Buying Car - Approx €10k - Advice

DirkVoodoo

I'm looking to buy a car, ideally for in and around €10k (+/- €2.5k).

So far I'm looking at a VW Polo. The new ones feel a lot nicer, my first car was a Polo (01) and it felt incredibly basic, underpowered, etc. My last car was an Alfa GT, and while it was fun to drive, it ended up causing a few problems in stereotypical fashion.

So, my requirements:

• I don't drive to work, this is purely for weekends/longer journeys. I've tried rentals but I'd prefer having a car that's ready to go.
• Needs to be a really good cruiser! I had a punto and any kind of long distance travelling would wear me out.
• Reliability and low maintenance trump any kind of driving "fun". This is really a point A to point B barge. Low servicing costs and low tax/insurance.
• Must have either a big boot (3 series touring estate) or easy fold down options to fit a bike.

Due to the infrequent use/low mileage, I would consider petrol.

I drove a Skoda Octavia estate recently and it pretty much fit the bill, although it was a little larger than I had hoped.

I'm swinging back towards the Polo aren't I?

Tea 1000

How are you going back to a Polo? It's small, you'll struggle to get a bike in there.
Mazda 6 1.8 petrol hatchback would fit the bill nicely. They're very good value, and reliable. Little thirsty, but for infrequent use, you can save a few bob on the purchase price to offset that.

newballsplease

A Polo ?? Are you sure you dont mean a Golf ?!!

kirving

Volvo V50, maybe?

DirkVoodoo

Tea 1000 wrote: »

How are you going back to a Polo? It's small, you'll struggle to get a bike in there.
Mazda 6 1.8 petrol hatchback would fit the bill nicely. They're very good value, and reliable. Little thirsty, but for infrequent use, you can save a few bob on the purchase price to offset that.

newballsplease wrote: »

A Polo ?? Are you sure you dont mean a Golf ?!!

I got a lift off a mate at the weekend, he had a 2011 Polo (6R) and we squeezed 2 bikes in. Squeezed, but it was grand!

Yeah, I've been looking at mark 6 golfs, a few decent examples around. I was even tempted by a mk5 GTI but that would fly in the face of my requirements and I restrained myself.

Good shout out on the Mazda and Volvo, will check them out.

kirving

What would you consider high tax?

A V50 can be good value with a 1.8 Flexifuel engine, but the tax is €636.

DirkVoodoo

Kevin Irving wrote: »

What would you consider high tax?

A V50 can be good value with a 1.8 Flexifuel engine, but the tax is €636.

I'd have to throw it into my bangernomics spreadsheet

DirkVoodoo

Ok, Mazda 5 and Volvo V50 a bit bigger than I would need.

Would a Mazda 3 hatchback be an option or would you guys just opt for the Golf?

This one is reasonably high mileage but looks in good condition and given I won't be clocking massive miles, I can probably afford to go for it:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/mazda/mazda3/used-2009-mazda-mazda3-1-6d-ts2-dublin-fpa-160914317737930030

Tea 1000

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Ok, Mazda 5 and Volvo V50 a bit bigger than I would need.

Would a Mazda 3 hatchback be an option or would you guys just opt for the Golf?

This one is reasonably high mileage but looks in good condition and given I won't be clocking massive miles, I can probably afford to go for it:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/mazda/mazda3/used-2009-mazda-mazda3-1-6d-ts2-dublin-fpa-160914317737930030

The Mazda 3 is much nicer to drive than the Golf, but the seat isn't terribly comfortable for longer spins.

kirving

The Mazda 3, Ford Focus, and V50 actually share a lot of their components, and are all based off the same chassis, with each manufacturer setting up the car a little differently.

Mazda would probably go for driving experience(although I haven't driven one), and Volvo have chosen comfort. Of the three, a Focus would be somewhere in the middle.

The V50 is no bigger inside than the Mazda or Focus, despite looking big.

bazz26

What about a Honda Jazz, bigger inside than a Polo but not much longer on the outside:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Jazz/1.4-I/148514259127130130/

Others to look at would be:-

Toyota Urban Cruiser:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Toyota/Urbancruiser/TERRA-1.33L/171414343620563630/

Seat Ibiza estate:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/SEAT/Ibiza/ST-1.2/160514314272179260/

Peugeot 207 SW:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Peugeot/207/1.4-ST/162114309091630850/