Scarcity of used petrol cars

adocholiday

So I've been on the hunt for a 'new' car for some time now, and I'm starting to lose my mind. I knew that since 2008, this country had gone diesel mad, obviously due to 'chape tax and chape fuel'. But I never realized that it was this bad.

I've just done the following search on carzone for some 'normal' cars that I'd be in the market for:

2009-2014(2), 1k - 15k price, BMW 3/5 series, Audi A4/A5/A6, Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord, Hyundai i40, Kia Optima, Mazda 6, Opel Insignia.

There are 932 hits for that criteria. Narrow those to Petrol only - 32 hits. That's 3% of the results are petrol cars.

I drive about 7000 miles per year, with about 5000 of them being motorway runs down the country, the other 2 little short hop journeys like going to the shop or work runs, no more than 2-3 miles at a time so I'd probably wreck a diesel engine.

This has to be only country where there is such a massive amount of diesel cars compared with petrol cars.

Special Circumstances

Green policy ist working, ja.

Del2005

You'll only find petrol in hybrids from that era. I've a GS450H and have no complaints.

Supergurrier

I've had 3 relatives ask me if my new car is diesel and look perplexed when i say it isn't.

It's a 350z lol

pippip

I recently had to change car for a petrol 08-10. Wanting/only needing petrol seriously limits things.

Annoying thing I had were people I know who currently have new diesels (and don't need diesel) telling me I'm mad not to get diesel. Couldn't get it that a new diesel versus an older high mileage diesel are completely different situations.

adocholiday

pippip wrote: »

I recently had to change car for a petrol 08-10. Wanting/only needing petrol seriously limits things.

Annoying thing I had were people I know who currently have new diesels (and don't need diesel) telling me I'm mad not to get diesel. Couldn't get it that a new diesel versus an older high mileage diesel are completely different situations.

Great until the DPF blows up due to quick runs to the school or shops and not much further. But sure it's 10c cheaper and goes further than petrol you'd be mad to buy petrol.

pajor

Supergurrier wrote: »

I've had 3 relatives ask me if my new car is diesel and look perplexed when i say it isn't.

It's a 350z lol

If they're people who just don't know about Nissan Z cars that doesn't really surprise me. How many post '08 German make coupés are dayyysel on Irish roads?

Shít loads.

:pac:

Cheensbo

Supergurrier wrote: »

I've had 3 relatives ask me if my new car is diesel and look perplexed when i say it isn't.

It's a 350z lol

And the next question is, jesus whats the tax on that.

ShadowHearth

Cheensbo wrote: »

And the next question is, jesus whats the tax on that.

I actually want to get GS 450h just so I can say: it's 3.5L petrol, and best part its hybrid, but it's not for economy, but to go even faster! :pac:

robtri

Interesting.. so where are all the Petrol cars??

2008 - 151,444 cars sold.... 63% Petrol

2009 - 57,118 cars sold.......42% Petrol

2010 - 88,446 cars sold.......32% Petrol

2011 - 89,918 cars sold.......27% Petrol

2012 - 79,574 cars sold...... 23% Petrol

2013 - 74,364 cars sold.......27% Petrol

2014 - 96,284 cars sold...... 25% Petrol

Thats 233,636 New Petrol Cars sold out of 637,148 cars..so where are they all!!!!!

Atlantic Dawn

robtri wrote: »

Interesting.. so where are all the Petrol cars??

Thats 233,636 New Petrol Cars sold out of 637,148 cars..so where are they all!!!!!

I'd say people are holding on to them, they are not going on the market at the same resale rate as the diesels.

Del2005

ShadowHearth wrote: »

I actually want to get GS 450h just so I can say: it's 3.5L petrol, and best part its hybrid, but it's not for economy, but to go even faster! :pac:

It's great telling people that it's a 3.5 and only €750 to tax, most think it'll be huge to tax.

That's the best part no waiting for a turbo to spin up due to the torque from the electric motor.

GustavoFring

robtri wrote: »

Interesting.. so where are all the Petrol cars??

2008 - 151,444 cars sold.... 63% Petrol

2009 - 57,118 cars sold.......42% Petrol

2010 - 88,446 cars sold.......32% Petrol

2011 - 89,918 cars sold.......27% Petrol

2012 - 79,574 cars sold...... 23% Petrol

2013 - 74,364 cars sold.......27% Petrol

2014 - 96,284 cars sold...... 25% Petrol

Thats 233,636 New Petrol Cars sold out of 637,148 cars..so where are they all!!!!!

Chance the search criteria to smaller cars and you'll find a lot of them.

Ryath

robtri wrote: »

Interesting.. so where are all the Petrol cars??

Thats 233,636 New Petrol Cars sold out of 637,148 cars..so where are they all!!!!!

Superminis and smaller city cars. Fiestas, Polo's Yaris and the like majority of them were still small petrols. Anything bigger and and petrols are like hens teeth. As Atlantic the few who did buy new are probably holding on to them. Even in the UK it's not much better!

hellyeah

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I'd say people are holding on to them, they are not going on the market at the same resale rate as the diesels.

As above. I have a 08 petrol focus since 2010 and have no intention of selling. Have had offers from lads at work as they cant find a good used petrol car. Parents have 131 petrol fiesta which is staying put. Both cars have been 100% reliable.

grogi

robtri wrote: »

Interesting.. so where are all the Petrol cars??

