Recommend a car up to 15k

Thumpette

I've currently got an 07 corolla verso. It's grand but now I'm back at work from mat leave I'd love something a bit more comfy for the dreaded commute.

The 7 seater has been great for all the baby stuff. Love it being high up for getting him in and out. It's also great for our 2 little dogs who love travelling in a dog crate now- looking for something with space for a crate and buggy.

We just need space for one child so it doesn't need to be a 7 seater- though the 7 seats have been handy at times. We'd hope to have another child in the next year or so.

Commute is donabate to Clonskeagh, sometimes around the m50, sometimes through town. Also drive to Donegal or cork every few weeks.

Would love good aircon, hubby has an automatic Passat which is so comfy. Would like automatic with leather seats but neither of those things are too important.

Really don't know what to do about fuel. The Passat is diesel. The verso is petrol.

Thabks!

Shefwedfan

If you have access to Passat could you not use for long distance?

Then buy electric for commute. Number of advantages
* Spec on electric is high, air con included
* Lower tax
* Lower services cost
* M50 toll reduced
* Fuel cost reduced
* Charger grant of 600 euro for home charge point
* Insurance seems to be lower for people compared to equivalent petrol/diesel
* Automatic for those city commutes
* Space as required
* Charger public network is still free but not reliable. For your driving you should not need to use.....

Based on your requirement the car would be perfect, but for the long distance I would suggest borrowing your husband's car.....the network is bad at the moment but government is saying they will invest soon

The main issue I find is people need their own house to install charge point. Might be option

To add some more, we are 2 car. Galaxy and eGolf. The Galaxy is used for long journeys and family trips but we have 3 kids so need the space. The eGolf is used for everything else. Day to day we will take that before the Galaxy. It is so cheap to run and a lot more fun to drive than a diesel. Even with 3 kids we have no problems for space and have carried all with dog in boot.

If I could I would swap the Galaxy for electric today but the distance driving is issue.

Thumpette

Thanks, yeah would like an electric in theory. Passat doesn't fit the dogs for one issue and also my husband uses Passat for work (as a wedding photographer) and he claims tax on it so we try to keep it pretty much exclusively for his work.

Shefwedfan

Thumpette wrote: »

Thanks, yeah would like an electric in theory. Passat doesn't fit the dogs for one issue and also my husband uses Passat for work (as a wedding photographer) and he claims tax on it so we try to keep it pretty much exclusively for his work.

I had 2 Passat, the boots are big but arkward to use. The likes of eGolf/Leaf etc would have a better boot for dogs

Thumpette

What about something like this? Could this do long distances?

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/honda/fit/used-2014-141-honda-fit-deposit-taken-dublin-fpa-76436532360039

Thumpette

Or this? http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/lexus/ct200h/used-2014-141-lexus-ct200h-1-8-cvt-s-dublin-fpa-305675538121534

Shefwedfan

Thumpette wrote: »

Or this? http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/lexus/ct200h/used-2014-141-lexus-ct200h-1-8-cvt-s-dublin-fpa-305675538121534

Both are hybrid so better option to diesel for the type of driving you are doing.

I would prefer the Lexus but you will be shocked at how small boot and back seat space is. Beautiful car....

THe Honda is probably an import so you can have issues with insurance.

Thumpette

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Both are hybrid so better option to diesel for the type of driving you are doing.

I would prefer the Lexus but you will be shocked at how small boot and back seat space is. Beautiful car....

THe Honda is probably an import so you can have issues with insurance.

Thanks, the Lexus is gorg but not much good to me if it's tiny. Ideally I'd like an mpv or estate. Are there any hybrids that would match that?

Thumpette

I just found this vehicle on Carzone.ie http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/honda/freed/used-2012-honda-freed-summer-sa-dublin-fpa-114898597744827

Maybe this is overkill on space? Though maybe you can never have too much!

Shefwedfan

Thumpette wrote: »

I just found this vehicle on Carzone.ie http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/honda/freed/used-2012-honda-freed-summer-sa-dublin-fpa-114898597744827

Maybe this is overkill on space? Though maybe you can never have too much!

Again a jap import so could struggle on insurance...you need to check that before going near them...

Prius is tried and tested. Yaris hybrid should be just about in budget but you seem to want larger car which will restrict choice....most of those comein diesel which is just watching money burn away while sitting on m50....

Shpud2

Thumpette wrote: »

Thanks, the Lexus is gorg but not much good to me if it's tiny. Ideally I'd like an mpv or estate. Are there any hybrids that would match that?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mercedes-e300-bluetec-hybrid/18822903
It's a saloon but how about this?

Shefwedfan

Loads of options for price range you are in. I would decide on the fuel type first.

Electric: think that is ruled out
Petrol: Larger choice to hybrid, ok for in town driving but won't be cheap running on long drives
Hybrid: Smaller choice but better for in town driving. Restricted to Toyota/Lexus/Honda
Diesel: Poorer performance in town. Better for those long drives. Really depends on how many long drives you will do compared to your

If MPV or estate then you are looking at diesel.

Try looking at Audi A4/A6 estates. Beautiful cars. VW as well so you will be used to it from Passat. The Audi is that little bit more refined. I had A4 estate for a few weeks and loved it. Ended up swapping it to a A6 car and it was beautiful. I was doing a long commute and it was perfect. Its the best car for open roads. I moved closer to work so swapped to eGolf to save on fuel.

Of course BMW are options but if you like the Passat you will end up finding you are a VW person and the Audi is perfect.

colm_mcm

Thumpette wrote: »

Thanks, the Lexus is gorg but not much good to me if it's tiny. Ideally I'd like an mpv or estate. Are there any hybrids that would match that?

Auris Tourer Hybrid? Not as fancy as the Lexus though but mechanically identical.