Second car advice (cheap, used)

acronym Chilli

Because of arrival in next couple of months of a 2nd youngster, and the fact that I use main car to commute to work, we probably need a 2nd car. I picked up a 2004 Leon back in August (ca €700), but it's been problematic (electrical/immobiliser issues, also damp) in last several weeks, and I'm about to move on from it.

Looking for tips on good value for money makes/models, hopefully minimising risk of getting a similarly problematic machine. I'm watching bangernomics thread in any case...

Criteria:

• Small(er) car or at least smaller feeling (i.e. not too hard to park). I've an old A6, so definitely not like that.
• Will be used for very low mileage annually, short trips around Dublin. Fuel economy not a major thing at all. However makes it more important that it's not a model with common damp problems.
• Practicality with kids a good thing, but won't be the long-journey car and probably won't do the main shopping in it.
• Reliable, cheap repairs, and ideally easy to do some DIY maintenance.
• Smaller engine, to reduce tax and insurance costs.
• I really want a pretty clean interior (I know that's down to owners not make/model really)
• Probably bangernomics if at all possible

Thoughts so far:

• I've had a Punto in the past, thought they were fine and did a bunch of small maintenance & servicing (brakes, oil, 'stat, plugs, HT leads, etc.,). Could also consider Panda as lot of shared heritage.
• A toyota, e.g. Corolla hatch. Don't know much about them though.
• Saw this Ford C-Max: http://www.prospectmotors.ie/vehicles/ford/c-max/dublin/1909526?wb48617274=A86AEC48 that dealer seems relatively straight. That car may be a bit dear for what it is (but mileage low), and I don't know how big they feel, ... any things to watch for?

bazz26

That's mad money imo for a 14 year old C Max. I don't see any value in buying from dealers in that price range as the warranty from them on cars that age is not going to be worth much. Your just paying their profit margin.

acronym Chilli

bazz26 wrote: »

That's mad money imo for a 14 year old C Max. I don't see any value in buying from dealers in that price range as the warranty from them on cars that age is not going to be worth much. Your just paying their profit margin.

I did acknowledge it's dear, and know what you mean about buying from dealers not being worth much at that end of market (albeit that dealer is fairly reputable to my best knowledge).

Other examples of 2004, 1.6 petrol:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-focus-cmax-low-millage-new-nct/17661049 Private sale, €1000 and just NCT'd
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-c-max-focus-zetec-5dr/15073920 €1000, dealer, NCT to Nov, higher mileage and bodywork poor.

I'm not set on CMax. Might even be too big, but the utility space is neat.
In some ways prefer idea of Toyota but the mileage can be pretty galactic on many. Was looking earlier and couldn't see any that jumped out at me. I'll look more tonight.
Any other pointers to medium-to-smaller "practical" cars that are under-rated?

acronym Chilli

OK, refreshing my thread...

I'm sort of torn. Please bear with me even if the cars I compare aren't very similar!

I want a reliable car that will have to do little mileage and be practical to put a baby and a 3 year old kid in for short trips. However what may test it from reliability standpoint is the fact it sits up a lot (maybe out once / twice a week). Other car is a saloon, so extra practicality re luggage may be worth something.

So one option I'm thinking of could be an old Rav4, for example:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-rav/17632992

Another could be what I guess I had in mind as default option, e.g. a Punto, for example:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/06-fiat-punto-new-nct-today-nice-car-look/17682199

Was also thinking of Corolla hatch, but they're hard to find, it seems. Examples
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-2003/17678259
(really do want a hatch if going Corolla, maybe should include Yaris(?))

Any of these routes a better bet than another to a reliable vehicle? Are the engine issues that afflicted 1.8 toyotas sort of worked out at this stage (i.e. the cars on the road now are "survivors")?

The tax/insurance sums may yet drive the choice to smaller engine (e.g. away from 1.8), but for now let's say that that's not a deciding factor.

grogi

If that RAV4 is sound mechanically, I wouldn't think a second honestly.

bazz26

Toyota Corolla Verso should be a pretty safe bet.

This one is being sold by a small time dealer but it has a long NCT:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2005-toyota-verso/17640937

This private one is a bit cheaper but has a shorter test:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-verso-7-seater/17277772

Tindog76

What about a Honda Civic 1.4 petrol or a Skoda Octavia estate. Both would generally be considered reliable and both with plenty of space.

James Bond Junior

A honda FRV would suit you down to the ground I think. Plenty to choose from on Donedeal currently and should be pretty bombproof.

colm_mcm

What’s the budget?

acronym Chilli

Tindog76 wrote: »

What about a Honda Civic 1.4 petrol or a Skoda Octavia estate. Both would generally be considered reliable and both with plenty of space.

Octavia estate I suspect would seem too big to herself for parking etc.
Civic I'd be open to, but is hard (like corolla) to get decent ones cheap, even when older. I'll look again tho

acronym Chilli

colm_mcm wrote: »

What’s the budget?

Say 2k
But ideally lower so long as I'm getting something clean and a good shot at reliability.
If that means going for smaller car then I'd do that rather than go up the price range to get a suv/mpv.

James Bond Junior

acronym Chilli wrote: »

Say 2k
But ideally lower so long as I'm getting something clean and a good shot at reliability.
If that means going for smaller car then I'd do that rather than go up the price range to get a suv/mpv.

Im sure you would get this for your 2k or even less. Fresh NCT to boot. Looks clean.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-frv-nct-02-19/17708804

bazz26

Seller is selling piranha as well.

I'd say he will bite your hand off if you offer him 2k... :pac:

James Bond Junior

bazz26 wrote: »

Seller is selling piranha as well.

I'd say he will bite your hand off if you offer him 2k... :pac:

If not, he might feed you to the fishes. :o

acronym Chilli

James Bond Junior wrote: »

If not, he might feed you to the fishes. :o

From your user name you sound like someone who'd know a thing or two!