Replacing an old car, trying to decide

Barti

I have an 02 Corolla 1.4, but it's acting up the last couple years. Calipers keep sticking making it a bit unsafe for driving in case it seizes and the tank and filler pipe is rusting so there's a fierce smell of petrol if I fill the tank all the way (so have to only fill halfway now to be safe).

So, now I am looking for something with a bit of reliability and something comfortable. I would only be doing around 10,000kms per year, as I live on the outskirts of the town where I work and do around 60-100kms at the weekend.

Would a diesel engine hold up alright considering the weekend driving or is that not enough? I have been looking at maybe a Volvo as they seem to be well built, the Mazda 6 looks well too, or alternatively a Passat or something (could look at electric/hybrid too perhaps). As for how much I have to spend, I would say a max of 12,000.

Trying to find ideas of what might be best suited.

bazz26

Sounds like a hybrid or electric car would suit your usage. Something like a Toyota Auris or Prius hybrid. A Nissan Leaf is worth looking at also. You don't really need a diesel so don't bother with the hassle of one.

Barti

What would the hassle be with a diesel? Is it just that I wouldn't really be doing enough long millage that would be needed to keep the engine in shape? I'll give a look at the electric/hybrids, but trying to find something I like the look of as well as that it will suit the type of driving (so not sure about the leaf, as it has never struck me as something easy on the eye).

JohnBoy26

The problems on your car are very small. If you fancy a change fair enough but the most cost effective option is to get your own car repaired. Those corollas are one of the most reliable cars on the road, the same can't be said for a mazda 6 diesel, which are a disaster.

Barti

It is running ok now, but aside from 3 separate instances of a caliper seizing and needing to be replaced, a coil pack went, the handbrake failed a couple times, an inner panel in the wheel well lost a screw/fixing and had been flapping about if hitting 80+km/h, the brake pads and discs have had to be replaced many times (due to calipers), and now there is a leak in the petrol tank and in the filler pipe from the rusting.

I just think I would feel better with a newer motor, just to feel a little safer, and I'm at a point where it may be feasible. The Mazda 6 was mainly just because it looked alright and seemed ok from the outside, but I hadn't read much into it yet. I will be giving a more detailed look tomorrow, but any recommendations on what to avoid at all costs or what is a decent reliable car would be good to hear.

Audi is another I may look into, I guess I just really have to do some searching on reviews and see from there.

gar32

KIA or Hyundai give 7 and 5 year warranty on all models. I have an i30 nearly 6 years now and all that went in the aircon.

If you have no idea then list your expectations from your car and work from that.

You need to do at least 24,000 KM a year for a diesel. Petrol car this time and may electric next.

Good luck

JohnBoy26

Barti wrote: »

It is running ok now, but aside from 3 separate instances of a caliper seizing and needing to be replaced, a coil pack went, the handbrake failed a couple times, an inner panel in the wheel well lost a screw/fixing and had been flapping about if hitting 80+km/h, the brake pads and discs have had to be replaced many times (due to calipers), and now there is a leak in the petrol tank and in the filler pipe from the rusting.

I just think I would feel better with a newer motor, just to feel a little safer, and I'm at a point where it may be feasible. The Mazda 6 was mainly just because it looked alright and seemed ok from the outside, but I hadn't read much into it yet. I will be giving a more detailed look tomorrow, but any recommendations on what to avoid at all costs or what is a decent reliable car would be good to hear.

Audi is another I may look into, I guess I just really have to do some searching on reviews and see from there.

Not a mazda 6 anyway.

colm_mcm

Barti wrote: »

It is running ok now, but aside from 3 separate instances of a caliper seizing and needing to be replaced, a coil pack went, the handbrake failed a couple times, an inner panel in the wheel well lost a screw/fixing and had been flapping about if hitting 80+km/h, the brake pads and discs have had to be replaced many times (due to calipers), and now there is a leak in the petrol tank and in the filler pipe from the rusting.

I just think I would feel better with a newer motor, just to feel a little safer, and I'm at a point where it may be feasible. The Mazda 6 was mainly just because it looked alright and seemed ok from the outside, but I hadn't read much into it yet. I will be giving a more detailed look tomorrow, but any recommendations on what to avoid at all costs or what is a decent reliable car would be good to hear.

