New car choice

forumdedum

Trading in a 2008 120bhp Saloon A4 with 165,000km on the clock. Not sure what to buy. Considering new as I like the idea of 3 year warranty.

Really like the Range Rover Evoque (I'm a man and have heard it's a woman's car!)

What about Mercedes C Class? Don't want to spend more than €40,000 though €33,000+ preferable. Loan required of course.

Thank you for any advice.

Comhrá

Have a look at the new VW Passat in Highline version. 2.0 TDI DSG (Automatic) is a pretty impressive car.

VW have moved the new Passat up a notch or two towards the quality level of Audi. I sat in one recently and I was mightily impressed with the interior.

kenmccarthy

That's a real personal choice....I love the nissan qashqai, my 3rd one, love them-great spec, lovely to drive and very economical.....on the downside she hasn't got any 'uumph'....no kick in lower gears but it does me fine. I quite like the look of the new mondeo?

forumdedum

tippman1 wrote: »

Have a look at the new VW Passat in Highline version. 2.0 TDI DSG (Automatic) is a pretty impressive car.

VW have moved the new Passat up a notch or two towards the quality level of Audi. I sat in one recently and I was mightily impressed with the interior.

Actually the new Passat is the only one i took for short test drive. It looks impressive inside yes.

Why automatic?

roadsmart

Personally speaking, if I had that budget I sure as hell wouldn't be buying an average car new, I'd buy a 1 or 2 year old nice car with the hit already taken on it. A nice E class would do, good example here;
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mercedes-benz-e-class-2-1-e-220-cdi-blu/7951974?offset=8

forumdedum

roadsmart wrote: »

Personally speaking, if I had that budget I sure as hell wouldn't be buying an average car new, I'd buy a 1 or 2 year old nice car with the hit already taken on it. A nice E class would do

I spent over €2500 repairing the clutch about 1.5 years ago. I read on forums that this was a common Audi A4 issue. Yet Audi would only pay 1/3 of the cost of the clutch outside warranty. And it would cost me €700 for them just to look at it. Needless to say I went to a non Audi dealer and got the €2500 repair. (Audi quoted over €3000!)

Now my car needs another €2000 repairs (just wear and tear though I'm not mean a heavy driver)

I'm not sure it's worth spending that much money on a car that is likely to get €10,000 on a trade in.

And I really don't want to buy more trouble with an out of warranty car. I sort of have that already?

Badge cars out of warranty are so pricey to repair.

ninty9er

€40k will buy you an Octavia L&K with most of the option boxes ticked, maybe even all of them if you drive a hard bargain for a June delivery.

colm_mcm

That's a bit like ordering the most expensive burger in mc donalds though.

FrontDoor

A new versus a year old car makes no odds, except to your pocket.

Buy a year old car such as an E-Class, A6/5 or 5 series.

Make sure you get one with plenty of extras. Extras cost a fortune new and are worth very little second hand.

What sort of work are you getting done for 2k?

If you are willing to take a chance, sell privately and import direct from a main dealer in the UK, with full manufacturer warranty applicable here. The A4 will sell easily.

bazz26

You would get a top spec Mazda 6 for under €40k.

forumdedum

FrontDoor wrote: »

A new versus a year old car makes no odds, except to your pocket.

Buy a year old car such as an E-Class, A6/5 or 5 series.

Make sure you get one with plenty of extras. Extras cost a fortune new and are worth very little second hand.

What sort of work are you getting done for 2k?

If you are willing to take a chance, sell privately and import direct from a main dealer in the UK, with full manufacturer warranty applicable here. The A4 will sell easily.

Yes extras are no investment when buying new.

Handbrake issue €500
Brake pads front & back €700
New timing belt required in about 10,000 miles €550
Some other small items
Oh and need 4 new tyres!

Are there not lots of A4s out there for second hand selling?

bazz26

The majority of those things are wear and tear items and would not be covered under warranty anyway. Tyres, brake pads/discs and belts will all eventually need changing on a newer car too.

€700 for brake pads? I presume that includes new discs also? Are those main dealer prices? Crazy getting that work done on a 7 year old car by a main dealer.

forumdedum

bazz26 wrote: »

The majority of those things are wear and tear items and would not be covered under warranty anyway. Tyres, brake pads/discs and belts will all eventually need changing on a newer car too.

€700 for brake pads? I presume that includes new discs also? Are those main dealer prices? Crazy getting that work done on a 7 year old car by a main dealer.

I understand wear and tear but I know cars such as Nissans that have lasted over a decade without needing such 'wear and tear' work.

I think it's new discs too yes. That is a main dealer quote.

Contacted a VW garage initially about the Handbrake issue but they wouldn't deal with it and sent me to Audi.

Comhrá

Actually the new Passat is the only one i took for short test drive. It looks impressive inside yes.

Why automatic?

Well, the DSG automatic box makes for very easy use, especially driving in town.I once had a Golf GTI DSG and I swore I'd never go back to manual.

I think most people who have it love that gearbox.

bazz26

forumdedum wrote: »

I understand wear and tear but I know cars such as Nissans that have lasted over a decade without needing such 'wear and tear' work.

I think it's new discs too yes. That is a main dealer quote.

Contacted a VW garage initially about the Handbrake issue but they wouldn't deal with it and sent me to Audi.

All cars need pads/discs and tyres eventually. Some cars have timing chains instead of belts but the reality is that some timing chains prematurely stretch and end up needing to be replaced too. Nissan timing chains are included in that btw.

As I said earlier it's madness bringing a 7 year old car to a main dealer, a good independent garage will do alot of that work for far less money, also shop around for tyres, prices vary greatly between places. Now if you want a change of car then grand but the majority of the above items you listed are deemed normal maintenance that come part and parcel with owning a car rather than problems associated with a particular make/model.