Recommend a Good sturdy Petrol 1.4 car

Paddy1234

Hi guys,

Looking to upgrade my 99 Astra and get another petrol car. A friend told me that the newer astras are not half the car the old ones were and to broaden my horizons when looking.

I was thinking about the following as alternatives.

VW Golf - read some reviews that the 1.4 can be slow
Ford Focus - seem to all be diesels

Would anybody have any other recommendations I would be willing to spend up to 13k and would want something 2010 onwards?

Thanks for your help

colm_mcm

Kia Ceed/Hyundai i30 has the best N/A 1.4 petrol in that class.

Thing is, post 08 tax is based on emissions rather than engine size so don't limit yourself to 1.4 unless you have good reason.

Are you doing much mileage?

Paddy1234

I do about 8-10k miles per year.

I don't drive to work as in Dublin.

The car would be used for city driving at the weekends and a trip down to the west of Ireland every 3 or 4 weeks.

The reason I want 1.4 is that I don't use it too much and don't need a very high powered car.

Thanks

colm_mcm

What would you think of a Prius?

bazz26

You could do a lot worse than something like this. 130bhp and only €390 to tax per year. As Colm said no real need to limit yourself to 1.4 litre when the tax is not engine size based.


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Toyota/Avensis/NG-1.6/37713856296259290/

MetzgerMeister

+1 on not limiting yourself to a 1.4 when the tax is emissions based. Also a bigger engine doesn't necessarily mean that it'll drink more fuel as it will be easier for that engine to move the whole car compared to a smaller engine in the same car.

I would also give a +1 for the Hyundai i30. It's a lovely little motor!

Moneymaker

I'd second the i30, Hyundai have made leaps and bounds in build quality and refinement in recent years. The 1.4 gives out 108bhp which is perfectly fine for everyday A to B motoring.

Nothing special but a very solid B+ car.

Paddy1234

Thanks for the replies guys.

Would that 1.6 avensis be hard on fuel?
I would imagine something that big would cost a lot to keep on the road for a petrol. I thought avensis was more of a diesel car.

What are your opinions on a 1.2 tsi golf? Was looking at them there online and seem like a good car.

bazz26

They are not hard on fuel and no turbo to worry about either. Honestly though, if you are only driving 8-10k per year then fuel economy should not be your biggest concern.

TheDoc

Oddly enough I've a 00 Astra and being toying about upgrading the car aswell. Struggling to get anything to grab my eye. Don't have alot of money to spend, but the Opel Insignia's have been mentioned to me a few times. My Opel has never given me trouble, I've a new baby on the way and while I love my car, I feel like getting something slightly larger.

I do an M50 trip each way along with driving to golf, football and other bits, so my car gets a good bit of us. Will keep an eye on this thread

Paddy1234

What exactly is there to worry about with the turbo?

Thanks

Del2005

Paddy1234 wrote: »

What exactly is there to worry about with the turbo?

Thanks

If it blows up it costs a lot to replace. Turbos require more minding when stopping the car.

Paddy1234

Thanks Del - what kind of minding do you mean?

Also thanks to everyone for the posts I will cast the net a bit wider and look at 1.6 too.

Any other types of 1.6 other than the avensis would you recommend?

NIMAN

Del2005 wrote: »

If it blows up it costs a lot to replace. Turbos require more minding when stopping the car.

Is this still a concern, I haven't heard this mentioned in about 10yrs.
I would have thought they had engineered that problem out of modern Turbo's.

Del2005

NIMAN wrote: »

Is this still a concern, I haven't heard this mentioned in about 10yrs.
I would have thought they had engineered that problem out of modern Turbo's.

Still happening. If you don't idle the engine for a while before turning it off they'll still go, my Sister done a 5 year old BMW one in recently, and since the majority of Irish buyers only care about the tax they pay they won't fit turbo timers and manufacturers definitely won't.

As the saying goes you can make something idiot proof and they'll just make a better idiot.

corsav6

Have a 98 astra and its great but the wife's 05 astra is far better built and more solid on the road.

Riesen_Meal

corsav6 wrote: »

Have a 98 astra and its great but the wife's 05 astra is far better built and more solid on the road.

My first car was a 99 Astra, great car, my Mam has the 06 1.4 and its lovely to drive also....

OP - if you like the astra maybe move up the years?

