Advice on buying a used car

pabloazazel

Im interested in buying a used car, just looking for opinions about models. Budget 4k maximum, 1.4 litres maximun, Hatchback and not older than 2005. I have in mind Volkswagen Golf, Toyota corolla, Seat Ibiza, Opel (vauxhall) Astra and MAZDA 3. Your advice would be most appreciated.

Speedwell

You will never be sorry you bought a Toyota Corolla with a decent history, even if it is slightly older than 2005. I drove Corollas almost exclusively since the mid 80s when I lived in America, and replaced them only when they depreciated to less than the cost of maintenance. Good mileage, low maintenance, long reliable life, cheap and plentiful replacement parts. My most recent car was a Chrysler PT Cruiser, and it was cool, but it had... issues. When I moved here I bought another smallish Toyota.

pabloazazel

Speedwell wrote: »

You will never be sorry you bought a Toyota Corolla with a decent history, even if it is slightly older than 2005. I drove Corollas almost exclusively since the mid 80s when I lived in America, and replaced them only when they depreciated to less than the cost of maintenance. Good mileage, low maintenance, long reliable life, cheap and plentiful replacement parts. My most recent car was a Chrysler PT Cruiser, and it was cool, but it had... issues. When I moved here I bought another smallish Toyota.

What do you think about this one? https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-4-2006/10858867

Is it true that model has timing chain and will never have to be changed??

Speedwell

pabloazazel wrote: »

What do you think about this one? https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-4-2006/10858867

Is it true that model has timing chain and will never have to be changed??

I would take the car to a local mechanic to be looked at. But if it is true, that removes the only objection to a Corolla that I would otherwise have, that the timing belt MUST be changed per the normal maintenance schedule (and it's a biggish job).

bazz26

Those engines have a timing chain.

pabloazazel

This dealer seems to have only toyotas, most of them corollas but no prices on them https://www.donedeal.ie/cars?dealerId=1601&source=trade

Bravobabe

Well - did you buy?
What did you get?

I'm looking at buying a family saloon (or suv type). Have a max budget of €9k plus my Nissan Primera 2007 1.8 Auto as trade in or proceeds.

Finding it hard to get a car as comfortable with the high specs of the Primera (I know it's all a matter of taste, but it's my 4th primera and if they hadn't stopped production in 2007 - I would probably be looking at my 5th - never had any issues in 16 years)
Can't afford a Qashqai
Juke is probably a tad too small
So I'm probably looking at the
Mondeo, Octavia, Insignia, Citroen C5, Renault Laguna and Peugeot 3008, 508 etc.

Laguna is the only real value I can find.
Have to admit, it would not have been the first to my mind, but seems to be the best value.

Any constructive advice?

FirefighterT7

Bravobabe wrote: »

Well - did you buy?
What did you get?

I'm looking at buying a family saloon (or suv type). Have a max budget of 9k plus my Nissan Primera 2007 1.8 Auto as trade in or proceeds.

Finding it hard to get a car as comfortable with the high specs of the Primera (I know it's all a matter of taste, but it's my 4th primera and if they hadn't stopped production in 2007 - I would probably be looking at my 5th - never had any issues in 16 years)
Can't afford a Qashqai
Juke is probably a tad too small
So I'm probably looking at the
Mondeo, Octavia, Insignia, Citroen C5, Renault Laguna and Peugeot 3008, 508 etc.

Laguna is the only real value I can find.
Have to admit, it would not have been the first to my mind, but seems to be the best value.

Any constructive advice?

Octavia tdi is the most economical to run and a very comfortable car on the road for the money!

Bravobabe

Octavia tdi is the most economical to run and a very comfortable car on the road for the money!

Thanks
Had a look at the Octavia. Unfortunately everything in my price bracket had either very high mileage for 3 - 4 year old cars (120,000 - 150,000 miles). Or else looked like they were used in a quarry (really a wash and a vacuum can do wonders).
Although I do see a 2012 on DD this morning for €12k with 50k miles.

The 3 cars I previously looked at may have tainted my view.

But still open minded and willing to consider most makes/models.
I do like my comfort and a few gadgets:cool:

FirefighterT7

Bravobabe wrote: »

Octavia tdi is the most economical to run and a very comfortable car on the road for the money!

