School run car- Rusty 323, Slow Focus, boring Corolla, overrated Golf, etc etc

kwazar

Which one (if any)?

'03 Focus: more miles, more expensive, newer, private:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-focus-2003/7689663

'99 Almera: less miles, cheaper, older, dealer:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-almera-1-4-nct-02-2015/7453464

'02 323: sportier(?), more tax
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mazda-323-f-glx-for-sell/7539241

or maybe '00 Golf or '99 Corolla instead?

There is too much choice!

colm_mcm

kwazar wrote: »

Which one (if any)?

'03 Focus: more miles, more expensive, newer, private:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-focus-2003/7689663

'99 Almera: less miles, cheaper, older, dealer:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-almera-1-4-nct-02-2015/7453464

'02 323: sportier(?), more tax
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mazda-323-f-glx-for-sell/7539241

or maybe '00 Golf or '99 Corolla instead?

There is too much choice!

The Mazda, without a doubt. Have a 1.6 GLX here as an emergency car and its a great little yoke. Look out for oil burning on startup and be aware that parts can be pricey and hard to come by.

kwazar

colm_mcm wrote: »

The Mazda, without a doubt. Have a 1.6 GLX here as an emergency car and its a great little yoke. Look out for oil burning on startup and be aware that parts can be pricey and hard to come by.

This is what I would probably get but I don't think my wife will appreciate it. What would be your second choice? Fun of driving is least important in this case.

wiz569

kwazar wrote: »

This is what I would probably get but I don't think my wife will appreciate it. What would be your second choice? Fun of driving is least important in this case.

Second choice would be the focus m8

kwazar

wiz569 wrote: »

Second choice would be the focus m8

Even with that mileage?

wiz569

kwazar wrote: »

Even with that mileage?

Yes m8, it's had a lot of work done already and claims to have full service history, so if that checks out you should be fine

JohnBoy26

I wouldn't touch a 323 of that vintage at this stage, they are rot boxes.

colm_mcm

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

I wouldn't touch a 323 of that vintage at this stage, they are rot boxes.

Not all are,not be fair. That one claims to have been through an NCT recently. (must be backdated) the one I have here isn't rusted either.

kwazar

What about Almera or Golf?
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-almera-1-4-nct-02-2015/7453464
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/00-volkswagen-goal/7720574

I have to say I like Almera more than Focus cause it's Japanese and all. They supposed to be reliable aren't they?

toyotaavensis

those almeras were the model which followed was a lump of ****e

JohnBoy26

colm_mcm wrote: »

Not all are,not be fair. That one claims to have been through an NCT recently. (must be backdated) the one I have here isn't rusted either.

Most are at this stage, get yours up on a lift and have a good look underneath, they are made with absolutely terrible rust protection. The underbody chassis rails, sill, arches are are very prone to rust. nct is meaningless where tin worm is concerned.

alan partridge aha

Dont know how reliable the petrol Golf is but it is still a good looking car compared to the others.

colm_mcm

A rotten car will pass an NCT?

I'm sorry John, its great that you have opinions, but I've checked underneath the 1.6 I have, and it will be going through the test again in the coming months.
My friends 02 diesel and my other friends 99 1.5 petrol (my mothers old car actually) both passed NCT this year.

I'm not saying they don't rust, but you should take each car on its merits.

JohnBoy26

colm_mcm wrote: »

A rotten car will pass an NCT?

I'm sorry John, its great that you have opinions, but I've checked underneath the 1.6 I have, and it will be going through the test again in the coming months.
My friends 02 diesel and my other friends 99 1.5 petrol (my mothers old car actually) both passed NCT this year.

I'm not saying they don't rust, but you should take each car on its merits.

No they really are terrible for rust. They are one of the worst modern cars in that regard imo.

I couldn't find a good rust free example when I was looking for one back in 09, and I looked at many examples. Ended up with a corolla instead.

My neighbor had to send their 2003 example to the scrapper last year because it was so bad underneath. It's a shame they are so rust prone because they are a nice enough car and reliable enough apart from the speedo giving trouble on the facelifts

And yes a rusty car will pass a test as long as there is no holes showing. Don't take the test as a guarantee of a rust free car.

It's true you should take each cars on their merits but from my experience with these I just wouldn't bother with one at this stage tbh.

