08 Corolla or 08 Astra (1.4 petrol)

hurlsey · 13-09-2015 1:49am #1

It's late I've been looking at cars all night.....

I've had a rather sh!tty time looking for a new car the last few weeks, fwiw cartell is worth the money!!

I'm looking at a 1.4 petrol so for your money
would you buy a 08 Corolla or a 08 Astra??

Any comments appreciated
I'll be buying private, I've wasted my time.going to "dealers" the last few weeks for cars!!

colm_mcm · 13-09-2015 2:06am

Both the the Corolla and the auris are fundamentally flawed. Especially in 1.4 petrol.
If going hatchback, the civic and i30 outclass the auris by a mile without compromising quality.
If going saloon, an Avensis is worth considering, especially as they're pretty much the same size and weight.

bazz26 · 13-09-2015 11:13am

If your buying a 08 of both of those hoping to get cheap motor tax then just beware most petrol models would have been registered before July 1st 2008 as they were cheaper to tax on the old system than on the newer Co2 system.

hurlsey · 13-09-2015 1:19pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Both the the Corolla and the auris are fundamentally flawed. Especially in 1.4 petrol.
If going hatchback, the civic and i30 outclass the auris by a mile without compromising quality.
If going saloon, an Avensis is worth considering, especially as they're pretty much the same size and weight.

In what way is the Corolla or Astra fundamentally flawed?

With regards tax, no Im only looking at a 1.4 ptl as my insurance is going to go up due to a claim, I now have 0 no claims bonus!!

Also I don't do many long drives!

I would've liked an Auris 1.4 d4-d

bazz26 · 13-09-2015 1:40pm

Honda Civic, Hyundai i30 and Kia Ceed are all available in 1.4 litre too.

JohnBoy26 · 13-09-2015 1:42pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Both the the Corolla and the auris are fundamentally flawed. Especially in 1.4 petrol.
If going hatchback, the civic and i30 outclass the auris by a mile without compromising quality.
If going saloon, an Avensis is worth considering, especially as they're pretty much the same size and weight.

The main criticism of the auris is it's interior. Having been in both cars very recently Im not so sure an i30 outclasses it. The interior of the i30 has acres of cheap plastic too, more so than the auris imo.

The auris is by far the more comfortable of the two also. A civic would have a better interior than both.

If going for a 08 petrol auris/astra make sure it's pre July 08 and that it's on the cc tax system.

Mehaffey1 · 13-09-2015 1:50pm

1.4 auris if you can sacrifice the interior space and design

Why 1.4 petrol if I may ask? A very under-rewarding engine size if you ask me

hurlsey · 13-09-2015 2:13pm

Mehaffey1 wrote: »

1.4 auris if you can sacrifice the interior space and design

Why 1.4 petrol if I may ask? A very under-rewarding engine size if you ask me

Was in a crash, had no no claims protection had to claim, going to get shafted with insurance so need to get a smaller engine!! Best quote I got was from AA, €1500 on a 1.4 l ptl or dsl

JohnBoy26 · 13-09-2015 2:21pm

Mehaffey1 wrote: »

1.4 auris if you can sacrifice the interior space and design

Why 1.4 petrol if I may ask? A very under-rewarding engine size if you ask me

The 1.4 vtti engine has more than enough power for it's engine size, as does the 1.4 in the i30/ KIA ceed.

Dia1988 · 13-09-2015 3:18pm

Have you tried the 1.4 tsi 122bhp Passat?

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2008-vw-passat-comf-1-4-tsi-122-bhp/10362159

JohnBoy26 · 13-09-2015 3:26pm

bazz26 wrote: »

Honda Civic, Hyundai i30 and Kia Ceed are all available in 1.4 litre too.

1.4 dsi engine in the civic isn't the nicest imo. The newer I VTEC is a much better unit.

colm_mcm · 13-09-2015 4:07pm

hurlsey wrote: »

In what way is the Corolla or Astra fundamentally flawed?

With regards tax, no Im only looking at a 1.4 ptl as my insurance is going to go up due to a claim, I now have 0 no claims bonus!!

Also I don't do many long drives!

I would've liked an Auris 1.4 d4-d

The Corolla was clearly not designed with Europe in mind, it is very Japanese in its proportions. Low seats, low roof, poor legroom, bad seating position. It is the same length as the Avensis but that's taken up by a long bonnet with a big overhang, and a long but low boot. As a car to be sold in Europe, where people value space it makes little sense.
Then you have the petrol engine, which was quite modern when it came out in 2000, but it struggles to carry the heavy body, that has an effect on fuel consumption, performance and in post July 08 cars - tax.
The diesel copes better, but only has 89bhp with no option for anything a bit nippier unless you get a UK import.