Thanks
Had a look at the Octavia. Unfortunately everything in my price bracket had either very high mileage for 3 - 4 year old cars (120,000 - 150,000 miles). Or else looked like they were used in a quarry (really a wash and a vacuum can do wonders).
Although I do see a 2012 on DD this morning for 12k with 50k miles.

The 3 cars I previously looked at may have tainted my view.

But still open minded and willing to consider most makes/models.
I do like my comfort and a few


Don't let a few bad eggs put you off Bravobabe! There's plenty of great ones just take the time to find them! Good luck with the car search!

Bravobabe

Don't let a few bad eggs put you off Bravobabe! There's plenty of great ones just take the time to find them! Good luck with the car search!

Thanks FirefighterT7

Interesting or Not (??????)
On DD a Search Using these filters Skoda Octavia, Max Price €12000, Years 2011 - 2013, Diesel, Transmission-Any, Leinster shows only 16 ads.
One of which is a tow truck service and a few are imports (nothing against imports - but the price does not show VRT in total price for search).
An all-Ireland search shows 46 cars (including the Tow service & imports)
If you filter it for Automatic - the Search returns 2 (one of which is an import)
All Ireland search for automatic shows 4 cars.

So the choice is very limited on the Octavia - which shows they are popular or overpriced (not mutually exclusive) -
if I up the max price to €15000 the search returns 120 ads,
Years 2011 - 70 ads
Year 2012 - 44 ads
Year 2013 - 6 ads
which shows that a 2011 Octavia is expecting to fetch between 12000 to 15000
E&OE
Anyway - The Search goes on

Bravobabe

Anyway its crunch time

I'm down to my car plus 7k to move up to a 2012 Renault Fluence Tom Tom (125km) or 8k to move to a 2012 GT Irish edition (130km)
The GT has a bit of body kit (looks well)

Any advice Tom Tom v GT Irish Edition?

Now I know some people would not touch one with a barge pole (and that's okay, as I probably may have had that opinion in the past myself)

Economic Argument: Cost to move up 5 years 7-8K
Savings on Road Tax: €200 v €650 (Q4) €450 x 5 years €2250
Fuel: Currently spending €2500 on petrol (€50 per week) - reckon will save €1000 p.a. on diesel - that's €5000 over 5 years
NCT on Fluence - runs to March 2018
Servicing: Will the 2012 cost me much more than the 2007 primera over the next 5 years (doubt it) (assuming that a few more items will go on the 07 - could be wrong)
Trade in Value: Doubt if there is any real value.

Why the Fluence?
While its at the lower end of the Diesels, it still represents the best value out there. 120 month warranty on Tom Tom and Timing belt done on both.

If anybody knows of any other viable option - let us know? Thanks

Bravobabe

Update

Went with the Renault Fluence Tom Tom:
Have it about a month.
Comments:
Fuel costs are way down: was spending €50 on petrol, now less than €30 on Diesel. Averaging about 6.0 to 6.4 litres to 100km (45 -47 miles per gallon approx.).
Purchased annual road tax yesterday (first time in a long time went for 12 months - €200 pa.
The Car:
Driving: moving from a 1.8 petrol to a <1.5 DCI - The car drives very well. Pick-up is a tad slower than the 1.8 petrol, but have gotten used to it. Car drives well on motorways and is very quiet at speeds circa 120km. Steering is good and turn is better than on Primera.
Gadgets: comes fully loaded, sat-nav, Bluetooth pairing, cruise control, automatic (with similar to tip-tronic), auto lights and wipers.
Cabin is spacious and has a comfortable feel. doors, boot etc are a lot lighter than Primera)
Space: boot is huge and car is very comfortable for 4 x adults
Bodywork: is in very good condition (there are a few blemishes, but have to expect that on a 4 year old car with 125+km on it
Mileage: is on the high side, heading towards 20000 miles per annum, but the condition of the car looks very good.

Fingers crossed, so far so good

pabloazazel

What do you guys think about the price of this car?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/car/11417230

Bravobabe

Hi Pabloazazel

I would have thought €4-5K is a lot for a 10 year old car.

Having said that there are only 35 x ads for 06 Coralla in Munster and Corollas do sell at a premium so between €3500 - €5000 seems to be the price range: You may knock a few hundred off this to bring it down nearer the 4k mark
(I'm presuming your Munster?)

