€3,500 for small car

BetsyEllen

Hi

I am currently driving a 00 Renault Clio which I love.
However it's time to get something a bit better due to the age.

I want something that is roughly the same size, I have no kids so it's just me in the car 99% of the time. Plus I drive literally 15km per day, I live a 7 minute drive from my office.

I have €3,500 cash to spend and ideally would like a 2008.

Any recommendations of what I should be looking at?

I was thinking of a Toyota Aygo but have heard the boot is ridiculously tiny.

I know nothing about cars and am very worried about spending my money badly (I've saved hard and this is a big spend for me).

All help appreciated. Thank you.

grogi

BetsyEllen wrote: »

Hi

I am currently driving a 00 Renault Clio which I love.
However it's time to get something a bit better due to the age.

I want something that is roughly the same size, I have no kids so it's just me in the car 99% of the time. Plus I drive literally 15km per day, I live a 7 minute drive from my office.

I have €3,500 cash to spend and ideally would like a 2008.

Any recommendations of what I should be looking at?

I was thinking of a Toyota Aygo but have heard the boot is ridiculously tiny.

I know nothing about cars and am very worried about spending my money badly (I've saved hard and this is a big spend for me).

All help appreciated. Thank you.

Would a 2009 Kia Rio work for you? ;-)

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=104213578&postcount=2571

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/09-kia-rio-nct-03-19/15615383

BetsyEllen

It's too big, thanks though

Cee-Jay-Cee

BetsyEllen wrote: »

It's too big, thanks though

The pictures are deceiving, the Rio is a small car, its basically like your clio but slightly longer because of the boot. They are in the same car group.

How about a Yaris? Ultra reliable Toyota and very easy to run and maintain.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-yaris-2008/16061135

If you don't need a 4dr car then how about a Fiat 500, absolute cracking little car full of character and charm. I had one as a hire car for a week and I absolutely loved it, nice to drive, and very easy to run.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/fiat-500-low-mileage/16191950

BetsyEllen

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

The pictures are deceiving, the Rio is a small car, its basically like your clio but slightly longer because of the boot. They are in the same car group.

How about a Yaris? Ultra reliable Toyota and very easy to run and maintain.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-yaris-2008/16061135

If you don't need a 4dr car then how about a Fiat 500, absolute cracking little car full of character and charm. I had one as a hire car for a week and I absolutely loved it, nice to drive, and very easy to run.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/fiat-500-low-mileage/16191950

I would LOVE a Fiat 500, they are my ideal car however I haven't seen one in my price range yet.
That one you have above is absolutely beautiful but I doubt I'd get it for my budget.

The Yaris is nice, I had one a few years ago and it was lovely - I might give that one a call, thank you.

BetsyEllen

Cee-Jay-Cee I could actually kill you for showing me that Fiat 500 - I'm literally working out how little I can eat his month to come up with the extra cash I need to buy it haha!

bmwguy

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2008-renault-clio-1-1-new-nct/16064486

If you love the clio then stick with them. Here is an 08 reasonably low mileage well under budget. Plenty of them out there. Knock 200 quid off that if you can and you might also get 200 for your own and you are looking at having plenty of change in your budget too.

SCOOP 64

BetsyEllen wrote: »

Cee-Jay-Cee I could actually kill you for showing me that Fiat 500 - I'm literally working out how little I can eat his month to come up with the extra cash I need to buy it haha!

Phone up and make him a offer ,the worst he can say is No.
i like the colour.

BetsyEllen

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

Phone up and make him a offer ,the worst he can say is No.
i like the colour.

I gave him a call, he had somebody view it today and they are calling him later to advise if they're taking it or not.
he said he'll call me after 8pm to let me know so fingers crossed that she found something she likes better

bmwguy wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2008-renault-clio-1-1-new-nct/16064486

If you love the clio then stick with them. Here is an 08 reasonably low mileage well under budget. Plenty of them out there. Knock 200 quid off that if you can and you might also get 200 for your own and you are looking at having plenty of change in your budget too.

I was actually tempted to get another Clio but a few people have said to me I must have got lucky with the one I have now as I've never had any trouble with it. I've heard bad reports on them so I was a bit reluctant to get one.
Then again I guess if I found one with a good service history etc and look after it well myself (which I do anyway) then there would be no reason for anything to go wrong.

Thanks for the link, I'll have a look

bmwguy

BetsyEllen wrote: »

I gave him a call, he had somebody view it today and they are calling him later to advise if they're taking it or not.
he said he'll call me after 8pm to let me know so fingers crossed that she found something she likes better



I was actually tempted to get another Clio but a few people have said to me I must have got lucky with the one I have now as I've never had any trouble with it. I've heard bad reports on them so I was a bit reluctant to get one.
Then again I guess if I found one with a good service history etc and look after it well myself (which I do anyway) then there would be no reason for anything to go wrong.

Thanks for the link, I'll have a look

My brother has one like yours it's fine. It's an 06. A girl in work has an 08 like the one I linked. It's fine. Cousin has one and never heard anything bad about it

Trust your own experience rather than biased opinions and you'll be grand. I had French cars all the time when I was younger and not a bother on any of them but they have undeserved bad rep.

James Bond Junior

I have a relatives clio I'll be selling in the next week if you are interested PM me.

Cee-Jay-Cee

BetsyEllen wrote: »

I gave him a call, he had somebody view it today and they are calling him later to advise if they're taking it or not.
he said he'll call me after 8pm to let me know so fingers crossed that she found something she likes better

I see the ad is removed, I'm guessing the other person bought it.

