Help; recommend a used petrol

Darcy Volcano

Hi guys,

I'm looking for advice/opinions on a replacement car for my 09 Ford Focus. It is a 1.8tdci model and has served me pretty well, can't say it has caused me any sleepless nights but it's time to move up a couple of years. I have calculated that my annual mileage is not enough to justify diesel (<10k miles per annum) so am therefore looking for something driven by a petrol engine. Family of 2 kids between 7-13 so no buggies or the likes of anymore. Ideally I want something functionable, stylish, economical and most importantly reliable.

I've had a few ideas in my head so may as well post them to give an idea of what size I'm thinking of and what I would drive:

Hyundai i30/Kia Ceed
Ford Focus
Nissan Juke

Budget is up to 10k on top of the 09 Focus and would like to get up in the years as much as possible. I've read varying reviews of the 1.0 ecoboost Focus and the Juke 1.2 so am no clearer as to what I want to get.

Any recommendations given my budget/requirements greatly appreciated

Idbatterim

I wouldnt just write off diesel, because of mileage, if doing the kind of driving, where the typical diesel issues arise....

Darcy Volcano

Idbatterim wrote: »

I wouldnt just write off diesel, because of mileage, if doing the kind of driving, where the typical diesel issues arise....

Sorry, should have clarified, mostly short rural journeys, seldom motorway driven, hence my belief diesel would be troublesome and unnecessary.

Idbatterim

Darcy Volcano wrote: »

Sorry, should have clarified, mostly short rural journeys, seldom motorway driven, hence my belief diesel would be troublesome and unnecessary.

in that case yeah. Maybe look at hybrid too... I dont know if fully electric would work, but would cut the fuel and service bill down to as good as nothing

tinofapples

Idbatterim wrote: »

in that case yeah. Maybe look at hybrid too... I dont know if fully electric would work, but would cut the fuel and service bill down to as good as nothing

Thanks for that, not sure we have the guts to take on a used Hybrid/Electric car and not confident our rural mechanic would be over the moon to see one coming.

Anything else we're missing ? Are the Focus's a minefield with engine issues ?

pablo128

Auris. You might get a 1.2 turbo in your budget, or the older 1.3 dual vvti is a good engine too. Very reliable car.

Of course they are seen as a 'boring' car so I'm expecting to be shot down from all angles.

Edit. I see you have a car to trade as well. You would definitely get a 1.2 for your budget.

august12

tinofapples wrote: »

Thanks for that, not sure I have the guts to take on a used Hybrid/Electric car and not confident my rural mechanic would be over the moon to see one coming.

Anything else I'm missing ? Are the Focus's a minefield with engine issues ?

I am on my second juke and the only issue that annoys me, is the suspension, it's quite bumpy on rural roads but half my journey each day is motorway driving and it comes into its own, it's so smooth. It's a diesel and the most economical car I've owned but given your annual mileage and all rural driving, I wouldn't recommend it. Rear passenger space isn't an issue for me or storage but given you have two children with one being a teenager, then I wouldn't recommend.

Darcy Volcano

I'm not gone on the Auris but certainly hear the reliability argument.

I contacted a seller of a Focus 1.0 Ecoboost last night just as he had sold the car, I asked for opinions on the car to which I was told "heavy on juice". That may rule the 1.0 Focus outta the running as I had been told a similar story by a car dealer, thus shortening by selection even further.

colm_mcm

The 1.0 Focus isn’t worth the risk either in my opinion.

Darcy Volcano

Any thoughts on the i30 1.4 petrol ? Quite like the look of them.

colm_mcm

They’re good. Nippy enough, timing chain, no turbo to worry about.

Kia Ceed is the same basic thing.

PaulRyan97

The Astra K is grand and reliable, especially the 1.4. Worth taking a look at.

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/opel/astra/fpa/202001226464261

Darcy Volcano

PaulRyan97 wrote: »

The Astra K is grand and reliable, especially the 1.4. Worth taking a look at.

Quite like the exterior of the Astra, the interior isn't up to much though. Are they a decent car in 1.4 petrol form ? Have had Opel in the past and wasn't impressed, are they not poor quality cars in the last few years ? Trying the jump on the "German quality" badge.

