4.5k budget, help needed!

CiDeRmAn

I've 4.5k to spend and I can't seem to find anything!
From a ropey 520 from a ropey seller to a really quite nice Passat 1.4tsi but whose timing chain is made from chocolate.
I'm brought back to this though, high mileage Mondeo but well looked after
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-mondeo-zetec-2010-full-stamped-history/18045421
Should I bite the bullet?
Or is there a better post 2008 car for sale, from a dealer, around North county Dublin?

SmartinMartin

Would the likes of this suit you?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2009-vw-golf-2-0-tdi-110ps/17785751

CiDeRmAn

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Would the likes of this suit you?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2009-vw-golf-2-0-tdi-110ps/17785751

That's a nice car but not from a dealer and no warranty means a sad no

Wildly Boaring

Any warrantee you get on a 4k car will be one of those third party ones that covers v little.

You're in the market for a cheap car. Clean with full service history and probably passing muster with a mechanic, all far more important than warrantee.

SmartinMartin

With a budget like yours buying from a dealer doesn't make any sense.

CiDeRmAn

SmartinMartin wrote: »

With a budget like yours buying from a dealer doesn't make any sense.

Yeah
I know
A spouse based condition

Fann Linn

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

I've 4.5k to spend and I can't seem to find anything!
From a ropey 520 from a ropey seller to a really quite nice Passat 1.4tsi but whose timing chain is made from chocolate.
I'm brought back to this though, high mileage Mondeo but well looked after
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-mondeo-zetec-2010-full-stamped-history/18045421
Should I bite the bullet?
Or is there a better post 2008 car for sale, from a dealer, around North county Dublin?

I'd go for the Mondeo if I saw the fsh and receipts for the timing and water pump. A nice looking car.

Glen_Quagmire

I know mileage isn't everything if the car is well looked after but over 200k miles would be a deal breaker for me personally. However that mondeo looks clean

CiDeRmAn

Fann Linn wrote: »

I'd go for the Mondeo if I saw the fsh and receipts for the timing and water pump. A nice looking car.

It is, but would it be at risk if implosion with the mileage, I mean there's no sign of the dpf or dmf being done.
But the mileage is high but steady over the years.

Damn.

The service history indictes the pump and belt are done though

Fann Linn

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

It is, but would it be at risk if implosion with the mileage, I mean there's no sign of the dpf or dmf being done.
But the mileage is high but steady over the years.

Damn.

The service history indictes the pump and belt are done though

I don't know. There are better qualified lads on here who could give you advice than me
I've a pal who is a mechanic who comes with me if I was getting a car. Have you no one who could run the rule over it?

CiDeRmAn

Sadly no
I'm pretty much solo on this one.
The 1.4 tsi is the 120bhp lump and not supposed to be prone to the crap the other 1.4 tsi suffers from.

The Mondeo on the other hand is likely to have soaked up plenty of miles but, judging my the steady and consistent mileage on the service record, looks like a motorway cruiser for much of its life.

If I own either car I'll be putting around 12k a year on it in term of kilometres, so less than another 24k miles over the 3 years I'll run it for.
The Modeo should soak those up...
So should the Passat.

Miles aside the Modeo is a better car in every other regard in terms of reliability

bazz26

All versions of the early 1.4 TSi are prone to timing chain stretching. The higher powered twin charger versions have additional problems on top of that.

Also you mentioned a Passat petrol and then a Mondeo diesel estate so there is a lot in between. Do you need a diesel, does it have to be an estate?

bazz26

Laguna III estate here for well within your budget:



https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=1963692&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D72%26o%5B%5D%3D618%26f%3D2%26b%3D3%26yn%3D2008%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0

CiDeRmAn

Thanks for all your help.
I got the Passat in the end.
The dealer was very helpful.
I got a very good deal and with the money I saved I'm going to throw it into my local garage to do a service and tell me if the chain needs doing and get it done.
There's an after market sat nav thing but I might swap it out for a regular head unit.
I got it for 3.6k in the end.