Buying a 5 year old petrol car, options very limited

Beta Ray Bill

Hi All

Thinking about changing the car next year or late this year.

I have a 2008 Mazda 6 Diesel at the moment, it's UK car and has been nothing but trouble. There was 78k miles on it when I bought it 2 years ago.

I can attribute the problems to the fact it's either
A: It's UK car
B: It's a big Diesel

So far it's needed:
new clutch and fly wheel (Fair enough, wear and tear)
New Calipers (Old ones seized, Rust, UK car)
Rebuilt Alternator (seized, Rust, UK car)
Vacuum Pump (Diesel Car)
New DPF (Diesel Car)
Rebuilt Light level sensor (seized, Rust, UK car)
among other issues...

All the mech's have told me that Big Diesel cars can be troublesome since the emissions law changes in 2007. This in turn has adversely affected the reliability of what was once considered a bullet proof setup (The idea that Diesel's go forever/can be super reliable even with high miles)

The Mechs have also said buying a car that's spent more than 4 years and/or has seen significant miles in the UK, is a bad idea as the rust can be quite bad, and that any moving components can start to seize up.

With that in mind I've been looking into buying a Hybrid Petrol/Petrol car that's lived in Ireland.

The criteria:
Needs to have 4 doors and a boot.
Needs to have less than 50,000 km's.
Needs to be less than 5 years old.
Needs to be Petrol.
Needs to be a Irish Car.
Needs to be average sized (I wouldn't be interested in the likes of Yaris, IX20)
Needs to be relatively powerful (The oul lad had a focus a few years ago that wouldn't have pulled the knickers off a brazzer. I don't want something like that)
€22,000 is the budget (Including the trade in)

I can honestly say that there is sweet f**k all out there that meet's the criteria

The only thing that tickles my fancy is the Lexus CT200H

Apart from that you'd be looking to put a few more quid to the 22 and buying a new petrol (A mondeo ST line or something like that)

If I look for Diesel though, there is a massive array of cars to choose from.

They're saying the Days of the Diesel car are limited given they are so polluting. But is it the right time to actually buy a petrol car?

Total Pain!

grogi

CT200h is a good bet if it is big enough for you. Prius is mechanically very similar, but significantly bigger.

Don't bother with Aurius Hybrid - as small as CT200h, but quality is much worse.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

SBPhoto

I think you can attribute the problems to the fact it's a Mazda 6 Diesel, well documented trouble, my daughter in law has one and nothing but trouble, has been advised to get rid of it. If going petrol the Prius is worth a look

R.O.R

Options from carzone:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/golf/used-2012-volkswagen-golf-gti-2-0-dublin-fpa-7840276359617299286

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/audi/a4/used-2013-131-audi-a4-1-8-t-163hp-se-dublin-fpa-6121928676292861568

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/honda/civic/used-2014-142-honda-civic-civic-1-8i-dublin-fpa-4182998068751624633

GTI is what I initially thought of as fitting your requirements, but spending €22k on a 5yr old one would stick in my gut. 1.8 Civic is probably the best solution IMHO.

GavRedKing

One of my buddies was interested in this, I know you've ruled out a focus but its meant to be "nippy" enough.

http://www.cavanaghs.com/used-cars/?id=23861451&title=2017-Ford-Focus-ST-LINE1.0-ECOBOOST-125P-%E2%82%AC20%2C500

Beta Ray Bill

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

For me that would be the ideal car.
47,000 miles is wee bit to much though for that money

I'd be looking at 19k for that car at that mileage.

CeilingFly

grahambo wrote: »

Hi All

Thinking about changing the car next year or late this year.

I have a 2008 Mazda 6 Diesel at the moment, it's UK car and has been nothing but trouble. There was 78k miles on it when I bought it 2 years ago.

I can attribute the problems to the fact it's either
A: It's UK car
B: It's a big Diesel

78k miles on a 7 year old diesel? - Sounds very fishy as no-one especially in teh UK where diesel is a little more expensive than petrol that someone doing 10-12k miles would have plumped for a more expensive car with higher service costs albeit for a small saving in fuel costs.

I reckon it might have been clocked.

As for choice - depending on your mileage, if its over 25k km then diesel is probably best choice. It will be a few years before there'll be any issue with demand and at that stage you'll be on your next one.

But if it petrol, then the followign would be the three I'd check

Audi A4
Peugeot 508 (hard devaluation, so you could find fab value)
Lexus 200 (seems to a few about)

Idbatterim

I'd be looking at 19k for that car at that mileage.

Its an asking price, you might get it for 20k ish... If you are done with mechanical stuff going etc, I believe the new nissan leaf starts from E21,500 or thereabouts...

colm_mcm

grogi wrote: »

CT200h is a good bet if it is big enough for you. Prius is mechanically very similar, but significantly bigger.

Don't bother with Aurius Hybrid - as small as CT200h, but quality is much worse.

Current model Auris hybrid is in a different league to the old one. Would prefer the Lexus obviously.

Buffman

grahambo wrote: »

The criteria:
Needs to have 4 doors and a boot.
Needs to have less than 50,000 km's.
Needs to be less than 5 years old.
Needs to be Petrol.
Needs to be a Irish Car.
Needs to be average sized (I wouldn't be interested in the likes of Yaris, IX20)
Needs to be relatively powerful (The oul lad had a focus a few years ago that wouldn't have pulled the knickers off a brazzer. I don't want something like that)
€22,000 is the budget (Including the trade in)

The petrol Octavia would be another one that would fit your list. I had a spin in a 1.2tsi a few years ago and was pleasantly surprised. I can't comment on the 1.0tsi.