Leonard Hofstadter

Del2005 wrote: »

Still happening. If you don't idle the engine for a while before turning it off they'll still go, my Sister done a 5 year old BMW one in recently, and since the majority of Irish buyers only care about the tax they pay they won't fit turbo timers and manufacturers definitely won't.

As the saying goes you can make something idiot proof and they'll just make a better idiot.

On most turbos they will have cooled off enough by the time between coming off a motorway and the last mile or so home. If the car has been driven hard but the last mile or two was gentle on the engine I'd be happy enough to switch it off more or less straight away. If the car has been driven hard right until you're ready to stop it then yes definitely it should get 30 seconds to cool off minimum.

What I normally do (even on NA cars) is take off my seatbelt, fold in the mirrors (if they're electric), put the car in neutral while covering the brake pedal, then apply the handbrake and finally switch the engine off and put the car in the approrpiate gear. That way you're not losing any time, but are giving the engine/turbo ample time to cool down. To do all of those things is going to take 30 seconds minimum anyway, so you might as well use that time to prolong the life of your engine and turbo. Even on NA engines they say it's good to let it idle briefly after hard driving.

NIMAN

Del2005 wrote: »

Still happening. If you don't idle the engine for a while before turning it off they'll still go, my Sister done a 5 year old BMW one in recently, and since the majority of Irish buyers only care about the tax they pay they won't fit turbo timers and manufacturers definitely won't.

As the saying goes you can make something idiot proof and they'll just make a better idiot.

You you can add turbos to the DPFs and DMFs as something dealers never tell buyers about.

Mister Jingles

bazz26 wrote: »

They are not hard on fuel and no turbo to worry about either. Honestly though, if you are only driving 8-10k per year then fuel economy should not be your biggest concern.

Was always under the impression that those new Valvematic petrol Avensis were turbocharged ?

colm_mcm

Mister Jingles wrote: »

Was always under the impression that those new Valvematic petrol Avensis were turbocharged ?

Nope, just variable valve timing cleverness.

Mister Jingles

colm_mcm wrote: »

Nope, just variable valve timing cleverness.

All the better, less to go wrong. Very impressive for a standard 1.6 everyday family car.

JohnBoy26

Del2005 wrote: »

Still happening. If you don't idle the engine for a while before turning it off they'll still go, my Sister done a 5 year old BMW one in recently, and since the majority of Irish buyers only care about the tax they pay they won't fit turbo timers and manufacturers definitely won't.

As the saying goes you can make something idiot proof and they'll just make a better idiot.

That a BMW problem with their cr@ppy engineering rather than a fault of the "Irish buyers"

Paddy1234

Fieldog wrote: »

My first car was a 99 Astra, great car, my Mam has the 06 1.4 and its lovely to drive also....

OP - if you like the astra maybe move up the years?

Thanks for all the replies guys.

The 99 Astra has never let me down its been a great car but time for a change.

The reason I wasn't considering a new Astra is because someone told me the new astras are nothing like the old ones.

bs2014

We drive a new 2010 astra 1.3 diesel, and not half the car the older model. We had a 1.4 petrol of the older model, far nippier and easier to drive. We then test drove the new astra 1.4 and it was so dead on power compared to our previous car.
Most manufacturers are pushing diesel and there is a far better supply of diesel on the used market,
but if you are set on petrol, have a look at the 1.2 tsi engines in the golf and I believe the leon also, but prob even scarcer in supply.
A leon 1.6tdi would be good bet i wreckon, its diesel, cheap to run and tax, and made my vw so will go on forever.

Soarer

If its mostly city driving, I'd definitely had to the UK and get the T-Spirit version of the new Prius. The most stress fee city driving you'll ever do.

corsav6

bs2014 wrote: »

We drive a new 2010 astra 1.3 diesel, and not half the car the older model. We had a 1.4 petrol of the older model, far nippier and easier to drive. We then test drove the new astra 1.4 and it was so dead on power compared to our previous car.
Most manufacturers are pushing diesel and there is a far better supply of diesel on the used market,
but if you are set on petrol, have a look at the 1.2 tsi engines in the golf and I believe the leon also, but prob even scarcer in supply.
A leon 1.6tdi would be good bet i wreckon, its diesel, cheap to run and tax, and made my vw so will go on forever.

