Recommend a car

twiddleypop

I know cars can be a personal preference but would love some advice. Budget is 15k. No kids or none on the horizon. Live in Dublin but will be travelling down the country a bit when the restrictions lift and doing lots of trips beyond my 5km (hopefully sometime this year!). Working from home so no commute. To be honest, I probably won't buy anything until restrictions lift but spending the night researching cars and fantasising about the open road. No car of my own at the moment, insured on another car though. I know I should get something sensible and reliable but the 1 series BMW caught my eye... Any advice?

https://m.carzone.ie/used-cars/BMW/1-Series-116d-M-Sport-DIESEL-LOW-MILES/202101278406802

Limbo123

twiddleypop wrote: »

I know cars can be a personal preference but would love some advice. Budget is 15k. No kids or none on the horizon. Live in Dublin but will be travelling down the country a bit when the restrictions lift and doing lots of trips beyond my 5km (hopefully sometime this year!). Working from home so no commute. To be honest, I probably won't buy anything until restrictions lift but spending the night researching cars and fantasising about the open road. No car of my own at the moment, insured on another car though. I know I should get something sensible and reliable but the 1 series BMW caught my eye... Any advice?

https://m.carzone.ie/used-cars/BMW/1-Series-116d-M-Sport-DIESEL-LOW-MILES/202101278406802

If I had 15k to spend, no kids, not doing the mileage to warrant having a diesel and am fantasising about the open road I wouldn't be eyeing up a 116d. I'd be treating myself to a hot hatch to put smiles for miles on my face.

Matthewjohn

That 1 series looks well and is nicely specced, but the 116d isn't the most exciting or powerful model around. Three month warranty could be better also. Diesels are made to be driven and it might be worth while to consider the kind of driving you see yourself doing before buying a diesel. If it's mainly short distances with the odd long spin here and then petrol is probably the way to go.

A few alternatives:

Petrol Volvo V40, with a 1 year warranty:

https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2647803&r=s.php%3Fm%3D94%26o%3D852%26g%3D4

Mazda 3

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/mazda/mazda3/fpa/202009033284252?SOURCE_ID=SOURCE_ID_FPA_FROM_TARGETED_FEAT_DEAL&journey=TargetedFeaturedDealer

smellyoldboot

Have you considered a Caminero?

It'd be above your budget, but I'm not wholly sure how much by, as there's no VRT price for it. But although I'm not really a BMW fan (as many here are) this is a pretty sporty looking motor:


https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/stunning-bmw-420d-msport-audi-mercedes-volkswagen/26970002


Alternatively, if you wanted something that still looks nice, but is generally reliable, cheaper to insure and run, this is a nice looking Clio:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/renault-clio-2018-dynamique-s-nav-69-p-w/26696387?campaign=3

Edit; this Clio is nice aswell, and priced keenly, albeit the last picture makes me think the seller is an idiot who may have 'boy raced' the bollocks out of it;

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/171-renault-clio-high-end-sport-model/26125278

smellyoldboot

How many posts before some weirdo suggests an ionic(ugly fcuking thing) or Kona (middle aged gelding car) because the environment dude.

twiddleypop

smellyoldboot wrote: »

How many posts before some weirdo suggests an ionic(ugly fcuking thing) or Kona (middle aged gelding car) because the environment dude.

Haha that made me laugh.. Have considered electric but it will probably be the next car.

Thanks for all the suggestions, lots to think about.

What would be considered low mileage. 10-15k per year?? Notice a lot of the BMWs have insanely high mileage.

twiddleypop

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It'd be above your budget, but I'm not wholly sure how much by, as there's no VRT price for it. But although I'm not really a BMW fan (as many here are) this is a pretty sporty looking motor:


https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/stunning-bmw-420d-msport-audi-mercedes-volkswagen/26970002


Alternatively, if you wanted something that still looks nice, but is generally reliable, cheaper to insure and run, this is a nice looking Clio:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/renault-clio-2018-dynamique-s-nav-69-p-w/26696387?campaign=3

Edit; this Clio is nice aswell, and priced keenly, albeit the last picture makes me think the seller is an idiot who may have 'boy raced' the bollocks out of it;

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/171-renault-clio-high-end-sport-model/26125278

That BMW is stunning!

punisher5112

Golf GTi
Octavia vRS
Leon cupra or fr
Civic 1.8
Volvo S60
Passat cc
BMW 3 or 5

punisher5112

twiddleypop wrote: »

That BMW is stunning!

Wheels are extra and don't forget the Nox tax on top of vrt and also if bringing in from across the water extra charges but from the north like this one is will be ok once it's from the north and not brought over from the UK in the past 12 months I believe is the catch.

bazz26

Nothing says cool like a manual pretend M4 diesel.....

selectamatic

Lexus ct200h would suit
(in F sport trim if appearance is important)

bazz26

bazz26 wrote: »

Nothing says cool like a manual pretend M4 diesel.....

And the vast majority of the population wouldn't have a notion what any of that means, and would like it for it's aesthetics nonetheless.

Although punisher probably knows more about it's finance side and it probably does get pushed a bit out of budget.

punisher5112 wrote:

Wheels are extra

What do they actually mean when they write that? It's always northern lads selling cars that write that ****e in them, and I know of two people personally who, once that line was in the ad, just clicked out and ended up buying elsewhere. Seems a silly thing to put in the ad as it simply puts people off.