CianRyan

A 1.4 golf of that vintage is not a good car.
Terrible engines, very basic, generally none of the extras that make the higher spec cars desirable. Double the price of the Almera.

The Almera looks good, they are a basic car too but hugely more reliable as long as the sills are intact. Very easy to see when you look at them.
Cheap to tax, drive and insure and have little to go wrong with them.
Brake lines should be checked, as should the headlight connections and the sills as mentioned.
Hard to beat for the money, faster and more nimble than the Golf too.

bladespin

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Dont know how reliable the petrol Golf is but it is still a good looking car compared to the others.

:eek: Golfs were never, ever, good looking.

alias no.9

bladespin wrote: »

:eek: Golfs were never, ever, good looking.

It was clearly a relative thing, compared to a first gen almera or final gen 323, the MkIV Golf is almost coherent.

cadaliac

1.4 golf is a saleable car, no matter what, sold one 2 weeks ago for a friend.
Put it up on DD on sat night and had cash for the car on Sunday evening.
Edit: in relation to the posts above

CianRyan

cadaliac wrote: »

1.4 golf is a saleable car, no matter what, sold one 2 weeks ago for a friend.
Put it up on DD on sat night and had cash for the car on Sunday evening.
Edit: in relation to the posts above

This is why I don't get Ireland.
They're so ****.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

CianRyan wrote: »

This is why I don't get Ireland.
They're so ****.

1.4 tax with the VW badge, and basic spec! That's what sells!


Conveniently forgetting the 1.0 performance and 2.0 fuel economy!

kwazar

OK, Golf off my list then.
Will have a look at Almera and Focus.

Cheers!

alan partridge aha

bladespin wrote: »

:eek: Golfs were never, ever, good looking.

Well their a hell of alot more better looking than them japs. Almera 323 yuk looking.

JohnBoy26

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Well their a hell of alot more better looking than them japs. Almera 323 yuk looking.

The golf is still very bland looking though. For reliability the japs are well ahead of petrol VW's of that vintage.

JohnBoy26

kwazar wrote: »

OK, Golf off my list then.
Will have a look at Almera and Focus.

Cheers!

A corolla would be a better option than an Almera.

alan partridge aha

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The golf is still very bland looking though. For reliability the japs are well ahead of petrol VW's of that vintage.

They are far less bland looking than the japs of that vintage. Still look good even after 16 years. Can't say that about alot of cars.

JohnBoy26

alan partridge aha wrote: »

They are far less bland looking than the japs of that vintage. Still look good even after 16 years. Can't say that about alot of cars.

I don't agree that they are far less bland looking tbh. They may have aged well and they may look more upmarket than other cars of the time in that class, but a mk4 golf is anything but exciting.

The petrols were also very soft and build was only average.

Japs of that vintage where so far ahead of vw for reliability and quality

alan partridge aha

They may have aged well and they may look more upmarket than other cars of the time in that class.

Wouldn't disagree with that statement.

bladespin

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Well their a hell of alot more better looking than them japs. Almera 323 yuk looking.

In your eyes possibly but either way the golf has never been a stylish or good looking car by any stretch, practical - yes, functional - yes, economical - maybe, reliable - not as good as made out to be but more bland than flour, white flour.

JohnBoy26

alan partridge aha wrote: »

They may have aged well and they may look more upmarket than other cars of the time in that class.

Wouldn't disagree with that statement.

Looks can be deceiving. quality and reliability fell well short of the image.

alan partridge aha

bladespin wrote: »

In your eyes possibly but either way the golf has never been a stylish or good looking car by any stretch, practical - yes, functional - yes, economical - maybe, reliable - not as good as made out to be but more bland than flour, white flour.

Well if they are white flour what is an almera, corolla,323 etc.

alan partridge aha

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Looks can be deceiving. quality and reliability fell well short of the image.

I never said anything about reliability, I was just talking about their looks which still look fresh.

JohnBoy26

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Well if they are white flour what is an almera, corolla,323 etc.

The same, just far better made and far, far more reliable.

JohnBoy26

alan partridge aha wrote: »

I never said anything about reliability, I was just talking about their looks which still look fresh.

What good is that to the op? They dismissed the golf on reliability terms and your still going on about how it looks :rolleyes:

alan partridge aha

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The same, just far better made and far, far more reliable.

A now come on, you telling me a golf is equal in looks to an almera or corolla.