Audi is another I may look into, I guess I just really have to do some searching on reviews and see from there.

Honestly it sounds like you need a new mechanic.

Means Of Escape

Barti wrote: »

It is running ok now, but aside from 3 separate instances of a caliper seizing and needing to be replaced, a coil pack went, the handbrake failed a couple times, an inner panel in the wheel well lost a screw/fixing and had been flapping about if hitting 80+km/h, the brake pads and discs have had to be replaced many times (due to calipers), and now there is a leak in the petrol tank and in the filler pipe from the rusting.

I just think I would feel better with a newer motor, just to feel a little safer, and I'm at a point where it may be feasible. The Mazda 6 was mainly just because it looked alright and seemed ok from the outside, but I hadn't read much into it yet. I will be giving a more detailed look tomorrow, but any recommendations on what to avoid at all costs or what is a decent reliable car would be good to hear.

Audi is another I may look into, I guess I just really have to do some searching on reviews and see from there.

04 Ford Mondeo 2 litre petrol can be bought for peanuts
You would be getting out of one reliable car into another super well built car .
Ask any Garda

JohnBoy26

Means Of Escape wrote: »

04 Ford Mondeo 2 litre petrol can be bought for peanuts
You would be getting out of one reliable car into another super well built car .
Ask any Garda

:eek:

ofcork

I would stick with Toyota if I were you 12k will get you up into an avensis but hard to get petrol ones from 2010 or so look at corolla or auris as you don't need a diesel,im doing about 20k a year in a diesel avensis but no issues so far in 3 years.

bazz26

Barti wrote: »

What would the hassle be with a diesel? Is it just that I wouldn't really be doing enough long millage that would be needed to keep the engine in shape? I'll give a look at the electric/hybrids, but trying to find something I like the look of as well as that it will suit the type of driving (so not sure about the leaf, as it has never struck me as something easy on the eye).

Why do you think you need a diesel other than wider choice, your usage suggests you don't?

AMKC

Means Of Escape wrote: »

04 Ford Mondeo 2 litre petrol can be bought for peanuts
You would be getting out of one reliable car into another super well built car .
Ask any Garda

They can be bought for peanuts because they are so boring and dull that nobody wants them and the quality of them inside is terrible as well as the equipment. Horrible hard plastic in them everywhere and whats on the dash that was supposed to be soft touch not much better. One of Fords worst designed cars. They tried to do a VW Passat instead of doing what they are good at but ran out of budget and the car inside just feels very cheap.

ofcork wrote: »

I would stick with Toyota if I were you 12k will get you up into an avensis but hard to get petrol ones from 2010 or so look at corolla or auris as you don't need a diesel,im doing about 20k a year in a diesel avensis but no issues so far in 3 years.

Try looking up North or the UK more choice so should be petrol ones.

Barti

I'm definitely not limiting myself to diesel, I had mainly been considering petrol since I presumed a diesel needs more usage, but I noticed a particular Volvo nearby and it made me wonder whether I could actually get away with one. General consensus seems I'd be better off on anything else, so I'll look elsewhere for the time being.

It would be doing approximately 15km per day, plus around 100km each weekend. Day driving would be just into town and back, and weekend driving would be motorway. I would ideally like to get as new as I can, so something ideally from 2012 and up. I was also considering going to a dealer rather than private, just for somewhat added security, as the last car I bought private ended up with problems after a couple weeks.

murphyebass

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Not a mazda 6 anyway.

The Mazda 6 diesel is very reliable car. Very very reliable. And I have a 2010 2.2ltr diesel model. Nooooo he said diesel Mazda ruuuuuuun!

Only problem I've had is a self inflicted one of doing too much town driving which caused the dpg to clog. Fix is a very affordable. Get a mechanic clean the ****er out and move on. Try and do a long trip every once in a while to reduce or eliminate this issue. Yes it happens but not as much as some will have you believe.

To put that problem into perspective though ive put 50,000 km on the car in 4 years this March. This problem has happened twice. I bought the car thinking I was going to be doing long drives with work that didn't happen in the end. Realistically I should be driving a petrol or even a plugin but I have this now and other than the dpf it's ****ing bullet proof.