2008 - 151,444 cars sold.... 63% Petrol

2009 - 57,118 cars sold.......42% Petrol

2010 - 88,446 cars sold.......32% Petrol

2011 - 89,918 cars sold.......27% Petrol

2012 - 79,574 cars sold...... 23% Petrol

2013 - 74,364 cars sold.......27% Petrol

2014 - 96,284 cars sold...... 25% Petrol

Thats 233,636 New Petrol Cars sold out of 637,148 cars..so where are they all!!!!!

A and B segments. You'll not find anything petrol in D and bigger cars...

bazz26

Why not import one from the UK OP? The exchange rate is favourable at present.

Four Phucs Ache

A relative bought a new cx3 2.0 petrol and loves it, very economical, good power and quiet.

On numerous occasions while he was test driving it and filling in the order form he was questioned quizzically why he wasn't going diesel by the salesman.He even felt when they told him " you do know it's gonna be a while before we have this on a boat" that he was being awkward but he's delighted now he chose the petrol.

Given the above and a lot of stock to hand is diesel with sales targets/pressures there's no wonder peoples arms are twisted to go diesel.

adocholiday

bazz26 wrote: »

Why not import one from the UK OP? The exchange rate is favourable at present.

I would but importing a car is a hassle I simply can't be ar$ed with. VRT and that aside, having to go to the UK and test drive things etc and still potentially come home with no car is an effort I'm not interested in. I usually buy from dealers where I have some recourse if the **** hits the fan

liam7831

adocholiday wrote: »

So I've been on the hunt for a 'new' car for some time now, and I'm starting to lose my mind. I knew that since 2008, this country had gone diesel mad, obviously due to 'chape tax and chape fuel'. But I never realized that it was this bad.

I've just done the following search on carzone for some 'normal' cars that I'd be in the market for:

2009-2014(2), 1k - 15k price, BMW 3/5 series, Audi A4/A5/A6, Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord, Hyundai i40, Kia Optima, Mazda 6, Opel Insignia.

There are 932 hits for that criteria. Narrow those to Petrol only - 32 hits. That's 3% of the results are petrol cars.

I drive about 7000 miles per year, with about 5000 of them being motorway runs down the country, the other 2 little short hop journeys like going to the shop or work runs, no more than 2-3 miles at a time so I'd probably wreck a diesel engine.

This has to be only country where there is such a massive amount of diesel cars compared with petrol cars.

Just go to the Uk its full of em.

Comhrá

I got a new Audi A4 last Feb and went for the 1.4 TFSI petrol and I could not be happier with it.

I believe Audi are selling a few more A4s in petrol since the B9 was introduced with the 1.4 engine. I've seen a few and also a few petrol A3 Saloons are around too.

Should be more used petrol VWs and Audis on the used market in the next two or three years.

mickdw

I believe alot of the petrol models are being held on to for 2 reasons. Firstly, they will be faring poorly in terms of resale and secondly, they will be proving rather reliable in alot of cases making the financial case to change cars very difficult.
certainly, in my case, I've my 08 petrol Audi coupe since new and while I spend a fair bit on it to keep it right, I've had no big bills and no reliability issues. I am very much due a change of car but I really don't know what to get used that will be worth the outlay over my current car that I know inside out and gets everything it needs.

grogi

mickdw wrote: »

I believe alot of the petrol models are being held on to for 2 reasons. Firstly, they will be faring poorly in terms of resale and secondly, they will be proving rather reliable in alot of cases making the financial case to change cars very difficult.

I would not be concerned about the resale values. The average Joe might think that it is insane, but let him...

There is demand for 2nd hand petrol cars. High demand and short supply drives prices up - a good petrol car will sell to a well informed buyer, often for more than a much more common diesel would.

bazz26

adocholiday wrote: »

I would but importing a car is a hassle I simply can't be ar$ed with. VRT and that aside, having to go to the UK and test drive things etc and still potentially come home with no car is an effort I'm not interested in. I usually buy from dealers where I have some recourse if the **** hits the fan

A good few car sourcing companies over here who will get you the car you want if you're willing to pay for the service, then buy a third party warranty. Other than that you're stuck with what's available here.

Dartz

i like petrol engines. They're smoother, quieter, and the heater kicks in much quicker in winter. Diesels are cold-bloody growly lizards.

One thing that struck me about Japan and the US is just how much quieter traffic is.... how it's just some tyres and soft humms rather than the 'blegggghhhh-dig----dig---dig--dig-dig' of light diesels.

The RX is a bit of an oddball sure, but below about 4000 rev's it's hard to tell it's even running sometimes. Most petrol's are the same. The old 1.8 Laguna was a ****ing sofa that might've cruise on clouds for all the noise the engine made.

You always know when a diesel is going.

zilog_jones

adocholiday wrote: »

I would but importing a car is a hassle I simply can't be ar$ed with. VRT and that aside, having to go to the UK and test drive things etc and still potentially come home with no car is an effort I'm not interested in. I usually buy from dealers where I have some recourse if the **** hits the fan

Importing from NI is easier although prices are slightly higher and there's less choice. The VRT process is pretty easy these days. The most important part is you need to take the full V5C (log book) which is not the standard procedure when buying a car in the UK (but is required for permanent export) - things can get a lot more complicated if you don't get this with the car.

But yes, a hybrid is certainly worth considering if you want to avoid a diesel. However in that price range and size there's probably not much choice outside of a Prius.