PaulRyan97

Darcy Volcano wrote: »

Quite like the exterior of the Astra, the interior isn't up to much though. Are they a decent car in 1.4 petrol form ? Have had Opel in the past and wasn't impressed, are they not poor quality cars in the last few years ? Trying the jump on the "German quality" badge.

Yeah, I get what you mean, the Astra can be rather bland in the interior. The 1.4 is pretty decent alright, it's naturally aspirated so non-turbo. If you can stretch to it, I think the 1.0L turbo is the best pick, bit more efficient and quicker to respond.

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/opel/astra/fpa/202003068087138

Darcy Volcano

Considering a Seat Toledo 1.2 Tsi with 1 owner and low miles. Have test driven a VW Jetta with the same engine locally and was impressed with the performance for the engine size.

Anyone, anything of note with these ?

bazz26

What year is it? Some of those 1.2 TSi engines had timing chains that stretched and needed replacing. They switched back to a timing belt design later on which had a replacement interval.

colm_mcm

Darcy Volcano wrote: »

Considering a Seat Toledo 1.2 Tsi with 1 owner and low miles. Have test driven a VW Jetta with the same engine locally and was impressed with the performance for the engine size.

Anyone, anything of note with these ?

Watch out as there are different power output versions, think the base one is 86PS

tinofapples

Decisions , it's a minefield out there for people not in the know.

Darcy Volcano

It's a 2015, still an issue ?

It is indeed the 86bhp version where as the Jetta was 105 I think ? Might see if I can take a spin in one locally with 86bhp before I make any call on travelling further up the road.

Thanks for your advice lads, invaluable

colm_mcm

They changed over in mid 2015!


Also, I think power outputs may have changed too?

Rusky rusky

colm_mcm wrote: »

They changed over in mid 2015!


Also, I think power outputs may have changed too?

They changed in second half of 2014 during the facelift. My wife’s 2015 model polo with 90hp 1.2tsi was build in sep 2014 and has a belt. My 2015 model golf had 110hp and also had a belt.

colm_mcm

Rusky rusky wrote: »

They changed in second half of 2014 during the facelift. My wife’s 2015 model polo with 1.2tsi was build in sep 2014 and has a belt.

Not all cars changed over at the same time AFAIK.
Leon got the new engine in 2013, mk7 Golf would be the same.

appledrop

We had a Jetta years ago beautiful car to drive + never gave us a day of trouble. It was a petrol model. We only changed it as 12 years old but in lots of ways it still looked like a new enough car!

Rusky rusky

colm_mcm wrote: »

Not all cars changed over at the same time AFAIK.
Leon got the new engine in 2013, mk7 Golf would be the same.

You might be right. Mk7 always had a belt driven ea211 engine but the output was increased by 5hp for 2015. Mk6 golfs had a chain driven ea111 with 105hp. Not sure when they switched the engine in polo but it had a facelift in 2014.

Darcy Volcano

This particular one is belt driven. We'll see after the weekend.

colm_mcm

Don’t pay over the odds for one, they’re not at all sought after so bargain hard.

Darcy Volcano

Sorry for lack of response guys, went to see a Toledo 30 mins away, wasn't blown away by it at all, car was 1 owner, low miles, well specced but just didn't do anything for me whatsoever.

Can certainly see why you say " they’re not at all sought" colm

Changing car may not be all that important in the greater scheme of things at the moment, we'll see. I'll keep looking online. If you think I'm missing something please do suggest :P

Thanks again and stay safe …….. wash them hands and keep a distance

Darcy Volcano

After parking the search for almost 2 months, we resume. Went to look at a 17 Clio yesterday to get an idea of whether I could live with the size, very nice stylish car, with good spec. One previous owner, possibly ex rental I'd imagine (Forgot to ask). I'm sacrificing size for moving up in the years but the OH reckons it's plenty big enough for my needs and says his car has amble room for the family excursions.

Thoughts on the Clio ?

1.2 16V 75 DYNAMIQUE NAV
85k km
12 month warranty
Local dealer

kanuseeme

tinofapples wrote: »

Thanks for that, not sure we have the guts to take on a used Hybrid/Electric car and not confident our rural mechanic would be over the moon to see one coming.

