Changing Cars- Car Novice, pls help!!!

Yarisa

Hey guys,

I know this topic has been over flogged but I'd really appreciate some ideas. I currently drive a Toyota Yaris (2009) and do a lot of long distance driving (40,000 miles in 4 years). It's a 1.3 L engine so quite economical. I am planning on upgrading my car to something nicer and am looking for something in-between a yaris and a mercedes.

I was initially thinking of the VW Passat cc, but with all the VW scandals lately, I'm getting cold feet. Aesthetic wise, my taste would be something along the lines of the Mercedes CLA, lexus LC 340 and audi's A4 onwards.

My budget is 10-15 grand (including trade-in) and I would love a car that's:
1. fairly economical fuel wise (2L or less)
2. reliable (to take on long distance journeys)
3. Aesthetically pleasing e.g 4 door coupe body type
4. reputable and can maintain a good resale value

I'd really appreciate any ideas.

Cheers )))

Yarisa

colm_mcm

What do you think of the Kia Optima?

Yarisa

hey, thanks for the suggestion. It does look really pretty. I was just wondering if kia's are as reliable as toyota's cos I've never been in one.

Also I spotted an insigna yesterday whilst driving and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them.

Many thanks

colm_mcm

There's a 7 year warranty on them. I'd have one over an insignia anyway.

bazz26

Kia is the sister company of Hyundai, the Optima is the same car as the Hyundai i40 but is better equipped and not as common. Both would be just as reliable as anything Toyota sells here these days yet Hyundai/Kia have longer warranties. There is also a new Optima being launched early in 2016 so prices of existing models will drop a bit in the new year.

Redgirl82

40k in 4 years is not really big mileage. Do you do city driving or mostly motorway would give people a better idea?

Are you thinking Petrol or Diesel?

ianobrien

Redgirl82 wrote: »

40k in 4 years is not really big mileage. Do you do city driving or mostly motorway would give people a better idea?

Are you thinking Petrol or Diesel?

Ya, that's lower than average. Average is generally regarded to be 12k miles p/a

Edit - Just to echo the point above, it's the type of driving that should really determine the petrol/diesel choice OP

colm_mcm

Regardless of mileage, OP is doing a lot of long distance journies.

Del2005

Yarisa wrote: »

1. fairly economical fuel wise (2L or less)
2. reliable (to take on long distance journeys)

Smaller engines don't necessarily mean better fuel economy on motorways, as they have to rev higher to maintain motorway speed. And if motorways are your main journey a bigger engine will be stressed less, so more reliable.

duffman3833

I think the Hyundai I40 is a good car, plenty of options, long warranty, cheap to run
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/hyundai/i40/used-2014-142-hyundai-i40-executive-1-kerry-fpa-200914466541448470
just an example of one

colm_mcm

It's not much of a looker though

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

It's not much of a looker though

I don't think i40 is too bad looking, but I'd be sliding over it's bonnet to get to the Optima if those were my choices.

Not often I see an Optima on the road, but they're a very classy looking car. Have a very high-end look to them (and i often mistake them for Mercedes when I see them).

If I was the OP and wanted a Saloon the Optima would definitely be on my list (assuming the interior is as nice as the exterior. Dashboard should always be a big influence in my opinion when buying a car).

Duke O Smiley

colm_mcm wrote: »

It's not much of a looker though

Agreed. Mad though because when they were first released I thought they were class looking

@OP a friend of mine just bought (picked up today coincidentally) a Passst CC. They seem to command quite a lot of money still, for 2008/9 examples. Very very nice car though and I shouldn't imagine you will have any of the emmissions problems with one that old but I might be wrong Im not very clued up on the story

colm_mcm

They haven't come into my tentative car buying budget yet, but they're getting there. Happily I have wedding stuff to pay for and can rule out buying a car for a little while yet.

Yarisa

It's mostly motorway driving. I don't really mind if it's diesel or petrol.

Yarisa

Del2005 wrote: »

Smaller engines don't necessarily mean better fuel economy on motorways, as they have to rev higher to maintain motorway speed. And if motorways are your main journey a bigger engine will be stressed less, so more reliable.

So what engine size will u recommend which wouldn't burn a hole in my pocket?

Yarisa

duffman3833 wrote: »

I think the Hyundai I40 is a good car, plenty of options, long warranty, cheap to run
just an example of one

Oh wow it's gorgeousðŸ˜ðŸ˜. Granted, it may not be everyone's taste but it definitely fits my spec. Thanks a lot for this recommendation. That's now 2 cars on my list

wandererz

http://www.dunnemotorservices.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1335130&r=

Mobile version :

http://m.dunnemotorservices.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1335130&r=

wandererz

wandererz wrote: »

http://www.dunnemotorservices.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1335130&r=

Mobile version :

http://m.dunnemotorservices.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1335130&r=

Don't think I'd be queuing up for a 2ltr petrol to do my motorway journeys in.


I've a Citroen C5 Estate (2009) that I think is nice, OP. Probably not suited to you at all, but mine's the 1.6 and it's doing an enormous amount of driving, and working out reasonably on diesel (costs me about €40 per day, and I'd cover about.. give or take, 400-500km in a day).

Obviously harsher in town driving, but cruising on the motorways it's cheap(ish) to run, very comfortable and (in my opinion) looks really well (particularly fond of the dashboard, which is what really sold it to me).

_Brian

40,000 miles in 4 years is well below the national average rather than high milage.
I do about 35,000 miles a year and there are plenty of folk doing this and more.

wandererz

Deleted User wrote: »

Don't think I'd be queuing up for a 2ltr petrol to do my motorway journeys in.

It's just a suggestion. Smaller engines, diesel, 4 door, etc can be considered as well.

Rather than be swayed by subsequent posts i looked at the OP's original post.

She said 2L or less, up to Mercedes standard and aesthetically pleasing.

What i posted is an example of a vehicle that meets those criteria. The same can be considered in a diesel, 4 door as well if it can be found. They come up every so often, it's just a matter of biding ones time and not being too impetuous.

It's an example of great spec, good looks and within or around budget.

The OP seems to be only doing 10k miles per annum which isn't a great amount so may be ok for petrol rather than diesel.

And it is a great looking, low mileage vehicle that even i would like to be driving.

It is overpriced but it is posted as an example of what can be considered.

I am not saying buy this, but rather here's an option for consideration.

These guys get the trade-in vehicles from Maxwell Motors in Blackrock so many of them are low mileage one or two owner vehicles that have service histories.

I get the impression that the OP wants to move on to something much better but without the costs. This is an example of a 60k+ vehicle that can be purchased now (and hopefully) within their budget with a bit of negotiation.

If nothing else it gives the OP something to compare to on autotrader that isn't a Citroën, Peugeot or Skoda and which will have a decent resale value further down the road.