Battle of the diesel saloons

yobr

Looking to upgrade the current car for a 2011 - 2013 diesel saloon.

I’m currently looking at the following models

Passat,
Mondeo,
Insignia,
Avensis,
Hyundai i40
Skoda Superb.

At this stage I have a preference for either the Hyundai or Insignia. Was hoping to go to UK or NI for a model with sat nav, Bluetooth and parking sensors. Anyone any thoughts on any of these models or any that i should be looking at?

Toyotafanboi

Insignia is probably the biggest one to avoid. Engines are made from chocolate, prone to random, no warning critical failures and a very heavy depreciator too.

i40 isn't a bad call if it's had the clutch replaced.

Mooooo

Superb or passat would be my vote, would you get a better spec in the superb for the same money?

bazz26

A Peugeot 508 is worth looking at, they are cheap as chips in the UK. Much better than the Insignia and just as cheap. 1.6 diesel is best avoided, the 2.0 is the one to get.

Atlantic Dawn

Volvo S80 would be another to consider, bit more toys than the rest and great value considering their price new.

W123-80's

I brought a 132 Superb estate in from the UK in February. Family car, my wife drives it mostly, but I've had it on a few long runs. Lovely car. Get one with a good spec, ours has cream leather, electric & heated seats, Sat nav, parking sensors, bluetooth and a rake of other toys.
Biggest downside for me is we bought the 1.6. it's definitely underpowered, it's grand but the 2.0 is definitely the one to go for.
If you have kids (we have 2 under 4) you will do well to find another car with as much room inside. It's huge!!
Of you list above, I'd choose the Superb.

yobr

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Volvo S80 would be another to consider, bit more toys than the rest and great value considering their price new.

I had a look at them and while they seem comfortable and designed around the driver, I didn’t see satellite navigation on any. Thanks

yobr

bazz26 wrote: »

A Peugeot 508 is worth looking at, they are cheap as chips in the UK. Much better than the Insignia and just as cheap. 1.6 diesel is best avoided, the 2.0 is the one to get.

Thanks I had never come across a 508 so I’ll check it out

grogi

yobr wrote: »

I had a look at them and while they seem comfortable and designed around the driver, I didn’t see satellite navigation on any. Thanks

The maps are always outdated, interface from last century and traffic awareness nonexistent.

Google maps are always a better option.

grogi

yobr wrote: »

Thanks I had never come across a 508 so I’ll check it out

Don't be afraid of the 1.6. they got sorted out in 2012, but 115bhp might be a bit too weak.

Wildly Boaring

I wouldn't get the Avensis or the insignia personally.

After that down to what you like.
Prob get more spec on a similar priced Mondeo, esp from UK. Was looking a bit dated by then as out a long time but not a bad drive.

I'd have Passat over superb In the saloon and the opposite in an estate purely on looks. Passat cc? Octavia VRS?
I40 is a fine motor. Great motorway muncher.

Look at v60? Realise it's an estate. The ocean race edition has good spec.

Went through a lot of looking and went for 520d myself. Not as good value as any of the above for money but I'm happy

AMKC

The Kia Optima is another one to look at. Lovely car. The 508 is a lovely car too and a lovely place to be on a drive as well.

Wildly Boaring

AMKC wrote: »

The Kia Optima is another one to look at. Lovely car. The 508 is a lovely car too and a lovely place to be on a drive as well.

Think the current one, the nice one, is newer than OP is looking for

Heres Johnny

The price gap between the cars on your list and the likes of a 5 series/e class/a6 is considerably narrowed by the time they are 5 to 7 years old and I can't for the life of me figure why someone would buy a used car from your list unless it's a massive price difference. Then you have the class under that 3 series/c class/a4 which might be a little bit smaller but still much nicer.
This class of car is more or less dying now, replaced by SUVs based on the same car in many cases. Personally prefer the saloons to SUVs but I'm in the minority.

Wildly Boaring

Heres Johnny wrote: »

The price gap between the cars on your list and the likes of a 5 series/e class/a6 is considerably narrowed by the time they are 5 to 7 years old and I can't for the life of me figure why someone would buy a used car from your list unless it's a massive price difference. Then you have the class under that 3 series/c class/a4 which might be a little bit smaller but still much nicer.
This class of car is more or less dying now, replaced by SUVs based on the same car in many cases. Personally prefer the saloons to SUVs but I'm in the minority.

Even though I bought a 5 series later ahead of these lot I disagree.
Firstly you'd have a lower mileage and/or newer Mondeo Passat etc.

Secondly when things go wrong a 5 or a6 will be dearer to fix generally.
e.g. I know that it'll cost 1200 to do my clutch when it goes. Passat be nearer 800. Dunno about rest.

Thirdly
5 and 3 series = taking chain issues

circadian

AMKC wrote: »

The Kia Optima is another one to look at. Lovely car. The 508 is a lovely car too and a lovely place to be on a drive as well.

Second the Optima, could get a decent spec from the UK as well. Not sure if they done the GT line in diesel.

joebloggs32

Heres Johnny wrote: »

The price gap between the cars on your list and the likes of a 5 series/e class/a6 is considerably narrowed by the time they are 5 to 7 years old and I can't for the life of me figure why someone would buy a used car from your list unless it's a massive price difference. Then you have the class under that 3 series/c class/a4 which might be a little bit smaller but still much nicer.
This class of car is more or less dying now, replaced by SUVs based on the same car in many cases. Personally prefer the saloons to SUVs but I'm in the minority.

I got that spiel from a salesman this week about the saloon dying.
I have a Renault fluence at the end of a PCP deal. I have looked at the megane coupe along with a kadjar. It will cost an extra €70 per month on the PCP to get the Kadjar. I said to him thats €70 just to sit up a bit higher! He said your right but when you come back to me in 3 years time the kadjar will hold more value as everyone is looking for suv/crossover.

