New Car 10k budget

U_Fig

Hi

I am in the market to buy a new car my budget is roughly 10k after insurance costs and tax/vrt if applicable, which leaves me with roughly 8-9k to play with depending obviously on the car.

I have only recently passed my driving test this year and I am currently driving a 02 Opel Corsa, which to be fair I've had for the last 2 years and has been great in regards to reliability all be it a bit sluggish being a 1.0L.

I will be driving roughly 8K a year as a best estimate and I am looking to get something with a bit more ooph especially on the motorway and a bit of comfort as I will be driving less around town and more on the motorway.

Realistically I would not be doing the mileage for a diesel engine so I would be aiming for a petrol and also I would prefer manual, I drove a auto for a few weeks recently and I didn't really like it to be honest, saying that i'm not totally opposed to a diesel or an auto if it's going to be a better car.

Initially I was looking at maybe a 3 Series BMW or maybe a VW Golf but I was also looking at maybe going smaller and getting a Fiesta, from what I am reading the 1.0L ecoboost is a fantastic engine and not too bad a driving experience.

As you can see i'm all over the place trying to decide so , I would appreciate any suggestions as I am struggling to make a decision here.

bmwguy

I think a golf is your next stop on your motoring journey . Or similar, like a focus, Astra etc.....

Just passing your test means insurance will be relatively high still and this is what will dictate your next purchase. Get a few quotes on them, then on a 3 series. You will have better idea then.

catrionanic

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-z4-2-0i-se-roadster-2007-e85-only-41k-miles-se/16099305

This BMW Z4 matches a lot of what you're looking for (and is also bloody gorgeous and would be great fun to drive). Has a UK reg and had the bodywork repaired after a crash, so much cheaper than the listed Irish-reg z4s, despite being newer and with much less mileage.

bmwguy

catrionanic wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-z4-2-0i-se-roadster-2007-e85-only-41k-miles-se/16099305

This BMW Z4 matches a lot of what you're looking for (and is also bloody gorgeous and would be great fun to drive). Has a UK reg and had the bodywork repaired after a crash, so much cheaper than the listed Irish-reg z4s, despite being newer and with much less mileage.

No you didn't. You are selling it. Ad mentions new born baby. A lot of your posts are about babies

Coincidence? Maybe.....

U_Fig

catrionanic wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-z4-2-0i-se-roadster-2007-e85-only-41k-miles-se/16099305

This BMW Z4 matches a lot of what you're looking for (and is also bloody gorgeous and would be great fun to drive). Has a UK reg and had the bodywork repaired after a crash, so much cheaper than the listed Irish-reg z4s, despite being newer and with much less mileage.

I am looking for advice not to be sold a particular car 🙄

bmwguy wrote: »

I think a golf is your next stop on your motoring journey . Or similar, like a focus, Astra etc.....

Just passing your test means insurance will be relatively high still and this is what will dictate your next purchase. Get a few quotes on them, then on a 3 series. You will have better idea then.

Thanks I think you are right , are the 1.4 petrol golfs not a little underpowered for the weight of the car and the astra in the same boat? A 1.4 TSI golf was is roughly the same insurance wise as a 320i, slightly less , which surprised me i though it would be a good bit less, the focus again with the 1.0 ecoboost seems to be not a bad choice but if I was going for that I think I'd drop to the lighter fiesta, not quite the comfort for longer drives but still not bad so I have read.

bmwguy

U_Fig wrote: »

I am looking for advice not to be sold a particular car 🙄



Thanks I think you are right , are the 1.4 petrol golfs not a little underpowered for the weight of the car and the astra in the same boat? A 1.4 TSI golf was is roughly the same insurance wise as a 320i, slightly less , which surprised me i though it would be a good bit less, the focus again with the 1.0 ecoboost seems to be not a bad choice but if I was going for that I think I'd drop to the lighter fiesta, not quite the comfort for longer drives but still not bad so I have read.

Yes i have heard the standard 1.4 in them are underpowered. You say they are same price to insure. Is it a price you are happy with? If so just weigh it all up. You will go a few years older with a 320i than a golf tsi for same money so it's up to you. I always go for the car I like then find out which years are in budget. I don't care about age more about spec and condition.

bazz26

catrionanic wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-z4-2-0i-se-roadster-2007-e85-only-41k-miles-se/16099305

This BMW Z4 matches a lot of what you're looking for (and is also bloody gorgeous and would be great fun to drive). Has a UK reg and had the bodywork repaired after a crash, so much cheaper than the listed Irish-reg z4s, despite being newer and with much less mileage.

That car sounds more perfect for you than the OP. :pac: You should buy it.

bazz26

OP, have a look at the 1.4 Hyundai i30. They have 109bhp compared to the 80bhp of the 1.4 Golf/Focus.

For example:


https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/hyundai-i30-2010/15606095

U_Fig

bmwguy wrote: »

Yes I have heard the standard 1.4 in them are underpowered. You say they are same price to insure. Is it a price you are happy with? If so just weigh it all up. You will go a few years older with a 320i than a golf tsi for same money so it's up to you. I always go for the car I like then find out which years are in budget. I don't care about age more about spec and condition.

Is there ever an insurance quote you are happy with? content would be more my word of choice, its not the best quote but a bit of shopping around and it would likely drop a bit. But it think all things considered it would be worth having that extra bit of power in the TSI over the Standard 1.4. The more i think about it the golf or similar makes more sense for me.

Any particular problems I should be looking out for in a MK6 Golf?

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, have a look at the 1.4 Hyundai i30. They have 109bhp compared to the 80bhp of the 1.4 Golf/Focus.

