Changing car - looking for advice

SparrowHawk

Hi All,

Currently driving a '03 1.3L petrol Fiat Punto. It's slowly beginning to fall apart - have spent close to €800 in the last 3 months with service and repairs.

In early 2014 I'll be moving house and considering a change of car also. I'll be driving about 400 mi per week - mostly on motorway/ main routes. I'll also need some space for small children (grandkids).

Can anyone advise re petrol / diesel? Particular makes/ models that I should stay away from? Budget would be around 9/ 10 K.

I know how to change the oil/ add water in cars - that's about it.

If any other factors / questions please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

SH

bazz26

400 miles a week is diesel territory. How many grand children are we talking about ferrying around?

dazza161989

hi i bought a 2008 ford mondeo 1.8 tdci (diesel) earlier this year and i must say its the best car i have ever had.

Its extremely reliable, does 68 mpg on long journeys, extremely strong and safe and has loads of room and a huge boot.

you should be able to get one in your budget and i would recommend them 1,000,000 % !!!!!!

SparrowHawk

two kids - and not every weekend - but good to have a bit of space for them and their parents when we/ they are visiting.

To add - I've always driven a hatchback - any recommendation in that arena? I'll do some more investigation on the Mondeo though - thanks dazza161989

GERMAN ROCKS

Peugeot 308 1.6hdi
citroen c4 1.6 diesel?

Noccy_Mondy

dazza161989 wrote: »

hi i bought a 2008 ford mondeo 1.8 tdci (diesel) earlier this year and i must say its the best car i have ever had.

Its extremely reliable, does 68 mpg on long journeys, extremely strong and safe and has loads of room and a huge boot.

you should be able to get one in your budget and i would recommend them 1,000,000 % !!!!!!

Jaysus, that cannot be right, i,ve never got anywhere near that..

colm_mcm

Hyundai i30 or kia ceed

JohnBoy26

GERMAN ROCKS wrote: »

Peugeot 308 1.6hdi
citroen c4 1.6 diesel?

SparrowHawk

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

lol - I always told my wife, I'd end up like Victor - didn't think it would be for a few years yet.

@colm_mcm I do like the look of the Kia & Hyundai, and the Kia 7 year warranty is attractive

colm_mcm

The cars themselves are quite good too.

dazza161989

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

Jaysus, that cannot be right, i,ve never got anywhere near that..

ya was shocked myself, went to kildare and back last week and reset my computer before i left home.

Either that or my computer is rightly fecked !!!! :-)

JohnBoy26

dazza161989 wrote: »

ya was shocked myself, went to kildare and back last week and reset my computer before i left home.

Either that or my computer is rightly fecked !!!! :-)

or your computer is giving the usual inaccurate readings that these trip computers give.

Noccy_Mondy

dazza161989 wrote: »

ya was shocked myself, went to kildare and back last week and reset my computer before i left home.

Either that or my computer is rightly fecked !!!! :-)

My money would be on the computer being dodge. That said, mine always shows values of around the high 30's to mid 40's, which is about right for Mondeos

Old diesel

Bear in mind the Kia warranty has a mileage limit on it - something like 150,000 kms.

Or at least it did last time I seen Kia advertising etc on it.

Decent cars though by all accounts

Old diesel

Here we are - as I thought - this Kia page suggests there is indeed a mileage limit of 150,000 kms


http://www.kia.com/ie/specials/kia-7-year-warranty/

Need to go down the page towards the bottom - the top part of the page is the sales pitch about how awesome their 7 year warranty is

Its certainly not a dealbreaker - but definitely something to be aware off

harbourmill

kia and hyundai cooperated with the design of their current diesel engine and both cars the Ceed and the hyundai 130i have the same engine (which is bulletproof). kia is cheaper to buy but this is down to badge snobbery, go for value, with kia 7 year warranty its 7 years peace of mind. though you will probably have to have it serviced by kia to keep the warranty live. also Dacia (renault) is worth a look ,

dazza161989

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

My money would be on the computer being dodge. That said, mine always shows values of around the high 30's to mid 40's, which is about right for Mondeos

i knew roughly how much diesel i had before leaving and i think that it was roughly accurate. That being said it was a long journey at a consistent speed . Day to day driving i guess i get high 30's to low 40's

JohnBoy26

harbourmill wrote: »

kia and hyundai cooperated with the design of their current diesel engine and both cars the Ceed and the hyundai 130i have the same engine (which is bulletproof). kia is cheaper to buy but this is down to badge snobbery, go for value, with kia 7 year warranty its 7 years peace of mind. though you will probably have to have it serviced by kia to keep the warranty live. also Dacia (renault) is worth a look ,

Kia and Hyundai are owned by the same company which is Hyundai. All kia's as a result are based on hyundai's and use their engines including the diesel engines.

Kia's warranty is also a limited mileage warranty (100k kms afaik). Hyundai's warranty while being two years shorter is unlimted regarding mileage.

Dacia are pretty rubbish Imo and are well below the quality of a Hyundai/kia.

SparrowHawk

Looking at the Kia Sportage LXE - any thoughts / opinions on it? Suitability for long Motorway driving?

colm_mcm

SparrowHawk wrote: »

Looking at the Kia Sportage LXE - any thoughts / opinions on it? Suitability for long Motorway driving?

Its being outsold by its ix35 sister but its a nicer looking looking machine. Would be grand for motorway.

bazz26

Just be aware if buying new that there is a facelifted Sportage on the way.

SparrowHawk

bazz26 wrote: »

Just be aware if buying new that there is a facelifted Sportage on the way.

Had seen that mentioned in a few different forums - but any idea of what's involved in the facelift, pricing, when they'll be available etc? I'm assuming once the newer model arrives - the price will drop on the LXE?