Help: low budget diesel vs petrol

OEP

I hope this question hasn't been done to death.

I'm looking for a car for less than 10k, ideally less than 8k. It will be mostly city driving with around 2 weekends a month travelling down the country on the motorway. Ideally I'd get a petrol car but the choice of second hand cars in that budget is terrible, compared to diesel. I want something around the size of a Seat Leon, Renault Megane, Mazda 3, Honda Civic etc. and ideally not older than 12/13.

My question - I can easily get a diesel in this price range, but would it be foolish given the type of driving I do and given the fact that diesels are being forced out somewhat. Any car suggestions are welcome too, thanks.

Rows Grower

OEP wrote: »

I hope this question hasn't been done to death.

I'm looking for a car for less than 10k, ideally less than 8k. It will be mostly city driving with around 2 weekends a month travelling down the country on the motorway. Ideally I'd get a petrol car but the choice of second hand cars in that budget is terrible, compared to diesel. I want something around the size of a Seat Leon, Renault Megane, Mazda 3, Honda Civic etc. and ideally not older than 12/13.

My question - I can easily get a diesel in this price range, but would it be foolish given the type of driving I do and given the fact that diesels are being forced out somewhat. Any car suggestions are welcome too, thanks.

Get a low mileage petrol Honda Civic circa. 2007-2011 keep the change and away you go.

bazz26

Petrol examples of the cars you are looking at:

https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2466756&r=s.php%3Fm%3D32%26o%3D282%26r%3D2012%26g%3D0
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2523878&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D34%26o%5B%5D%3D1286%26f%3D1%26yn%3D2012%26yx%3D2013%26g%3D0
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2475032&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D88%26o%5B%5D%3D1154%26f%3D1%26yn%3D2012%26yx%3D2013%26g%3D0

OEP

bazz26 wrote: »

Petrol examples of the cars you are looking at:

https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2466756&r=s.php%3Fm%3D32%26o%3D282%26r%3D2012%26g%3D0
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2523878&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D34%26o%5B%5D%3D1286%26f%3D1%26yn%3D2012%26yx%3D2013%26g%3D0
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2475032&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D88%26o%5B%5D%3D1154%26f%3D1%26yn%3D2012%26yx%3D2013%26g%3D0

I suppose I was mostly looking at less than 8k but they're some good options, thanks.

Shefwedfan

What distance is the motorway?

colm_mcm

Leaf grooming!

OEP

Shefwedfan wrote: »

What distance is the motorway?

160km plus another 40km on a national primary road! No home charging either so electric is out if the question if that's where you're going.

Shefwedfan

OEP wrote: »

160km plus another 40km on a national primary road! No home charging either so electric is out if the question if that's where you're going.

More seeing if hybrid might make some sense


If your driving 200km each way every 2 weeks then might be worth looking at diesel. What do you do outside this driving?

OEP

City driving to and from work basically which is about 6km each way

colm_mcm

How many journeys would you do in a typical weekday?

OEP

2 journeys, one to work and one home. Maybe one evening a week doing another trip of about 7km. All in Dublin city inside the m50

colm_mcm

Hard to make a case for diesel in your case IMO.

Do you like having a bit of power, or is this even a factor for you?

I’m thinking Seat Leon 1.2 TSI or 1.4 TSI

con747

OEP wrote: »

2 journeys, one to work and one home. Maybe one evening a week doing another trip of about 7km. All in Dublin city inside the m50

A diesel is the only economic option on that mileage. I had a Megane 3 estate a while back and put 300k on it and the clutch was all I needed to replace apart from the usual wear and tear items. Couldn't fault the engine. The electrics were all good as well.

Sorry, misread post. Thought you were doing 200km on a daily basis.

Shefwedfan

con747 wrote: »

A diesel is the only economic option on that mileage. I had a Megane 3 estate a while back and put 300k on it and the clutch was all I needed to replace apart from the usual wear and tear items. Couldn't fault the engine. The electrics were all good as well.

Sorry, misread post. Thought you were doing 200km on a daily basis.

They are doing 7km a trip, how would a diesel be economical?

Shefwedfan

You could buy a bike and get the bus for long trip :-)

All honestly for doing 6-7km in Dublin you would be better on a scooter or something like that, then buy a cheap diesel for the long trip at weekend.

con747

Shefwedfan wrote: »

They are doing 7km a trip, how would a diesel be economical?

Try reading the end of post.

Idbatterim

cheapest thing to do , is buy a bangernomic and in this climate, its what I would be doing if I had to change. But if you do the two long trips, the diesel might be ok...

