Automatic car under €5k

MSVforever

Hi All,

Unfortunately I had an accident and my beloved Prius MK2 is a write off. I really loved the car as it was economical, reliable, practical and spacious. The bummer is that I only got a brand new hybrid battery fitted a few months ago.

Anyway I had a look around and there are very few hybrids available in this price range due to the massive price increase in the 2nd hand market so my choice very limited.

The following criteria are important:

1. Automatic

2. Petrol or Hybrid as we only drive around 150km per week

3. Ideally a hatchback due to practicality

4. Midsized car

We have tried the likes of Micra, Yaris and Fiesta but they too small for us 3.

I was thinking of a Civic 8th generation hatchback (either 1.4 or 1.8). Are they more spacious than the 7th generation?

Golf V (either 1.6 or 1.4 TSI) with DSG;

I used to have a Golf IV 1.4 which was fine but felt a bit sluggish (only issue was with electric windows acting up).

I would also consider a Seat Leon or Skoda Octavia.

Ford Focus 1.6l; I drove a manual version a few years ago and it felt good. Not sure about reliability though as I used to have a Mondeo which constantly broke down.

Another potential candidate is the Kia Ceed from 2008.

Any opinions/advice on above would be appreciated. I would also be interested in other alternatives.

Thanks.

colm_mcm

It’s a pity you aren’t getting the market value of your own car, if this is going through insurance then it’s worth looking at the payout vs replacement cost. I realise it mightn’t be going through insurance.

There’s a few 2008 Prius on Donedeal for under €5k

It would surely be worth harvesting the battery pack from your old one as well?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2008-prius-hybrid-nct-08-23-tax-01-24/33263308

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-prius-2008/33218699

MSVforever

Thanks Colm. I should have mentioned that I am based in Dublin.

I will try to see if the battery can be removed so I can try to sell it separately.

It will go through insurance as I caused the accident where another party is involved.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120204434#Comment_120204434

You will only get more from your insurance if you insured it for more than you bought it for. If you insured it for €5k that's the max you will get regardless of what it was worth pre crash.

If you take the battery they may reduce your payout because a hybrid is worthless without the battery or if its being written off the battery will be calculated into the scrap value.

colm_mcm

If the car belongs to the insurance company then you can’t just take parts off it. You may have the option to buy the car for scrap value/highest bid alright.

Do you know what valuation you had on the car?

hoodie6029

Bummer to have that happen OP. Ran a Prius 2 for 5 years too. Only traded it in as the rust was gonna end it.

Swapped the battery it myself about a year before I sold it. Got €150 for the dud battery. One in good condition should be worth €400 at least. Garage I sold it to said they were having a very hard time finding batteries.

If you can still get your old Prius back it’s a definite DIY job. You just need a socket set. ChrisFix has a whole video on how to do it.

Here’s another Prius 2. A bit much for a 14 year old car but the market is crazy and it’s a case of ‘find another one, you can’t’

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/33272838

Toyota Prius 2009

bluelamp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058282980/automatic-car-under-5k

The 8th gen civic is more spacious than all the others you've mentioned.

The 1.8 petrol engine is one of hondas best... never heard of one giving any trouble at all. Real world You'll get 40+ mpg, 50 if you try hard.

The older of the 8th generation came with i-shift gear boxes (automated manual) and were a bit crap. The newer of the 8th generation have a proper automatic box and are decent. You'll know by the gearstick... the i-shift is shaped like a manual gearstick.

Theres not many of the 1.8 for sale these days... but they'd be by far the most reliable car of all the ones you've mentioned, other than the prius possibly.

MSVforever

I bought it in 2019 for €2000 so that was the insurance value as well.

Initially I thought that I would keep it for 1-2 years and then get something else. As it turned out to be one of the most reliable bangers I have ever owned it was a keeper.

