Which one should I get?

cjmcork

My Mondy isn't going to last much longer - but at 270k kms, she's served her time - days of doing Cork / Dublin twice a week are gone - possibly only doing that twice a month now, but still have weekly mileage of about 600kms so I'll be sticking with a diesel

Anyway............looking at a 2011 1.6 Focus 90PS 36k kms on the clock or a 2011 1.9 Avensis 46.5k kms on the clock

just want to see what boardsies would pick - which is better in terms of costs (tax; mpg, etc), how would the focus handle on the Cork / Dublin road for overtaking, etc..................

bazz26

The Focus is from the class below both the Mondeo and Avensis, why not look at another Mondeo?

cjmcork

don't really like the new model, plus I think the body is too big for the size of the engine

bazz26

Plenty of 2.0 litre Mondeos about too, with the new tax system you don't have to buy entry level engines to have cheap tax. Or why not a 115bhp Focus?

cjmcork

not wild about the new Mondy's styling - would live with a focus, but quite fancy the avensis..............guess am just looking for what people's thoughts are - experience; common problems, etc.............

bazz26

Avensis is reliable and a safe bet but if you like the way your current Mondeo drives then you might find the Avensis a little disappointing.

What about a Honda Civic diesel?

cjmcork

what's the buzz on the way the Avensis drives?

bazz26

Just doesn't have the same handling dynamics. The Avensis is not a bad handling car, just not a lot of feedback through the steering. Best thing to do is test drive one though, for your average motorist it's not important or a deal breaker.

George Dalton

I'm not a fan of the Mondeo but I would take one any day of the week over that shape Avensis. They are not a nice car at all IMO. They are also very under powered even compared to a 1.8 Mondeo.

cjmcork

this is my worry - am I better off getting a 1.6 focus from a power / weight ratio perspective?

George Dalton

Not a 90bhp one no.

Have you actually driven the two cars in question?

George Dalton

Also, is the Avensis not considerably more expensive than the Focus?

cjmcork

not yet - don't want to drive something, end up loving it and finding out I'll have serious issues with it in 2 years

George Dalton

cjmcork wrote: »

not yet - don't want to drive something, end up loving it

I doubt there is much chance of that with either of those two depressing yokes you have your eye on :pac:

cjmcork

George Dalton wrote: »

I doubt there is much chance of that with either of those two depressing yokes you have your eye on :pac:

I get that, I don't have any mechanic skills to fix stuff if it breaks, need something boring and reliable for day to day living

George Dalton

Buy the Toyota so. Being boring and reliable is about all they are good at.

bazz26

Is the Hyundai i40 outside your budget?

cjmcork

bazz26 wrote: »

Is the Hyundai i40 outside your budget?

yip

dgt

It might be a tongue in cheek review but I think I captured most of the main points when I test drove a 2010 Avensis D4D not too long ago....

Riiiiight here

cjmcork

dgt wrote: »

It might be a tongue in cheek review but I think I captured most of the main points when I test drove a 2010 Avensis D4D not too long ago....

Riiiiight here

thanks - that was really useful

MuppetCheck

Try a 2 litre superb if in budget.

cjmcork

jaysus, that's a huge bus - it's just me in the car - I'm a little girlie - if I drive one of those, people will think I've borrowed me dad's car!!! Thanks though!

Toyotafanboi

George Dalton wrote: »

Buy the Toyota so. Being boring and reliable is about all they are good at.

isn't being reliable one of the key qualities that most people want in a car though? i admit the mk3 avensis isn't very inspiring dynamically but still...

not from a fanboi-ist point of view. just saying.

cjmcork

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

isn't being reliable one of the key qualities that most people want in a car though? i admit the mk3 avensis isn't very inspiring dynamically but still...

not from a fanboi-ist point of view. just saying.

yeah I defo need something that I can rely on - haven't time to be playing around under a bonnet

Toyotafanboi

cjmcork wrote: »

yeah I defo need something that I can rely on - haven't time to be playing around under a bonnet

if you want to bring your next car to 270k km's relatively trouble free i wouldn't consider buying german personally.

cjmcork

what do you reckon - I've only ever had fords; Toyotas or Nissans and a 4x4 in the mad money days!

