Which car would you buy..Focus, Mazda 6 or Volswagon Passat

skii29

Hello
I'm looking at some cars on done deal and just need some advice on my selection.
Here are the cars

05 VW passatt TDI comfortline- 1.9 litre, 151,000 miles on the clock, Diesel. NCT until April 2016. No tax = Asking 2,500 euro

2009 Mazda 6- 2.0 litre, 80,000 miles on the clock, Diesel, NCT until March 2017. No tax. = Asking 10,250 euro.

2010 Ford Focus Hatchback, 58,500 miles on the clock, Diesel, NCT till Sept 2015. No tax = Asking 9,200 euro.


I won't be driving the car much during the week as in 15k a day. Have to do a round trip from Clare to Dublin every week so the miles will clock up there.

Here's the deal. I know the Passat has a lot of miles but the service history is good and the local garage man knows the history of the car. Just nervous doing the long miles in this car
The Mazda is lovely. I always wanted a Mazda.
The Ford Focus doesn't have much mileage for a car its age and is reliable.

I don't know about spending a lot of money on a car I'm going to be doing a lot of miles in. The long miles will only be for 6-9 months. I was thinking of getting an old car for the miles and perhaps buying a new car next year but not sure.
Any advice welcome!

racso1975

Obviously the nct is appealing on the mazda and passat.

My concern is the 15k a day in a diesel is gonna cause you more problems then the 10yr old passat.

I would go passat myself. Even if you just kept for a year you wont lose much. given mechanic knows its history and it is serviced well is added piece of mind.

What do you currently drive?

coolisin

Mazda at that mileage would be a definite no go area.
That engine does not enjoy small miles.
Also the 2.0mazda has issues regardless.

The focus is good the problem is the small I'm assuming traffic miles you do during the week. That would be my main concern, if I was in your position.
I know your doing a decent cruise but ok that drive to Clare you'd need to fairly rag the car to regen the filters.

Oh and edit passat the engine in that passat will outlast the rest if the two cars combined!

skii29

Hello
I'm just returning to Ireland. I drive a ford Mondeo abroad. I find them great. I had a ford focus saloon.
Do you think the Passat will be able for all those miles?
Thanks again for advice

bazz26

How did you arrive at these 3 cars OP? A 10 year old Passat costing €2500 is at the opposite end of the specrum to spending €10k on a 5 year old Focus. Also you say you are not convinced about spending that much on a car that you won't be doing alot of miles yet all 3 you are looking at are diesel?

Clare to Dublin is about a 270 mile round trip, 15km per day is roughly 10 miles x 5 days is 50 miles, so lets say you do 320 miles per week, I think this is not really enough to warranty a diesel car. With that in mind I think you should be looking at a petrol car or maybe a hybrid like a Prius. You also really need to narrow down how much you want to spend as there are so many options out there between €2500 and €10k.

In any case I'd rule out a Mazda diesel straight away as those diesel engines are a disaster (plenty of info on them on the net).

Tommy Kelly

Mazda 6 - I've had 3 so far currently driving one similar to the one in the OP and speaking from experience it's or they are a car I couldn't fault. Solid, economic, comfortable, nice looking cars too.

K4t

bazz26 wrote: »

Clare to Dublin is about a 270 mile round trip, 15km per day is roughly 10 miles x 5 days is 50 miles, so lets say you do 320 miles per week,I think this is not really enough to warranty a diesel car.

It's more than enough to warrant a diesel car.

bazz26

K4t wrote: »

It's more than enough to warrant a diesel car.

The op is only driving 50 miles in total during the week and a weekend round trip of 270 miles for maybe 6 to 9 months. If you think that warrants a diesel car then fair enough, I think it doesn't. A diesel car only pays for itself the more you drive. I'd rather spend it on a less complex petrol engined car.

skii29

Hello
I know it sounds strange the price difference and the range of cars.
I would go with the Passat as I'm not that anxious to spend a lot of money straight away. Its diesel and that's what I need for the miles ( I think). I'm just worried that it might not stay going at 151,000 miles. If I got 12 months out of it would be great.
Do you think it will stay going?

9935452

skii29 wrote: »

Hello
I know it sounds strange the price difference and the range of cars.
I would go with the Passat as I'm not that anxious to spend a lot of money straight away. Its diesel and that's what I need for the miles ( I think). I'm just worried that it might not stay going at 151,000 miles. If I got 12 months out of it would be great.
Do you think it will stay going?

Without seeing the car it is impossible to give a opinion. but of the 3 you have above it would be the passat i would go for as long as she is the older model. 00 to 05 . no electric handbrake on the earlier models.
The engines were bullit proof on that model. the whole car gave very little bother.
With that mileage there will be the inevitable wearing items like ball joints, shocks, bushings but the car should be reliable and economical.
The only negative i see is the high tax