Looking for suggestions

gerry87

Hi - I'm looking a bit of guidance in my car search. My wife's '06 Mini packed it in just before Christmas, we've been managing fine since, but need to pick something up in the next few weeks/months.

A bit of information
- We're a couple, 30's, no kids but a baby on the way, so ideally 4/5 door with room for pram etc.
- We live close to Dublin City Center Dublin - both walk to work, so it won't be used a lot, occasionally around town, but hopefully would do us for a few road trips.
- We're not overly picky on make/model, but looking for as nice/clean/respectable as we can get, without spending too much.
- looking for something to just get us back on the road right now and will probably look to upgrade in 2 - 3 years. If we could keep us going without falling apart we would be happy-out.
- We've been looking around 2009/2010, we're ok going older if it's nice and not likely to cost a fortune to maintain.

Budget, could stretch to ~€4k to 5k if needed. But because it's a short term I've been seeing some acceptable 2009/2010's coming up in the €1k-€2k range. If something came up in this range I'd jump at it instead of spending more on something that will last a lot longer.

What I'm seeing in the range:
- Plenty of 2010 Passats / Insignias - Don't know much about them.
- Renault Grand Megane - We certainly don't need an estate, but we've plenty of on-street parking, and could be handy to have the extra space.
- Ford Focus - I don't really know the reputation of fords of this age.
- A few 2010 Astra's popping up that look decent.
- Then there are also some quite nice '08 / '09 BMW's and Merc's popping up. Would obviously be nice but I understand these are just well priced due to old ones being unreliable and expensive to repair. Best to avoid?

I'm keeping a close eye on Bangernomics thread.

Also, we may be taking a trip to Donegal soon - it looks slightly like there is some better value to be had up there, would that be wrong to think?

Any pointers would be welcome, either on things to look for or to avoid. Thanks!

Stallingrad

I wouldn't bother with any of those on your list bar the Focus. All can be expensive trouble that age/budget.

Sounds like you need a practical petrol, and having been there don't underestimate how much clobber one child needs.

Something like this would work.

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/seat/ibiza/fpa/201911124278988

Idbatterim

whats up with the mini. My mechanic next door has them in occasionally and they have never been uneconomic to repair...

gerry87

Idbatterim wrote: »

whats up with the mini. My mechanic next door has them in occasionally and they have never been uneconomic to repair...

It's gone, unfortunately. The head gasket blew (supposedly!), I foolishly got the insurance company involved to get a tow - it ended up going to a dismantlers yard before they said it was the gasket and so not covered. So we got the princely sum of €200 to scrap it.

Idbatterim

gerry87 wrote: »

It's gone, unfortunately. The head gasket blew (supposedly!), I foolishly got the insurance company involved to get a tow - it ended up going to a dismantlers yard before they said it was the gasket and so not covered. So we got the princely sum of €200 to scrap it.

shame! I wouldnt be going any of the cars you mentioned, would be going for a honda perhaps...

gerry87

Stallingrad wrote: »

I wouldn't bother with any of those on your list bar the Focus. All can be expensive trouble that age/budget.

Sounds like you need a practical petrol, and having been there don't underestimate how much clobber one child needs.

Something like this would work.

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/seat/ibiza/fpa/201911124278988

Thanks for this, I hadn't been narrowing down to petrol, but it probably makes sense for our uses!

A seat could certainly be a runner we hadn't considered.

gerry87

Idbatterim wrote: »

shame! I wouldnt be going any of the cars you mentioned, would be going for a honda perhaps...

I know, we just had it valeted too!

Thanks, haven't seen too many Honda's in the searches but I'll keep a closer eye out.

Idbatterim

gerry87 wrote: »

I know, we just had it valeted too!

Thanks, haven't seen too many Honda's in the searches but I'll keep a closer eye out.

go over to the bangernomics thread, some great value there, cars you could conceivably sell for the same amount in a year or two again, if you wanted to change...