80-85 odd mpg diesel. @ LPG 80 c/L

JohnBoy26

Rochey18 wrote: »

Hi lads, looking for a change of car. Have a 318i at the minute. Have been lucky to have only a few jobs to do on it.

Im thinking of a 1.6 EP civic, I know they have gearbox bearing problems but other then that they seem a really solid car.

Any other recommendations, no bigger then 2L and an all round solid car. No need for a diesel don't do enough mileage for one. Max I want to spend is 4.5k.

Thanks guys

electric power steering failure is another issue that effects those EP Civics. It wasn't Honda's finest hour tbh.

Justin10

Is it me or are there very few petrol accords for sale, or at least decent ones? Market seems flooded with diesels?

Does the accord have a weak gearbox too?

What would you expect with a tax system that promotes the most filthy and dangerous of fuels ?

Petrol cars are going to be a rarer sight on our roads in a few years time.

JohnBoy26

Deleted User wrote: »

What would you expect with a tax system that promotes the most filthy and dangerous of fuels ?

Petrol cars are going to be a rarer sight on our roads in a few years time.

But sure even the vast majority of pre 08 accords are diesels. These are also more expensive to tax compared to their petrol counterparts due to being 2.2

JohnBoy26

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

But sure even the vast majority of pre 08 accords are diesels. These are also more expensive to tax compared to their petrol counterparts due to being 2.2

That maybe true but I'm talking about the current tax system.

bazz26

Accords didn't have weak gearboxes. It was the European built EP Civic 1.4 that had gearbox bearing issues.

Justin10

bazz26 wrote: »

Accords didn't have weak gearboxes. It was the European built EP Civic 1.4 that had gearbox bearing issues.

The 1.6 did too. Ok I just did a quick Google and seems to be a lot of complaints about the accord gearbox. Doesn't really matter because I don't think I would be able to find a decent one. Only 3 pages on carzone and some of them are the old model.

I'll keep looking though. Thanks for the recommendations

bazz26

Rochey18 wrote: »

The 1.6 did too. Ok I just did a quick Google and seems to be a lot of complaints about the accord gearbox. Doesn't really matter because I don't think I would be able to find a decent one. Only 3 pages on carzone and some of them are the old model.

I'll keep looking though. Thanks for the recommendations

Which Accord are you talking about with gearbox problems though? Just doing a bit of googling there and it seems to be mainly with American Accords which are not the same car as what we get here.

Justin10

Thanks like I said just did a quick Google .
Looks like it will be either an ep civic or if I can find a decent petrol accord thanks guys.

bazz26

If you could stretch your budget a little then €5k would probably buy this:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Civic/1.8I-SES/201341218897773/

140bhp with decent poke and they are quite good on fuel for a 1.8 litre. Very reliable too.

ghogie91

Are you looking for like a stylish car or a work horse??

Skoda octavia, passat, golf are all nice

Then in terms of like something sporty

EP are lovely and suppost to be fairly solid
I heard some of the smaller mazdas are nice the rx7 or whatever that quick 1.7 one is and very reliable.

I asked the same question a little while ago and was told to avoid renault, citroen, alfa and audis in that budget range like the plague

The Sparrow

ghogie91 wrote: »

Are you looking for like a stylish car or a work horse??

Skoda octavia, passat, golf are all nice

Then in terms of like something sporty

EP are lovely and suppost to be fairly solid
I heard some of the smaller mazdas are nice the rx7 or whatever that quick 1.7 one is and very reliable.

I asked the same question a little while ago and was told to avoid renault, citroen, alfa and audis in that budget range like the plague

What is the reasoning about avoiding Audis? Too pricey?

I'm very tempted to get an A4 in that general price range although slightly dearer perhaps.

They look so nice :P

Gonzaga2.0ts

Would you consider a 156? The 1.6 twinspark is quick enough and sounds great, almost 120bhp. You will not have to spend 4.5k either

colm_mcm

Gonzaga2.0ts wrote: »

Would you consider a 156? The 1.6 twinspark is quick enough and sounds great, almost 120bhp. You will not have to spend 4.5k either

I don't think it fits the criteria tbh

Gonzaga2.0ts

Why not?

Gonzaga2.0ts

Just a sample...
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/alfa-romeo-156-1-6-new-nct/5755218

each to their own :pac:

Justin10

Audi petrols eat petrol. That 1.8 turbo I think is a poor engine.

I wouldn't say I'm looking for a work horse. I only do about 10k miles a year.

So want something good looking, and something reliable. I don't mind a car being known for a problem. But don't want a car to be in and out of the garage with niggling problems. Thanks for all the interest and help.

Don't think an Alfa would suit. My friend had one and it was always giving trouble.
The Mazda rx8 is the one I think you recommended but that is horrible on fuel.

colm_mcm

Gonzaga2.0ts wrote: »

Why not?

Cos they're not that well built or reliable.

Gonzaga2.0ts

colm_mcm wrote: »

Cos they're not that well built or reliable.

I'm not buying that old chestnut
C'mon dude back up your argument with facts, you can't just say they are not reliable. Alfas do require that bit of extra maintenance, I'm not saying they don't but once looked after they go as well as any other car.

colm_mcm

Gonzaga2.0ts wrote: »

I'm not buying that old chestnut
C'mon dude back up your argument with facts, you can't just say they are not reliable. Alfas do require that bit of extra maintenance, I'm not saying they don't but once looked after they go as well as any other car.

Nah, you shouldn't have to pamper a car with loads of maintenance unless its a supercar. I don't buy this 'as long as you keep fixing them they're grand' attitude.

JohnBoy26

Deleted User wrote: »

Who ever said a prius is a low emissions vehicle:pac:

ghogie91

ghogie91 wrote: »

Are you looking for like a stylish car or a work horse??

Skoda octavia, passat, golf are all nice

Then in terms of like something sporty

EP are lovely and suppost to be fairly solid
I heard some of the smaller mazdas are nice the rx7 or whatever that quick 1.7 one is and very reliable.

I asked the same question a little while ago and was told to avoid renault, citroen, alfa and audis in that budget range like the plague

I was told to avoid the petrols because they drink the stuff and most diesels in your price range have had a hard life as they were the go to diesel back in the day, high mileage on 95% is what I was told, also you could get a newer car for that price than an older audi