Hatchback Hunt

Whyner

On the lookout for a 5dr petrol with a 15k budget. The wife’s 02 mini has to go as we’ve got 2 little folk now. Mileage would be quite low and mostly short trips around suburbia. Need a decent boot size and don’t need many extras like upgraded alloys or multi function steering wheel

Planned on getting a Kia Ceed but these seem impossible to get, people must be hanging on to them for the 7 years

Other options would be

Opel Astra 1.4
Golf 1.2/1.4
Seat Leon 1.2
Hyundai i30

All comments appreciated…….what would you go for? We’d prefer to spend around the 12k mark

Nice Wan

acronym Chilli

Whyner wrote: »

On the lookout for a 5dr petrol with a 15k budget. The wife’s 02 mini has to go as we’ve got 2 little folk now.
... Snip ...
All comments appreciated…….what would you go for? We’d prefer to spend around the 12k mark

Nice Wan

In the same situation I sold a punto and bought a 2002 Saab 93 (petrol 2.0l turbo) for €900 (will also spend a bit now on tyres, tho it came with legal rubber). Boot is very good. Economy relatively poor but for short runs won't matter too much. Wife likes it though originally she dreaded a "big" car

W123-80's

For some reason these are not popular in Ireland - Mitsubishi Lancer
I had the previous model and it was a super car.

Over budget;

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mitsubishi-lancer-1-6-intense-saloon-/10916129

Under budget;

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mitsubishi-lancer-1-5-intense-low-mileage-nct/11069544

Might be worth considering.

Matthewjohn

Hyundai are doing a scrappage scheme at the moment. If you scrapped the Mini you could get a 161 i30 petrol for 16500 with a 5 year warranty.

R.O.R

Octavia 1.2t or 1.4t is the job for you.

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/skoda/octavia/used-2011-skoda-octavia-elegance-dublin-fpa-201314489926618450 would be my choice - top spec model (but not exactly dripping with specification) from a very reputable dealer.

Most of the Petrol Octavia's in budget are Active Models - I know you said you don't need the fancy bits, but Active models didn't even get A/C, and just from a comfort point of view I'd be looking for that (hot kids are cranky kids, and A/C keeps windows from fogging up), so look for either Ambition (mid range) or Elegance specification.

***EDIT
Just spotted http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/skoda/octavia/used-2011-skoda-octavia-ambition-dublin-fpa-201314449756446080

On budget that you'd like to spend, and another very reputable main dealer.

Whyner

R.O.R wrote: »

Octavia 1.2t or 1.4t is the job for you.

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/skoda/octavia/used-2011-skoda-octavia-elegance-dublin-fpa-201314489926618450 would be my choice - top spec model (but not exactly dripping with specification) from a very reputable dealer.

Most of the Petrol Octavia's in budget are Active Models - I know you said you don't need the fancy bits, but Active models didn't even get A/C, and just from a comfort point of view I'd be looking for that (hot kids are cranky kids, and A/C keeps windows from fogging up), so look for either Ambition (mid range) or Elegance specification.

***EDIT
Just spotted http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/skoda/octavia/used-2011-skoda-octavia-ambition-dublin-fpa-201314449756446080

On budget that you'd like to spend, and another very reputable main dealer.

Cheers but should have mentioned that she doesn't want a biggish car. Parking the mini is tough enough

Whyner

Matthewjohn wrote: »

Hyundai are doing a scrappage scheme at the moment. If you scrapped the Mini you could get a 161 i30 petrol for 16500 with a 5 year warranty.

Interesting, thanks for that, checking it out...

MuppetCheck

http://www.carzone.ie/search/SEAT/Leon/S-1.2L-T/200714406946032930/advert?channel=CARS

A little over the high end of the budget but worth making an offer. It's a current model, not very high spec but has the essentials like air con, Bluetooth. Decent space inside, well built, proving pretty reliable and are also comfortable. 2 years manufacturers warranty remaining and low miles too.

Go a year older and they come in under budget.

finalfurlong

Wife has had 2 golf 1.2 tsi in succession.Excellent-nippy very roomy and boot of curret one is big for class at 385 litres.VG mpg and hold value very well.

bazz26

Whyner wrote: »

Cheers but should have mentioned that she doesn't want a biggish car. Parking the mini is tough enough

If she has problems parking a MINI then she is going to have problems parking anything bigger than a Fiesta size car. Astra, Leon, Golf, etc are all bigger than a MINI. And you really need something bigger than a Fiesta sized car to have a decent size boot. My suggestion is either get something with parking sensors or get them retro fitted afterwards.

flazio

Would you consider a Honda Civic?
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-civic/11112253

bazz26

What about the Kia Rio? A little smaller than the Ceed but a bit bigger than say a Fiesta, might be a bit more manageable to park:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/KIA/Rio/1.25-EX/121814188506312880/

acronym Chilli

bazz26 wrote: »

If she has problems parking a MINI then she is going to have problems parking anything bigger than a Fiesta size car. Astra, Leon, Golf, etc are all bigger than a MINI. And you really need something bigger than a Fiesta sized car to have a decent size boot. My suggestion is either get something with parking sensors or get them retro fitted afterwards.

