Low tax, low emissions, low running costs...? Well?

Dinarius

If I was to buy (second-hand) a car that had low emissions, low tax, low running costs, excellent depreciation, solid resale value, etc..etc.., what car(s) should I be considering?

Ok, I'd love a Porsche 911, but it's out of the question. So, going in the opposite direction entirely, if I was to put taste to one side, and consider a car purely (and I mean PURELY)on economic grounds, what should I be looking at?

I should say that I don't want something the size of a Mini, so let's say something in the hatchback size (Golf-size, for example), or something in the family size (Volkswagen Passat, for example).

In summary, a dream second-hand car for someone who has no taste (though if a nice looking car is what is recommended, then better still) and wants to save every penny possible.

Thanks.

D.

mullingar

Atlantic Dawn

First rule of saving money is don't spend tens of thousands to save a few hundred on motor tax. A sub €2 grand reliable car would be the best bet if you wish to save money.

colm_mcm

Cars with excellent depreciation are obviously more expensive to buy

Dinarius

Thanks for the replies.

I was in Germany last week and I was told that Kia have great difficulty in finding dealerships there, apparently because of their reliability, oddly enough. (Obviously, cost isn't an issue. They will always be cheaper than a German equivalent.)

D.

colm_mcm

That's utter nonsense though. Hyundai sell more in Germany than Kia as they've been in the German market longer and are more established there.

Dinarius

colm_mcm wrote: »

That's utter nonsense though. Hyundai sell more in Germany than Kia as they've been in the German market longer and are more established there.

So, your point is that Hyundai are the reason Kia can't get a foothold in Germany?

D.

Ps. Elaborating on my original question: rather than driving around in €2k worth of car, which is what I'm doing at present, I'd rather buy something 2/3 years old and drive it for 10 years. So, with that in mind......?

colm_mcm

How much are you willing to spend, and how much driving could you see yourself doing?

Dinarius

colm_mcm wrote: »

How much are you willing to spend, and how much driving could you see yourself doing?

Probably up to €25k.

Must be 4 door. No other requirements, to be honest, though I have driven diesels for years now.

Thanks.

D.

Xennon

qashqai 1.5dci would fit the bill.

Red Kev

If you're spending €25,000 on a car, you'll face depreciation either way which will run into the thousands per annum. Tax will be the least of your worries from a financial point of view.

If you want a decent car that will cost little to run overall in the long run, then go for a 10-12 year old SAAB 9-5.

SUV's tend to be very sought after, but at €25K for a second hand one, you'll still lose thousands, plus you'll inevitably end out with a diesel which can have high servicing costs.

Alternatively a later Mercedes W210 or BMW E39, especially as an estate.

A well looked after Merc W124 estate will have no real depreciation anymore, parts are cheap and easy to get.

browniepoints

25k will get some interesting mid sized car with low emmisions low running cost lower road tax but high depreciation unless you keep it many years

KIA CEED is hard to beat station wagon version with small petrol version i think 1,4 engine .
New they are less than 30K and they got 7 year guarantee.
cee’d 1.4 TX Petrol 139 €19,104
cee’d 1.4 EX Diesel 114 €23,200
cee’d 1.6 EX Diesel 114 €24,050
cee’d 1.6 EX Diesel A/T 145 €27,190
They make them it seems Slovkia so not sure isf they are good as the south Korean built version.
My Mates 3 year 1000cc Kia Sequanta with 100,000 kilometers goes brilliant

As cars for the family do the job but are totally boring cars . If you keep it ten years even if you buy one or two year old car the deprecation is OK because you got your moneys worth .If you buy new and sell every 2 or 3 years depression is most severe but this type always has buyers so less deprecation than many other makes .
Fuel figures for the KIA ranges are good but not as good as sales blurb only robots can ever get the advertised fuel figures .
If your low mileage user type might as well stay with 1.4 petrol version as its hard to get the fuel saving and your extra 4 grand back unless you do more than 10,000 miles a year . Deprecation on petrol will be higher if your trading in every three years .

Thats assuming your buying with cash under 25k
If you doing credit then 2 year old car like KIA or Nissan or any of the good Asian makes will probably be a better deal ..
My other mate in 2007 bought a new mitisi something type Tradget SUV 2000cc petrol engine 7 seater and it has done 200,000 kilometers
he is very happy never any major problem just the normal service and and heavy on brake pads and front tires and fuel 22MPG on good day and lot less in town .
It cost 35 k then worth €4000 now so he will run it into the ground probably be scrap in 2018 It seems fairly good cars the Asian types.

Also got mates with Mercs old 124 types can cheap to run but road tax nct parts and extra service for older cars adds up and less fuel efficient
Also like oder cars do they can break down more frequently been there with them with the bored kids waiting for roadside service to fix it .
if your looking to make large family then splash out and get the biggest 7 seater you can get as new as possible preferably Asian with diesel engine 1.6 up to 2L and keep it if you can 15 plus years

Jed

Dinarius

Many thanks for the reply.

Considering a Lexus Hybrid now. Any views?

Thanks.

D.

browniepoints

Dinarius wrote: »

Many thanks for the reply.

Considering a Lexus Hybrid now. Any views?

Thanks.

D.

top end type car if there are problems eye watering bills that could bye another small economic car .

Petrol or diesel is only small component of car running costs ..
you need to specify what age car what miles how much to buy expected fuel figures .

Your probably gonna go way out on limb with this type of car as its unlikely to return the wanted save every penny logic .
The newer it is the worse will be the depreciation .
The older it is the greater the risk for bills in the several thousand mark.

Even the Honda Civic Hybrid is top end stuff very hard to get your money back on it .

The Hybrids tend to be more usefull fuel saving in city driving and less usefull on motorway driving .

If electric grabs you look the Leaf .If your low miles user and can reach to the older versions from 2011 they cost buttons to run per mile .
Eletric have few parts to wear out or break .
However for commutes longer than 100 miles or less if the battery is clapped out less than 7 bars with leaf your gonna be stuck by the side of the road .
However clapped out leaf car battery can supply 10 miles commutes for donkeys years for buttons

For hybrids and electric look the forums on Boards and others for that subject

Jed

Atlantic Dawn

Dinarius wrote: »

Many thanks for the reply.

Considering a Lexus Hybrid now. Any views?

Thanks.

D.

Good if your bottom line is it costs be x cent per mile in fuel, bad choice if you put the purchase price and depreciation in to a spreadsheet.

Dinarius

Thanks again for the replies.

Been looking at older Mercs - fantastic value until you look at the tax. E200 costing €1200+ p.a.

Also, looking at the Golf - extraordinary second hand value. 6-8 year's old, costing the same at Mercs and Beamers.

Also suggested we look at Hyundai ix35 SUV.

Finally, came across this piece from the IT. Interesting. http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/diesel-v-petrol-cheaper-to-tax-but-dearer-to-maintain-1.2027001

Seems to suggest we should be looking at petrol, not diesel.

On balance, I think I'd like to restrict our tax to €600 p.a., petrol (not diesel) and a purchase price of no more than €20k.

Finally, this is gorgeous.... http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=1251515&r=s.php%3Fm[]%3D53%26o[]%3D454%26l[]%3D10%26e%3D35000%26t%3D2%26g%3D0

Went to see it. Beautiful. I know, I'm dreaming.

D.