Good looking fun car for approx 20k

Mariac

Hi, I am looking to buy a new car in the next year or so. Budget is up to 30k but looking to spend around 20k. I'm 27yo male, don't know much about cars so looking for some advice.

Planning on buying from new up to to a 2 year old motor. Main things I'm looking for are good looks, reasonably fun to drive, cheap tax and cheap running costs. I'm not really a petrolhead so am not looking for anything overly fast or powerful. Also I'll be the only one in the car most of the time so practicality in terms of space is pretty low on list of priorities hence a preference for 3 doors.

On my shortlist so far is:
3dr Ford Fiesta ST 1L or 1.5L Ecoboost

Seat Ibiza Fr 1L or 1.5 TSI

3dr VW Golf Comfortline 1L TSI

Mazda MX5 1.5L RF or Soft top

Just wondering if people have any opinion on the above and what they would go for, or if there's a car not listed that you think I should consider.

Cheers,

Luke

bazz26

Your a bit all over the place with the car you've mentioned there. Are you looking for something that just looks sporty or are you after a car that drives as well as it looks?

There is no 1.0 litre Fiesta ST, there is a 1.0 ST Line alright which is just a normal Fiesta with sporty bits of trim on it. The Fiesta ST which is 1.5 is a different beast altogether and the hot hatch or performance version of the Fiesta range. Similar goes with the Ibiza, the FR is a trim level whereas the Cupra would be the hot hatch or performance version. Have you got insurance quotes on any of these as there could well be a big difference between the regular versions and performance versions.

A 1.0 litre Golf would be the same, it's a regular Golf which would be bigger than the Ibiza and Fiesta if you need the extra space. And I think the 3dr Golf has been discontinued now afaik as 3 door hatchbacks don't really sell nowadays.

The MX-5 is bit of a oddball choice given the above as it's nowhere near as practical and what sort of use will you be giving it? As a primary car used to commute to and from work it could end up being less practical that you think. As a weekend car it would be ideal though if you want low running costs thrills.

James Bond Junior

I'd go with the 1.5l Fiesta in your situation.

biko

Looks doesn't come into it as beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Any of these fit the bill?
https://www.adverts.ie/for-sale/cars-motorbikes-boats/cars/2/price_15000-22000/enginesize_*-*/year_2016-2018/NCT_1/

Shefwedfan

What sort of driving are you doing? loads of long distance? or lots of short trips?

As you mention cheap to drive it might be best to work out fuel first and then look at options in that bracket.

colm_mcm

In before Leaf.

Shefwedfan

colm_mcm wrote: »

In before Leaf.

I wouldn't call a Leaf good looking!!



All option below which might fit the requirements......



VW Golf GTE
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/golf/used-2016-161-volkswagen-golf-gte-1-4-cork-fpa-201806227750847


Audi A3 e-Tron
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/audi/a3/used-2015-151-audi-a3-1-4-tfsi-e-tron-dublin-fpa-367192558083580


VW eGolf

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/golf/used-2015-152-volkswagen-golf-electri-dublin-fpa-201808019019269


Lexus CT200H
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/lexus/ct200h/used-2017-171-lexus-ct200h-1-8-hybrid-dublin-fpa-2368760639927379785


Lexus GS300H
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/lexus/gs300h/used-2014-142-lexus-gs300h-executive-dublin-fpa-2033602753594771530


Lexus IS F-Sport
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/lexus/is/used-2015-151-lexus-is-f-sport-2015-dublin-fpa-76357273011928

And diesel option
Volvo
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volvo/v40/used-2018-181-volvo-v40-v40-d3-r-desi-dublin-fpa-201807028042432

Mariac

Shefwedfan wrote: »

What sort of driving are you doing? loads of long distance? or lots of short trips?

As you mention cheap to drive it might be best to work out fuel first and then look at options in that bracket.

Will probably be doing around 10-15k kilometres a year.

Mariac

Shefwedfan wrote: »

I wouldn't call a Leaf good looking!!



All option below which might fit the requirements......



VW Golf GTE
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/golf/used-2016-161-volkswagen-golf-gte-1-4-cork-fpa-201806227750847


Audi A3 e-Tron
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/audi/a3/used-2015-151-audi-a3-1-4-tfsi-e-tron-dublin-fpa-367192558083580


VW eGolf

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/golf/used-2015-152-volkswagen-golf-electri-dublin-fpa-201808019019269


Lexus CT200H
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/lexus/ct200h/used-2017-171-lexus-ct200h-1-8-hybrid-dublin-fpa-2368760639927379785


Lexus GS300H
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/lexus/gs300h/used-2014-142-lexus-gs300h-executive-dublin-fpa-2033602753594771530


Lexus IS F-Sport
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/lexus/is/used-2015-151-lexus-is-f-sport-2015-dublin-fpa-76357273011928

And diesel option
Volvo
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volvo/v40/used-2018-181-volvo-v40-v40-d3-r-desi-dublin-fpa-201807028042432

Thanks for the suggestions. They all seem to be automatic aside from the volvo, sorry I should have mentioned that I'm looking for manual transmission as opposed to automatic.

Henry Ford III

James Bond Junior wrote: »

I'd go with the 1.5l Fiesta in your situation.

ST is the only model with that engine I think. Costs a lot more than €20k.

babi-hrse

Hyundai i30?

Mariac

Henry Ford III wrote: »

ST is the only model with that engine I think. Costs a lot more than €20k.

I've seen two 2 year old 1.5L for approx. 20k so it would work out similar to a new 1L fiesta. So if I went with the fiesta it would be between a new 1L or a two year old 1.5L.

Mariac

babi-hrse wrote: »

Hyundai i30?

Yep it's one I was potentially considering also. My sisters boyfriend works in a Hyundai dealer so I could probably get a reasonable deal. I don't know what it is I just don't find them as attractive as a Fiesta or Ibiza for example.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

e92 m3...forget the year and save the 10k you save for tax and bills, proper car that.

James Bond Junior

Raymond Faithful Jaguar wrote: »

e92 m3...forget the year and save the 10k you save for tax and bills, proper car that.

There's always one! Ha!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I have to try...the words comfortline and 1ltr make me want to cry.

Shefwedfan

Mariac wrote: »

Will probably be doing around 10-15k kilometres a year.

The total is less of a concern


Of those 10k kms is it mostly long distance or lots of little trips?

You could be doing 5k km per year but all of those are 100km+ trips so diesel could be better. In the same conversation you could be 20k km's but all short 10-30km trips so petrol/hybrid/electric better


Any reason for manual?

landmarkjohn

Come on, let's be honest here, of the cars listed it has to be the MX5 by a country mile.

More smiles per mile than anything else in that budget, if the size works for you just do it, I GUARANTEE you will not regret it! :-)

Henry Ford III

Mariac wrote: »

I've seen two 2 year old 1.5L for approx. 20k so it would work out similar to a new 1L fiesta. So if I went with the fiesta it would be between a new 1L or a two year old 1.5L.

A 1.5l petrol was never marketed here as far I recall.

Must have been an import maybe?

Brian Scan

Raymond Faithful Jaguar wrote: »

I have to try...the words comfortline and 1ltr make me want to cry.

You need to get out more.

bazz26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

A 1.5l petrol was never marketed here as far I recall.

Must have been an import maybe?

1.5 diesel perhaps?