Diesel Hatchback 7k Budget

almostover

Looking to trade up in the years from my 06 Vectra 1.9 diesel. Car is bigger than what I need and the mileage on it is getting high so looking to trade up before she becomes (more) unreliable.

Have 7k to spend and looking at a post '08 diesel for the cheaper tax. I do about 25k miles a year so I'm not considering petrols.

Currently thinking of a Focus in Zetec or Titanium spec, Auris in TR/SR spec or a Golf in match spec. Will probably import from UK/NI.

Just looking to hear from people who've had experience of the above in diesel models. I value a well made reliable car but looks too are a factor.

The focus looks a nice car and has good choice of engines but I've never been a fan of Fords and always thought them to be soft mechanically.

The golf is my favourite looks wise and I'd be looking at a mk5 with the 1.9tdi lump. Have read too many horror stories about the early 2.0 Tdi engines. Few friends have had passats/golfs and the engines and gearboxes seem to be great but both have complained of niggly faults leaving the car down.

The Auris appears to be the safe bet. The 2.0 d4d is well regarded. I just can't seem to warm to the shape of the car.

Any suggestions/alternatives?

dev100

The mark 5 golfs finished around the 06/07 mark you will be looking at the mark 6 , is there still value in getting a car from the UK with getting robbed with vrt and the exchange rate ?

colm_mcm

The Auris isn't overly pleasant, I'd have a ceed/i30 over one every time.
I don't think you'll get an amazing condition post 08 golf for €7k. Some of the 1.9 versions gave their own issues too.
You might scrape an 08 Civic i-CTDi for the money from the uk. Prices for Civics here are a bit on the strong side to say the least, so anything you get anywhere near budget here will have a story.

Mk6 Golf started in 08 btw, so you'll get mk5 08s too.

Have a look at the i30 Premium spec. You'd see a few in the uk, and they're a lovely car for the money.

alan partridge aha

dev100 wrote: »

The mark 5 golfs finished around the 06/07 mark you will be looking at the mark 6 , is there still value in getting a car from the UK with getting robbed with vrt and the exchange rate ?

09 MK5 Golfs can be had.

colm_mcm

Pretty sure I saw one today actually!

dev100

alan partridge aha wrote:

09 MK5 Golfs can be had.

I've seen a few 08 mark 5 a relation has one but never seen a 09 one though . The mark 5 1.9tdi are a good machine but if I was going to the UK to look for a car I'd be going for a newer model and up in the years

alan partridge aha

dev100 wrote: »

I've seen a few 08 mark 5 a relation has one but never seen a 09 one though . The mark 5 1.9tdi are a good machine but if I was going to the UK to look for a car I'd be going for a newer model and up in the years

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Golf_Mk5
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/golf/used-2009-volkswagen-golf-1-4-com-laois-fpa-200814550266866770
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/golf/used-2009-volkswagen-golf-golf-1-westmeath-fpa-201605240816884
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/golf/used-2009-volkswagen-golf-1-4-dublin-fpa-200914562514728680
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/golf/used-2009-volkswagen-golf-golf-co-meath-fpa-201601240078065

bazz26

Does the 7k include what you get for the Vectra?

Mazda 3 is worth a look at too:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Mazda/Mazda3/1.6-D/201214555533107670/

colm_mcm

1.6 HDI though?

bazz26

Yep but the Focus was on the OP's list anyway. On the OP's budget his choices are not going to be huge even though these cars are now 8 years old.

Romor

No brainer you should go with an 08/09 Kia C'eed SW. 1st of the models to give the 7yrs warranty, huge boot for its class and have stood the test of time. Very solid, European built and more boot space than the hyundai i30 that it shares majority of components wit

JohnBoy26

colm_mcm wrote: »

The Auris isn't overly pleasant, I'd have a ceed/i30 over one every time.
I don't think you'll get an amazing condition post 08 golf for €7k. Some of the 1.9 versions gave their own issues too.
You might scrape an 08 Civic i-CTDi for the money from the uk. Prices for Civics here are a bit on the strong side to say the least, so anything you get anywhere near budget here will have a story.

Mk6 Golf started in 08 btw, so you'll get mk5 08s too.

Have a look at the i30 Premium spec. You'd see a few in the uk, and they're a lovely car for the money.