For example:


https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/hyundai-i30-2010/15606095

Thanks i'll give it a look never really look past the Germans, Japs or Ford when looking at cars.

goz83

What sort of daily mileage would you be doing? Have you considered an electric car? Might be suitable if you're doing under 100klm per day. A budget of 9k would get you a 2014 Nissan Leaf, which would get you that mileage on a single charge and it costs about €1 for that mileage. Maintenance is also far, far less....no oil, no engine. Oh, and plenty of ooomph.

If you regularly do trips over 100klm per day, the your budget would not suit the bigger battery, newer EVs.

U_Fig

goz83 wrote: »

What sort of daily mileage would you be doing? Have you considered an electric car? Might be suitable if you're doing under 100klm per day. A budget of 9k would get you a 2014 Nissan Leaf, which would get you that mileage on a single charge and it costs about €1 for that mileage. Maintenance is also far, far less....no oil, no engine. Oh, and plenty of ooomph.

If you regularly do trips over 100klm per day, the your budget would not suit the bigger battery, newer EVs.

To be honest I've never even considered an electric car.

99% of the time i would be doing less than 100km a day but that 1% time where i need to drive further would be enough to turn me off the idea. I still don't think the infrastructure in this country is up to scratch to make an electric car feasible for full time use. And besides I park my car on a public road I can't exactly have a charging cable across a public footpath.

Thanks for the suggestion tho

goz83

U_Fig wrote: »

To be honest I've never even considered an electric car.

99% of the time i would be doing less than 100km a day but that 1% time where i need to drive further would be enough to turn me off the idea. I still don't think the infrastructure in this country is up to scratch to make an electric car feasible for full time use. And besides I park my car on a public road I can't exactly have a charging cable across a public footpath.

Thanks for the suggestion tho

The 1% of the time would be worth the massive savings. It just involves planning. You get 80% of a charge in under 30 minutes.....I've done a few trips like this (Dublin-Belfast, Dublin to Athlone,,,,,not forgetting London to Dublin) and the minor inconvenience of stopping has been worth it for me. Especially as it's free to use public chargers at the moment

The on street parking is the deal breaker here, so I understand that completely. I know of one EV owner who had a charger installed in such a situation, but it would be a pain imo. Good luck in your search.

U_Fig

goz83 wrote: »

The 1% of the time would be worth the massive savings. It just involves planning. You get 80% of a charge in under 30 minutes.....I've done a few trips like this (Dublin-Belfast, Dublin to Athlone,,,,,not forgetting London to Dublin) and the minor inconvenience of stopping has been worth it for me. Especially as it's free to use public chargers at the moment

The on street parking is the deal breaker here, so I understand that completely. I know of one EV owner who had a charger installed in such a situation, but it would be a pain imo. Good luck in your search.

The savings do seem great, I just don't think I'm ready to ditch petrol just yet, my situation doesn't really suit, I am currently in rented accommodation too so major structural changes to the house is not really possible. thanks for the input tho.

copeyhagen

would you go for an lpg?

im currently selling an 06 accord type s that's converted to lpg, I need a diesel now for the amount of motorway miles im doing for work though.

get something that's already converted like I did.

62-69c a litre, does 450 motorway kms to a tank, which costs about 31e.

big comfy car with plenty of oomph for overtaking, but cheap to run

U_Fig

copeyhagen wrote: »

would you go for an lpg?

im currently selling an 06 accord type s that's converted to lpg, I need a diesel now for the amount of motorway miles im doing for work though.

get something that's already converted like I did.

62-69c a litre, does 450 motorway kms to a tank, which costs about 31e.

big comfy car with plenty of oomph for overtaking, but cheap to run

I do not really have any knowledge of LPG so until I get more knowledge I wouldn't , I would like something a bit newer anyway.

road_high

catrionanic wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-z4-2-0i-se-roadster-2007-e85-only-41k-miles-se/16099305

This BMW Z4 matches a lot of what you're looking for (and is also bloody gorgeous and would be great fun to drive). Has a UK reg and had the bodywork repaired after a crash, so much cheaper than the listed Irish-reg z4s, despite being newer and with much less mileage.

Reading the Ops post and wish list I couldn't think of a less obvious car if I tried. Apart from a Ferrari perhaps?!

U_Fig

road_high wrote: »

Reading the Ops post and wish list I couldn't think of a less obvious car if I tried. Apart from a Ferrari perhaps?!

Don't get me wrong I could see myself driving a F430 not sure it's quite achievable in my current budget.

In seriousness i have done more research on it and i am going to be looking for one of the two below

1.4tsi golf Highline preferably (I'd settle for comfortline maybe if the car underneath is superb ) with the 6 speed manual but I'd take a DSG either if the rest of the car was good.

or

1.0L ecoboost focus titanium or ST line trim

I'd be leaning towards the golf being that bit more in most aspects but it depends on what the market is like around within my budget.

Do you think it would be wise to look at the UK market, I know the general availability of cars is higher and trim levels are better but would it be cost effective after VRT and worth the effort?

U_Fig

So a few months on and I am still driving the Corsa, mainly due to the fact that I am a picky and that the majority of used cars are diesel,

Which brings me onto my next point

Would I be mad buying a diesel, i don't really drive Monday to Friday as I live in Dublin city centre, I do a small bit to and from football about 20mins maybe. The rest of my Driving mainly consists of short term journeys at the weekend around town and that most weekends with the odd longer drive maybe 20k - 40k up every second weekend or that and a 70km journey on motorway twice a week to drive to and from Dublin to my family home, this may increase to 4 times a week in the future . I've averaged that would likely be about 10km ish milage yearly without the occasional ad hoc drive across the country..

Would that be too little to effectively run a diesel or would I end up running into DPF problems etc with that driving habits?