Considering changing car...

Howdy folks,


At the moment I'm driving a 2004 Toyota Rav4. I love it and have loved it. I've owned it approximately a year at this stage. It's mechanically fine. It has one or two squeaks here and there, but nothing that would concern me. It's a black, 1.8 petrol.

The tax is up in August, and the front two tyres will need replacing before the NCT is due (January).


With the impending ~€800 in costs combined with me having owned it a year and wanting to try something different, just for the sake of it, I'm considering trying to move it on, and changing to something else.

Ideally, I'd like to not spend money on switching car though (I'm not the kind of person who needs a new car, though I'd like to keep 2004 as the oldest I'd go).

So that means I'd only have the money I get from selling the Rav, and whatever I have in my pocket (we'll say €1,000).

Looking on Donedeal;

http://cars.donedeal.ie/find/cars/for-sale/Ireland/?filters[make]=Toyota&filters[model]=RAV-4&ranges[engine_to]=1.8&ranges[year_from]=2004&ranges[year_to]=2004&sort=price&source=ALL


(Edit, apparently that link doesn't seem to work. It's just a link to DoneDeal search for all 2004, 1.8tlr Rav4s).



2004 Rav's asking prices range from €2,900 to €5,150. So I'm confident I'd get in and around 4k for it. It has been well kept, but the tax is due and the two front tyres will need changing (though you could get away with just changing one an using the spare wheel, as the two back tyres are pretty much still new).


So anyway.

Looking to change, I'd probably want to go with a hatchback of some variety. Don't want to go straight from an SUV to another SUV (though I do predict I'll regret selling the Rav and want to get it back at a later date).

I'd also like to get something that's fairly economical and gives high MPG, as I do a fair bit of driving and if I'm changing, I may aswell make it a priority for the sake of it.

However, I also want something that looks somewhat nice. It also must have 5 doors. I don't like the look of 3 door cars. They look incomplete or something and bug me a bit for some reason.


I was considering the Opel/Vauxhall Astra, or a Ford Focus, but not sure how economical either are, or how they are reliability wise (I had an older focus before, that gave no issues, though). I don't care for the Peugeot 206 for some reason.


I'm still a bit torn on actually selling the Rav (I love it. I think it's a great, great car) but I'll stick it up on DoneDeal anyway, I think, and see what kind of offers I get.


Was wondering if anyone could throw out some ideas to me.



So in short: looking for:

* Hatchback.
* 2004 at oldest.
* High MPG (if possible).
* Reliable.
* Estimated budget in the region of €3500 (give or take, obviously prefer to spend less).
* Not pushed whether it's petrol or diesel. I'll probably sell it after a year when I'm bored, anyway.


Cheers to anyone with any advice or insight to offer.

Noccy_Mondy

Going from your Rav4 to a Peugeot 206 or the likes.... ah jaysus, you'll be stabbing yourself in the back!!

To be honest, I think I will regret it, but I can always buy another Rav4 if I miss it too much (or try out a Grand Vitara, which was closely competing with the Rav4 when I was deciding what to purchase).

I just fancy a change, and figure that with tax due, etc. I may aswell look into doing it now. But I know the Rav's going strong and not really giving any issues, so I'm happy to hold onto it if I just get lowballed. So I'm happy either way, but would like to try something different, just for the sake of it.

pablo128

Have you looked at diesel Civics? Here's an example. http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2004-honda-civic-ep-1-7-ctdi-nct-04-2015/6822207

The current model of Civic is a nice looking car. Any other civics I'm not into at all, and associate them too closely with the boy racer scene (which I'm not at all into).

Things that would make me not look at a car would be:

1. A boy racer-ed car (lowered, stickers galore, huge exhaust, etc.)
2. A DL reg car (90% of them that I've personally seen, either tie in with #1, or are being held together by will power. I've no idea what's going on in Donegal!?).
3. A northern reg car (don't want the hassle/expense).

bazz26

OP, on a relatively small budget to put towards a newer car with the Rav4 and only thinking of keeping the new car for a year then I would not bother changing at all, keep the Rav4 for another year, that way you will have a healthier budget in a years time for something really worth trading up for. Remember things like tyres, NCT and tax are common on the road costs with all cars. Also you know the Rav4 is reliable whereas you could end up buying someone else's trouble.

To be honest, a lot of it has to do with just wanting something different. A bit of a change.

No matter what car I buy next will only last a year, and it'll probably be the same for the car after that, too. I love the Rav, and I know the sensible thing to do is to keep it, but at the same time, I'm kinda yearning for a bit of a change.


My plan is to see how I get on with it. If I sell it before August (when tax is due) then I'll buy something else. However, if it's not sold, and August rolls around, I'll just tax it (and keep it) for the year.

colm_mcm

Get it wrapped a different colour

Ah, no, I think I just want to drive something different. I'm fairly sure that whatever I end up in next will still be black.

Supergurrier

Very hard to see past a VAG tee diddly eye from your OP

pablo128

Supergurrier wrote: »

Very hard to see past a VAG tee diddly eye from your OP

He said he wanted something reliable.:pac:

Ded_Zebra

Beautiful looking car. I drove a 1.9 diesel one once and was very impressed with it. I would love one if I could afford it :cool::cool:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/alfa-romeo-159-sportivo/7134340

Ded_Zebra

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Beautiful looking car. I drove a 1.9 diesel one once and was very impressed with it. I would love one if I could afford it :cool::cool:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/alfa-romeo-159-sportivo/7134340

I've no idea what to make of that, to be honest. It's like some kind of quazi-batmobile of sorts. Dont know if i love it or hate it.

(I do know I'd be killing myself paying that kinda tax though).



How are Estate cars with regards to fuel consumption?

An Astra estate caught my eye. 1.2ltr diesel engine. Is that not looking for trouble? (tiny engine, diesel no less, pulling a big car along?). I'd imagine MPG on that would be huge? Or am i misleading myself?


I never drove an estate before, so it's taken my interest (all estates are now on my compass). Aside from being a pain to parallel park, are they difficult to manouvre around?

Supergurrier

Those 5 pot diesel 159's are absolutely class.

If i had to diesel it would be a no brainer.

Supergurrier

Supergurrier wrote: »

Those 5 pot diesel 159's are absolutely class.

If i had to diesel it would be a no brainer.

That car would do nothing for me, to be honest. I'd be cramming photo gear into it and such. A saloon wouldn't work for me.

I do think that with nice dark tints, that'd be a great head-turning car in general though. Very nice (and cheap enough too, I suppose, for what it is).

colm_mcm

What do you think of the nissan cube?

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

What do you think of the nissan cube?

I think it's horrendous.