It would be a shame if the battery was scrapped as I only got it last November (it cost me €2k with a 5 year warranty). I had a chat with a mechanic in the garage were my car is stored since the accident and he suggested that I could ask the hybrid specialist where I got the battery if he was interested to buy it back. However if this causes issues with the insurance I will steer clear.

MSVforever

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120204886#Comment_120204886

Thanks. I think it will be written off.

How does the scrap value affect what I am getting back from the insurance?

It's the first time I had an accident where I had to claim from my insurance.

MSVforever

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120207845#Comment_120207845

Thanks. It's definitely a kicker as it was one of the most comfortable and reliable cars I have owned so far.

MSVforever

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120208655#Comment_120208655

Thanks. A chap in our estate owns one so he let me test it today. I was very impressed how spacious and comfortable it was inside. It's definitely on top of my list but as you mentioned there are very few for sale atm.

What do you think about the Kia Ceed 1.6 petrol? Is this on par with the Civic in terms of reliability?

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120209643#Comment_120209643

They will value the wreck on the parts left that can be reused and the weight of anything that can't be reused. If you take valuable parts off then there is less value in the wreck. You are already under insured. Remove the the battery and they will take the value of it from the amount they pay you.

Do you know how to safely remove the high voltage battery? Selling the battery sounds good in theory, then you have deal with the time wasters and buyers who don't know what a private sale means.

Iseedeadpixels

Whatever you do bring a Mechanic, I only drive Auto too and bought a 2010 i30 1.6 Diesel for 5.5k from a dealer with a good rep and its a stinker!

selectamatic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120209667#Comment_120209667

Petrol ceed would generally be very reliable.

hoodie6029

Astonished at how quickly that Prius I posted sold.

How about a Honda CRV?

2.0 petrol auto. 2008. Looks very clean and well minded. Tax is 710 a year.

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/33276594

Honda CR-V 2008 EX 2.0 Petrol AT

MSVforever

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120210231#Comment_120210231

Thanks for the explanation. I wouldn't be able to remove the battery myself however the crowd I bought the battery of might be interested. If this fails then I will let it go as I don't want to deal with time wasters.

MSVforever

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120210256#Comment_120210256

Thanks. This makes sense. Was the dealer fixing the issue you had afterwards?

MSVforever

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120213235#Comment_120213235

Thanks. That's good to know.

MSVforever

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120213519#Comment_120213519

Thanks. They go very quick indeed. This Honda looks lovely but is too large for my wife. I already had my eyes on a 2008 Lexus RX450h but had to discount it due to the size.

Iseedeadpixels

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120214252#Comment_120214252

No, They kept saying they couldn't find an issue even when the car was shaking with him in it, tbf to them they did offer to refund me but had a look online and no cars within that budget and was driving to work every day so got stuck with it.

hoodie6029

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120214289#Comment_120214289

The CRV is a good bit smaller than an RX. It might be worth a look with your OH if you don’t find something else given how thin on the ground petrol autos are.

bidiots

Lexus CT200h? Small enough for the wife?

colm_mcm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120217215#Comment_120217215

Double the budget though.

MSVforever

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120216263#Comment_120216263

Thanks. I will definitely going to have a look at a CRV.

MSVforever

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-insight-2010/33301119?campaign=6

Is this one worth a shot given there is a 2 year warranty on the battery, or is the mileage too high due to being a taxi?

User1998

The mileage wouldn’t concern me if theres proof of the new battery. As long as the high mileage has been reflected in the price

MSVforever

Hi All.

A bit of an update. The car is an insurance write off and I will get approximately €2500 (less €250 excess).

I haven spoken to the guy who was interested in the battery but advised I should better take the money as there might be something wrong with the battery due to the accident (I am no car electrician so take his word for it).

So we have been out and about to test drive a few cars from used car dealers but realized that our budget might be too low.

1.    Test drove a Kia Ceed 1.6 automatic (2008) which felt very harsh (sporty?) and the automatic wasn't really smooth. Plenty of power when accelerating from standstill but a bit jerky. It seems to be also thirsty on petrol for it's size.

