€5000 on family car. recommendations?

geckotime

Hey all, I've been given the job by my Dad (whose getting on a bit) of buying a 4 door, family sized saloon or hatchback and have €5,000 to spend. The majority of driving we do are a lot of short trips, say maybe 8-10 under 5km trips per week. What would you recommend? We live in Dublin 24 btw.
Thanks in advance.

ps: my Dad likes the look of these: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/LX-1.8-H/36813818352589060/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Vectra/DESIGN-1/37613857374996430/advert?channel=CARS

colm_mcm

Hard to recommend the 1.8 FFV fords given that you can't buy E85 fuel any more.
1.6 focus are plentiful enough and a good all-rounder.

geckotime

Flexi fuel, never heard of it. So why would this dealer/any dealer expect to sell that type of car? We've heard this dealer is reliable, hence why I've linked to two of his motors.

geckotime

My Dad really likes the look of the Focus LX 1.8 Hatchback flexi fuel that I've linked to above (http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/LX-1.8-H/36813818352589060/advert?channel=CARS) do you think it's good value etc?

colm_mcm

I can't see the appeal tbh. The only reason anyone bought one in the first place was because of a 50% vrt rebate when they were new.
LX is the least desirable spec in a focus too, so I wouldn't go near it.
Plenty 1.6 Ghia models out there for less money.

geckotime

Ah my Dad just likes the look of it and the dealer was recommended to him, so I'm trying to talk him around to your advice. What do you reckon that particular car is worth? Sorry for being such a pain in the ass but my Dad keeps asking me "did you get any response from your boffins on that website, I want to ring the dealer?!!" :-)

Soarer

With short journeys like that, I'd go for a Prius all day long.

You'd probably get this one for €4500, and with the leftover cash get a year's tax and go out for a meal!

colm_mcm

geckotime wrote: »

Ah my Dad just likes the look of it and the dealer was recommended to him, so I'm trying to talk him around to your advice. What do you reckon that particular car is worth? Sorry for being such a pain in the ass but my Dad keeps asking me "did you get any response from your boffins on that website, I want to ring the dealer?!!" :-)

If he likes the dealer then fair enough. That particular model is very undesirable and I wouldn't pay more than €4750 for it.

geckotime

Cheers for the advice, I'll try talk him round to a Focus Ghia or a Prius. Many thanks for all your replies so far.