Wildly Boaring

Wheels extra means I'm keeping these nice wheels.
Kinda what it says on the tin.

User1998

It can be annoying when a car you like the look of is actually €1k dearer than you expected but if they put the new wheels on and gave no choice for buyers to opt for the standard wheels at a lower cost it’s eliminating potential buyers

James Bond Junior

My wife had a 116d from new which was replaced by a 4 series. The 116d in 2.0l guise is plenty powerful for the majority of people. She regretted the move tbh and still pines after her little 1er. She had mini's and an Audi A3 before and the 1 was her favourite of them all. The 2 series is essentially the same but a little snazzier.

My mother bought a 116d on the back of driving my wife's and replaced it like for like for a newer one again. She got the 1.5d when she upgraded and it is pretty gutless but again fine for most.

If buying one, buy the AUTO. No exceptions. I live abroad but a 3.0L petrol 1 or 2 series is high on my list when I come home, even in basic engine versions they are one of the best cars I've ever driven.

User1998

User1998 wrote: »

It can be annoying when a car you like the look of is actually €1k dearer than you expected but if they put the new wheels on and gave no choice for buyers to opt for the standard wheels at a lower cost it’s eliminating potential buyers

Well I've seen two people I know personally be turned off ads because they were like the BMW ad I linked above about the wheels, and I know I personally would also be clicking out, unless I was obsessed with the particular car for sale.


What would help to keep people interested would perhaps be a photo of the car with the standard wheels, and including the cost of the bigger wheels, and the cost of the standard wheels. That way there are no question marks hanging over the ad.


There are thousands of cars on Donedeal, why any seller would create confusion or not include such details is beyond me. It's like having a price as POA - People are just going to move onto the next ad.

Wildly Boaring

At the minute a uk reg would have me close an ad.
Too many unknowns.

A northern reg I can deal with

AMKC

I got the perfect car for you. A bit over budget but still wait till you see it,

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bentley-continental-gt-6-0-w12-auto/26076597

What a car although the blue might not be to everyone's taste. I do not think it's too bad except for the steering wheel.

smellyoldboot

AMKC wrote: »

I got the perfect car for you. A bit over budget but still wait till you see it,

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bentley-continental-gt-6-0-w12-auto/26076597

What a car although the blue might not be to everyone's taste. I do not think it's too bad except for the steering wheel.

I dread to think what damage tax and insurance would do to you in this country with a 6L engine. lol

passatman86

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/08-honda-civic-fd2-type-r/26710125?campaign=3

Id have this

Buddy Bubs

passatman86 wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/08-honda-civic-fd2-type-r/26710125?campaign=3

Id have this

Modded civic type R. Expect a nice conversation with your insurance company and ongoing conversations with garda until the day you sell it. Young lad in work bought a tarted up audi a3 with silly wheels, silly spoiler, silly exhaust and silly body kit.
Gets pulled over the whole time in it.

AMKC

Lovely little Honda,

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2012-honda-crz/27021958

I think that's it's best colour too. It looks the best in that colour. A car ahead of it's time.

colm_mcm

Does that car belong to a boardsie?

punisher5112

Was that the one crashed into?

jt69er

Would welcome any thoughts on this car
https://www.carsireland.ie/2686912

colm_mcm

Seller is good, car is grand, most likely ex company car from the uk.
Colour isn’t great.

Greenlights16

jt69er wrote: »

Would welcome any thoughts on this car
https://www.carsireland.ie/2686912

You’ll still save money taking a superb from the UK with a GB plate and VRT&Nox included at about €3897 on that car approx.

2017 one today I saw, same spec, 28,822 miles (warranted) £11,650

But then I suppose people want the relationship with the dealer and warranties etc he may add

berocca2016

twiddleypop wrote: »

I know cars can be a personal preference but would love some advice. Budget is 15k. No kids or none on the horizon. Live in Dublin but will be travelling down the country a bit when the restrictions lift and doing lots of trips beyond my 5km (hopefully sometime this year!). Working from home so no commute. To be honest, I probably won't buy anything until restrictions lift but spending the night researching cars and fantasising about the open road. No car of my own at the moment, insured on another car though. I know I should get something sensible and reliable but the 1 series BMW caught my eye... Any advice?

https://m.carzone.ie/used-cars/BMW/1-Series-116d-M-Sport-DIESEL-LOW-MILES/202101278406802

Viewed this myself, lovely yoke just not in a position to buy at the moment.

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Polo/fpa/202010074722670

Ericaa

colm_mcm wrote: »

Does that car belong to a boardsie?

punisher5112 wrote: »

Was that the one crashed into?

It's not mine if that's who you're thinking of

I'll never let mine go

AMKC

berocca2016 wrote: »

Viewed this myself, lovely yoke just not in a position to buy at the moment.

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Polo/fpa/202010074722670

Nice little Polo that and nice colour too. Would want to a very responsible person do and not a young naive person to drive that. 1.8 in it. Must be a rocket to go. A pity the dash is so frumpy do but at least the steering wheel is nice.

AMKC

How about getting yourself a nice classy couple like this below,

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/renault-laguna-coupe/27124093

And using the rest of that money for insurance, tax and a holiday away somewhere when you can go.