Focus V Golf V Astra V another

California Dreamer

So I need to buy something for the missus. Has to be automatic as that's all she has on her licence.

Looking at the Ford Focus, VW Golf, Opel Astra, will be throwing the sprog in the back too. I am thinking about 2010/2011 depending on costs. Not overly worried about the engine or fuel type.

Anything I should watch out for or pros and cons for each model or would you get something else?

Wheety

What kind of mileage does the missus do? I think there may be issues with a diesel if the mileage is low.

If the individual trips aren't too far, how about an electric?

What kind of budget?

California Dreamer

Wheety wrote: »

What kind of mileage does the missus do? I think there may be issues with a diesel if the mileage is low.

If the individual trips aren't too far, how about an electric?

What kind of budget?

Like I said, fuel type is not an issue,

No to EV

I went on the year so it can depend on a lot of things, lets not get hung up on budgets.

ba_barabus

California Dreamer wrote: »

lets not get hung up on budgets.

Great to hear.

Here is a 2011 Focus on a private sale for €12950.

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/ford/focus/used-2011-ford-focus-1-6-tdci-tit-galway-fpa-55281474724234

Or there is this one from a dealer for €5500

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/ford/focus/used-2011-ford-focus-style-5dr-wa-dublin-fpa-238958556825707

California Dreamer

ba_barabus wrote: »

Great to hear.

Here is a 2011 Focus on a private sale for €12950.

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/ford/focus/used-2011-ford-focus-1-6-tdci-tit-galway-fpa-55281474724234

Or there is this one from a dealer for €5500

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/ford/focus/used-2011-ford-focus-style-5dr-wa-dublin-fpa-238958556825707

Cheers for totally missing the point.

I genuinely do not get that most people here are obsessed with paying as little as possible for the paddy spec car in this country. This is why I said that the budget was not important. I simply want a small runaround for my wife that will not be driving much.

But if we can can get back to the original questions about the pros and cons of each car in that bracket that would be great.

ba_barabus

California Dreamer wrote: »

I genuinely do not get that most people here are obsessed with paying as little as possible for the paddy spec car in this country..

I'm not obsessed with that and get your point but as there are about 60k cars for sale at any one time in the country it helps to have a budget. Expectations and budget don't always match

Moving on.

Focus 1.6 diesel at the age will have that god awful PSA automatic manual gearbox. It's sh!te so avoid it. Petrols are hard to find and will be expensive to tax.

The Golf will most likely have a DSG auto which is pretty good afaik, just be aware that the TSI petrols don't have a great reputation for reliability and the 1.6diesel at that age tends to use EGR values which are very expensive to put right.

I can't comment on the Astra but a friend who sells them has warned me in general to avoid them as they're not reliable.

California Dreamer

ba_barabus wrote: »

I'm not obsessed with that and get your point but as there are about 60k cars for sale at any one time in the country it helps to have a budget. Expectations and budget don't always match

Moving on.

Focus 1.6 diesel at the age will have that god awful PSA automatic manual gearbox. It's sh!te so avoid it. Petrols are hard to find and will be expensive to tax.

The Golf will most likely have a DSG auto which is pretty good afaik, just be aware that the TSI petrols don't have a great reputation for reliability and the 1.6diesel at that age tends to use EGR values which are very expensive to put right.

I can't comment on the Astra but a friend who sells them has warned me in general to avoid them as they're not reliable.

Good stuff. Well I am not too concerned about the tax on whatever car I eventually get.

Is there anything else in that small/medium segment, 4/5 saloon/hatch that I am missing out on? I would also more than likely buy in the UK where the selection is far greater.

ba_barabus

California Dreamer wrote: »

Good stuff. Well I am not too concerned about the tax on whatever car I eventually get.

Is there anything else in that small/medium segment, 4/5 saloon/hatch that I am missing out on? I would also more than likely buy in the UK where the selection is far greater.

If you don't need a big boot how about a Lexus IS200H. Very good value importing one

colm_mcm

You could look at an A3 if a Golf isn’t expensive enough

California Dreamer

colm_mcm wrote: »

You could look at an A3 if a Golf isn’t expensive enough

Actually the 5 door A3 is a good option. I thought though all the Audi's came with very little spec for the price.

JohnBoy26

A toyota prius would be my recommendation.

colm_mcm

California Dreamer wrote: »

Actually the 5 door A3 is a good option. I thought though all the Audi's came with very little spec for the price.

You’re right, they are usually basic enough unless you spend a bit extra. It’s all relative though. Plenty people are happy with them.

Any caveats re the Golf would apply to the A3 though.

Shefwedfan

Really you need to import to get decent spec.

Not a huge fan of the focus....

I would look at the Golf....I had a 2010 2.ltr Tdi Golf. Was a lovely car, seriously fast...

I have since swapped it for eGolf(A6 in between). I love the eGolf, I use it for city driving and back roads so it is perfect....

In the Golf I hate the Paddy Spec, it can be shocking so start looking in UK.

Previously my wife had A3, Irish spec, it had sun roof and that was about it. Again if looking at A3 head to UK and get decent spec.....

colm_mcm

The Irish are buying plenty highline Golfs for years, of course there are great cars to be had in the uk but that’s not to say most UK Golfs are high spec or most Irish are ‘Paddy’ basic spec. That’s just not accurate.

ba_barabus

colm_mcm wrote: »

The Irish are buying plenty highline Golfs for years, of course there are great cars to be had in the uk but that’s not to say most UK Golfs are high spec or most Irish are ‘Paddy’ basic spec. That’s just not accurate.

