Help me pick a Car!

JR6

Hi guys, looking for some ideas of what car to buy...

Currently have a 1.4 3dr Golf but we're buying a second car.
Milage is approx. 25,000-30,000 km a year.
No motorway driving but daily drive to work is 25km each way. Not much city driving either, mostly country and head for a long spin home every few weeks!

Need a family sized saloon as first baba is on the way in March! Also looking for something with a bit more power than the Golf. I find it very slow.

So far I have test driven a Skoda Octavia 1.4 petrol...Too heavy and slow. Then I took the 2.0 diesel Octavia for a spin and I liked it. Heard the 1.9 is a better engine so have been looking at them recently but they are very expensive for the year I am looking at. (09/10)
Took a 1.8 diesel mondeo for a test drive too. Its ok but I prefer the Octavia.

I realise I am probably not doing the milage for a diesel so am back to looking at petrol again. I seen a really nice 08 BMW 316i in my budget on donedeal today but hadn't thought about anything like this before. What are they like? Much faster then the 1.4 golf? Reliable?

I'm looking for a circa 2010 year car. Budget is €10,000.

Thoughts please!!??

mickdw

JR6 wrote: »

Hi guys, looking for some ideas of what car to buy...

Currently have a 1.4 3dr Golf but we're buying a second car.
Milage is approx. 25,000-30,000 km a year.
No motorway driving but daily drive to work is 25km each way. Not much city driving either, mostly country and head for a long spin home every few weeks!

Need a family sized saloon as first baba is on the way in March! Also looking for something with a bit more power than the Golf. I find it very slow.

So far I have test driven a Skoda Octavia 1.4 petrol...Too heavy and slow. Then I took the 2.0 diesel Octavia for a spin and I liked it. Heard the 1.9 is a better engine so have been looking at them recently but they are very expensive for the year I am looking at. (09/10)
Took a 1.8 diesel mondeo for a test drive too. Its ok but I prefer the Octavia.

I realise I am probably not doing the milage for a diesel so am back to looking at petrol again. I seen a really nice 08 BMW 316i in my budget on donedeal today but hadn't thought about anything like this before. What are they like? Much faster then the 1.4 golf? Reliable?

I'm looking for a circa 2010 year car. Budget is €10,000.

Thoughts please!!??

insignia or passat would be my thinking.

JR6

mickdw wrote: »

insignia or passat would be my thinking.

Yeah can't go far wrong with VW. Passat very expensive though. I like the look of the Insignia and its relatively cheap compared to similar cars but asking around I'm hearing mixed reports about engines not been the best. I suppose you can have problems with any car though really. Many here have the Insignia? Good car?

mickdw

JR6 wrote: »

Yeah can't go far wrong with VW. Passat very expensive though. I like the look of the Insignia and its relatively cheap compared to similar cars but asking around I'm hearing mixed reports about engines not been the best. I suppose you can have problems with any car though really. Many here have the Insignia? Good car?

Despite what goes around about vw not being reliable, a good example of a passat would imo be the cheapest to own over a few years considering resale etc.
Insignia in right spec is a very nice car although I have heard of gearbox problems and rear brake problems on more than a few insignias.

JR6

Anyone any thoughts on The Mazda 6 2.0 diesel?

Something like below...

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mazda-6-mazda6-2-0-td-140-5dr-executive/8463819?offset=10

MuppetCheck

Avoid a diesel 6, they are a risky buy especially the 2 litre.

JR6

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Avoid a diesel 6, they are a risky buy especially the 2 litre.

Really? Anything specific or have you experience with them?

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

bazz26

Honda Accord:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Accord/2.2I-CTDI/201452229657623/

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

MuppetCheck

JR6 wrote: »

Really? Anything specific or have you experience with them?

They are known to be a bit of a dog. Early 2.2s are the same, and I'd only buy a later one with a very comprehensive service history. Trying to prove the history can be awkward on one too since they don't come with a service book and a main dealer need to read information stored on the key.

Short version of the story, the dpf design means diesel can mix with engine oil, oil level rises and the mixture doesn't offer the same lubrication to the engine. It can often go unnoticed too. Oil pick ups clog up too. Just not their finest moment to be honest.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

bazz26

Subaru Legacy within budget too:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Subaru/Legacy/2.0-TD/126014209892111530/

JR6

bazz26 wrote: »

Subaru Legacy within budget too:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Subaru/Legacy/2.0-TD/126014209892111530/

That looks pretty nice. Never even thought about a Subaru..

JR6

I'm going looking at a Ford Mondeo (2010) Titanium 2.0tdi tomorrow. It has 94k miles and is approx. €11,000.
My friend lives nearby and brought it for a spin the other day and he reckons its immaculate and drives mint.
Is there anything I should be looking out for and what problems lie in my future if I buy it?
Thanks.

finalfurlong

Had an 09 mondeo titanium and drove very well for me.Can be slightly heavy on tyres,I dropped into garage I traded it into and salesman was telling me that they sold it in a day and is still running like clockwork for owner with 120 k miles on it.Once timing belt taken care of, it runs like a train.Tyres needed replacing after 20- 25 k miles but it is a heavy unit!