Looking to buy this hybrid car. Better off getting a petrol one?

impop

Afternoon all,

Just looking this car (can't paste links)

2016 Toyota Aqua 1.5 Hybrid; €9,850; 94,216 km from "lowcostcarandvansales dot com"

I've never used a hybrid car but the lower car tax, insurance and running costs caught my eye, since I'm also buying a house.

I was initially thinking on this:

OPEL ASTRA 2016 1.4 PETROL; €11,950; 78,000 from "Diamond Car Sales"

I can't see the cons of the hybrid other than a relatively high mileage. Battery?

You can see my budget is max 10K. Won't be really giving extensive use but don't want a 1.0L either

Am I far off with that hybrid?

Thanks for the time

Miquel

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058209829/looking-to-buy-this-hybrid-car-better-off-getting-a-petrol-one

Toyota Aqua is a nice car but they are easily stolen and a Japanese import so check insurance before committing to one

Atlantic Dawn

It's a Japanese import, the head unit will be in Japanese and a pain in the hole to look at every day, otherwise a fine car. Easy to steal and insurance issues as mentioned too.

impop

Thank you both! Ok, is there a way to check whether it won't be in Japanese? or is it that all Aqua are Japan imported and will face the same? in that case, should I go for a Prius if I want a "cheap-ish" hybrid?

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117921404#Comment_117921404

Prius will be in Japanese as well. I never found it overly annoying in the Aqua and it might be possible to change it to English.

impop

Right, thanks again. I will check insurance first as ye said.

pale rider

A friend bought one, the seller changed the touchscreen to English at no extra charge so just ask the seller to do that.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117921583#Comment_117921583

Its not just the touch screen, its the speedometer and all the stuff built into the car. Touch screen is easy to swap out

impop

I'll get in touch with the insurance and if I'm happy I'll ask the seller. Maybe the previous owner already swapped it

marklazarcovic

Honda fit hybrid is far superior to the aqua,aqua is very basic. Been in both , several models,when looking a year ago.

Imo.

Notch000

the newer astras are a miserable POS

Leonard Hofstadter

Some of the engines in them are junk as well, the diesels should be avoided like the plague

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117922287#Comment_117922287

True but they are a lot more expensive

impop

ha, so I had ruled out those hybrid because of the high mileage and have found out they were taxi

So the opel/vauxhall astras are s...e too?

I looked into

2016 (161) Opel Astra, SRi 1.4i 100PS, 72K Km from Murphy Doyle (although from the pics I can see is Vauxhal)

and the previous astra I had put up here

2016 (161) Opel Astra

1.4 SC Hatchback Petrol Manual (100bhp), 78K Km from "Diamond Car Sales"

Are these s...e too then? Why is so? engine?

In that case, Maybe I should ask it the other way around? What would be good value for around 10K?

bazz26

There is not very much in the way of good value out there now. Your 10k goes less further than it did say 12 months or 2 years ago. Used cars have gotten more expensive since Brexit.

impop

Yeah, so I've read. But I've also read it's not getting any better either so it's like building a computer. Should I wait until the new model of X comes out or buy now? Just buy it when you need it I believe.

So in your opinion the astras as meh?

bazz26

Yes, there is a reason there are 2016 models within your budget. They are not very desirable.

impop

Are they faulty? Is it specific to Astra or any 2016 car in general?

impop

ok, nevermind, those 2 Astras are gone now haha. What about Corsa SE from 2016? Same old same old?

Gatorcar

Just to point out if you are thinking of buying a Japanese import, 100k km in Japan will generally have a lot less wear and tear than 100k km in Ireland as the Japanese owners are pretty meticulous and the shaken (Japanese NCT) is super strict so cars are well taken care of.