Time for an upgrade.

Phenoxan

Hi.

The time has come for me to move on from my first car. Last year I bought myself a 00 Hyundai Accent I was very naive and got ripped off when i bought it (slipping clutch, fake NCT and a load of other things)

Now that I have the car running perfectly I want to get rid of it

I am looking for something slightly bigger than the accent and preferably with a larger engine 1.4 - 1.6.

My budget is around the 1500 - 2k mark and I am having trouble finding something i like.

A few cars I am looking at are,

Nissan almera salloon - Decent enough car but they look so bland
Vectra 1.6 - Really like the look of these cars.
Laguna II - They are cheap but i know they have a bad reputation
Mazda 3 - was thinking of holding off and saving for one of these.
Focus MK1 - I like the car but the interior is hideous

Im 28 so my insurance has been pretty good to me so far, I have 2 kids to throw into the car so Id like something a decent size.

What would you all recommend?

Atlantic Dawn

If your not doing big miles you should extend your choices to 2 litre, yes the tax will be about €200 more a year and they will burn a little more fuel but you will usually pick them up much cheaper to start with.

Phenoxan

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

If your not doing big miles you should extend your choices to 2 litre, yes the tax will be about €200 more a year and they will burn a little more fuel but you will usually pick them up much cheaper to start with.

Not really no. I have done about 10k in the past year. My daily commute is around 30km all on country roads and 25 in petrol euro usually lasts me the week.

I have just got to the point were I hate sitting in accent. Looking to get into something thats practical but nice to drive.

Matthewjohn

It is a 1.8 but is in excellent condition, has great spec and a long NCT.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volvo-s40-low-miles-nct-07-16-passed-today/9120387?offset=16

Phenoxan

I like it. I have a thing for the S40's. My other half who knows nothing about cars is insisting on a 1.4. She thinks anything above will cost a fortune. May just have to have a look at this when she is not around

bazz26

To be honest OP given your list there and your limited budget I would not see any point in changing from what you have given that as you said the Accent is running grand now. You know the car you have at the moment whereas any of the cars listed could be less reliable than your Accent.

I'd keep the Accent until at least you can increase your budget and open up more choices.

Phenoxan

You have a valid point and you are not the first person to say that. Even my mechanic is telling me to keep it. As for the accent itself. I have seen may of them on the road and they all look beat up. My one is pretty spotless and has decent enough alloys on it.

On a bit of a time limit though as insurance is up in June so its either save and get something better or chance it on a lemon. Really want that S40 though that was linked earlier

My accent
http://i.imgur.com/dyr5cLP.jpg