If you can hold onto your current car then do so until the car you want comes along because if you settle for something else you can be absolutely sure the car you really wanted will appear for sale a few days later!

BetsyEllen

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I see the ad is removed, I'm guessing the other person bought it.

If you can hold onto your current car then do so until the car you want comes along because if you settle for something else you can be absolutely sure the car you really wanted will appear for sale a few days later!

Yeah it's gone sadly! Nice guy, he let me know last night and is trying to source another for me but it's doubtful.

Unfortunately my current car is unsafe to drive so I need to get something this weekend so I am limited for choice.

I am between a Yaris and an Aygo at the moment - the Yaris is roomier but €700 more expensive (over budget), plus tax and insurance is higher. But it is lovely and only 62,000 kms on the clock. Full service history. Only in Dundalk so not far to go. Dealer sale.

The Aygo is under budget, cheap tax and insurance but small. And 134,000 kms on the clock. Plus in Monaghan so a bit of a drive. Private sale.

However I'm thinking if I go with the Aygo it won't stretch me financially, I can continue to save money for another year or so and then get my dream car next year.
I'll be able to save more than I currently am now due to the lower costs.

It's so hard to decide!

duffman3833

if you don't need the space or do long journeys then go with aygo, as you said if it is for a year or so until you get your dream car why pay more for a car you only will keep for small time. If you going to look at the Aygo bring someone who knows cars

BetsyEllen

duffman3833 wrote: »

if you don't need the space or do long journeys then go with aygo, as you said if it is for a year or so until you get your dream car why pay more for a car you only will keep for small time. If you going to look at the Aygo bring someone who knows cars

This is where my problem lies, I don't know any mechanics or anyone who would really know about cars.

I'm not quite sure what to do as even if I did know someone, asking them to drive to Monaghan with me is a bit of an ask!
I'm hoping that something will come up locally so I can ask to take it into my mechanic.

Yes I've decided I'll go with an Aygo, they are just too low in running costs for me to say no too. Thanks for the advice.

ETA: I wonder is it possible to look up a mechanic close to where the seller lives and call them to ask if they'll have a quick look if I bring it in?
I'm sure any genuine seller won't mind and I'd be taking it for a test drive anyway. Have any of you ever done this?

bmwguy

BetsyEllen wrote: »

This is where my problem lies, I don't know any mechanics or anyone who would really know about cars.

I'm not quite sure what to do as even if I did know someone, asking them to drive to Monaghan with me is a bit of an ask!
I'm hoping that something will come up locally so I can ask to take it into my mechanic.

Yes I've decided I'll go with an Aygo, they are just too low in running costs for me to say no too. Thanks for the advice.

ETA: I wonder is it possible to look up a mechanic close to where the seller lives and call them to ask if they'll have a quick look if I bring it in?
I'm sure any genuine seller won't mind and I'd be taking it for a test drive anyway. Have any of you ever done this?

Yes, that should be no problem doing that. They will make a nice few quid for a small bit of work.

grogi

BetsyEllen wrote: »

ETA: I wonder is it possible to look up a mechanic close to where the seller lives and call them to ask if they'll have a quick look if I bring it in?

Of course. Just make sure it's not the seller's buddy - exp. by enquiring about the service history before you enquire about possibility of checkup.

BetsyEllen

I think I've found a suitable car in Finglas now. The one in Monaghan was just a bit too far.

Friend of mine has a mechanic brother who lives nearby so I'm going to ask him if he'll take a look for me and if all is good, I will go and pick it up this weekend.

Thanks for all the help and advice everyone, very much appreciated!

TheBeach

Sorry don't know anything about cars but just to say I have a car with a teeny boot. I can actually get a shop for my whole family of 4 in the front passenger seat though! The boot holds 3 bags of shopping and a large umbrella though

BetsyEllen

TheBeach wrote: »

Sorry don't know anything about cars but just to say I have a car with a teeny boot. I can actually get a shop for my whole family of 4 in the front passenger seat though! The boot holds 3 bags of shopping and a large umbrella though

Thank you, that's good to know!

It's only me in the car anyway and I rarely have more than 2 bags so I don't really know why I'm concerned about it.
I'm sure I'll manage and the lower running costs will make up for the lack of space - my insurance is going to go down by €22 per month and the tax is super cheap so I'll be laughing

Cee-Jay-Cee

The Aygo are a lovely wee car and ideal for the city and parking. I seen one parked nose in on a street last weekend. With the wheels against the kerb it didn't stick out any more than the Transit van parked in the next spot.

grogi

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

The Aygo are a lovely wee car and ideal for the city and parking. I seen one parked nose in on a street last weekend. With the wheels against the kerb it didn't stick out any more than the Transit van parked in the next spot.

Are you sure it was Aygo, not the Toyota IQ ?

Cee-Jay-Cee

grogi wrote: »

Are you sure it was Aygo, not the Toyota IQ ?

Oh I think you could be right, it could have been the iQ, sorry 'bout that.

BetsyEllen

So I ended up buying a 2008 Yaris

90k Km's on the clock, brand new 2 year NCT, €199 road tax and slightly cheaper car insurance too than what I'm currently paying.

Should do me grand for the foreseeable future and I'm relieved to have finally made a decision!

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions.

enumbers

BetsyEllen wrote: »

So I ended up buying a 2008 Yaris

90k Km's on the clock, brand new 2 year NCT, €199 road tax and slightly cheaper car insurance too than what I'm currently paying.

Should do me grand for the foreseeable future and I'm relieved to have finally made a decision!

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions.

good stuff even though your doing small millage yaris is a much more comfortable place to sit than the aygo or its stablemates