Difficulty in getting a 5 year old petrol car

rwald7

Hi all,

Just wanted to get people's thoughts. I'll be looking to change my car in the next 3-6 months. I currently have an 06 Mazda6 (petrol), so I'd be looking to change to something similar (another 6, Honda Accord, Skoda Superb etc) in the 2010-2012 range. I had a quick look on the various websites over the weekend, and it would appear that I'm really going to struggle to get something, everything is diesel. I only do about 12k per year (15km round trip to work each day, with a Dublin-Galway run every month), so I don't think diesel is suitable for me? Any insight as to what I should be looking for?

Jasper79

rwald7 wrote: »

Hi all,

Just wanted to get people's thoughts. I'll be looking to change my car in the next 3-6 months. I currently have an 06 Mazda6 (petrol), so I'd be looking to change to something similar (another 6, Honda Accord, Skoda Superb etc) in the 2010-2012 range. I had a quick look on the various websites over the weekend, and it would appear that I'm really going to struggle to get something, everything is diesel. I only do about 12k per year (15km round trip to work each day, with a Dublin-Galway run every month), so I don't think diesel is suitable for me? Any insight as to what I should be looking for?

I was in similar position, wanted bigger car but petrol engine as only do about 10k km a year. Ended up going for a 1.4TSI passat. Good car, comfortable. Got a highline so auto lights/wiper, electric heated seats etc.

xabi

I remember looking for a petrol 5 series around that age, there were a couple of hundred 5 series for sale in the country - ALL diesel. Good luck with it.

colm_mcm

Maybe look in UK/NI.

rwald7

Yeah, that did cross my mind, but with the EUR/GBP rate these days, it's not too attractive!
If I do end up having to get a diesel, what are the potential issues I'd be looking at, with the milage I clock up (around 12-14k km per year). Apologies if this is a basic question, but I'm not hugely car-savvy!

duffman3833

Jasper79 wrote: »

I was in similar position, wanted bigger car but petrol engine as only do about 10k km a year. Ended up going for a 1.4TSI passat. Good car, comfortable. Got a highline so auto lights/wiper, electric heated seats etc.

This sounds like a good option. Is that engine strong enough for that size car?

colm_mcm

rwald7 wrote: »

Yeah, that did cross my mind, but with the EUR/GBP rate these days, it's not too attractive!
If I do end up having to get a diesel, what are the potential issues I'd be looking at, with the milage I clock up (around 12-14k km per year). Apologies if this is a basic question, but I'm not hugely car-savvy!

Do the sums on a few examples from auto trader, it might still be an option and would give you more choice.

colm_mcm

What's your budget.

570 tax
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a4-1-8-litre-petrol/10173725?offset=6

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a4-1-8-litre-petrol/10529700?offset=2



http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-avensis-luna-2010/10507901?offset=3

Jasper79

duffman3833 wrote: »

This sounds like a good option. Is that engine strong enough for that size car?

Yeah it moves it along nicely, 122bhp, not sporty fast, but does not feel underpowered for the size of car at all.

rwald7

Budget would be up to around €15k, so cheers for that. The Audi's look interesting.

duffman3833

rwald7 wrote: »

Budget would be up to around €15k, so cheers for that. The Audi's look interesting.

Id get a mechanic to check it out, i bought a BMW from then 2 years ago and had to be brought back as it was very smokey, turned out it needed a new engine so i returned the car and got my money back, but within a few days the car was back on the lot for sale, no way they could replaced an engine that quick given that they didn't even have a garage to work in. Also they tried to screw me when giving my money back, saying they didn't have to give the full amount back to me, even tho the car was faulty and not what i wanted. So 1 solicitor letter later i got my money back no hassle then. That's my experience with them anyway

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a4-1-8-litre-petrol/10173725

rwald7

Interesting. Cheers for the feedback.

colm_mcm

I posted the audis as examples of what's out there more than anything.

commited

Why not a Seat Exeo:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201509247189674
Looking at about €5500 for it back here after some haggling Hard to know how much VRT would be as not on the calculator, but somewhere around €3500, so €9k ish here which is amazing value.
No lack of power, looks nice - it's basically an Audi with a Seat badge. Downside is €750 tax

Skoda Superb
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201509307361200
€8500+~€2500 = €11k
Great cars, €570 tax.

A slightly smaller suggestion (but will hold value well and have decent reliability):
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/honda/civic/used-2011-honda-civic-1-8i-es-4dr-louth-fpa-200814410166916400

colm_mcm

I toyed with getting an exeo, but no matter how much you tell yourself it's an Audi underneath- they made a dogs dinner of the styling. It's also a very old (15 years) design (apart from the engine)

I reckon your €3500 vrt estimate is pretty good (I'm thinking €3250 myself) but you're at the mercy of whatever figure revenue pull out, after you buy the car.

duffman3833

colm_mcm wrote: »

I toyed with getting an exeo, but no matter how much you tell yourself it's an Audi underneath- they made a dogs dinner of the styling. It's also a very old (15 years) design (apart from the engine)

I reckon your €3500 vrt estimate is pretty good (I'm thinking €3250 myself) but you're at the mercy of whatever figure revenue pull out, after you buy the car.

i wouldn't get one, id just keep looking at the 05-07 gen a4's and then looking at the seat and thinking, i bought a kit car haha