True but i've driven both back to back recently and I found the auris to be a much nicer car to drive tbh and it's not as if the i30 or cee'd is any better in terms of interior quality.

colm_mcm

On the ceed/i30 it might be cheese grade plastic in places but it's properly screwed together. the auris is crap plastic pieces badly thrown together. theres 120000 miles on our i30 and it has less rattles than the new auriss I had.

almostover

colm_mcm wrote: »

The Auris isn't overly pleasant, I'd have a ceed/i30 over one every time.
I don't think you'll get an amazing condition post 08 golf for €7k. Some of the 1.9 versions gave their own issues too.
You might scrape an 08 Civic i-CTDi for the money from the uk. Prices for Civics here are a bit on the strong side to say the least, so anything you get anywhere near budget here will have a story.

Mk6 Golf started in 08 btw, so you'll get mk5 08s too.

Have a look at the i30 Premium spec. You'd see a few in the uk, and they're a lovely car for the money.

Had a look at the i30's - look a decent car but again the shape just doesn't get my juices flowing. I'm leaning towards the golf or focus but potential reliability issues are making me hesitant

JohnBoy26

colm_mcm wrote: »

On the ceed/i30 it might be cheese grade plastic in places but it's properly screwed together. the auris is crap plastic pieces badly thrown together. theres 120000 miles on our i30 and it has less rattles than the new auriss I had.

Im not sure id agree tbh. While I'm no fan of the first generation auris it is still a nicer car than the equivalent i30 or cee'd. When the i30 /cee'd first came out I actually thought they were nicer than the auris but as I spent more time with both cars and both cars began to age I actually think the auris is by far the better car.

While the i30/cee'd are strong mechanically, to me they fall down in other areas like from the way they drive, to their extreamly bland and cheap interior. There is also something lacking in them. It's hard to explain or point out but it is there.

The auris is nothing special either and it's interior isn't great in places either but to me it's just a nicer car to be in, a more comfortable car, quieter and nicer to drive. The dash is less bland too despite it still being bland. For some reason I think it's just more complete than it's Korean rivals.

Everyone has a different opinion though, some will probably find the i30 better.

almostover

Have had a good think about me options here and I like the Hyundai i30 the best. Will be looking for a deluxe spec model with the 1.6crdi engine like this one: [HTML]http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=1428064&r=s.php?m=34&o=1286&r=2008&g=0[/HTML]

Are there any common issues to watch out for on these cars? I have spoken with a local mechanic who deals in Kia's and Hyundai's and he told me the 1.6 Crdi is a fine engine. Anyone have experience to the contrary? I'm thinking of installing a remap too. A guy I got to do a remap before has told me he can get 140bhp out of this engine safely.

colm_mcm

There are (at least) two versions of this engine on the original i30, there's 89bhp and 116bhp. I would go for the latter and go from there. The 116 is nippy enough, and any increase in power you add after that will obviously out more strain on everything. Mechanically I think they're all the same, the only difference is the mapping. I think the most Hyundai brought this engine up to for sale is 126bhp.
You can get a premium spec 116bhp i30 in the uk that has bigger brakes, bigger wheels, lower suspension, heated leather, park assist etc over the deluxe. You'd easily get one within budget.

almostover

colm_mcm wrote: »

There are (at least) two versions of this engine on the original i30, there's 89bhp and 116bhp. I would go for the latter and go from there. The 116 is nippy enough, and any increase in power you add after that will obviously out more strain on everything. Mechanically I think they're all the same, the only difference is the mapping. I think the most Hyundai brought this engine up to for sale is 126bhp.
You can get a premium spec 116bhp i30 in the uk that has bigger brakes, bigger wheels, lower suspension, heated leather, park assist etc over the deluxe. You'd easily get one within budget.

Yes I'm considering importing the premium spec. The 116bhp engine is what I'm considering. Are there any watchouts on these outside of the remap? Have heard engine reliability is good. Also how do they compare build quality wise to a golf or focus?

colm_mcm

We have one since 2012, it's never given any bother mechanically, the mother has out 60,000 miles on it. It does go through drop links and bushings. and 2 of the tyre pressure monitor valves have broken. We've just replaced them with normal valves. Had a sticky brake Caliper, which was actually not too expensive, and the clutch is starting to get a bit heavy now.
In terms of dpf, injectors, turbo, egr etc. Nothings gone wrong. For a modern diesel doing bad country roads every day, it's done really well.

Build quality, I'm never sure what that means nowadays.

If it means interior bits not falling off, seats retaining their shape, no squeaks or rattles, everything still working 100% - it's very good

If it means everything's coated in rubbery plastic then it's not very good. Buy a golf if that's your thing