Mantis Toboggan

Certainly consider the Optima, lovely stylish car with good performance.

W123-80's

Heres Johnny wrote: »

The price gap between the cars on your list and the likes of a 5 series/e class/a6 is considerably narrowed by the time they are 5 to 7 years old and I can't for the life of me figure why someone would buy a used car from your list unless it's a massive price difference. Then you have the class under that 3 series/c class/a4 which might be a little bit smaller but still much nicer.
This class of car is more or less dying now, replaced by SUVs based on the same car in many cases. Personally prefer the saloons to SUVs but I'm in the minority.

A 6 year old Mondeo or Superb or any of the other cars mentioned by the OP are considerably cheaper than the same year E Class/A6/5 Series. Particularly if importing from the UK.
I assume he has listed those cars as he needs a bit of room. The A4/3 series/C Class are fierce small cars.
I'd agree with you on the SUV replacing the saloon/estate. It's a shame, I prefer cars.
In terms of space, two of my mates drive big SUVs. A '16 Kia Sorrento and a '14 Hyundai Touscon. I haven't measured either, but visually both look to have less boot space and rear leg room than my superb. Go figure!

Wildly Boaring

W123-80's wrote: »

A 6 year old Mondeo or Superb or any of the other cars mentioned by the OP are considerably cheaper than the same year E Class/A6/5 Series. Particularly if importing from the UK.
I assume he has listed those cars as he needs a bit of room. The A4/3 series/C Class are fierce small cars.
I'd agree with you on the SUV replacing the saloon/estate. It's a shame, I prefer cars.
In terms of space, two of my mates drive big SUVs. A '16 Kia Sorrento and a '14 Hyundai Touscon. I haven't measured either, but visually both look to have less boot space and rear leg room than my superb. Go figure!

Touscon in particular is not a big SUV it's a small one. Superb is a big car. With a big price tag new these days

AMKC

joebloggs32 wrote: »

I got that spiel from a salesman this week about the saloon dying.
I have a Renault fluence at the end of a PCP deal. I have looked at the megane coupe along with a kadjar. It will cost an extra €70 per month on the PCP to get the Kadjar. I said to him thats €70 just to sit up a bit higher! He said your right but when you come back to me in 3 years time the kadjar will hold more value as everyone is looking for suv/crossover.

So did you decide what to buy? Did you look at the Scenic? Scenic looks really good in the right colours.

joebloggs32

AMKC wrote: »

So did you decide what to buy? Did you look at the Scenic? Scenic looks really good in the right colours.

Took a kadjar. I got a SigNav so happy with it. €75pm but much higher spec also compared to a dynamic megane coupe. With high spec hoping it will hold good value even if diesel is yesterdays fuel by 2021.
The mrs didnt like the look of the scenic.

colm_mcm

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

Think the current one, the nice one, is newer than OP is looking for

Nothing wrong with the old one IMO. It’s sharper looking than the current one, in the right spec and colour they’re a really nice car.

no.8

W123-80's wrote:

A 6 year old Mondeo or Superb or any of the other cars mentioned by the OP are considerably cheaper than the same year E Class/A6/5 Series. Particularly if importing from the UK. I assume he has listed those cars as he needs a bit of room. The A4/3 series/C Class are fierce small cars. I'd agree with you on the SUV replacing the saloon/estate. It's a shame, I prefer cars. In terms of space, two of my mates drive big SUVs. A '16 Kia Sorrento and a '14 Hyundai Touscon. I haven't measured either, but visually both look to have less boot space and rear leg room than my superb. Go figure!

Doubt SUVs will replace estate cars anytime soon tbh. Not sure about the saloon but id wager sales will drop but a large market share will remain.
Good points all the same (agree with the remainder)!

Heres Johnny

Ireland never loved the estate car at all so I don't think there's all that much replacing to do to be honest. I think some estates are very striking now, nicer looking than saloons sometimes.
Wasn't always the case though, they weren't great looking in the past. As for saloons I think they are going to be premium buys in the future.
Toyota discontinuing avensis here in favour of the more upmarket Camry is telling. Ford trying (and failing) with the vignale. Peugeot double 00 models get much more attention than 0 models.

yobr

W123-80's wrote: »

A 6 year old Mondeo or Superb or any of the other cars mentioned by the OP are considerably cheaper than the same year E Class/A6/5 Series. Particularly if importing from the UK.
I assume he has listed those cars as he needs a bit of room. The A4/3 series/C Class are fierce small cars.
I'd agree with you on the SUV replacing the saloon/estate. It's a shame, I prefer cars.
In terms of space, two of my mates drive big SUVs. A '16 Kia Sorrento and a '14 Hyundai Touscon. I haven't measured either, but visually both look to have less boot space and rear leg room than my superb. Go figure!

Yep, leg room is an issue. Also, for the other reasons you quoted earlier.

yobr

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Ireland never loved the estate car at all so I don't think there's all that much replacing to do to be honest. I think some estates are very striking now, nicer looking than saloons sometimes..

Interesting, I wasn’t thinking the same about the Hyundai i40 lovely looking car but it’s an estate.

circadian

I don't understand why anyone looking for a big car would choose an SUV over estate.

Heres Johnny

circadian wrote: »

I don't understand why anyone looking for a big car would choose an SUV over estate.

Style over substance really. Although people with babies seem to like not having to lean too much lifting in and out which is fair enough, not everyone has a strong back.

cpoh1

circadian wrote: »

I don't understand why anyone looking for a big car would choose an SUV over estate.

Small children and getting them into the car .Ill be waiting until my youngest is 3-4 before going back to a family estate from an SUV.