Our 05 is the 1.3cdti and its far quicker than my 1.6 petrol. Having the 2 cars as daily drivers I much prefer the 05, a huge improvement.
I think the OP should at least test drive a car before dismissing it.

colm_mcm

corsav6 wrote: »

Our 05 is the 1.3cdti and its far quicker than my 1.6 petrol. Having the 2 cars as daily drivers I much prefer the 05, a huge improvement.
I think the OP should at least test drive a car before dismissing it.

The current model 1.3 is dog slow to be fair. 05 is probably lighter?

Edit. Yes 150kg lighter.

corsav6

colm_mcm wrote: »

The current model 1.3 is dog slow to be fair. 05 is probably lighter?

Edit. Yes 150kg lighter.

No dpf on the 05 either. I drove my uncles 09 astra h estate and it slower than ours but not by a lot. The newer Astra's are 95bhp where ours is 90bhp so I'm surprised their dog slow. Maybe we just got a good 1, I have seen plenty of cars with the same engine giving different performance and mpg.

Paddy1234

Thanks guys for all the replies.

Just wondering what people think of the Astra Saloon - 1.4 petrol 100ps. They came out in 2012 so may be able to get one close to budget.

MuppetCheck

Paddy1234 wrote: »

Thanks guys for all the replies.

Just wondering what people think of the Astra Saloon - 1.4 petrol 100ps. They came out in 2012 so may be able to get one close to budget.

Awful. Heavy car, geared for economy. I'm telling you - don't. They are slow, underpowered and thirsty if you want to move quicker than a glacier. It's a pity because the rest of the car is decent. The saloons have a decent boot and are seriously smooth on bad roads for the class they're in.

Sobanek

Why not a BMW 520d?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-520d-automatic/6150381

Far nicer quality and drive than any Opel ever

In terms of economy: €280 tax, 6.5l/100km easily achieved.

greasepalm

one thing a garage owner loves is a vw as he is always rubbing his hands together,money time again,people like the looks of these cars but dont do research into maintenance funding and cheap builds,timing belts every 4 years and bronze valve guides wearing out at low mileage and head off job,much harder on discs and pads with wear and the odd scratching of imminent failure of drivers window failure.

people dont get car serviced enough or correct oil not be adhered too.

last time i looked at a m8 bmw it cost him over e900 for a car he bought 5 months previous with a service history lol.white air filter was blacker than my work boots and are they not the car that sits at the bottom of a hill when it snows or on the back of a tow truck?

Sobanek

greasepalm wrote: »

one thing a garage owner loves is a vw as he is always rubbing his hands together,money time again,people like the looks of these cars but dont do research into maintenance funding and cheap builds,timing belts every 4 years and bronze valve guides wearing out at low mileage and head off job,much harder on discs and pads with wear and the odd scratching of imminent failure of drivers window failure.

people dont get car serviced enough or correct oil not be adhered too.

It's 2014, not 2002. MK4 Golf isn't sold anymore.
Very solid car, actually drove the MK5 with a 1.9 TDI and it felt much better to drive than the MK4.

Haven't heard about any serious issues with the MK6 - even my neighbour's wife has one.

I guess you'll suggest some horrid jap scrap like an Avensis or even worse... a Civic? You seem to be very anti-German in terms of cars.

BTW. Have you seen proper snow here since 2010?

pburns

colm_mcm wrote: »

Kia Ceed/Hyundai i30 has the best N/A 1.4 petrol in that class.

Mmmm...my mother's 131 i30 was taken away on a flatbed this week after eating 2nd clutch. Previous Mazda was faultless...

greasepalm

yep jap cars are crap and probably hold their value more than vws and strange how the seat is better built, i dont mind people buying german cars as long as they no costs of repairs to come,vws keep garages in work and if asked what car to buy would say toyota.
weather can turn at any time so never know whats around the corner,noticed how limerick is a duck pond today wow.

Sobanek

greasepalm wrote: »

yep jap cars are crap and probably hold their value more than vws and strange how the seat is better built, i dont mind people buying german cars as long as they no costs of repairs to come,vws keep garages in work and if asked what car to buy would say toyota.
weather can turn at any time so never know whats around the corner,noticed how limerick is a duck pond today wow.

