Recommendation request: Post 2008 - Small - Reliable - Diesel (? 1000km/wk) - <€5000

Rowley Birkin QC

As above; my sister is starting a new job that will increase her daily driving significantly so is looking for a small diesel car for a budget of about €5,000 or less. I've been asked to take a look but it's a segment that's totally alien to me so looking for a little help.

She'll be doing 216km per day , 1080km per week. Diesel the way to go?

Current candidate is this: http://www.carsireland.ie/1414918 , going to take a look this morning.

Thoughts and recommendation welcome!

_Brian

I don't know about a Kia, smaller ones aren't that comfortable for long journeys.

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/11348168
2009 Ford Focus

My brother has a Focus and it drives well and is comfortable for long drives.

DakarVert

Fiesta TDCI, 1.6 if she can find one.

Plenty of poke for motorway driving and 55ish MPG (Will do more depending on how it's driven)

€200 tax for 2008+

ShaunieVW

I'm in the same boat. I'm heading to the UK though, even given the poor exchange rate cars over there are coming in much cheaper with a much more variety in choice. I can clear tax and NCT a 08 focus 1.6tdci for under 5k, that one linked about is far cheaper than anything else I've seen here. Most dealers are looking for 8.5k plus the equivalent. Which is crazy for 8 year old Eco boxes.

bazz26

Honestly, doing 1000km a week and you would not want to be doing it in a car the size of a Fiesta. They are not designed with that in mind, they are designed to be urban drivers with occasional long distance. Doing 1000km in one every week will kill you from both a refinement and comfort point of view.

You need to put comfort near the top of your list of needs, not just running costs. And normally the bigger the car, the better the comfort and refinement. The last thing you want after a long commute is getting out of a small car with a cramped back and sore legs, then facing a day's work and the return journey home.

I'd be looking at something a bit bigger than a Ceed too for extra comfort, something like this:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Renault/Laguna/3-1.5/201214505449036950/

ytareh

I'd recommend the ( old shape ) Kia C'eed diesel ( someone in work has put up over 100k miles in one ) far more than Laguna , not sure about Fiesta.Also don't believe the myth about small cars not being able for high motorway speeds and miles .Ive hundreds of thousands of miles in small cars .Unless you plan to travel regularly at far over 140kmh they're fine .Warm up and a bit of a wind down for last mile is more important than how they're driven in between to well serviced engine

dr.fuzzenstein

bazz26 wrote: »

Honestly, doing 1000km a week and you would not want to be doing it in a car the size of a Fiesta. They are not designed with that in mind, they are designed to be urban drivers with occasional long distance. Doing 1000km in one every week will kill you from both a refinement and comfort point of view.

You need to put comfort near the top of your list of needs, not just running costs. And normally the bigger the car, the better the comfort and refinement. The last thing you want after a long commute is getting out of a small car with a cramped back and sore legs, then facing a day's work and the return journey home.

I'd be looking at something a bit bigger than a Ceed too for extra comfort, something like this:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Renault/Laguna/3-1.5/201214505449036950/

To go for a Laguna over a Focus would be madness. If French, I'd go for C4. But don't buy one because I say so, I just like them.
But Focus will be hard to beat.
Now, I have driven the 1.6 diesel Fiesta and it was a stonking great car. And I have driven it on the autobahn. Its a great car. Its much better than a diesel Feshty has any right to be.
Living with it every day, I don't know, but it didn't feel cramped to me.

CIP4

On a pure reliability basis I would take a 2008 onwards Renault 1.5dci engine over a 1.6 psa Diesel engine (focus uses 1.6psa). People will argue that the 1.6 psa engine is reliable it is if cared for like a baby but any deviation it will break your heart whereas the Renault 1.5 engine would take more abuse. I wouldn't buy a fiesta to travel 1k km a week minimum focus Megane size. I was going to suggest a mk3 Megane but looking there you would want 6k at least for a 2009 one. Laguna above is a good suggestion they are very comfortable.

Jesus.

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

But Focus will be hard to beat.

Would a Mondy not be preferable given his mileage? Focus is a wee bit small

Jesus.

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Focus will be hard to beat.

Would a Mondy not be preferable given his mileage? Focus is a wee bit small

_Brian

The Focus Vs Mondeo would depend on the driver. OPs sister could be 4'3 or a 6'2 blonde, the latter would need the Mondeo or would look even better in something sporty .

Shannon757

OP throw up a pic of your sis :pac:

Rowley Birkin QC

_Brian wrote: »

The Focus Vs Mondeo would depend on the driver. OPs sister could be 4'3 or a 6'2 blonde, the latter would need the Mondeo or would look even better in something sporty .

Shannon757 wrote: »

OP throw up a pic of your sis :pac:

Smooth as fcuk lads. :rolleyes: