Suggest a car that's cheap to own/run

mrcheez

Interested in picking up a car this year that will be used mainly at weekends or for occasional trips to the shops. I will be travelling across country quite a lot.

Despite the low-usage I'm not interested in renting cars, just want a car waiting outside my front door "ready to go".

My criteria are:

- Must have rear seats
- Lowest tax possible (within the range of cars matching my requirements)
- Hassle-free to run and not reliant on charge stations
- Cheapest fuel usage possible (within the range of cars matching my requirements)

It can be either new or second hand.

I was considering an electric vehicle, but the reliance on sporadic charge stations is a bit of a turn off as I'd like to be able to make a return trip from Dublin to, say, Sligo without having to search out for a charge station, and be able to use any standard petrol station no matter how remote I am.

Am I looking at Hybrids?

Henry Ford III

No car is cheap to run.

TheBoyConor

Nissan Tiida.

Cheap chearful economical reliable.

mrcheez

Henry Ford III wrote: »

No car is cheap to run.

ok to clarify.. I meant RELATIVELY speaking.

I'm sure some cars are cheaper to run than others, I'm asking what's the cheapest to run that matches my other criteria.

mrcheez

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Nissan Tiida.

Cheap chearful economical reliable.

cool, where's the best place to compare car specs? Miles / gallon etc.

Is there an all in one place you can compare all models / manufacturers in a tabular format?

Apiarist

I had great hassle free experiences with Nissan Micra (1997) and then Nissan Pixo (2011). No failed NCTs with a minimum upkeep.

However, even though both were small cars with 1L petrol engines, I find that my current car (2012 hybrid with 1.4L) uses even less fuel.

mrcheez

victor8600 wrote: »

However, even though both were small cars with 1L petrol engines, I find that my current car (2012 hybrid with 1.4L) uses even less fuel.

What's the 2012 hybrid model?

Tacitus Kilgore

Have you a budget for buying the car?

king_of_inismac

mrcheez wrote: »

cool, where's the best place to compare car specs? Miles / gallon etc.

Is there an all in one place you can compare all models / manufacturers in a tabular format?

Try honestjohn to see reviews of various makes/models.

Small Japanese/Korean petrol cars sound like a good match. They’re generally simple and reliable for A to B motoring.

Rows Grower

An early 90's Toyota Starlet or a mid 90's Nissan Micra, both 1.0 petrol.

With either of those there'll be two reasons if it won't go, it'll either have no fuel in it or it's the battery.

mrcheez

Rows Grower wrote: »

An early 90's Toyota Starlet or a mid 90's Nissan Micra, both 1.0 petrol.

With either of those there'll be two reasons if it won't go, it'll either have no fuel in it or it's the battery.

90s might be a bit past where I'm looking.. I'd be thinking around 10 years old max

Apiarist

mrcheez wrote: »

What's the 2012 hybrid model?

Honda Insight. But there are lots of new hybrids now, I have just picked the Insight because it was available for a right price.

troyzer

Tacitus Kilgore wrote: »

Have you a budget for buying the car?

This^

Pointless discussion without getting an idea of your budget and driving experience/NCB history.

mrcheez

Tacitus Kilgore wrote: »

Have you a budget for buying the car?

No budget, less than 50K ?

Tacitus Kilgore

mrcheez wrote: »

No budget, less than 50K ?

Sweet, I'd buy a 95 Lean Burn & do something fun with the rest.


That, or a Tesla model s, used ones are touching around 50k now.

Rows Grower

mrcheez wrote: »

90s might be a bit past where I'm looking.. I'd be thinking around 10 years old max

Kia .

mrcheez

Tacitus Kilgore wrote: »

Sweet, I'd buy a 95 Lean Burn & do something fun with the rest.


That, or a Tesla model s, used ones are touching around 50k now.

Ah I want minimal hassle so no modifying etc

Tesla is interesting, but isn't that tied to charging stations?

mrcheez

Rows Grower wrote: »

Kia .

I've rented a few of those over the years and they're not bad.. I'll add it to the list thanks

Rows Grower

mrcheez wrote: »

No budget, less than 50K ?

Jes*s C*rist, I should be charging you for replies!

troyzer

mrcheez wrote: »

No budget, less than 50K ?

So you're talking about new cars potentially?

mrcheez

troyzer wrote: »

So you're talking about new cars potentially?

Second hand primarily... but with minimal work required.

New if absolutely nothing matches what I'm looking for.


i.e. if all new cars are MUCH more efficient at energy usage (and have low taxes) then I'll go new but if I can a 2016 that's just as good I'll go with that

Tacitus Kilgore

mrcheez wrote: »

Ah I want minimal hassle so no modifying etc

Tesla is interesting, but isn't that tied to charging stations?

Minimal hassle? Sure ya don't even have to service a lane byrne :pac:


As for the tesla, wish I could advise but haven't a clue, tbh -

If it was me, I wouldn't be spending 50K on a garden ornament and then worrying about the running costs. I'd take an opposite kind of approach - spend 5k on a v8/10/12 yoke and enjoy recycling numerous dinosaurs through it on the rare use it would get. But that's just me

mrcheez

Tacitus Kilgore wrote: »

If it was me, I wouldn't be spending 50K on a garden ornament and then worrying about the running costs. I'd take an opposite kind of approach - spend 5k on a v8/10/12 yoke and enjoy recycling numerous dinosaurs through it on the rare use it would get. But that's just me

ah I want something that'll last me several years without much work involved.

troyzer

mrcheez wrote: »

ah I want something that'll last me several years without much work involved.

What's your NCB situation and do you have any insurance red flags like penalty points/under 25 etc?

mrcheez

troyzer wrote: »

What's your NCB situation and do you have any insurance red flags like penalty points/under 25 etc?

Don't have a car currently. Been driving my folks car for several years so I'm on their insurance

Last car I owned was in Oz 2003

Cycle everywhere but intend to make a few cross-country trips and need a car for the situations I require (buses etc won't do). Also fed up cycling with the shopping.

so eh.. no penalty points.

Tacitus Kilgore

mrcheez wrote: »

ah I want something that'll last me several years without much work involved.

Sure how about an aul Lexus LS400? find an 89 one - €56 p.a. tax, cheap classic insurance, super smooth and reliable v8 engine & a chassis that was over-engineered beyond belief - and will outlast most galapagos tortoises with minimal looking after.

ELM327

mrcheez wrote: »

No budget, less than 50K ?

1995 Toyota Carina E Diesel. Non turbo.



Spend the remaining 49,505 on coke and hookers.

Tacitus Kilgore

ELM327 wrote: »

1995 Toyota Carina E Diesel. Non turbo.



Spend the remaining 49,505 on coke and hookers.

Get chaper tacks with the lane byrne though

ELM327

Tacitus Kilgore wrote: »

Get chaper tacks with the lane byrne though

Yes but then there's less money left for coke, hookers, and padre pio stickers

troyzer

mrcheez wrote: »

Don't have a car currently. Been driving my folks car for several years so I'm on their insurance

Last car I owned was in Oz 2003

Cycle everywhere but intend to make a few cross-country trips and need a car for the situations I require (buses etc won't do). Also fed up cycling with the shopping.

so eh.. no penalty points.

So you're going to be fisted without any NCB. That means you're going to be limited to cars with a small engine to keep costs down.

Which also helps for tax reasons.

I think you should go for a Hybrid. Get a 2013-15 second hand Yaris/Auris/Prius Hybrid etc.

Something like this.

Nekarsulm

Something like this, considering you are a new driver.
Don't be surprised if the insurance is nearly as dear as the car.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-yaris/20444145

Or this, great visability and a certain charm.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/fiat-panda-2010-only-33000-miles/20696110

punisher5112

Yaris or corolla, honda jazz or civic, Skoda Fabian, Octavia, focus or Mondeo.

They would be some cars to look at.

troyzer

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Something like this, considering you are a new driver.
Don't be surprised if the insurance is nearly as dear as the car.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-yaris/20444145

Or this, great visability and a certain charm.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/fiat-panda-2010-only-33000-miles/20696110

They're not going to be great cross country cars.

As someone who has done long distances in a small petrol, it gets really expensive.

Apiarist

troyzer wrote: »

They're not going to be great cross country cars.

As someone who has done long distances in a small petrol, it gets really expensive.

Well then, the OP can buy a diesel hybrid, like a Toyota C-HR.

punisher5112

victor8600 wrote: »

Well then, the OP can buy a diesel hybrid, like a Toyota C-HR.

Diesel???

You mean petrol hybrid right...

troyzer

victor8600 wrote: »

Well then, the OP can buy a diesel hybrid, like a Toyota C-HR.

No such thing as a Diesel hybrid.

CH-Rs are pretty expensive.

punisher5112

Toyota are gone away from diesel.

Even look at their van choice they are Peugeot, Citroen.

ELM327

troyzer wrote: »

No such thing as a Diesel hybrid.

CH-Rs are pretty expensive.

That's funny, here's 3 different examples from a quick search!
There's also a volvo diesel PHEV


https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/hybrid-peugeot-3008/20532989
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-q7-hybrid-diesel-model-high-spec/20387070
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mercedes-e300-hybrid-diesel/20691568

ELM327

punisher5112 wrote: »

Toyota are gone away from diesel.

Even look at their van choice they are Peugeot, Citroen.

They don't have a diesel engine that meets the latest EURO spec emissions. Hence the push to hybrids

fletch

I think one of these meet all your requirements...

2019 (191) VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTE 1.4TSI 204BHP DSG HYBRID
2014 (142) TESLA MODEL S 85KW
2018 (182) BMW I3 i3 94Ah with Range Extender

troyzer

ELM327 wrote: »

That's funny, here's 3 different examples from a quick search!
There's also a volvo diesel PHEV


https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/hybrid-peugeot-3008/20532989
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-q7-hybrid-diesel-model-high-spec/20387070
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mercedes-e300-hybrid-diesel/20691568

Hmm, I stand corrected. Never heard of these before. They must be fairly niché.

corks finest

mrcheez wrote: »

Interested in picking up a car this year that will be used mainly at weekends or for occasional trips to the shops. I will be travelling across country quite a lot.

Despite the low-usage I'm not interested in renting cars, just want a car waiting outside my front door "ready to go".

My criteria are:

- Must have rear seats
- Lowest tax possible (within the range of cars matching my requirements)
- Hassle-free to run and not reliant on charge stations
- Cheapest fuel usage possible (within the range of cars matching my requirements)

It can be either new or second hand.

I was considering an electric vehicle, but the reliance on sporadic charge stations is a bit of a turn off as I'd like to be able to make a return trip from Dublin to, say, Sligo without having to search out for a charge station, and be able to use any standard petrol station no matter how remote I am.

Am I looking at Hybrids?

Honda insight hybrid,as a past owner,I can vouch for comfort, economy, extremely reliable

Duffryman

€50,000 to splash out on a car that will barely be used, but then worried about running costs? I don't understand the thinking here.

Buy a banger for €2,000. Even if you've to spend €2,000 a year on repairs, you'd still get more than 20 years out of it for the same price...and your new €50,000 car would hardly last 20 years anyway....

Apiarist

Duffryman wrote: »

Buy a banger for €2,000. Even if you've to spend €2,000 a year on repairs....

It is a hassle though. You never know if something is going to break, whether you pass NCT, etc. There are lots of reliable used cars that can be bought for €5000-€8000 (probably a small Japanese car). I have spent less than €2000 on repairs in the last 10 years (excluding costs of the regular servicing).

mrcheez

troyzer wrote: »

So you're going to be fisted without any NCB. That means you're going to be limited to cars with a small engine to keep costs down.

Which also helps for tax reasons.

I think you should go for a Hybrid. Get a 2013-15 second hand Yaris/Auris/Prius Hybrid etc.

Something like this.

Well it's weird. I would have thought I'd be crucified because I haven't had personal insurance in Ireland, rather being a named driver, but actually the quote I received was surprisingly reasonable and it was purely based on the fact I was a named driver with 0 accidents in the 20 years I've been driving.

But yes I think a small engine is what I might look for as wouldn't this be more fuel-efficient?

mrcheez

Duffryman wrote: »

€50,000 to splash out on a car that will barely be used, but then worried about running costs? I don't understand the thinking here.

Buy a banger for €2,000. Even if you've to spend €2,000 a year on repairs, you'd still get more than 20 years out of it for the same price...and your new €50,000 car would hardly last 20 years anyway....

sorry I was a bit confused.. I assumed budget meant the MAX I would be able to spend, rather than the amount I PLAN to spend?

Preferably I'd spend as little as possible, but if I HAD to I could stretch to that amount.

It would be an absolute LAST resort to spend that amount.

I want a car that is no older than 10 years, requires little maintenance, and is fuel-efficient, and doesn't require special charging stations.

troyzer

mrcheez wrote: »

Well it's weird. I would have thought I'd be crucified because I haven't had personal insurance in Ireland, rather being a named driver, but actually the quote I received was surprisingly reasonable and it was purely based on the fact I was a named driver with 0 accidents in the 20 years I've been driving.

But yes I think a small engine is what I might look for as wouldn't this be more fuel-efficient?

Not on long distance driving. Bigger engines are more efficient at long distance, motorway driving because they have lower revs at the same speed.

Same for a diesel.

Nekarsulm

Duffryman wrote: »

€50,000 to splash out on a car that will barely be used, but then worried about running costs? I don't understand the thinking here.

Buy a banger for €2,000. Even if you've to spend €2,000 a year on repairs, you'd still get more than 20 years out of it for the same price...and your new €50,000 car would hardly last 20 years anyway....

And as a first time getting insurance in your own name, if you smack it into a hedge you can just walk away (hopefully!) and buy another cheapie.
An insurance claim on your first policy will load your insurance horrifically, a claim on a written off 50,000 euro car would nearly see you on the bicycle till you're in your 30's!

EDIT, I see you've been driving for 20 years, so that changes a lot of things, both insurance wise and comfort expectation wise!

mrcheez

So a few good suggestions so far.

It seems to me Japanese small cars is what I'm looking at... Toyota best for second hands?

U_Fig

Realistically if you are only going to be predominantly driving on Motorways it would make sense to go a bit bigger than a 1.0l it would make the experience alot more pleasant.

ford2600

mrcheez wrote: »

So a few good suggestions so far.

It seems to me Japanese small cars is what I'm looking at... Toyota best for second hands?

You will be crossing the country with it when you do drive?

Golf/civic size would be the smallest I'd consider, but I'd rather accord size for long journeys.


Not to get into the whole petrol/diesel debate but it'll be easier to find a reliable petrol car.


Honda Accord petrol would be my choice. Pick up something for a few k and look on 700 tax as reason you can buy it cheap. Depreciation is the biggest cost of car ownership once you buy new/near new.