Most Amount of Comfort Possible!

Kintarō Hattori

Hey Folks,

Well last year the missus kicked me in the arse and bought me driving lessons. I've had my 12 lessons and gained a lot of experience as she pretty much relinquished driving to me when we've been in the car together. Last week I booked my test and it's a few months away from happening due to a long waiting time.

I've been thinking about what sort of car I'd like and in truth I'd be happy with anything from a 1 litre hatchback to a 2 litre estate but I need to keep it realistic. Our own car is a 2005 320i and I really like how comfortable that is and eh at the age of 37 I think I'd like something as comfortable as possible.
So I'm looking for a first car. I'm still not sure whether it'll be used for runs to the train station in the morning/evening or whether to drive all the way into town (I live in Balbriggan) so due to that uncertainly it's probably best to concentrate on a petrol car.

Budget of around €1200/1400. I could pay more but it's a first car
Engine wise something no more than 1.6 litre as being my first car and potentially having a licence so late in life I have no idea what insurance costs are going to be
Has to be a manual. I'm still 'fresh' so don't want to go the auto route just yet
Make/body style don't really matter. I'd be as happy in a Micra as I'd be in an E-Class....... though probably more so in the Merc!
Comfort. I'm not a whippersnapper anymore and I really like how comfortable her current car is so that's what I'd really like I think. What's the most comfort I can get for price/engine size limitations (as that rules out BMWs/Mercs)

9935452

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Hey Folks,

Well last year the missus kicked me in the arse and bought me driving lessons. I've had my 12 lessons and gained a lot of experience as she pretty much relinquished driving to me when we've been in the car together. Last week I booked my test and it's a few months away from happening due to a long waiting time.

I've been thinking about what sort of car I'd like and in truth I'd be happy with anything from a 1 litre hatchback to a 2 litre estate but I need to keep it realistic. Our own car is a 2005 320i and I really like how comfortable that is and eh at the age of 37 I think I'd like something as comfortable as possible.
So I'm looking for a first car. I'm still not sure whether it'll be used for runs to the train station in the morning/evening or whether to drive all the way into town (I live in Balbriggan) so due to that uncertainly it's probably best to concentrate on a petrol car.

Budget of around €1200/1400. I could pay more but it's a first car
Engine wise something no more than 1.6 litre as being my first car and potentially having a licence so late in life I have no idea what insurance costs are going to be
Has to be a manual. I'm still 'fresh' so don't want to go the auto route just yet
Make/body style don't really matter. I'd be as happy in a Micra as I'd be in an E-Class....... though probably more so in the Merc!
Comfort. I'm not a whippersnapper anymore and I really like how comfortable her current car is so that's what I'd really like I think. What's the most comfort I can get for price/engine size limitations (as that rules out BMWs/Mercs)

The budget sort of limits you and as its only short journeys you would use it for , id say a safe bet would be a 00 1.4 petrol golf or corolla. They should fall within the budget and are reliable. Wouldnt be the worst for comfort but you are used to a 20grand BMW.

Get quotes for insurance as well as this could cost more than you are bargaining for and could upset the apple cart

Redsoxfan

Try and get an insurance quote for an Alfa Romeo 166 2.0

You will pick one up for your budget with leather and they are a damn comfortable car.

Kintarō Hattori

Thanks Red but the 166 is more car than I'm looking for right now.

Soarer

See if you can find a Vel Satis.

James Bond Junior

Peugeot 407 can be got in a 1.6 and you may find one for your budget plus a coupe of hundred. One comfy car!

Kintarō Hattori

Soarer wrote: »

See if you can find a Vel Satis.

Again isn't that a 2 litre car? Having only been a named driver previously the insurance costs could be astronomical. Plus being somewhat rare it's probably damn expensive if something goes wrong.

alias no.9

A facelifted first generation Citroen C5 comes with a 1.6HDI and more importantly hydropnuematic suspension which is as comfortable as it gets though you'll undoubtedly be stretching the budget

Idbatterim

you can get 1.6 petrol bmw's and 1.8 in merc around the vintage you are mentioning op...

christy02

Saab 93? 1.8 petrol but damn comfy.