Need to buy two cars at the same time - advice please?

MommyBear

We have two old cars that both need to be replaced as soon as possible. Total budget for both €20-30k. We need a 7-seater family car that is reliable and has good fuel economy (maybe a diesel?), engine size no more than 2.0l ideally. We also need a smaller car with max 1.4l engine to ferry one of us to work and back with the occasional trip across the country.

What cars should I be looking at? Not fussy about the brand, but would rather not have cars older than about 5 years, if that's feasible on our budget. How does one negotiate a good deal on two cars simultaneously, or am I better off getting one first and the second one later? Should I go to a dealer? How about ex-lease cars or ex- rentals?

Any advice on what car you would recommend and/or on ways to get the best value for money would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

James Bond Junior

Ford s max for the mpv.
Ford Focus for the smaller car if you can find one in petrol.

colm_mcm

Curious as to the 1.4 limit on the second car?

MommyBear

colm_mcm wrote: »

Curious as to the 1.4 limit on the second car?

Doesn't need to be any bigger - plus the tax goes up after that. Not an absolute limit if you have good ideas beyond it. Thanks!

colm_mcm

MommyBear wrote: »

Doesn't need to be any bigger - plus the tax goes up after that. Not an absolute limit if you have good ideas beyond it. Thanks!

Anything from the last 9 years isn't taxed on engine size.

What sort of mileage will you be putting on the two cars?

MommyBear

colm_mcm wrote: »

Anything from the last 9 years isn't taxed on engine size.

What sort of mileage will you be putting on the two cars?

I'd say 5-20k km per year at least. You're right about the tax, I guess I just prefer a smaller car, driving a 1.4 VW Golf for the last 13 years.

CiniO

As you're looking at cars up to 5 years old, motortax is not dependant on engine size, so no point in limiting yourself in that regards.

Is your 5k to 20k per annum a sum of mileage for both cars, will each car bo close to 20k per year?
Do you normally drive far (more than 20km one way trips?) or are you mostly driving through a city on shorter distances?

I probably wouldn't recommend looking at ex-rentals.

MommyBear

CiniO wrote: »

As you're looking at cars up to 5 years old, motortax is not dependant on engine size, so no point in limiting yourself in that regards.

Is your 5k to 20k per annum a sum of mileage for both cars, will each car bo close to 20k per year?
Do you normally drive far (more than 20km one way trips?) or are you mostly driving through a city on shorter distances?

I probably wouldn't recommend looking at ex-rentals.

Firstly I meant to write 15-20k and that's on each car. Round trip to work is 30-40k for both of us. Definitely should withstand longer distances too, not just city driving.

ShamoBuc

James Bond Junior wrote: »

Ford s max for the mpv.
Ford Focus for the smaller car if you can find one in petrol.

+1 smax would certainly be one of the better , if not best 7 seat options. More expensive than most but worth it. Hard to go wrong with a focus, driving one for the past 14 years, so reliable and very good to drive. Getting them both in the same garage might also be advantageous in getting a few bob off.

We have a Toyota verso, 7 seater and find it OK, it does the job, but the drive and feel is definitely below an smax but so is the price. Verso and corolla might be an option, but if the cost factor wasn't an issue, smax all the way.

cros13

Why not a 2nd hand EV instead of the poverty spec 1.4 petrol?
Much more power, practically zero maintenance and running costs 10 times lower than petrol/diesel.

You could get a decent Mk 1.5 Nissan Leaf for ~€13-14k.

MommyBear

cros13 wrote: »

Why not a 2nd hand EV instead of the poverty spec 1.4 petrol?
Much more power, practically zero maintenance and running costs 10 times lower than petrol/diesel.

You could get a decent Mk 1.5 Nissan Leaf for ~€13-14k.

Thanks, not sure if I'm ready for an EV, would consider a hybrid though. Was looking at a Nissan alright, nice car.

cros13

It's definitely worth a test drive. Most dealers will allow a 48 hour test drive so you get the a taste of the ownership experience and get to do your regular journeys etc.

MommyBear

Hi again, just test drove a 2014 Ford C-Max 1.6TDI - 11k miles on it, UK import from a Dublin dealer - looks in good nick. Cash price €16.5k. Does it seem like a fair price for it? Worth it? Are there any particular questions I should ask before committing? Thanks again!

bmwguy

I'd definitely second the idea of Ford for both cars. If you are after a good deal and buy both from the same dealer, look at the bigger dealers for a 7 seater you like first and then check the rest of their stock for your 2nd car, which you will have more choice with.

bazz26

How much is the advertised price? Have you priced a similar car from dealers elsewhere? Have you looked into how much it would cost to import an exact same car from the UK yourself?