I think Irish spec Golfs are actually better than the standard UK equivalent now but there is a better choice of cars in the Uk

For Forks Sake

colm_mcm wrote: »

The Irish are buying plenty highline Golfs for years, of course there are great cars to be had in the uk but that’s not to say most UK Golfs are high spec or most Irish are ‘Paddy’ basic spec. That’s just not accurate.

Have a look at Autotrader and you'll find a lot of Golfs with Match (i.e no) spec.

Shefwedfan

colm_mcm wrote: »

The Irish are buying plenty highline Golfs for years, of course there are great cars to be had in the uk but that’s not to say most UK Golfs are high spec or most Irish are ‘Paddy’ basic spec. That’s just not accurate.

Maybe since 2014 onwards...

The OP is talking about 2011/12 when most people just bought the stock baseline car the garage had sitting in stock.

Since 2014 most people from what I can see have finally decided the want a little more than a CD player....it took long enough

Shefwedfan

ba_barabus wrote: »

I think Irish spec Golfs are actually better than the standard UK equivalent now but there is a better choice of cars in the Uk

What do you mean by standard? the lowest spec version might be better in Ireland because that is the one over the years the majority bought...in the UK the base line spec is just for pricing purposes....

ba_barabus

Shefwedfan wrote: »

What do you mean by standard? the lowest spec version might be better in Ireland because that is the one over the years the majority bought...in the UK the base line spec is just for pricing purposes....

Like for like since about 2010 the equivalent Irish spec has generally been higher than UK spec. Some stuff isn't quiet as obvious like Xenon headlamps.

The difference is you have a much bigger choice of higher spec cars in the UK as it's a bigger market which distorts our view that their cars are higher spec. Obviously this wasn't always the case and Irish cars were offered at a lower spec. Also UK buyers in general are happier to hit the options list.

Shefwedfan

ba_barabus wrote: »

Like for like since about 2010 the equivalent Irish spec has generally been higher than UK spec. Some stuff isn't quiet as obvious like Xenon headlamps.

That doesn't make sense? you say like for lik eand then it is a higher spec?

ba_barabus wrote: »

The difference is you have a much bigger choice of higher spec cars in the UK as it's a bigger market which distorts our view that their cars are higher spec. Obviously this wasn't always the case and Irish cars were offered at a lower spec. Also UK buyers in general are happier to hit the options list.

As I said above, the extras are cheaper in UK so they include


So you get a higher spec car in the UK than Ireland....

Not sure what your point is here?

ba_barabus

Shefwedfan wrote: »

That doesn't make sense? you say like for lik eand then it is a higher spec?

It makes sense. In an equivalent Irish Vs. UK Baseline, Comfortline or Highline (or whatever the uk spec is called), doing a like for like comparison, the Irish spec is generally higher.

The extras you are talking about being included are actually cheaper to include as standard here (its to do with VRT and import taxes when the car enters the country) where as in the UK buyers are happier to tick the options list themselves.

I'm going to end the discussion here as it's an off topic discussion. Start a thread if you want to continue it.

Shefwedfan

ba_barabus wrote: »

It makes sense. In an equivalent Irish Vs. UK Baseline, Comfortline or Highline (or whatever the uk spec is called), doing a like for like comparison, the Irish spec is generally higher.

The extras you are talking about being included are actually cheaper to include as standard here (its to do with VRT and import taxes when the car enters the country) where as in the UK buyers are happier to tick the options list themselves.

I'm going to end the discussion here as it's an off topic discussion. Start a thread if you want to continue it.

IT is off topic and it wasn't me that started it

As I said to the OP, to get a high spec Golf or A3 you need to buy in the UK....is that incorrect? take into consideration they are talking about 2010/11

ba_barabus

Shefwedfan wrote: »

....is that incorrect?

Yes. For more info see the replies above.

Shefwedfan

Hopefully the OP has a VW garage beside them, See if they have a 2010/11 Golf and take a look at it,...

Then go for a look at equivalent import. Make your own mind up....

California Dreamer

But outside of the Golf or Focus should I look at anything else?

what the hell!

How about a Seat Leon? Same car as the Golf and cheaper.

Shefwedfan

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-reviews/14473/britains-best-hatchbacks-2011

My wife had a 1 series and loved it...might be worth looking at

EIREDriver

+1 for the Leon. The MK 3 is a lovely car and some come with DSG automatic. I know budget isn't an issue but you'd get a much better spec Leon for less than the Golf.

ba_barabus

California Dreamer wrote: »

But outside of the Golf or Focus should I look at anything else?

Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Auris, Lexus IS200H, Kisa Cee'd, Hyundai i30.

There's a lot of choice in that segment and all are reasonably decent.

seannash

Hyundai I20 (2015 onwards) cheapish and will have a warranty left on them
I know you said a 2011 or 2012 but when you state the budget doesn't matter well then the year shouldnt either.

bazz26

i20 is smaller and from the segment below what the OP has been looking at though.

kerten

1 series with a zf8 gearbox would be my choice but it is me who doesn't like dual clutch gearboxes(DSG, Powershift, DCT, etc) reliability and maintanence cost wise.

JohnBoy26

bazz26 wrote: »

i20 is smaller and from the segment below what the OP has been looking at though.

Still might suit their requirements. They aren't really that small tbh.

bazz26

Sure might as well recommend a Fiesta, Yaris, Polo or Micra so.

colm_mcm

Try a Picanto if they’re too big.

JohnBoy26

bazz26 wrote: »

Sure might as well recommend a Fiesta, Yaris, Polo or Micra so.

A b segment car might suit the op's needs. Nothing wrong with going down a class if it suits the op's requirements. Who knows it might?

Fiestas and polos aren't all that small either. I don't know why anyone would recommend a micra though, unless it was the new model which might be out of the op's budget.