Esel

Lads, > Baking discussion suggestions.

JohnBoy26

alan partridge aha wrote: »

A now come on, you telling me a golf is equal in looks to an almera or corolla.

It's equally as bland, yes.

alan partridge aha

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

What good is that to the op? They dismissed the golf on reliability terms and your still going on about how it looks :rolleyes:

I made a comment about the golf and some of ye got a bit annoyed so I just replied.

I'd buy a petrol corolla over a golf of that vintage as well.

Frankie Lee

On the 323s, I've seen a few of them fairly rusty with one 03 being absolutely rotten. The 94-98 model was much better for rust protection in my opinion.

CianRyan

>implies golf is an exciting design
>lol

Stella Virgo

CianRyan wrote: »

A 1.4 golf of that vintage is not a good car.
Terrible engines, very basic, generally none of the extras that make the higher spec cars desirable. Double the price of the Almera.

The Almera looks good, they are a basic car too but hugely more reliable as long as the sills are intact. Very easy to see when you look at them.
Cheap to tax, drive and insure and have little to go wrong with them.
Brake lines should be checked, as should the headlight connections and the sills as mentioned.
Hard to beat for the money, faster and more nimble than the Golf too.

spot on there...there are thousands of them on the road,spare parts are easily got and are reasonably priced too.great little car for the money.

rizzodun

Stella Virgo wrote: »

spot on there...there are thousands of them on the road,spare parts are easily got and are reasonably priced too.great little car for the money.

Worth pointing out that the Almera is almost half the price of the 323 and Focus, with less milage, and same amount of NCT, worth the punt, if you spent the €650 saved to get one more year of NCT you'd still be winning.

alias no.9

Can I propose a title change? You'll find that in fact the Golf is Overpriced, Overrated, Underpowered and Underspec'd

alan partridge aha

alias no.9 wrote: »

Can I propose a title change? You'll find that in fact the Golf is Overpriced, Overrated, Underpowered and Underspec'd

But is easier on the eyes.

kwazar

I actually prefer the looks of Japanese cars if it makes any difference.

In fairness, it supposed to be just a cheap to run, practical, family car that will last few years and probably will never leave Dublin as long as my wife drives it.

Keep the posts coming guys, it's a good read.

alias no.9

alan partridge aha wrote: »

But is easier on the eyes.

Mazda and Nissan didn't even try with their respective efforts, VW tried too hard. Hipsters should be all over the 323 and Almera but they're really just phoney sheep so they'll have the VW.

bladespin

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Well if they are white flour what is an almera, corolla,323 etc.

Exactly the same thing, styling wise anyway, just without the badge.

bazz26

If this is genuine then this is well worth a look at:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-avensis/7684493

cadaliac

alan partridge aha wrote: »

But is easier on the eyes.

Maybe, but always more saleable

Esel

I like cake, and sometimes like to look/cook, but this diversionary thread is trending towards puke/book.

Can we not get back to baking recipes, please?
Cake, bread, eggs, kneads

Flour, wholemeal, how do you want your steak, Sir?
Bloody, rare, or even medium? Well done, son...
Are you paying with paper or plastic?
Hope its not elastic, mon...

Carguments, schmarguments,
Don't be fighting, don't be shiting,
East or west, which is best?
De rust it be killing de rest...

Which witche's car, how far,
It did fly over the bar, hey -
Hawkeye, believe,
Leave the field.







So, if you guys are afficionados -
Don't be fighting, be amicados.
Rust, engine, electrics,


.

CJhaughey

Funny that rusty 323's should be mentioned.
I saw an 02 last saturday, 1 owner from new Parked under cover,never dipped in the sea.
Rear subframe was very bad and the forward parts of the rear chassis members were very bad, borderline failure.
I couldn't believe how bad it was tbh.
Nice enough cars apart from that fault, the diesels are particularly good from that era.

JohnBoy26

CJhaughey wrote: »

Funny that rusty 323's should be mentioned.
I saw an 02 last saturday, 1 owner from new Parked under cover,never dipped in the sea.
Rear subframe was very bad and the forward parts of the rear chassis members were very bad, borderline failure.
I couldn't believe how bad it was tbh.
Nice enough cars apart from that fault, the diesels are particularly good from that era.

This is the kind of stuff your confronted with on those 323's,