With the parking, and "big" cars, the size isn't always the key thing: a lot of it is psychological, and the other dominant factor are sight-lines and visibility. e.g. the Honda civic from a few years back had very bad rear visibility (small window, big pillars, spoiler (I think)). Had a member of my family get one and she got rid of it in a year because she couldn't park it. She has a golf now and is very happy with it.

The car being relatively smaller is no guarantee that it'll be felt as smaller. Probably want to get the wife out driving in a couple of vehicles (and get her to drive at least 1 or 2 that are clearly too big, so the mid sizes feel smaller) to work out what works and doesn't.

Whyner

bazz26 wrote: »

If she has problems parking a MINI then she is going to have problems parking anything bigger than a Fiesta size car. Astra, Leon, Golf, etc are all bigger than a MINI. And you really need something bigger than a Fiesta sized car to have a decent size boot. My suggestion is either get something with parking sensors or get them retro fitted afterwards.

Yes, will be looking for parking sensors either way

Whyner

bazz26 wrote: »

What about the Kia Rio? A little smaller than the Ceed but a bit bigger than say a Fiesta, might be a bit more manageable to park:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/KIA/Rio/1.25-EX/121814188506312880/

Bit too small for 2 kids, her parking isn't that bad, just that the octy might scare her a bit :eek:

Whyner

acronym Chilli wrote: »

With the parking, and "big" cars, the size isn't always the key thing: a lot of it is psychological, and the other dominant factor are sight-lines and visibility. e.g. the Honda civic from a few years back had very bad rear visibility (small window, big pillars, spoiler (I think)). Had a member of my family get one and she got rid of it in a year because she couldn't park it. She has a golf now and is very happy with it.

The car being relatively smaller is no guarantee that it'll be felt as smaller. Probably want to get the wife out driving in a couple of vehicles (and get her to drive at least 1 or 2 that are clearly too big, so the mid sizes feel smaller) to work out what works and doesn't.

I agree, mostly in her head. She drives my yawn mobile (jetta) the very odd time so it will be grand once she gets used to it

Whyner

flazio wrote: »

Would you consider a Honda Civic?
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-civic/11112253

Sure, but not a 2.2l diesel

DoctorStrange

Whyner wrote: »

Sure, but not a 2.2l diesel

€190 tax and should get close to 60mpg

Whyner

Doesn't do any long trips though

Whyner

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/golf/used-2012-volkswagen-golf-golf-hl-dublin-fpa-201546238465017

This looks decent if I could bring them down a bit

bazz26

Stupid asking price on that one.

This one is from a dealer with a warranty and should be able to get something off the asking price:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Golf/HL-1.2/166714325562416760/

Whyner

Thanks but too far to travel. Gonna test drive a few this afternoon and Sat morning, will post back. Once I know what the missus likes I can then track one down myself

Whyner

Drove a new i30 and 2012 Astra yesterday

i30 won, especially with the 4k scrappage

Spotted a ix20 in the showroom and really liked the access to the backseats, herself will be bending in and out for the next few years.........I've moved my research on to mini suvs now

Qashqais seem to be an excellent car, going to try drive one tomorrow

MyStubbleItches

Whyner wrote: »

.I've moved my research on to mini suvs

Have you looked at c-max? Wife had one home from work before and I thought it was a great car if one had small kids. (disclaimer -she works for Ford Ireland

Whyner

MyStubbleItches wrote: »

Have you looked at c-max? Wife had one home from work before and I thought it was a great car if one had small kids. (disclaimer -she works for Ford Ireland

On it now, this is gonna take forever..........looks nice

Whyner

Any thoughts on this car or Koping Motors?

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/nissan/qashqai/used-2011-nissan-qashqai-1-6-x-dublin-fpa-200914459673625180

Whyner

I'd be interested in this also if I was closer? Any advice on buying a car remotely from a main dealer? I travelled to Cork for my own car but bought privately. Would hate to drive down only to find they've sold it that morning, which does happen

http://www.kearys.ie/used-cars/Nissan/Qashqai/Low-KMs/201014483722273250/