The auris is packaged much better, it has a high roofline, more usable boot, bigger cabin, better legroom. The interior is made from cheap materials, the cabins don't wear well. They have a bizzare handbrake setup that will break nails, the dash creaks and rattles, the seats are unsupportive.

Basically, they're no better than their competition, so why put up with the stingey standard equipment and higher purchase price?

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

1.4 dsi engine in the civic isn't the nicest imo. The newer I VTEC is a much better unit.

Even the ivtec 1.4 is a bit of a slowcoach.
1.8 is the way to go, but this wouldn't suit the OP.

hurlsey · 13-09-2015 4:20pm

Dia1988 wrote: »

Have you tried the 1.4 tsi 122bhp Passat?

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2008-vw-passat-comf-1-4-tsi-122-bhp/10362159

I haven't actually test drove one, I did look at them, but I was put off by the faux wood trim on the dash!!

hurlsey · 13-09-2015 4:23pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

The Corolla was clearly not designed with Europe in mind, it is very Japanese in its proportions. Low seats, low roof, poor legroom, bad seating position. It is the same length as the Avensis but that's taken up by a long bonnet with a big overhang, and a long but low boot. As a car to be sold in Europe, where people value space it makes little sense.
Then you have the petrol engine, which was quite modern when it came out in 2000, but it struggles to carry the heavy body, that has an effect on fuel consumption, performance and in post July 08 cars - tax.
The diesel copes better, but only has 89bhp with no option for anything a bit nippier unless you get a UK import.

The auris is packaged much better, it has a high roofline, more usable boot, bigger cabin, better legroom. The interior is made from cheap materials, the cabins don't wear well. They have a bizzare handbrake setup that will break nails, the dash creaks and rattles, the seats are unsupportive.

Basically, they're no better than their competition, so why put up with the stingey standard equipment and higher purchase price?

Even the ivtec 1.4 is a bit of a slowcoach.
1.8 is the way to go, but this wouldn't suit the OP.

Besides the Passat tsi suggested, what about an Opel Astra 1.4l ptl

T.Sparkie · 13-09-2015 4:27pm

My mother has had an 07 Corolla 1.4 Petrol for 5 years and I think she has only had it serviced once in that time. Although she does small miles (harsh miles I might add lol) its still not good for any engine however it hasn't given her a days bother. It was eventually serviced after I "borrowed" the car to travel to work and got it serviced in the garage where I work. Our mechanic couldn't believe that the engine was in such good condition given its neglect but it was 100%. A true testament to their reliability.

I would steer very clear from an Astra OP. I have had very bad experiences with them. I had a 05 1.4 petrol one 3 years back which overheated due to the water-pump failing but in opel's infinite wisdom not fitting a temperature gauge it was too late by the time I realized what was going on. This caused the head gasket to blow, and the timing chain to stretch due to the heat, big €'s at the time!

Most ones we take in work are knackered, you do get the odd diamond in the rough but my god there's a lot of rough there!

I will say however the Astra is a beautiful car to drive compared to the corolla. I find the corolla very boring and uncomfortable tbh but if its reliability I was going for I would put my money on the corolla blindfolded before buying an Astra. Just my opinion...

colm_mcm · 13-09-2015 4:27pm

You can get the 1.4 TSI engine on the golf and Leon too.

T.Sparkie · 13-09-2015 4:30pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

You can get the 1.4 TSI engine on the golf and Leon too.

Just watch the tax on those, I was looking at a few years ago and the ones under the new tax system were mental. Granted the one I was looking at was the 170bhp tsi a different beast but best to be sure!

hurlsey · 13-09-2015 4:49pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

You can get the 1.4 TSI engine on the golf and Leon too.

Would the fact they are in a "gt" model affect my insurance?? I like the idea of a 6 gear 1.4 petrol engine!

hurlsey · 13-09-2015 10:15pm

I've found 4 VW Passats 1.4 tsi, 3 in dublin and 1 in Waterford

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-passat-1-4-tsi-122bhp-comfor/10020362

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-passat-fsi/10377611

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-passat-1-4-tsi-comfortline/10089564

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-passat-b6-comf1-4tsi-122bhp/10193607

The last one for €9000 is really pushing my budget!!

bazz26 · 13-09-2015 11:11pm

You should be able to negotiate on the asking price of these two Highline models:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Passat/1.4,-Highline,/200914376691318840/

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Passat/1.4-TSI/201314371362774350/

08 Corolla or 08 Astra (1.4 petrol)

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