Car for ~€4k

nkay1985

Hi lads,

I've gotten lots of advice here over the years so this time I'm just enquiring for my younger brother.

He's 23 and has been driving since he was 17/18. Full license since he was 18 so 5 years, I guess.

He's about to move down to Cork from Waterford. Most driving will be short spins to work, shops, the usual. Then every so often a return trip to Waterford.

He's not even sure where to start to narrow things down. He's pretty much just looking for a good solid car to start him off so the brief is basically something good on fuel and low enough to tax and insure. Preferably decent mileage for its year too.

Budget would be up to €4k.

At the end of the day, he's a 23 year old guy so I don't think he's going to want to be driving a Granny wagon but options are pretty open.

What would you fine folk of Motors recommend?

colm_mcm

corolla hatchback, 04/05

bazz26

Toyota Celica if he can afford the insurance on it.

colm_mcm

bazz26 wrote: »

Toyota Celica if he can afford the insurance on it.

At 23, If he already hasn't got something in mind, he probably isn't into cars/driving?

Slksht

Well lads, I'm the brother.. Actually really like cars and driving but I'm figuring that for the moment I'm going to have to curtail what I want to buy and opt for what I should buy. That's where the confusion comes in for me I suppose, I don't know what that should buy is.

Will have a look at Corollas, Diesel or petrol dya reckon?

Moneymaker

Petrol. Corolla Hatchback would be perfect. The 1.4 engine is good and the build quality of those particular models is a long way ahead of anything similar.

Avoid 1.4 Golf or Focus like the plague.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-4-litre-petrol/7098963

Get a Luna spec if you can.

Slksht

Would the 130k miles put you off?

Nkay found this one similarly;
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Corolla/1.4-TERR/201428225383764/advert?channel=CARS

And I found this diesel for comparison http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Corolla/2.0-D-4D/201417223466019/advert?channel=CARS

Moneymaker

Slksht wrote: »

Would the 130k miles put you off?

Nkay found this one similarly;
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Corolla/1.4-TERR/201428225383764/advert?channel=CARS

And I found this diesel for comparison http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Corolla/2.0-D-4D/201417223466019/advert?channel=CARS

130k is nothing for that car. They were proper Toyota's. That's also around average mileage for a 10 year old car.

The ones you've linked, the petrol one is a bog spec, very little extras. It does look nice though.

The diesel will push up your tax and insurance costs an awful lot. Not worth going diesel for your needs imo.

Here are some Luna models;

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla/7226263

Over your budget but looks nice;

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-luna-1-4/7169908

nkay1985

Moneymaker wrote: »

130k is nothing for that car. They were proper Toyota's. That's also around average mileage for a 10 year old car.

The ones you've linked, the petrol one is a bog spec, very little extras. It does look nice though.

The diesel will push up your tax and insurance costs an awful lot. Not worth going diesel for your needs imo.

Here are some Luna models;

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla/7226263

Over your budget but looks nice;

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-luna-1-4/7169908

What's the difference between the Terra and the Luna, in general?

Slksht

Thanks man, very helpful. The Luna you linked from Galway is actually cheaper than the Cork one, a year newer and less mileage? Sound too good to be true!

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-4-vvt-i-luna/6437620

Another Luna model.. Do you think its worth getting the Luna model? Difference is Allows and Climate Control mainly is it?

Moneymaker

The Luna is better equipped(I believe they came with more airbags then the Terra, A/C, climate control, front fogs) and they are just a nicer place to be.

bazz26

nkay1985 wrote: »

What's the difference between the Terra and the Luna, in general?

Terra came with just electric front windows, electric mirrors, cd player and central locking.

Luna hatchback came with alloy wheels, front fog lights, body kit, rear electric windows, stereo controls on the steering wheel, air conditioning with climate control, heated mirrors and nicer seat fabric.

Slksht

This is surely the best value going is it? http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla/7226263

Colour isnt as nice as the grey but...

nkay1985

Slksht wrote: »

This is surely the best value going is it? http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla/7226263

Colour isnt as nice as the grey but...

Just on this, with it only being NCTd three months ago, do you guys think you'd still need to get a mechanic to look it over like you'd normally recommend to people?

Seems very cheap in comparison to everything else.

Moneymaker

nkay1985 wrote: »

Just on this, with it only being NCTd three months ago, do you guys think you'd still need to get a mechanic to look it over like you'd normally recommend to people?

Seems very cheap in comparison to everything else.

Yes. 100%

You're right to be wary, it may be a genuine bargain, or there could be something darker going on.

Spending the kind of money you are, I would always submit a car to a through examination from a trusted mechanic.

If anything seems off, walk away.

nkay1985

Moneymaker wrote: »

Yes. 100%

You're right to be wary, it may be a genuine bargain, or there could be something darker going on.

Spending the kind of money you are, I would always submit a car to a through examination from a trusted mechanic.

If anything seems off, walk away.

That's the issue with a car being somewhere like Galway, as in this instance. Would have to get a name of a good mechanic in the area and, even at that, you're taking people at their word.

In your experience, what would a mechanic charge for something like this?

Moneymaker

nkay1985 wrote: »

That's the issue with a car being somewhere like Galway, as in this instance. Would have to get a name of a good mechanic in the area and, even at that, you're taking people at their word.

In your experience, what would a mechanic charge for something like this?

50-100 quid ish.

Might be worth looking into this;

http://www.theaa.ie/AA/Vehicle-checks/Vehicle-Inspections.aspx

I've not used the service personally it must be said.

bazz26

Don't confuse a car with a NCT with being mechanically sound. The NCT is a roadworthiness test at a particular time, it is not a mechanical worthiness test. You can bring a car into to be NCT'd on the back of a trailer. Fresh NCT is a bonus as it means the car passed certain criteria to be fit for the road but not to be taken as an indication the car is mechanically sound.

Slksht

Right lads, spent all day looking at various cars around Done Deal, Carzone and a few around Waterford garages and private sails...

I was wondering if some of you could help me out with some questions that have come up throughout the day;

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Astra/CLUB-1.4/201419223888680/advert?channel=CARS
There are a few of these Opel Astra Clubs drifting around that seem quite good value, around 4k for a 2005, 2006.

Have also been looking at some Mazda 3s, 1.3L petrol that was very nice to drive. This one in particular seems very good value; http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazda3/1.4-COMF/201420223955804/advert?channel=CARS

Finally, there are a few Ford Fiestas and Skoda Fabias coming up on he searches. Any opinions or comparisons between these cars would be much appreciated!!