They do, thats why a 2008 Mazda6 is cheaper to buy than a 2008 Golf. They keep their value so well...

corsav6

Back to the Opel, very cheap to run, parts wise and service wise. Nice looking and newer models finally feel like German built cars. Avoid the 1.4 saloon, far too heavy for that engine. The 1.3cdti estate is actually quicker. I'd look out for a clean 1.7 diesel with a 6 speed gearbox, very nice car.

bazz26

The 1.4 litre n/a engine in that Astra would not pull you out of bed. Try and find a 1.4 turbo, much better.

colm_mcm

pburns wrote: »

Mmmm...my mother's 131 i30 was taken away on a flatbed this week after eating 2nd clutch. Previous Mazda was faultless...

I don't think its the norm to be fair, worked in a Hyundai garage (when mk1 was out) and it wasn't an issue then.

Seems a bit odd that she's gone through 2?

The_Honeybadger

pburns wrote: »

Mmmm...my mother's 131 i30 was taken away on a flatbed this week after eating 2nd clutch. Previous Mazda was faultless...

2 clutches gone in 12 months! She has been desperately unlucky as that is definately not typical of that car, or any car that I know of.

Paddy1234

Ok thanks for everyone for your replies. Going to change the title to "Recommend a good sturdy 1.6 petrol car"

Toyota Avensis and Mazda 6 mentioned. Anything else that I should look out for. Reliability and a bit of room for a buggy is what I'm after.

Thanks

colm_mcm

Have you considered a Prius yet?

pot p

Kia ceed

Paddy1234

colm_mcm wrote: »

Have you considered a Prius yet?

Thanks Colm.
Haven't considered Prius because I don't really know anything about hybrid cars

delly

Hi OP, I'd like to make a suggestion that may not meet with the rest of the forums approval and that is a 1.6 Opel Vectra. I started learning in a '91 Kadett then went to a '96 Astra so have always had a soft spot for Opel.

I had a 1.4 Golf in '05 and always felt that it was to small of an engine for the car, however I managed to move to an '06 Vectra which I had from new and put up 150k KM in the time I had it as well as having my first born along with all the corresponding buggy and baggage that that entails. I always found the 1.6 to be fine on motorway drives with enough go when needed, and although the Vectra has a boring reputation, it has a very good reliability rep which I can validate for the mileage I put up.

From a very quick check online I see that you can get an '08 for just over €5k, link. Tax is €570 per year, but don't let that put you off, as the difference could be double that from some of the other models referenced, but over 4 years that only equates to €1k and if you save €2k to €4 on not having to spend as much on initial outlay, the tax is insignificant.

As I say, I don't think my selection will go down with most, but I don't think you are a petrolhead, so solid A to B driving and a bit of comfort/reliability along the way is what you would get with the Vectra.

Paddy1234

Thanks Delly will certainly look into the Vectra. Wanted something around the 2010 mark I see they stopped selling Vectras in 09 but they seem to be good value

Sobanek

Paddy1234 wrote: »

Thanks Delly will certainly look into the Vectra. Wanted something around the 2010 mark I see they stopped selling Vectras in 09 but they seem to be good value

Insignia maybe
Vectras are rubbish to drive.

delly

Sobanek wrote: »

Insignia maybe
Vectras are rubbish to drive.

I have to disagree, having gone from a Golf to a Vectra I would rate the drive and based on what the OP is currently driving I doubt that he would have issues with it either. The insignia is nice alright, but you are going to pay a premium for it in comparison to the Vectra which as I mentioned is a very solid car, while at the same time not being overly glamorous.

/EDIT

Just to add having done a quick check, the average difference in price between a '09 Vectra and Insignia is around €3k.

bs2014

I'd go for the 1.4 astra 04-09 model. Fairly cheap to buy, fairly cheap to run, quite nimble, one of the quickest 1.4 and very good at handling. We had a 1.4 astra, and only when we test drove a 1.4 focus and 1.4 golf did we realise how nifty our astra was compared to them. Focus and Golf 1.4 are sooooo dead on the road!

Sobanek

bs2014 wrote: »

I'd go for the 1.4 astra 04-09 model. Fairly cheap to buy, fairly cheap to run, quite nimble, one of the quickest 1.4 and very good at handling. We had a 1.4 astra, and only when we test drove a 1.4 focus and 1.4 golf did we realise how nifty our astra was compared to them. Focus and Golf 1.4 are sooooo dead on the road!

And if you drove the 2.0 TDI Golf, you'd see how dead the 1.4 Astra feels

I still think those €3k extra for the Insignia would pay off - it's already a more desirable car and much higher in quality compared to a Vectra.