Advice on what car to get (annual mileage is 25km)

william

Hi,

Would appreciate if you could give me a starting point on what cars to look at. Currently have a 2003 so it's a while since I purchased.....

Am comfortable getting the car from the north or over in England.

Budget is anything between €10,000 and €20,000, the latter being an absolute max to include Nox and VRT (which can go very expensive).

Daily week day mileage is 70km (55km on M50/M7) at peak times. Mainly short journeys at weekends. On top of that, will have say 20 long drives (20x500km) each year. So around 25,000 km in total p.a.

Spec wise, would like good space for 3 backseat passengers and good driver comfort & safety. Have a driveway so electric/PHEV is an option.

Would plan to hold on to the car for 3-4 years so residual value would be a factor also.

Thanks for your help.

William

colm_mcm

Do you like jeepy cars? Any problem paying a bit for maintenance, are you into premium brands?

Heres Johnny

These are all based on the top end of your budget, for lower end of your budget take 3 years away from everything I say below.

You can get much younger cars but for your type of driving especially the 20 x 500kms I'd get into something really nice like a 2015 possibly 16 Audi A6, BMW 5 series or Merc e class. Should do everything you want except for maybe comfort for 3 back seat passengers but nothing else really gives that either. Nicest class of car on the road in my opinion and of course there are the smaller variants A4, 3 series and c class which will be marginally cheaper but not by very much once they are a few years old.

If you'd like a younger car maybe the likes of a Pass at, Superb or Mondeo where you could go to 17/18. And then there's any number of SUVs but the less said about any of them the better in my opinion, they're pretty much all horrendous and I don't get the appeal at all. But they're popular and maybe would suit you. Sister has a sportage, friend has a qashqai and they're both brutal things.

Next class with the likes of the golf, focus, octavia you could go nearly new with your 20k budget.

I think diesel is your friend here now too, wouldn't look past it for your style of driving.

Shefwedfan

Is it 70km total or 70km each way?

Is the 500km total or each way?

william

Heres Johnny wrote: »

These are all based on the top end of your budget, for lower end of your budget take 3 years away from everything I say below.

You can get much younger cars but for your type of driving especially the 20 x 500kms I'd get into something really nice like a 2015 possibly 16 Audi A6, BMW 5 series or Merc e class. Should do everything you want except for maybe comfort for 3 back seat passengers but nothing else really gives that either. Nicest class of car on the road in my opinion and of course there are the smaller variants A4, 3 series and c class which will be marginally cheaper but not by very much once they are a few years old.

If you'd like a younger car maybe the likes of a Pass at, Superb or Mondeo where you could go to 17/18. And then there's any number of SUVs but the less said about any of them the better in my opinion, they're pretty much all horrendous and I don't get the appeal at all. But they're popular and maybe would suit you. Sister has a sportage, friend has a qashqai and they're both brutal things.

Next class with the likes of the golf, focus, octavia you could go nearly new with your 20k budget.

I think diesel is your friend here now too, wouldn't look past it for your style of driving.

This is a great help thanks. Will look at these.

william

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Is it 70km total or 70km each way?

Is the 500km total or each way?

Total for both.

william

colm_mcm wrote: »

Do you like jeepy cars? Any problem paying a bit for maintenance, are you into premium brands?

Don’t mind the jeep types. But they’re probably outside my budget. Re premium, again don’t mind but would be conscious of depreciation.

Shefwedfan

Question is the 20 long trips, do you have IONITY station along the road?

william

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Question is the 20 long trips, do you have IONITY station along the road?

Just checked the routes and yes, there are a sufficient no of options.

irishgrover

I was in similar position to you except double the milage. 140 km commute and regular cross country journeys. 80% of all driving motorway.
Ended up buying a new EV (ioniq premium SE). From a cost saving and driving comfort pov it was the best car decision I ever made.
When going cross country I need to charge one or twice in each direction, but on my route gal<>dub there are a load of chargers so this is not an issue

Shefwedfan

william wrote: »

Just checked the routes and yes, there are a sufficient no of options.

In that case I would buy electric, if you take the 20 trips that is maximum 40 days a year you might need to use chargers versus 325 day when you don’t

With the addition of prices charging it has made it better as all the free loaders are driven off the network

Is the route just e-cars charge points or ionity? Ionity is better to be honest

william

Shefwedfan wrote: »

In that case I would buy electric, if you take the 20 trips that is maximum 40 days a year you might need to use chargers versus 325 day when you don’t

With the addition of prices charging it has made it better as all the free loaders are driven off the network

Is the route just e-cars charge points or ionity? Ionity is better to be honest

It would be the M1 Belfast and M8 to the southprimarily for those long runs. It would be a big step for me to go the full Elec route ...

colm_mcm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

In that case I would buy electric, if you take the 20 trips that is maximum 40 days a year you might need to use chargers versus 325 day when you don’t

With the addition of prices charging it has made it better as all the free loaders are driven off the network

Is the route just e-cars charge points or ionity? Ionity is better to be honest

What car would you go for?

patspost

I am doing similar mileage to the OP and thinking of changing.
Currently have a diesel estate, so an estate again.
Would I be mad to consider petrol with25k mileage..?

Unfortunately bev not an option, budget maybe up to 30k
I am fond of Japanese reliability, but thinking of switching to petrol.

Would there be a massive increase in running costs?
My priorities are reliability, running cost!, safety & comfort.

Shefwedfan

william wrote: »

It would be the M1 Belfast and M8 to the southprimarily for those long runs. It would be a big step for me to go the full Elec route ...

PHEV could be option. I have Outlander which does about 30km on battery before it kicks into hybrid mode. Done a trip at weekend, Dublin - Westport, started with full battery so ended up with 7ltr/100km which was a lot better than I expected.

But your day to day you will only get 30km before you are starting to use fuel, or try get a charge point at work and then you would be sorted as nearly everything on battery. Still you will probably get better economy to a diesel. The Outlander would be one of the larger PHEV as well, you could get better economy from a smaller car/crossover.

On day to day in ours we are over 90% on battery so can't really do comparison.

The Kia Niro PHEV if you are lucky you could pick up around 20k, it will be 50km on battery.

Shefwedfan

colm_mcm wrote: »

What car would you go for?

Leaf 2 is probably not down to that price yet, Leaf issue is the chademo charger so you can't use Ionity

You "should" be able to pick up a eGolf Gen 2 or an Ioniq for the top of the OP budget.

The Zoe is too small in back.

I say should because I am not sure what the prices are at the moment

colm_mcm

Would any of these be big enough I wonder?

Curious Geroge

Lexus IS200 is very popular.. Seems to hold thee value quiet well

william

Hi again.

Have looked at the Audi A6, A4, BMW 5 series, Skoda Superb and Kodiaq so far.

BMW 5-Series and A6 are the ones I liked most. Would have to be a diesel based on the expected mileage.

Budget wise I’d be looking at 2016 2l models. Are there any model variants I should be seeking out or avoiding?

Thanks again for help.

Shefwedfan

william wrote: »

Hi again.

Have looked at the Audi A6, A4, BMW 5 series, Skoda Superb and Kodiaq so far.

BMW 5-Series and A6 are the ones I liked most. Would have to be a diesel based on the expected mileage.

Budget wise I’d be looking at 2016 2l models. Are there any model variants I should be seeking out or avoiding?

Thanks again for help.

What Bhp are you looking at? my brother swapped to a 191 A6, took the lower Bhp based on salesman advice and its driving him mad. Very sluggish

Heres Johnny

Shefwedfan wrote: »

What Bhp are you looking at? my brother swapped to a 191 A6, took the lower Bhp based on salesman advice and its driving him mad. Very sluggish

What bhp does your brother have? All I know of in the 2 litre is the 204bhp model which is badged a 40tdi. I test drive one and I'd hardly call it sluggish at all.

Heres Johnny

william wrote: »

Hi again.

Have looked at the Audi A6, A4, BMW 5 series, Skoda Superb and Kodiaq so far.

BMW 5-Series and A6 are the ones I liked most. Would have to be a diesel based on the expected mileage.

Budget wise I’d be looking at 2016 2l models. Are there any model variants I should be seeking out or avoiding?

Thanks again for help.

I'd be looking at S Line in the Audi and m sport in the 5 series. Much nicer looking than the standard models which are called SE in both cars. I had a 141 A6 and 5 series together in the house up to November and despite the 5 series being a 530d I actually preferred the Audi but mainly because it was nicer inside, very little between them especially if you're looking at 2 litre cars. Just be aware there is a 150bhp and a 190bhp in the A6 and the 190bhp is certainly the one to go for. And don't buy a manual in either, luckily most you see will be automatics.

Superb is a nice car and is bigger than the above despite being a good bit cheaper but not as nice, the A4 is nice but smaller and in a lower class too than the A6 and 5 series.

Can't comment on kodiaq but no suv in that class is going to give you the levels of comfort and refinement you get in an a6 or 5 series.

Lantus

william wrote: »

It would be the M1 Belfast and M8 to the southprimarily for those long runs. It would be a big step for me to go the full Elec route ...

At your price and requirements diesel is perfect. I'd be looking at the cars listed already like superb or mondeo. Reliable solid cruisers that will suit you perfectly.

william

Haven't made much progress since my last post.

Am seeing that UK cars with 'Approved used by BMW' have a significant premium on them for the 1 year warranty. Don't know whether to consider it or not.....Irish cars have a 2 year warranty. Probably makes the VRT calculation more complex also.

User1998

It wouldn’t effect VRT

Shefwedfan

Heres Johnny wrote: »

What bhp does your brother have? All I know of in the 2 litre is the 204bhp model which is badged a 40tdi. I test drive one and I'd hardly call it sluggish at all.

His is baseline engine so I guess the 204bhp model

Heres Johnny

Shefwedfan wrote: »

His is baseline engine so I guess the 204bhp model

Has he come from a bigger engine?

Shefwedfan

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Has he come from a bigger engine?

He had A6, this was upgrade, it was a 2014 I think, no idea what Bhp it was....I would guess it was a higher bhp to start with, he just mentioned it was sluggish and was pi**ed with seller ....he moved to Audi south Dublin this time and says he won’t go back next time because of it

Heres Johnny

Shefwedfan wrote: »

He had A6, this was upgrade, it was a 2014 I think, no idea what Bhp it was....I would guess it was a higher bhp to start with, he just mentioned it was sluggish and was pi**ed with seller ....he moved to Audi south Dublin this time and says he won’t go back next time because of it

I've a 2014 myself and drove the new one and didn't find it sluggish so we're coming from the same car. Sounds like it's defective or something. Just one thing to say to him but I'm sure he knows this, there's an economy mode in the Audi MMI for maximum fuel efficiency.
Think they're automatic, comfort, economy, dynamic and one other. In economy the car does feel much more sluggish and it is, its like some of the power is taken away.

bazz26

Shefwedfan wrote: »

He had A6, this was upgrade, it was a 2014 I think, no idea what Bhp it was....I would guess it was a higher bhp to start with, he just mentioned it was sluggish and was pi**ed with seller ....he moved to Audi south Dublin this time and says he won’t go back next time because of it

Presuming both are 2.0 TDi, the 2014 would have been 177bhp, the 2019 would be 204bhp.

Why would he be pissed with the seller?