2.    Honda Civic 2008 Ishift felt nice to drive but could feel every bump on the road and is also a bit cramped in the back.

3.    Toyota Vitz 1.0 automatic (2010) was not enough space for me. The ride and cabin noise at 70 kph was worse than in the 2021 Sandero rental car. It was also very slow to get to a decent speed.

4.    Then I made a big mistake and took a Lexus RX400h (2008) for a test drive. WOW, what a car. Easy to drive, extremely comfortable and from what I hear very reliable. As I mentioned before the size is putting me off (or more so my wife who is a learner), especially in terms of parking. I am also not sure how it is on petrol in town but guess it shouldn't be too bad due to being a hybrid. Motortax with €1250 per year is a killer but I could live with this.

Alternatively I will have to double my budget to get something Toyota Aqua/Prius C or a 2012 Golf or Polo DSG.

ongarite

Forget Aqua or Prius C. Both are Japanese imports which have no/poor security features and are very easy to steal. Quick search here or elsewhere will show this

Insurance costs for these are being reflected in the above

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120231480#Comment_120231480

I owned a Lexus RX400h recently for a few months. Amazing car, 400,000km. Very reliable but in a completely different class to the other cars you are looking at. Running costs are quite high. 2008 model still has €1,200 road tax. And my long term average was 11l/100km. Not great really. Parts and tyres are expensive too.

I’d imagine it would be fairly easy to drive for your wife tho. It has a reverse camera, big mirrors and good visibility.

I think something more sensible like another Prius would be a better option.

bazz26

If your wife is a learner driver then I'd say you will struggle to insure her on a RX400h even as a named driver.

Look at the Honda Fit or Jazz, deceptively spacious on the inside compared to the outside.

MSVforever

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120231495#Comment_120231495

Thanks. That's a shame as they seem to be good value in the current.

MSVforever

Thanks. I would be mainly driving in the suburbs and N roads. The odd time motorways up North. Approximately 10k km per annum. The car in question has a reconditioned hybrid battery, new tyres, new brake discs, new spark plug and the usual fluids changed. €1200 tax isn't great but I could live with this. You said it was averaging 11l which isn't bad for the size of the car but I am wondering what town driving gets you? Used to have a w210 Merc E200 which was averaging 15l/100km in town which was a bit much.

Unfortunately the proper Prius I am looking at are north of €15k hence my interest in an Aqua.

MSVforever

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120231557#Comment_120231557

Thanks. I checked the insurance and it would be approx €700 fully comp per annum with wife included.

Unfortunately the Fit/Jazz/Insight weren't comfortable enough in the driver seat comparison to a Golf for example. The likes of Auris, Corolla were grand though.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120231906#Comment_120231906

Yeah for the size of the vehicle its not bad but overall I’d imagine it has twice the consumption of a Prius.

On short trips with traffic I got around 6l/100km. That was taking it easy and kind of trying to avoid the engine kicking in. You could be driving for 15 minutes and the engine might not kick in at all.

Regarding the Aqua, only the models without push button start can be stolen because they have no alarm or immobiliser. Lots of Aqua’s get an aftermarket alarm & immobiliser fitted to prevent theft. But thieves may still attempt it and damage the car. I’m pretty sure its a non issue outside of a few rough areas in Dublin. I’ve left Vitz/Aqua unlocked in my garden for weeks and nothing happened

MSVforever

Hi All,

Just a bit of an update.

I finally got my settlement pay from the insurance and pulled the trigger on a 2008 Lexus RX400h. I have viewed plenty of cars within the last 2 weeks and either something was mechanically wrong, or they were way overpriced so paying €1250 tax per annum is a small price to pay for comfort and reliability.

Thanks for all the messages.

User1998

Happy motoring. One of the best cars I have owned

hoodie6029

Nice, best of luck with it.

MSVforever

Thanks guys! Much appreciated:)

bazzjazz

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread but I am in the market for a Lexus RX too and would love to get your feelings on it after over a year's ownership?