Please help me choose the car

pupaxxx

My family have been on my back for number of years now about upgrading my car and I think the time has come. Currently drive 99 Mitsubishi Lancer (I know, I know...). It has served me so well over last 15 years. I had no issues apart of your normal tlc i.e. break pads, filters etc. and I am very worried that the new car, whichever it will be, will never be so reliable and low maintenance cost.

Anywho, the new car would need to fit 2 children and a big dog comfortably. Over 15 years I've clocked in 90k on the current car. It would be used mainly to get me to work(8km) and drive children around to their activities locally. Occasional family trip down to the country on weekends. The budget is 18K.

What would you recommend?

_Brian

Buying a car to keep someone else happy is madness, particularly if your happy with your can and it’s reliable.

pupaxxx

I am happy at the moment, but it barely past the nct in December. My dad had to weld quite a few rusty holes... I can also feel that it is starting to struggle on the M50 if I go over 80.

colm_mcm

Do you even need to spend the €18k though?

I’m sure even a car for €5k would be a big step up.

pupaxxx

I'm looking to buy a car that would last me 10-15 years. Like the Mitsubishi. Or am I too optimistic ?

ELM327

You'd pick up an EV that would easily do your trips and save you fuel costs from 6-7k.

Doing 90k over 15 years and 8k km trips, you are the perfect candidate for EV

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Do you even need to spend the €18k though?

I’m sure even a car for €5k would be a big step up.

pupaxxx wrote: »

I'm looking to buy a car that would last me 10-15 years. Like the Mitsubishi. Or am I too optimistic ?

I'd agree with Colm, I think there is merit is considering spending €6k on a car that will last 5/6 years and leave the other €12k where it is for a while


A Prius might suit you Spending a little or a lot there's options

colm_mcm

I think if you’re thinking 15 years ahead, things will certainly be different by then, even in 10 years electric will have matured. I would be looking for something to do the next 5 years to start with, then reevaluate.

pupaxxx

Thanks a mil for your very good suggestions and food for thought.

I've looked at Prius and they all come over 10k and most of the them have high mileage.

What would be your opinion on this?
https://www.carsireland.ie/1978850

pupaxxx

pupaxxx wrote: »

............

What would be your opinion on this?
https://www.carsireland.ie/1978850

Given where you're coming from (99 Lancer), your needs and mileage I reckon it's a great option if insurance is ok on it for you (Jappers can be challenging sometimes)

pupaxxx

Augeo wrote: »

Given where you're coming from (99 Lancer), your needs and mileage I reckon it's a great option if insurance is ok on it for you (Jappers can be challenging sometimes)

Thank you, didn't think about insurance!

colm_mcm

I wouldn’t bother looking specifically for a hybrid. You do so little mileage that it’s not gonna save you a fortune on fuel or anything.

A Honda Fit estate is a bit of an oddball in terms of getting parts for as well. I’d stick with something more mainstream.

James Bond Junior

What about a newer model lancer?

pupaxxx

James Bond Junior wrote: »

What about a newer model lancer?

I'm looking for a bigger boot space - dog or kids bikes, scooters etc.

Heres Johnny

pupaxxx wrote: »

I am happy at the moment, but it barely past the nct in December. My dad had to weld quite a few rusty holes... I can also feel that it is starting to struggle on the M50 if I go over 80.

Is that over 80kmph or 80mph? If it's kms then it's defo worth changing!

18k, 2 kids and a big dog sounds like you need some sort of mpv if you state this as a requirement.

Have a look at Ford s max. 2 friends got them recently and I have to say they are nice.

Heres Johnny

20k will get you a 2015/2016 s max But I wouldn't blow your whole budget.

5/6k will get you a nice 2008 and then yiu can re-evaluate in a few years as to your needs without losing too much on resale.

They are 40k cars new. One friend went nearly new he is like you and wants to keep for 10 years. Got a titanium spec from UK and its lovely but was decent money.
Other lad got an 08 and he says it will do him for a few years and he will look at it again. He wanted to buy an old range rover but wife wouldn't let him!
So up to you really.

pupaxxx

Any opinions on this one?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2012-lexus-ct-200h-se-i-5dr-auto/18135893

James Bond Junior

A fine car but if the lancer wouldn't suit your needs I can't see how that Lexus could?

Heres Johnny

pupaxxx wrote: »

Any opinions on this one?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2012-lexus-ct-200h-se-i-5dr-auto/18135893

Looks good if you like the car. Very low mileage which is great. Back seats look a bit manky but they could have just been washed and that kind of velour upholstery can look off in pictures depending what way they were brushed or rubbed.
Price seems decent but I'd be haggling hard. It will be a good car without doubt once you're happy with the seating space for your occupants.
Will be well built and reliable. Looks a bit dated inside with no colour infotainment system or sat nav but that might not matter to you.

Charlie19

Nice car but probably a bit small for your needs.

Why not have a look at an Estate.

Something like this..

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a4-finance-29e-week-one-owner-top-spec-2-0/17089092

bazz26

You won't fit any sort of medium or big dog in the boot of that Lexus.

haskellgeek

Does a diesel make sense for that mileage? Like daily would petrol not suit better?

colm_mcm

The boot in the Lexus is tiny.