With that budget you could even be thinking about a new one, and probably a bit of haggling could be done on existing stock with the new model on the way. Random example https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-octavia-ambition-1-0tsi-115hp/15551242

grogi

colm_mcm wrote: »

Current model Auris hybrid is in a different league to the old one. Would prefer the Lexus obviously.

Yes, it is. It was designed as a hybrid, so it actually has a usable boot. But it still miles behind Prius from the same year.

colm_mcm

Depends in what you want. The Auris isn't overtly hybrid looking. It being conventional would be a plus to many.

bazz26

grahambo wrote: »

For me that would be the ideal car.
47,000 miles is wee bit to much though for that money

I'd be looking at 19k for that car at that mileage.

47000 miles is hardly huge for a nearly 4 year old car though.

Regarding your experience of diesel, no offense but you bought probably the worst diesel cars out there. That Mazda diesel engine is notorious for being troublesome. Diesel cars are also designed to be driving, doing small mileage or short trips in a diesel is not a suitable driving style for diesel cars and especially that Mazda diesel engine which has a complex designed DPF system.

sgalvin

I think you were a bit unlucky but there are lots of problems with the diesels that that era.

2 years ago we also bought a Mazda 6 but I convinced my wife to buy a petrol one and pay the extra €100 in road tax.
It was ~€3,000 less that a similar diesel model but only had 80,000km on it.

We have put 60,000 km on it I have done the following
3 oil and filter changes @€;150
4 spark plugs @€;80
1 air filter @€;12
1 new battery @€;95
2 tyres @€;220
And nothing else.
Petrol at 7 to 7.5 lit/100km.
Not as fast as the 2.2 diesel but ok and much quieter.

Your point on uk cars is more important for cars from the north as there is simply more salt there. I had a pug of a job changing a wheel bearing on a car from Glasgow. But there are many more petrol cars there due to our silly vrt/tax system.

The Mazda 6 2.0 petrol are great value after 1 year in the UK and have a low co2 figure for vrt/tax

From Northern Ireland
http://www.mazdausedcarlocator.co.uk/used-cars/7325631-mazda-mazda6-2.0-se-nav-4dr/


The 3.0 BMW are worth a look. Many come in on the €570 and €750 tax bands. No one wants them used so they are cheap.

Mercedes c350e and BMW 330e are very cheap used in the uk even when still very new and vrt on them is very small due to hybrid €2,500 credit. Road tax low too.

Petrol is just so much quieter.
Electric is another option but depends on what you use your car for.

Best of luck.

grahambo wrote: »

Hi All

Thinking about changing the car next year or late this year.

I have a 2008 Mazda 6 Diesel at the moment, it's UK car and has been nothing but trouble. There was 78k miles on it when I bought it 2 years ago.

I can attribute the problems to the fact it's either
A: It's UK car
B: It's a big Diesel

So far it's needed:
new clutch and fly wheel (Fair enough, wear and tear)
New Calipers (Old ones seized, Rust, UK car)
Rebuilt Alternator (seized, Rust, UK car)
Vacuum Pump (Diesel Car)
New DPF (Diesel Car)
Rebuilt Light level sensor (seized, Rust, UK car)
among other issues...

All the mech's have told me that Big Diesel cars can be troublesome since the emissions law changes in 2007. This in turn has adversely affected the reliability of what was once considered a bullet proof setup (The idea that Diesel's go forever/can be super reliable even with high miles)

The Mechs have also said buying a car that's spent more than 4 years and/or has seen significant miles in the UK, is a bad idea as the rust can be quite bad, and that any moving components can start to seize up.

With that in mind I've been looking into buying a Hybrid Petrol/Petrol car that's lived in Ireland.

The criteria:
Needs to have 4 doors and a boot.
Needs to have less than 50,000 km's.
Needs to be less than 5 years old.
Needs to be Petrol.
Needs to be a Irish Car.
Needs to be average sized (I wouldn't be interested in the likes of Yaris, IX20)
Needs to be relatively powerful (The oul lad had a focus a few years ago that wouldn't have pulled the knickers off a brazzer. I don't want something like that)
€22,000 is the budget (Including the trade in)

I can honestly say that there is sweet f**k all out there that meet's the criteria

The only thing that tickles my fancy is the Lexus CT200H

Apart from that you'd be looking to put a few more quid to the 22 and buying a new petrol (A mondeo ST line or something like that)

If I look for Diesel though, there is a massive array of cars to choose from.

They're saying the Days of the Diesel car are limited given they are so polluting. But is it the right time to actually buy a petrol car?

Total Pain!

selectamatic

Lexus is300h

Arthur Daley

CeilingFly wrote: »

78k miles on a 7 year old diesel? - Sounds very fishy as no-one especially in teh UK where diesel is a little more expensive than petrol that someone doing 10-12k miles would have plumped for a more expensive car with higher service costs albeit for a small saving in fuel costs.)

I'd say nearly half the population of Ireland have done just that since 2009. 70% diesel market share. They can't all be doing high mileage anyway.

ml100

Mid spec octavia 1.0 petrol is around 20k with scrappage deals at the moment, might be worth a look

Oafley Jones

selectamatic wrote: »

Lexus is300h

Much, much nicer car than the CT. Decent power as well, unlike the CT which I always found frustratingly slow.

colm_mcm

How much annual mileage are you actually doing OP?