Help us choose

chiefwiggum

Howaya everyone..ages since I posted here..
Anyway were in the market for a new motor.
Has to be diesel and has to be an estate. We've ruled out the superb as its just to pricey and I will never buy a Ford again so that's out..We've narrowed it down to(all 2012 models)
Vw passat.
Hyundai I40.
Opel insignia.
Toyota avensis.

Can anyone give us some advice on the listed cars? What's good and what's bad?

Many thanks

Muppet Man

My own choice, based on looks alone would be the insignia estate... It really does look the business... And extremely comfortable.

Muppet man

chiefwiggum

Muppet Man wrote: »

My own choice, based on looks alone would be the insignia estate... It really does look the business... And extremely comfortable.

Muppet man

Thanks for the input.. it is a beautiful car..the missus is swinging the way of the I40 or insignia so far

Autosport

We have the Insignia Tourer and it is a great car, plenty of leg room in the rear, nice big boot and quite nippy too would recommend it.

johnnyskeleton

I know youve discounted the superb, but you know the octavia is pretty similar but a good deal cheaper right?

chiefwiggum

Autosport wrote: »

We have the Insignia Tourer and it is a great car, plenty of leg room in the rear, nice big boot and quite nippy too would recommend it.

Thanks a million for the positive review ..Have to say they are growing on me!

chiefwiggum

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

I know youve discounted the superb, but you know the octavia is pretty similar but a good deal cheaper right?

Thanks Johnny... Yep I looked at them but they don't do anything for me..bland would be an understatement for the Octavia estate..and that steering wheel is strainght out of the 90's

johnnyskeleton

chiefwiggum wrote: »

Thanks Johnny... Yep I looked at them but they don't do anything for me..bland would be an understatement for the Octavia estate..and that steering wheel is strainght out of the 90's

Youre obviously not a middle aged middle class middle income radio nova listener like me so!

chiefwiggum

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Youre obviously not a middle aged middle class middle income radio nova listener like me so!

Lol.. difine middle aged Johnny..I'm no boy racer spin1038 listener either..mid 30's two kids and all their paraphernalia and a dog to go with it ..God I wish I was back in the days of looking for something sporty but alas those days are long gone!

CharlieCroker

chiefwiggum wrote: »

Lol.. difine middle aged Johnny..I'm no boy racer spin1038 listener either..mid 30's two kids and all their paraphernalia and a dog to go with it ..God I wish I was back in the days of looking for something sporty but alas those days are long gone!

Not forever, just 20 years or so!!!

I'd discount the i40, not a bad car but terrible seats for any sort of distance.
Insignia is lovely in the right spec
Passat is a bit "normal" (I.e. boring IMO)
The Avensis estate is a lot better looking and driving than the saloon.

The Mazda 6 and Honda Accord would be worth a look too if you can find one in budget.

The Seat Exeo might be a bit small but no harm in looking at them either.

chiefwiggum

CharlieCroker wrote: »

Not forever, just 20 years or so!!!

I'd discount the i40, not a bad car but terrible seats for any sort of distance.
Insignia is lovely in the right spec
Passat is a bit "normal" (I.e. boring IMO)
The Avensis estate is a lot better looking and driving than the saloon.

The Mazda 6 and Honda Accord would be worth a look too if you can find one in budget.

The Seat Exeo might be a bit small but no harm in looking at them either.

Thanks for the reply charlie..Yep I really like the avensis and found a 131 reg in budget but it's maroon! I've heard very mixed reports about the 2.0 d4d engine..the missus isn't keen on them though:(
I looked at an accord but the tax was still big on it ..about 500 I think..brother had a Mazda and lots of trouble so that would put me off
The Exeo is not a bad looking car but would be too small for our needs really that s why we ruled out the astra estate too
Thanks

bazz26

It always makes me smile when a car which is going to cost circa €20k to buy is ruled out because the motor tax on it isn't €200.

chiefwiggum

bazz26 wrote: »

It always makes me smile when a car which is going to cost circa €20k to buy is ruled out because the motor tax on it isn't €200.

Smile away bazz but over 5 or 6 yrs of having the car the cost savings add up plus I do 1100 km a week so every penny counts we have another car to run too

chiefwiggum

Have seen a superb in our price range in a 1.6 diesel..underpowered??

CharlieCroker

chiefwiggum wrote: »

Have seen a superb in our price range in a 1.6 diesel..underpowered??

I would say yes but drive it and see for yourself. It might suit your driving style

9935452

chiefwiggum wrote: »

Have seen a superb in our price range in a 1.6 diesel..underpowered??