Anything else we're missing ? Are the Focus's a minefield with engine issues ?

Your local mechanic better be near retirement age as or learn about rockets, because its coming if he likes it or not, this year nearly 20% of cars registered had some sort of battery in it, last year it was 11%,

Toyota/Honda are making hybrids for nearly 20 years, very little to go wrong with them and give about the same as diesel in economy and no need to worry about plugging it in.

A plug in hybrid is much the same only a bigger battery and you plug it in. short trips 20 to 40 km are done on battery depending on car and after that the petrol kicks in. so far this month I done 200 km in my plug-in and only used 60 cent of petrol.

An electric car would probably suit you as you do so little mileage, but thats where you will need guts

Darcy Volcano

Anyone on the Clio ? Are the modern ones better than those of old ?

appledrop

Personally I'd see that car as too small for family of four especially as your kids will keep growing. We all started with small cars but I'd never go back to one now.

punisher5112

Darcy Volcano wrote: »

Anyone on the Clio ? Are the modern ones better than those of old ?

Megane .... Is small for me....
Clio would be small...

Good cars though

Darcy Volcano

As previous posters have said, Clio too small for me and my needs. I guess I'm stuck looking at the medium hatchback market. Might even have to go to the UK as there is a very limited supply here for what I want/need, would love to have that peace of mind of local back up if/when things went wrong but

kanuseeme

The local back up, gets the car from the U.K then charges you 2 or 3 k or more for your peace of mind, better to put the savings in the credit union and have that back up for the car or other things in life that could go wrong.

User1998

And then they probably won’t fix it when something does go wrong because “its not covered under warranty”

Darcy Volcano

kanuseeme wrote: »

The local back up, gets the car from the U.K then charges you 2 or 3 k or more for your peace of mind, better to put the savings in the credit union and have that back up for the car or other things in life that could go wrong.

And then they probably won’t fix it when something does go wrong because “its not covered under warranty”

I hear you both

GavMan

Darcy Volcano wrote: »

Anyone on the Clio ? Are the modern ones better than those of old ?

Alot better but at that mileage it does feel like a rental for its age. Unless its rural and been getting well used. Its confusing because rental probably wouldn't have bought that spec

Belfast

I would consider a Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI.

2012 Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI 105BHP ELEGANCE €8,245
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2529370&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D80%26o%5B%5D%3D682%26d%3D8000%26e%3D10000%26f%3D1%26t%3D1%26yn%3D2010%26yx%3D2014%26g%3D0

2013 (131) Skoda Octavia **LEATHER**SAT NAV**IRISH CAR** 1.2 TSi ELEGANCE 5dr - SAT NAV €8,950
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2443211&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D80%26o%5B%5D%3D682%26d%3D8000%26e%3D10000%26f%3D1%26t%3D1%26yn%3D2010%26yx%3D2014%26g%3D0

2014 (141) Skoda Octavia Ambition 1.2tsi 105HP 4DR #39 €9,745
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2510556&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D80%26o%5B%5D%3D682%26d%3D8000%26e%3D10000%26f%3D1%26t%3D1%26yn%3D2010%26yx%3D2014%26g%3D0

colm_mcm

Those 2 old model Octavias are quite expensive, considering how old that model is now and what you can get the newer model for.

Darcy Volcano

Thanks guys, Octavia is on the shortlist alright. Having owned one previously (2006 1.4 petrol) I loved the car, great space and good solid feel to it but that engine was just a little gutless and underpowered for the body it carried, I'm sure the newer petrol engines are vastly improved.

colm_mcm

The 1.2 is way more punchy. Think the issues on that engine were addressed by the time the new model came out.

MarkR

Darcy Volcano wrote: »

Thanks guys, Octavia is on the shortlist alright. Having owned one previously (2006 1.4 petrol) I loved the car, great space and good solid feel to it but that engine was just a little gutless and underpowered for the body it carried, I'm sure the newer petrol engines are vastly improved.

I heard that the 1 litre petrol was actually a decent runner. I'm in a similar boat with a 2010 focus I'm thinking of changing.

colm_mcm

A relative has the 1.0 and can’t get over how good it is.
He had a 1.2 TSI Rapid Spaceback before that.