€8K Budget for a reliable car to commute 600km per week

Dermo73

Hello all ,

I am trying to source a car for a friend. They have €8K cash to spend and a weekly commute of 600Km (60km each way, each day). It needs to be very reliable and economical to run - low tax, diesel & minimal servicing would be good. It won't be used to ferry passengers very often so 2 door might be ok but 4/5 door is better. Would like low mileage but year is not a big issue. Does anybody have a recommendation?

bazz26

I'd say your options will be limited on a budget of €8k. While even cheap tax 2008 diesels are 7 years old at this stage you will find they hold their values very strong especially genuine low mileage examples. He might get a 2008 Kia Ceed close to his budget.

Dermo73

That's kinda what I've been thinking as well. There might be room to increase the budget with a bit of creative accounting. Would an extra €2k bring some better options into play?

bazz26

Definitely opens up more options for you.

For example:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Renault/Laguna/3-1.5/79314104317196370/

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Citroen/C5/1.6-HDI/106714170909657370/

Dermo73

Thanks Bazz, it moves the goalposts significantly. We'll have to see what wriggle room is available.

I see a 2010 Ford Fiesta Edge on carzone for €8,950 from Carwise in Cloghran with 48K miles on clock (Can't post link cos I'm a newbie). It looks like excellent value. What do you think?

Dia1988

Dermo73 wrote: »

Thanks Bazz, it moves the goalposts significantly. We'll have to see what wriggle room is available.

I see a 2010 Ford Fiesta Edge on carzone for €8,950 from Carwise in Cloghran with 48K miles on clock (Can't post link cos I'm a newbie). It looks like excellent value. What do you think?

A friend of mine will be selling her 08 blue Focus 1.8 tdci Zetec in the next month or so, it only has 86,000 miles (I think) with full service history

She said she might advertise it for 7,000 euro on Donedeal in the next month.

listermint

I'd make sure you are fully happy with the dealer when spending that sort of money. I've no opinion either way on car wise just never heard of them. Isn't there a few dealers along cloghran..

Just do research first and no don't be afraid to go second hand of it checks out alot of the time you will be better off than so called simi dealers.

bazz26

Dermo73 wrote: »

Thanks Bazz, it moves the goalposts significantly. We'll have to see what wriggle room is available.

I see a 2010 Ford Fiesta Edge on carzone for €8,950 from Carwise in Cloghran with 48K miles on clock (Can't post link cos I'm a newbie). It looks like excellent value. What do you think?

Do you really want to be doing 600 km a week in a car the size of a Fiesta? Bigger cars are more comfortable and suitable for such driving.

Bpmull

Id personally go for focus/ astra size. A mk5 vw golf 1.9tdi would be good comfortable car to do that kind of mileage in. Cheap to run returns about 50-55mpg parts are fairly cheap. I have one and even on long journeys after 3 hours they are still quite comfortable. Although you should look at a comfortline or highline soec as they have a lot of nice useful extras that the baseline entry model doesn't have nicer seats too from comfortline upwards.

Dermo73

Some good advice on here. Will review the budget and brief, then check out some larger older cars than originally considered. Thanks all. Will probably be back for more advice before long