Car Recommendation

willabur

Hi All,

Any advice on what car I should be looking at. Here are my criteria

Price - <10,000
No Kids
Need room for Golf Clubs and be able to carry a road Bike on the back
Use only at the weekends so Mileage will be low but I do have a bad back so something comfortable for when I take a trip every second weekend down the country - with the odd longer trip out west or down to Wicklow (dublin based). Something also that is nippy enough, present car rattles if it goes over 100kmph
Looking for something that will be low maintenance, something reliable as long as it is serviced regularly

feel free to ask any questions

bazz26

What are you driving at the moment? What sort of car are you keen on? Do you have any limitations on engine size, motor tax, etc?

willabur

I'm driving a starlet at the moment which while reliable and robust is too small for comfort and isn't very solid on the motorway.
Before that I had a Skoda Fabia which I had a lot of trouble with, mostly electronic issues.

Tax wise below 400. So engine size 2 litres or below

In terms of what I see out on the roads that I like the look of. Insignias, Focus, Mondeo, Astras, Quashai, Volvos

bazz26

You will get a decent spec 1.4 TSi Passat on your budget:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Passat/HIGHLINE-1.4/125414195789487410/

willabur

Thanks - Can you tell me a bit about TSI?
1.4 seems a bit on the small side for a car that size also, would imagine it would be a bit sluggish?

bazz26

The 1.4 TSi engine has a turbo charger on it producing 122bhp which is more than alot of conventional 1.6 litre engined cars. It has plenty of power even in the Passat. The one main thing to watch out for is some of the timing chains can stretch and need replacing.

finalfurlong

I ran a TSI passat for 3 years from 09 to 2012.It was an 08 highline and it was excellent.Ran like clockwork ,far livelier than diesel and economy over 45 mpg.An under rated car-many people tend to think of 1.4 as too small but the 2 chargers give it some boost and to me,it is ideal unless you are doing very high mileage.they are a bargain 2nd hand.I had no problem with timimg chain and kept it seviced using the castrol edge 5w30 oil-do this and I think it would be a good buy for your needs

willabur

cheers lads, that helps alot

bazz26

finalfurlong wrote: »

I ran a TSI passat for 3 years from 09 to 2012.It was an 08 highline and it was excellent.Ran like clockwork ,far livelier than diesel and economy over 45 mpg.An under rated car-many people tend to think of 1.4 as too small but the 2 chargers give it some boost and to me,it is ideal unless you are doing very high mileage.they are a bargain 2nd hand.I had no problem with timimg chain and kept it seviced using the castrol edge 5w30 oil-do this and I think it would be a good buy for your needs

The 1.4 TSi fitted to the Passat only had a turbo, rather twin charger. The twin charger versions were 140bhp and 170bhp which were never fitted in the Passat.

finalfurlong

Mine of information ,there ,Bazz.Now that I think of it i did see one advertised at time with 140bhp-dealer had brought it in from UK-would have been fairly lively, id say.Did I read where vw were giving alower rate of interest on finance on new passat in petrol versions? or maybe it was the Highlines?