Op honestly if you're doing short driving go petrol but if you're going to be doing long spins even semi regularly the Mazda 6 is an option. It's very reliable outside the dpf issue which is probably only slightly worse than other diesels but overall I've spent **** all outside of regular service. I've even decided to hold on to mine recently as it just won't break. I can't justify changing it!

Mazda 6 diesel bashing is the new Alfa bashing at this stage.

Ps don't buy the Mazda 2ltr diesel. It actually is a bad engine. 2.2ltr is fine.

Cee-Jay-Cee

With your budget you could get a 12> Auris petrol. I don’t know if it would stretch to a hybrid model in the new model but you could definitely get a 2010-12 Hybrid model within your price range.

Barti

So these are what I have come across so far:

2012 Hyundai i30 1.4 Petrol - €9,750 (95k kms) - U.K. registered (though if U.K. registered, then I assume it would need VRT paid as well, which would increase by another 1600~ I think based on the VRT calculator)
2012 Hyundai i30 1.4 Petrol - €10,950 (160k kms)
2012 Honda Insight 1.3 Hybrid - €7k (105k kms)
2014 Toyota Prius - €12k (105k kms)
2012 Toyota Prius - €10,500 (50-80k kms - 2 different cars with different kms clocked)
2013 Toyota Auris CVT Excel Hybrid - €11,900 (83k miles)
2012 Leaf - €9,700 (24k miles)
2013 Leaf - €9,250 (74k miles)

I wouldn't be overly impressed by the Leaf other than the fact that it really is just charge and go without worrying about petrol/diesel. The Auris sounds ok, but I would have to get used to an Automatic, as I've only ever had Manual, and the other half is learning to drive at the moment in the manual, so might be a bit of a pain for her to switch over after doing all her lessons in the manual, so may have to wait until her test is done before considering anything other than manual.

JohnBoy26

Id go for a prius out of that lot. That model is a very nice car and is much better looking than the latest version.

However if you have someone doing a driving test it might not work out for you but they do have the option of doing the lessons and test in the instructor's car if it came to it.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Barti wrote: »

So these are what I have come across so far:

2012 Hyundai i30 1.4 Petrol - €9,750 (95k kms) - U.K. registered (though if U.K. registered, then I assume it would need VRT paid as well, which would increase by another 1600~ I think based on the VRT calculator)
2012 Hyundai i30 1.4 Petrol - €10,950 (160k kms)
2012 Honda Insight 1.3 Hybrid - €7k (105k kms)
2014 Toyota Prius - €12k (105k kms)
2012 Toyota Prius - €10,500 (50-80k kms - 2 different cars with different kms clocked)
2013 Toyota Auris CVT Excel Hybrid - €11,900 (83k miles)
2012 Leaf - €9,700 (24k miles)
2013 Leaf - €9,250 (74k miles)

I wouldn't be overly impressed by the Leaf other than the fact that it really is just charge and go without worrying about petrol/diesel. The Auris sounds ok, but I would have to get used to an Automatic, as I've only ever had Manual, and the other half is learning to drive at the moment in the manual, so might be a bit of a pain for her to switch over after doing all her lessons in the manual, so may have to wait until her test is done before considering anything other than manual.

Getting used to an automatic shouldn’t take any more than a few hours driving as the basics are generally the same, accelerate and brake with the right foot. Your left foot is dormant in an auto but like you say if your missus is doing her test then she needs to continue her driving practice etc in a manual and she needs to do the test in a manual otherwise she’ll be restricted to an auto for all time as it’ll be specified on her licence.

An Prius or Auris Hybrid seems to be the most suitable car for you so might be best to wait till your other half gets her full licence.

Barti

Just to follow up, ended up going for a Civic 1.4 petrol, 2010. Had a car crash a week ago in the reliable Corolla, so that car is done and dusted. Insurance doubled, so had to go for something cheaper to put money towards the insurance.

If anyone is still reading, is there anything to look out for with a Honda Civic (I-DSI version if it is any difference)? There's 50k miles on it, drove real smooth on the test drive, one owner who had it the last 7 years, fresh NCT as of yesterday, and no records of any crash or any other problems from one of those full car check reports.

