Petrol saloon 2011 - 2014

henke

Anyone recommend advice on a good saloon car approx 2011 to 2014 petrol?

I was looking at Avensis (either 1.6 or 1.8 Valvematic) but extremely difficult to get in this country. Any opinions on these cars? Don't do enough mileage to justify a diesel but would like more comfort for the odd long trip. Coming from an old hatchback Toyota so would like a bit more power too but don't need huge power either.

Seems to be there was a big push on diesel saloons rather than petrol in this era making them harder to find than say 00s cars, would that opinion be right?

Any opinions on the Avensis or any suitable alternatives? Thanks

TheDriver

You see a few mazda 6 petrol around. Tax and hence VrT caused expensive diesels to suddenly be cheaper than petrol equivalents in late 00s

colm_mcm

What’s the budget?

chicorytip

Skoda Rapid 1.2 TSI. This would be a good choice.

ba_barabus

Focus saloon can be gotten in petrol but it's very hard to find them. Octavia, Jetta, Passat and A3 can also be found in petrol.

henke

Thanks for suggestions. I'd say 10k would be my max budget for a good car. Do VW Skoda etc do a good petrol engine? I know they are popular Diesel cars.

Does anyone know what those Avensis are like?

Thanks.

ba_barabus

henke wrote: »

Thanks for suggestions. I'd say 10k would be my max budget for a good car. Do VW Skoda etc do a good petrol engine? I know they are popular Diesel cars.

Does anyone know what those Avensis are like?

Thanks.

The Avensis is fine in petrol. Reliable and comfortable as ever.

Skoda/VW do the TSI range. Fine also but early ones gave timing chain issues. Now sorted with belt driven engines.

Don't believe the MPG figures of any of them however.

Honda 1.8 would also be worth a look.

colm_mcm

Keep in mind the Rapid is smaller than a Corolla. It’s kinda Córdoba sized.

henke

Thanks for the suggestions. A lot to think about.

colm_mcm

All jokes about them being a relic aside, maybe a Lancer? They can be had outrageously cheap sometimes and they’re very very reliable.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Go to the UK and get an Avensis or Mazda 6 or Mondeo there. I was in the same boat last year with similar budget. I sourced and bought a 2010 Mazda 6 2.0 petrol in the UK and had it shipped home (helps that one of my best mates collects cars in the Uk twice a week and done me mates rates for collection) and another mate of mine that lives in the UK went and looked at the car for me first and paid the deposit. I then transferred the balance to the dealer the next day and the car was collected a few days later.

I wanted a 2.0 Mazda 6 and I was able to get my first choice in nearly all options, I wanted one owner from new - tick, less than 50k miles (the car I bought had only 39k miles) full main dealer history - check, two keys - check and I really wanted a white car with second choice being black, unfortunately all white models were either too expensive, had high mileage or missing service history and so I got my second choice which was black.

I also looked at the 1.8vvti Avensis and 2.0 Mondeo's, again loads of choice in both models so much so you can pick spec, colour mileage etc etc If going for the Avensis go for the 1.8model, by all accounts theyre generally better spec'd, similar to run and tax is the same as the 1.6 model so there is zero benefit going for the weedier 1.6. Avoid the 2.0 model (theyre rare but do exist) as they're only marginally more powerful than the 1.8 (150bhp -v- 147bhp) but slower on paper possibly to do with gearing and more expensive to tax.

If you need a petrol car then set aside €500 to go to UK and source your own or if you know someone reliable over there then get them to check some out for you. Collection is €250 with my mate but he's in Donegal (but you can always make the trip up to collect it however he does sometimes deleiver further south)

henke

Thanks. Yeah the 1.8 Avensis is the one I would like I see that tax is 390 on both this and the 1.6. I am actually in Donegal. I would go over but probably need someone good with cars with me to look over it.

Cee-Jay-Cee

henke wrote: »

Thanks. Yeah the 1.8 Avensis is the one I would like I see that tax is 390 on both this and the 1.6. I am actually in Donegal. I would go over but probably need someone good with cars with me to look over it.

If you need a car brought over let me know and I’ll PM you his number