Toyotafanboi

cjmcork wrote: »

what do you reckon - I've only ever had fords; Toyotas or Nissans and a 4x4 in the mad money days!

havn't heard anything good about the 1.6 diesel in the focus.

what's your budget roughly? there's probably a better alternative than the focus or avensis.

edit: this week i done around 350 miles (around 600 kms) in my 1.4 petrol, cost €65. at that kind of mileage a petrol is still a reasonable alternative imo and the car in a lot of cases will be much cheaper to buy.

cjmcork

don't want to spend anything more than 15k

JohnBoy26

There isn't that much difference between a Mondeo and an avensis in terms of blandness and steering feedback. Fords are very over hyped by the media imo.

bazz26

You might buy this close to your budget:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volvo/S60/D3-SE/74614095918308630/

cjmcork

god that is a nice looking bus - no experience of Volvos whatsoever

Moneymaker

My mother has had 3 S60s. Loved them all and none gave any issues other then regular servicing.

Never sat in more comfortable seats.

Take it for a spin at least i'd say.

How about an Octavia or an Accord?

cjmcork

my mechanic said that the '10/'11 diesel avensis is quite fond of the oil...................

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

if you want to bring your next car to 270k km's relatively trouble free i wouldn't consider buying german personally.

My '10 superb was at 280 k when I sold it (it was clocked back to 80k before I got it). Flew through the NCT aswell.

I've seen new passats, superbs, octavias, and golfs with over 250-300k (one with 570k :eek:)

Why would you not buy a german car to do 270k relatively trouble free?

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Left field suggestion, how about a BMW?

cjmcork

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

Left field suggestion, how about a BMW?

I'd LOVE one, but I need my car to start every day

the brother has a 3 series and has no end of fun with it, as has his mechanic!

Cleveland Hot Pocket

cjmcork wrote: »

I'd LOVE one, but I need my car to start every day

the brother has a 3 series and has no end of fun with it, as has his mechanic!

I've had two bmw at this stage, never once did they fail to start.

George Dalton

cjmcork wrote: »

my mechanic said that the '10/'11 diesel avensis is quite fond of the oil...................

What does he recommend then?

Don't think we have ever seen one with an oil consumption issue tbh.

bazz26

George Dalton wrote: »

What does he recommend then?

Don't think we have ever seen one with an oil consumption issue tbh.

That's probably why her mechanic is against her buying one. :P

christy02

Wouldn't think 270k km in a diesel is that high. My accord just passed 260 and has no problems. Hope same again in it tbh.
Most cars if serviced correctly should be well able for 300k +

Squeaksoutloud

bazz26 wrote: »

You might buy this close to your budget:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volvo/S60/D3-SE/74614095918308630/

That s60 is gone already... Been keeping an eye out on them and that's the best value for spec I have seen in Ireland so far..doh!

Old diesel

I think id find it hard to sit into that era Avensis - if I could have a Superb with all the toys.

Yes I get the "it looks like my dads car" thing - but they are nice inside if you have one with all the toys.

Obviously needs to be the 2.0 litre and not the 1.6*

*okay plenty of people will say the 1.6 is fine - but its rather a big car for a 1.6

JohnBoy26

George Dalton wrote: »

I'm not a fan of the Mondeo but I would take one any day of the week over that shape Avensis. They are not a nice car at all IMO. They are also very under powered even compared to a 1.8 Mondeo.

"Very nice diesel Avensis". Bit of a contradiction there George

http://www.daltons.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1117765

http://m.daltons.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1117765&r=

George Dalton

Touché Johnboy, touché :pac:

George Dalton

Someone liked it enough to buy it anyway, sold it there at lunchtime

JohnBoy26

George Dalton wrote: »

Someone liked it enough to buy it anyway, sold it there at lunchtime

Good stuff, It looked well to be fair George

JohnBoy26

George Dalton wrote: »

Touché Johnboy, touché :pac:

Sorry, I couldn't resist :pac:

George Dalton

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Good stuff, It looked well to be fair George

It is a nice Avensis. Which is not say I like it as a car. The lad who bought it was looking at it and an 09 Insignia we have for the same money. I know which one I would have bought...

Moneymaker

George Dalton wrote: »

It is a nice Avensis. Which is not say I like it as a car. The lad who bought it was looking at it and an 09 Insignia we have for the same money. I know which one I would have bought...

I'd have bought the CC on there. :pac:

George Dalton

Moneymaker wrote: »

I'd have bought the CC on there. :pac:

Now that is a nice car!