JohnBoy26

Barti wrote: »

Just to follow up, ended up going for a Civic 1.4 petrol, 2010. Had a car crash a week ago in the reliable Corolla, so that car is done and dusted. Insurance doubled, so had to go for something cheaper to put money towards the insurance.

If anyone is still reading, is there anything to look out for with a Honda Civic (I-DSI version if it is any difference)? There's 50k miles on it, drove real smooth on the test drive, one owner who had it the last 7 years, fresh NCT as of yesterday, and no records of any crash or any other problems from one of those full car check reports.

Should be the I vtec if it's a 2010

colm_mcm

It should say either i-dsi or i-VTEC on a little sticker on the rear window.

If it has clear rear indicators as opposed to amber it should be an i-VTEC. The newer engine has cheaper tax so should be easy to check.

Either way there’s nothing to really worry about on them. Check the join between the windscreen and roof for rust but this should be resolved by 2010 I think.

Barti

Yeah, that is one thing that confused me. The ad claimed it to be the I-DSI SE model, but the sticker is I-VTEC. Checking on the car insurance websites where you enter the reg most seem to say VTEC while some give the DSI, so it's a little confusing. As far as I could see though, the difference was the VTEC being better at higher revs, while DSI was just double spark plugs?

Either way, if there's nothing major to look out for, then that sounds good to me. Just the usual as with any car hopefully. Thanks for the help before, may still look towards hybrid in future, but for now this will do me.

Lantus

Your mileage is really low. Petrol is smoother and easier maintenance wise. Quicker to heat up and nicer to drive.

Don't bother with diesel for school run mileage levels. If you were doing 25k plus a year then yes diesel but why bother?

Cee-Jay-Cee

Barti wrote: »

I'm definitely not limiting myself to diesel, I had mainly been considering petrol since I presumed a diesel needs more usage, but I noticed a particular Volvo nearby and it made me wonder whether I could actually get away with one. General consensus seems I'd be better off on anything else, so I'll look elsewhere for the time being.

It would be doing approximately 15km per day, plus around 100km each weekend. Day driving would be just into town and back, and weekend driving would be motorway. I would ideally like to get as new as I can, so something ideally from 2012 and up. I was also considering going to a dealer rather than private, just for somewhat added security, as the last car I bought private ended up with problems after a couple weeks.

I just don't get this mindset, I'm assuming you have read plenty of threads about diesel engines and short journeys yet you still consider one even though your doing miniscule mileage (the 100km journey at the weekend will NOT compensate for the short journeys during the week)

But by all means buy a diesel and then come back in 12 months and tell us how that worked out for you.

beauf

In many cases the purchase cost, and service costs are similar between petrol and diesels.
In fact there will be few if any petrol of some makes and models at all in some years.

Personally I prefer petrol, especially if you can get it much cheaper and much lower mileage, and often much better condition, especially internally.

If you are doing super low mileage, cheap used EV's are now coming down in price.

Barti

It wasn't so much a mindset since didn't have my mind set on that, it was more a query whether it may be possible, stemming from the fact that there can be conflicting opinions on diesel engines. Some say no way based on the milage I proposed, while others have said taking the car out once a week for a half hour motorway driving would cover the engine needs on a diesel.

However, the point is moot really. I chose a Civic petrol, so diesel is off the table even more so than before. We are moving down to Waterford, and I'll be working from home while herself will be doing a 5 min drive to work and back. So obvious choice to stay away from diesel. Would have went for hybrid, but she's still learning to drive, so think it best she gets sorted with a manual rather than switching to automatic.

bazz26

Barti wrote: »

It wasn't so much a mindset since didn't have my mind set on that, it was more a query whether it may be possible, stemming from the fact that there can be conflicting opinions on diesel engines. Some say no way based on the milage I proposed, while others have said taking the car out once a week for a half hour motorway driving would cover the engine needs on a diesel.

However, the point is moot really. I chose a Civic petrol, so diesel is off the table even more so than before. We are moving down to Waterford, and I'll be working from home while herself will be doing a 5 min drive to work and back. So obvious choice to stay away from diesel. Would have went for hybrid, but she's still learning to drive, so think it best she gets sorted with a manual rather than switching to automatic.

I never understand this logic that some people come up with. Buying a type of car that really doesn't suit your needs but then go outside of your routine in order to use it as it was originally intended to justify having bought it in the first place.