James Bond Junior

This may suit you?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-prius/18065071

haskellgeek

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2011-bmw-3-series-325i-se-to-leitrim-fpa-53285900081696 big boot nice car just the car tax is the annoying bit

James Bond Junior

If it was me, the BMW and Audi suggested would be my choice but the OP wants high reliability and low overall cost of ownership. Hard to recommend anything non Japanese in my book. I just don't think the German stuff can match the Japanese petrol stuff in the reliability stakes.

aerofoiled

haskellgeek wrote: »

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2011-bmw-3-series-325i-se-to-leitrim-fpa-53285900081696 big boot nice car just the car tax is the annoying bit

Tax not really annoying compared to €1500 it would have cost on the old cc system.

haskellgeek

True it was more a comment on compared to the audi or a hybrid it would be a significant down side, it would be my choice from the lot

MarkN

You might find a car for €200 a year less tax. €200.

The BMW will cost more to service, cost more when things go wrong, tyres will cost more than normal, it won’t be the hassle free and cheap running costs that you’re used to so it’s something to think about.

I wouldn’t get a car with seats that are in that Lexus with dogs and kids, they’d be in awful condition very quickly.

Honda CRV?

ba_barabus

Ok I'm going to suggest hitting the top end of the budget with a low mileage 2014 petrol Asx. I reckon this would suit the OP, give years of good service and be very easy to live with.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mitsubishi-asx-1-6-petrol-instyle-5dr-model-excel/18147987

pupaxxx

Thank you all for good suggestions. It's a right headache to decide which car would be the best, in away I wish I didn't have to.

Thanks to the OP who suggested to check the insurance. The higher the engine the higher insurance cost. Completely forgot about that. Just checked 2l petrol online and insurance would be up by 400 euro. Madness. I'll ring my own insurance company in the morning to verify this because couple of year ago they increased my insurance by over 200 euro and one of the reasons they gave me was the age of the car. No claims or penalty point etc since I have started driving. I was hoping to reduce (or remain same(ish)) insurance cost. Silly me!

I was also thinking of looking at automatic rather than manual. My father has an automatic and I found it very convenient to drive, especially in Dublin traffic, the couple of times that I have driven his car.

MarkN

pupaxxx wrote: »

Thank you all for good suggestions. It's a right headache to decide which car would be the best, in away I wish I didn't have to.

Thanks to the OP who suggested to check the insurance. The higher the engine the higher insurance cost. Completely forgot about that. Just checked 2l petrol online and insurance would be up by 400 euro. Madness. I'll ring my own insurance company in the morning to verify this because couple of year ago they increased my insurance by over 200 euro and one of the reasons they gave me was the age of the car. No claims or penalty point etc since I have started driving. I was hoping to reduce (or remain same(ish)) insurance cost. Silly me!

I was also thinking of looking at automatic rather than manual. My father has an automatic and I found it very convenient to drive, especially in Dublin traffic, the couple of times that I have driven his car.

In some cases though, a newer car can be cheaper to insure as there’s more safety features etc etc

The vehicle is as much of a factor as the engine size, a 2.0 Ford Mondeo won’t be as expensive to insure as a 2.0 Golf GTI

cute geoge

The most reliable car is the skoda octavia ,the diesel 1.6 engine is good for 400km so it would easily see you out .Last year i bought a year old genuine 161 1.6 diesel low milage (16k) for €19,500 off main dealer .It is a smashing car !!!!!
For 18k or maybe a bit less if you bargain hard enough this can be yours
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-octavia-style-1-6-tdi/17737197

colm_mcm

You’d want the engine to last more than 400km, is that how often the EGR needs changing?

Heres Johnny

People's love for Skodas knows no bounds.

pupaxxx

Well here is an update. We got 2014 Audi A4 estate. It was few grand less when we budgeted for . Have tried quite a few cars over the week and some of them that I thought would be perfect size wise, felt huge and intimidating (I know, I know ). This one seem to have ticked all the boxes, so to speak. I've calculated the running cost - lower motor tax will offset higher insurance. My current insurance apparently was higher because of the age of the car.
From the maintenance point of view, a question around Audi service. Audi advise to do major service every year or 10k km. I would probably get 10k km every two years. Is still advisable to do the major service every 12 months? Is their anything else to watch out?

colm_mcm

This is a diesel I assume?

pupaxxx

colm_mcm wrote: »

This is a diesel I assume?

Yes, its is.

pupaxxx

pupaxxx wrote: »

From the maintenance point of view, a question around Audi service. Audi advise to do major service every year or 10k km. I would probably get 10k km every two years. Is still advisable to do the major service every 12 months? Is their anything else to watch out?

colm_mcm wrote: »

This is a diesel I assume?

pupaxxx wrote: »

Yes, its is.

Happy motoring with it.

Expecting a modern diesel to be as reliable as a 99 petrol lancer over a decade doing 5k kms per annum is asking an awful lot though.

The engine might well never heat up again :eek:

James Bond Junior

Make it your business to give it a hard run up and down a motorway twice a month for an hour in 4th or 5th gear. That will help offset reliability issues.

colm_mcm

Keep the Lancer as a spare. It’s really quite unbelievable that the car you bought is totally at odds with the criteria of needing a car that will last 10-15 years and will be suitable for short trips. Good luck with the A4 anyway!

I don't think keeping the lancer as a spare is an option, annual NCT etc etc the A4 won't give trouble too soon to be fair you'd imagine.

r3nu4l

With your mileage, heed the advice about giving it a good motorway run once or twice a month at over 2000 rpm. That will help blast the soot out of the DPF. That way, the car should be fine. Enjoy driving it.

Glad you went for the estate While your mileage meant an EV would be good, none of them are big enough to carry kids and a large dog. EV has a long way to go before it's a suitable choice for every driver...

pupaxxx

Thank you all for good advice. It will be the main car now as we were using my husbands car for longer drives at the weekends.