Best bang for buck under €15K

pm1977x

All you knowledgable car people, I need your advice.

Looking to upgrade from a mk2 Focus to something a bit more comfortable/luxurious/higher spec and enjoyable to drive, budget is €12-15k.

Rear seat space not important so want the best available front seat experience that's out there (on my budget!)

We don't drive enough to justify a modern diesel and most trips are short enough, with the odd long journey now and then.

In vague order of importance looking for:

A smooth drive on the road
Comfortable in the front
Reliable
Decent spec (gps, reverse cam, etc)
2 litre or below
Reasonable MPG
Tax below 1K
Compact car, probably hatchback, don't want anything bigger than the Focus.

Manual preferable as haven't ever driven an automatic but open to switching. Don't want to go full electric as seems like too much hassle, but open to hybrid.

From lurking on here the last few months and following other similar threads the Lexus CT200h seems to crop up a lot and might be a runner...any thoughts on it fitting my criteria or any other ideas?

grogi

Mercedes C200cdi. Budget buys around 2011.

Ticks all boxes, but it is slightly bigger than 2.0l. Don't even think about manual in them.

bazz26

Except it's diesel. :pac:

Something like this OP:


http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=1817564&r=s.php%3Fm%3D44%26o%3D2627%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0

It's got a CVT automatic gearbox but most hybrids do so don't let that put you off.

pm1977x

bazz26 wrote: »

Except it's diesel. :pac:

Something like this OP:


http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=1817564&r=s.php%3Fm%3D44%26o%3D2627%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0

It's got a CVT automatic gearbox but most hybrids do so don't let that put you off.

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm thinking at the moment once I can get my head around the auto, 1st test drive will be fun! :pac:

Yes, think I will stay away from diesels as most of my journeys are very short - had a small Audi in mind originally but don't think there's any good petrol options.

grogi

CT200h is fantastic car, but I am not sure if you'd be happy with the comfort. Its suspension is rather on the stiff side...

pm1977x wrote: »

Yes, think I will stay away from diesels, as most of my journeys are very short

I present an unpopular stand on diesels - but IMHO the DPF issues are not really mileage related, but age.

If one is doing 30kkm per year - the DPF fails around 300kkm. If someone is not doing 'diesel mileage' and covers 10kkm per year - the DPF fails much earlier - around 100kkm. But in both cases they fail after around 10 years...

had a small Audi in mind originally but don't think there's any good petrol options.

Again - why? The recent TSI engines - 1.2 and 1.4 - are excellent...

Don't worry about automatic. Everyone takes one attempt at braking with left foot (make sure the seat belt is fastened), but after that you'll be grand and will not want to drive a stick.

bazz26

DPFs problems are usage related too, doing mostly short trips around town will usually result in the DPF getting blocked. You can have DPF problems long before the DPF comes to the end of it's useful life span or x mileage.

pm1977x

Grogi - thanks for the info on the CT200h suspension, would be ruling it out if it's impacting on comfort too much.

Regarding the petrol Audis, thinking again on it I may have ruled them out for being automatic but will rethink that now, although I'm not sure there were too many available here last time I checked. Good to have them back in the running.

pm1977x

Would a top spec Prius be similar to a basic spec CT200h but with softer suspension? Or is the Lexus dash/seats etc a lot better?

grogi

pm1977x wrote: »

Would a top spec Prius be similar to a basic spec CT200h but with softer suspension?

What are you looking for? What gadgets?
Electric windows? Heated seats? Heated steering wheel? Or 4 way electronic seat regulation?

Prius should will be softer alright.

Or is the Lexus dash/seats etc a lot better?

I find the layout very practical in the Prius. The common complain about Prii is the quality of the materials though - Lexus will have them two leagues better.

pm1977x

Electric windows, bluetooth stereo, gps, reverse cam. I suppose in my head I'm hoping for really decent seats in the front, don't have to be leather but comfort is important.