Suggestions / Private sale or dealers in the 6 - 8k range?

Yamanoto

My OH will have a daily motorway commute of about 90kms round trip for the next year or so - she's travelling down to her mother, until she moves up to us next summer. I'd imagine that commute puts us into diesel territory (unless good hybrids can be had).

We've a small enough budget of 6 - 8k & looking for reliability, fuel economy and comfort in that order. Something that holds much of it's value for a year would be great too. I've been told the 1.4 Toyota Diesel engines in the likes of an Auris might fit the bill (though they appear to lack cruise control). VW 1.9 tdi was the other engine I was pointed towards. Also not sure whether dealer / private seller is the way to go at that price-point.

Any suggestions welcome.

kerten

I would aim for a prius with that kind of budget and commute. Less pain in long term reliability wise and it will be an automatic car comfortwise.

Yamanoto

kerten wrote: »

I would aim for a prius with that kind of budget and commute. Less pain in long term reliability wise and it will be an automatic car comfortwise.

Quite a limited choice of Prius within budget.

Honda Jazz & Honda Insight (the later model I've never heard of) are the hybrids that keep popping up.

Would they be Japanese imports / hard to insure?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2011-honda-jazz-hybrid-automatic-road-tax-170/19105173

kerten

Yamanoto wrote: »

Quite a limited choice of Prius within budget.

Honda Jazz & Honda Insight (the later model I've never heard of) are the hybrids that keep popping up.

Would they be Japanese imports / hard to insure?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2011-honda-jazz-hybrid-automatic-road-tax-170/19105173

You won't get a young low miles example for that budget as it is probably the most desirable model for people looking for economy, reliability and low running cost. But it pays itself in long term.

You can look at Toyota auris hybrid as well. Same drive train with a different body. Probably a bit chepaer.

Japanese imports are very common in market.Insurance is the limiting factor in general as not every company insures them and that limits the chance moving to another company in case of high renewals. I would pay extra to an irish/uk car for less headache.

Honda hybrids are fine as far as I know but insight is not direct competitor to prius. They are smaller inside and has less sophisticated hybrid system. Honda Civic hybrid would be a competitor to prius.

bazz26

The Auris hybrid is only out since 2011/2012 so your looking at a real high miler on the OP's budget.

I'd look at a pre 2011 Corolla or Auris 1.4 d-4d, they don't have a DPF to get blocked and have a solid flywheel. They are a fairly reliable engine, just make sure the gear change is smooth, not notchy or no whining noise as the gearbox bearing is a weak point in them up to a certain year. Try and avoid the basic Terra model as they are a pretty miserable place to be in.