Shefwedfan

Idbatterim wrote: »

cheapest thing to do , is buy a bangernomic and in this climate, its what I would be doing if I had to change. But if you do the two long trips, the diesel might be ok...

Ask them to throw in a few bog rolls as well with the deal :P

OEP

So all of the city driving is done by my other half, I cycle. I don't disagree with the scooter idea but it's a battle I'm not going to win!

Rows Grower

OEP wrote: »

So all of the city driving is done by my other half, I cycle. I don't disagree with the scooter idea but it's a battle I'm not going to win!

A scooter is not worth the hassle or expense when you consider the cost of compulsory training you'd need to do before you can use it.

OEP

Thoughts on this? Is an Auris considered good? I'm mainly looking for something reliable, doesn't need to be overly exciting to drive. Given the exchange rate at the moment, going up north is attractive.

https://www.charleshurstgroup.co.uk/used-car/toyota/auris/1-6-v-matic-sport-5dr/id/245661

colm_mcm

They’re good, plenty power for a 1.6. Interior is a bit of an acquired taste but yeah they’re grand.

Interior of that particular one might have had a hard life, unusual scratches on the dash. Seats look clean though.

Spec on those is decent too.

OEP

colm_mcm wrote: »

They’re good, plenty power for a 1.6. Interior is a bit of an acquired taste but yeah they’re grand.

Interior of that particular one might have had a hard life, unusual scratches on the dash. Seats look clean though.

Spec on those is decent too.

Thanks. I've never actually bought a car before so I wouldn't have a clue what to look out for

colm_mcm

My only tip with Charles Hurst is to deal with them in Belfast and not Dublin.

OEP

I'm back again, that last car was gone the next day. I have found another, there are no pictures but they sent me a video and it looks in good condition. I have sterling at £0.94 to €1, so I managed to get a great rate. Thoughts on this? Also, seeing as I have the exchange rate locked in, do you think it would be better to wait a few weeks as there might be better deals given the current situation?

https://www.curtiscars.co.uk/used-cars/toyota-auris-hatchback-16-v-matic-sport-5dr/18350/

I won't pay more than £7000, and ideally closer to £6750, but that's probably asking too much.

colm_mcm

They’re a good dealer, we bought a load of stuff off them back in the day.

What are you basing your value for money on? It’s half the mileage and a year newer than the last one.

OEP

Basically my budget. 7250 is over budget, 7 is stretching it and around 6750 is ideally what I would have liked to have spent before seeing this car.

bazz26

A few weeks ago I would have said there was no chance of getting £500 discount off a UK dealer on a £7k car but the world is a different place today. Chance your arm.

colm_mcm

I got a discount and a timing belt done early on mine so anything’s possible!

bazz26

You did well there.

colm_mcm

Exchange rate wasn’t as good though, think it was 91.5 because of Brexit, dropped just after that.

OEP

I didn't want to start a new thread, so hopefully someone can help me here.

How do I get the car home? I'm a named driver on my girlfriend's insurance and she is covered to drive other cars. We'll drive up to get a car in her car, can she drive the new one home and I drive her one? Are there any other options to getting insured driving a car that hasn't been registered in the republic?

User1998

What you said is fine and most insurers allow 14 to 30 days cover for uk cars

bazz26

Your girlfriend needs to check her insurance policy or with her insurance company. Driving of other cars may only apply to cars that are Irish registered, have a valid NCT or are already insured. It can depend on the insurance company.

colm_mcm

Unlikely to cover uk reg unless it’s temporarily transferred.

OEP

What's the usual way of getting a car home after buying in the north?

colm_mcm

OEP wrote: »

What's the usual way of getting a car home after buying in the north?

They have a motorway that goes to Dublin

OEP

colm_mcm wrote: »

They have a motorway that goes to Dublin

I left myself open for that!

But how do you drive home insured? Don't insurance companies require the car to be registered down here?

colm_mcm

No, they give you a month in most cases.

Don’t think they’re as fussy about tax as in mainland uk either, so I didn’t bother with it.

bazz26

Insurance companies will allow you to transfer your existing policy to a UK reg car you just bought for up to 30 days until it is VRT'd and Irish plates are put on. However if you don't already have a policy then it can be very difficult to start a new policy on a UK reg car.

The alternative is to get it transported from the dealer down to your address in the south. You would still have to find some way to get it to the NCT centre to be VRT'd and issued an Irish reg though.

OEP

I might just rent a car and drive up, girlfriend can then transfer her policy to drive down the new car.