Some samples from search (although I'm not sure about the Vitz - first one below
Third One down is from a Garage - so warranty may be an advantage

Good hunting

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/car-for-sale/11718634

€4000 - €5000 will bring you up to 2008 in some other manufactures (Opel, Nissan Peugeot etc)
- but if you want a Corolla circa €4k for a 2006 seems to be what the market is saying

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-5dr-hatch-nctd-taxed-1-4/11761953

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-4-terra-mc-5d/11856994

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla/11661971

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-06-hatch/11555064

colm_mcm

pabloazazel wrote: »

What do you guys think about the price of this car?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/car/11417230

That's Luna spec in a good colour, so I reckon it's pretty much bang on the money for an asking price.
It's up 64 days though, so it could well be sold. That said there is no change of ownership showing in the last 3 months. Maybe it was advertised for way more before.
Only a 2 owner car in 10 years, and the (expensive) optional rear spoiler would make it worth calling the seller.

pabloazazel

Bravobabe wrote: »

Hi Pabloazazel

I would have thought €4-5K is a lot for a 10 year old car.

Having said that there are only 35 x ads for 06 Coralla in Munster and Corollas do sell at a premium so between €3500 - €5000 seems to be the price range: You may knock a few hundred off this to bring it down nearer the 4k mark
(I'm presuming your Munster?)

Some samples from search (although I'm not sure about the Vitz - first one below
Third One down is from a Garage - so warranty may be an advantage

Good hunting

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/car-for-sale/11718634

€4000 - €5000 will bring you up to 2008 in some other manufactures (Opel, Nissan Peugeot etc)
- but if you want a Corolla circa €4k for a 2006 seems to be what the market is saying

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-5dr-hatch-nctd-taxed-1-4/11761953

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-4-terra-mc-5d/11856994

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla/11661971

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-06-hatch/11555064

Thank you very much for your opinion, yes I am Muster, I will see what I can arrange with the owner.

colm_mcm wrote: »

That's Luna spec in a good colour, so I reckon it's pretty much bang on the money for an asking price.
It's up 64 days though, so it could well be sold. That said there is no change of ownership showing in the last 3 months. Maybe it was advertised for way more before.
Only a 2 owner car in 10 years, and the (expensive) optional rear spoiler would make it worth calling the seller.

Yes you are right, I have been following up that add for a long time and that car was advertised at 5.500€. How do you know the car only had 2 owner?

colm_mcm

Carsireland.ie

Bravobabe

Best of Luck -

Obviously the seller has come down from €5500 to €4650 - so they may be reluctant to haggle too much more off.

However presuming it's still for sale, they have it for sale for 2 months plus so they may be prepared to let it go a bit cheaper. So you might get a few quid off it.

Happy driving

pabloazazel

Bravobabe wrote: »

Best of Luck -

Obviously the seller has come down from €5500 to €4650 - so they may be reluctant to haggle too much more off.

However presuming it's still for sale, they have it for sale for 2 months plus so they may be prepared to let it go a bit cheaper. So you might get a few quid off it.

Happy driving

Do you think 4.000€ is fair?

Bravobabe

Hi

Looking at the market €4000 would appear to be a very good price for you (seller might think he is been robbed)

"colm mcm" is fairly clued in (IMO - based on previous posts/treads) and he seems to believe the car is good value in around the €4650.

I would think the seller may be prepared to go to €4500, but lower than that may be a struggle.

Set your max price, what's fair, your reasonable happy with and prepared to walk away if seller is not prepared to sell at (subject to +/- €100)

Assume your max price is €4500
You could try and initially offer €3950 and see what kind of reaction you get. Then be prepared for the next offer, which might be nearer a mid-point (€3950 - €4500) = €4250. This gives a little leeway to both of you.

The sellers mindset will be based on how many calls he got and how many viewers came to see the car (add viewed 757 times)
(my last car ad was view >1200 times but I only got 1 call and 1 viewer).

Best wishes

pabloazazel

I see http://www.mywheels.ie/ is the cheapest web to get a report of the car, is this web reliable?

Bravobabe

Service

So when you have purchased a USED car - are you best get it serviced it in the garage you purchased it from (a main dealer but not for the make) or go to a Main Dealer for the make?

I purchased a Renault Fluence from a Nissan dealer in March 2016 (1ts a 2012 dci)
It now has 138000km on it (was 130k approx. when I got it).

I would normally think that I should get the first service done in the garage of purchase (in this case Nissan), to cover the warranty

Any comments suggestions?