It would be demoralizing doing 1100kms a week wishing you had bought a 2.0ltr

chiefwiggum

9935452 wrote: »

It would be demoralizing doing 1100kms a week wishing you had bought a 2.0ltr

Hey man for the reply..Yeah could be I'm doing it at the moment in a1.6 diesel focus and its nippy enough but when I take the wife's 1.5 scenic it feels very laboured..would hate to be stuck with something like that every day!
I miss the days of my 2.0 turbo petrol S60..don't miss the fuel bill though

chiefwiggum

CharlieCroker wrote: »

I would say yes but drive it and see for yourself. It might suit your driving style

I think I'll have to drive it Charlie just to satisfy my own mind

9935452

chiefwiggum wrote: »

Hey man for the reply..Yeah could be I'm doing it at the moment in a1.6 diesel focus and its nippy enough but when I take the wife's 1.5 scenic it feels very laboured..would hate to be stuck with something like that every day!
I miss the days of my 2.0 turbo petrol S60..don't miss the fuel bill though

The focus and the scenic are much smaller cars than the surperb as well, much lighter. Nobody wants the 1.6 surperb , thats why its cheap. put a load into it and then see how slow it gets
In January my 1.4 02 golf was rearended. I was given a 1.6 95hp 141 focus as a hire car. it made my mind up not to get a 1.6tdi . just dead. no power , no turbo lag. i wanted my slow 1.4 petrol golf back.
I ended up getting a 2.0tdi 09 A4 and love the car.

chiefwiggum

9935452 wrote: »

The focus and the scenic are much smaller cars than the surperb as well, much lighter. Nobody wants the 1.6 surperb , thats why its cheap. put a load into it and then see how slow it gets
In January my 1.4 02 golf was rearended. I was given a 1.6 95hp 141 focus as a hire car. it made my mind up not to get a 1.6tdi . just dead. no power , no turbo lag. i wanted my slow 1.4 petrol golf back.
I ended up getting a 2.0tdi 09 A4 and love the car.

Yeah the more I look at it I think I want back to a bigger engine..the insignia seems to be the front runner after a lot of feedback from people.
We looked at Audi but they are very expensive..lovely cars but pricey for parts..the search continues..the new Peugeot 508 restate is really nice but I'm not touching that engine

NorthDublin1

I40 all the way.

chiefwiggum

NorthDublin1 wrote: »

I40 all the way.

Could you expand in Any way?

jumblejohn

Hey chiefwiggum, just wondering what you went for in the end as I am in the same decision making process as yourself. Very tempted with the I40 but very nervous as I am worried about reliability.

chiefwiggum

jumblejohn wrote: »

Hey chiefwiggum, just wondering what you went for in the end as I am in the same decision making process as yourself. Very tempted with the I40 but very nervous as I am worried about reliability.

Hey john..havent yaken the plunge yet mate..my fav is the avensis and hers s the i40
As for reliability the local dealer is a Hyundai dealership and all the inlaws and I mean ALL drive various( no i40's) Hyundai's ,all did good mileage and I haven't seen any reliability issues to date.
My father in law bought a 2008 i30 put serious mileage on it and was that impressed bought a 142 i30
The i40 estate is a serious looking machine

jumblejohn

chiefwiggum wrote: »

Hey john..havent yaken the plunge yet mate..my fav is the avensis and hers s the i40
As for reliability the local dealer is a Hyundai dealership and all the inlaws and I mean ALL drive various( no i40's) Hyundai's ,all did good mileage and I haven't seen any reliability issues to date.
My father in law bought a 2008 i30 put serious mileage on it and was that impressed bought a 142 i30
The i40 estate is a serious looking machine

Thanks chiefwiggum for the reply. I'm in exactly the same boat as you, I'd rather the Avensis but she would much rather the i40. I think the i40 Tourer is a smashing looking car but the fact I know no one who drives one makes me a bit nervous. Have been on various Hyundai owners forums over the last few days and there is a mixed bag of reviews to be honest. Anyway, time will tell ...

chiefwiggum

jumblejohn wrote: »

Thanks chiefwiggum for the reply. I'm in exactly the same boat as you, I'd rather the Avensis but she would much rather the i40. I think the i40 Tourer is a smashing looking car but the fact I know no one who drives one makes me a bit nervous. Have been on various Hyundai owners forums over the last few days and there is a mixed bag of reviews to be honest. Anyway, time will tell ...

I always do my homework too but put in any car and I mean any into a search engine and you well get a list of problems from disgruntled owners who are always too willing to share their experiences..buying a second hand car is a lottery and boy did I lose out last time!!!
The insignia gets great reviews..the Volvo V60 was bothnour number one choice but alas its out of our budget
Will be very interested in swapping notes with you

jumblejohn

chiefwiggum wrote: »

I always do my homework too but put in any car and I mean any into a search engine and you well get a list of problems from disgruntled owners who are always too willing to share their experiences..buying a second hand car is a lottery and boy did I lose out last time!!!
The insignia gets great reviews..the Volvo V60 was bothnour number one choice but alas its out of our budget
Will be very interested in swapping notes with you

Love the Insignia but we found the middle back seat very uncomfortable. Like the fact that the Avensis has a fairly flat back seat floor (similar to the i40) but we found it a bit noisy. The missus drove the V60 and wasn't too impressed. The i40 is the one to beat at the moment to be honest.

chiefwiggum

jumblejohn wrote: »

Love the Insignia but we found the middle back seat very uncomfortable. Like the fact that the Avensis has a fairly flat back seat floor (similar to the i40) but we found it a bit noisy. The missus drove the V60 and wasn't too impressed. The i40 is the one to beat at the moment to be honest.

Yep heard that about the avensis alright..what kinda year are you looking at?
You know I hadn't even considered the insignia till my wife saw one in the flesh and loved it andvi have to say its growing on me..the middle seat thing wouldn't bother me as we're a 2 kid family so kow one will use it anyway..
I still like the passats but try finding one with decent mileage on it! And that 2.0 diesel isn't meant to great.
Yeah the i40 is right up there and should be economical too.servicing is every 30k km and has a timing chain as does the avensis