Which car to buy - advice please!!

connolb2

Hi

Have spotted a 2014 Dacia Sandero Stepway for 14.8K. It's a 1.5 diesel. I have also spotted a 2011 Toyota Auris for 15K. It's a 1.4 diesel. Which would be the better buy? I do very little travel during the week but at weekends generally do 300-350Km.
Any car buffs able to advise me?!!!
thanks

colm_mcm

You need to be open to other cars
The Auris isn't or wasn't ever a class leader in that segment.
In thus case I'd have the Dacia, but that's because the auris is so humdrum

As a more general proposal though. Used regular brand car vs new budget car

Budget car

Pros:
141 plate
New car so perfect
Warranty 3/5 years on the Dacia
Can finance a new car for longer

Cons
Smaller
Not as well finished
Not as refined
Not an 'impressive' brand


Used car

Pros:
Better refinement and space
More accepted brand
Easier to get parts for

Cons:
Someone else's cast-off
Unknown past
Could be a ticking time bomb re turbo/dmf/dpf etc
You can get a 'new' car for the same money and this is 4 years old
Car will have some imperfections
Not great choice of colours etc

connolb2

thanks Colm....what's your opinion on the dacia??

Sorry!! didn't see the full reply! thanks a million for that

colm_mcm

Well, the signature model on the regular sandero adds the Cruise control, rear electric windows, leather wheel, aircon, fogs, alloys

I'd sooner have a regular sandero signature spec than a sandero stepway in Alternative spec.

Just incase you're not up to speed on delivery/metallic/warranty charges you might find this useful

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84370817&postcount=4

connolb2

and in terms of fuel efficiency how would the dacia fare would you know? Compared to the auris?? which would be cheaper to run??? Sorry about the questions but am fecking useless with cars...

colm_mcm

The dacia would be better on fuel.
Its basically a Clio so lighter and smaller.
Neither would be what you'd call heavy on fuel though

What are you driving now?

connolb2

a 14 year old golf 1.4 petrol...find it heavy enough on petrol.

colm_mcm

connolb2 wrote: »

a 14 year old golf 1.4 petrol...find it heavy enough on petrol.

It would be compared to a modern diesel.
There is a lot of middle ground between your car and a 2014 though.
Any post 08 diesels will have the lower tax rate too.

Have you ever driven modern fiesta/Clio/corsa sized cars?

connolb2

what would you recommend???

colm_mcm

There are so many possibilities, what I like and what you like could be completely different.

If, say, I was spending 10k I'd be looking at a post 08 Hyundai i30 1.6 CRDI or Honda Civic 2.2 ictdi
These would be the same size as your golf and would be comfortable for the long trips, they're also very unlikely to go wrong.

Now if you're happy spending more then that's great, but don't be under the impression that you have to spend 16k to save money on fuel.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the optional 5 year warranty on the dacia will be miles ahead of any warranty you get on a used car.

connolb2

googled them - they look good. But would a 1.6 or a 2.2 not be more expensive on fuel??

colm_mcm

connolb2 wrote: »

googled them - they look good. But would a 1.6 or a 2.2 not be more expensive on fuel??

More expensive than what?

connolb2

than a 1.4 engine is what I meant!

colm_mcm

It doesn't really work like that.
Most important factors are the weight of the car, aerodynamics and the ability of the engine to cart all that around.

If the engine is under pressure, they'll have made the gear ratios shorter to compensate so it'll be revving harder.

Your Golf is a good example of this.

The civic will have a 6 speed gearbox, so the engine will be revving very low, and because it has so much power you wouldn't have to boot it around to make progress.

Now the 2.2 diesel in the civic won't be as economical as the 1.6 in the i30, but either will be monumentally better on fuel than your golf and nicer to drive too.

connolb2

ok just shows how little I know so..
thanks a million for the advice Colm, really appreciate it

colm_mcm

I suppose the jist of it is don't rule any car out.

Are there any cars that you love the look of?

connolb2

well I'm not fussy really, I like the auris, the two that you recommended and I like the golfs. The only reason why I'm considering the dacia is because it's 2014 and it's cheap and I'm thinking that if I'm going to spend that money , I might as well get a brand new car since one is available at that price and I don't mind the look of it either.

colm_mcm

Review here

http://sniffpetrol.com/2013/11/08/a-week-with-a-dacia-sandero-stepway/

toyotaavensis

OP aside from how much you spend another important consideration is how much the car will be worth when you sell it. If you are looking at a car a few years old it has gone through its worst depreciation phase.

Gael23

I would see past the.141 plate and go with the 11 Auris.

colm_mcm

ryanf1 wrote: »

I would see past the.141 plate and go with the 11 Auris.

Why?

JohnBoy26

ryanf1 wrote: »

I would see past the.141 plate and go with the 11 Auris.

I would see past a 141 dacia, but not for a 2011 auris. Those mk1 auris were a very average car in every department.

There are other cars out there that's better than both for similar money.

bazz26

I'd be looking at something like this:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Civic/2.2CDTI-SI/38813899792522700/

Gael23

colm_mcm wrote: »

Why?

Well maybe not specifically for an Auris but I would rather go back a few years and have a car thats better quality than Dacia