Any one got one of those secret car sales guide thingeys handy?

Ive got an old one so I don't know if I'm up to date.

I'm looking at a 2001 VW Golf Comfortline from a dealer.

One owner, and 36,000 miles. In pretty ok nick.

They are looking for €12,250.

This sound reasonable?

this thingy

30-6shooter

Bloody Golfs. :rolleyes: I hope its a 1.6L at least if you expect it to move at all.

Better off with a Focus, 306, octavia even, anything but an over-rated/over-expensiveVW.

bazz26

ronoc wrote:

Ive got an old one so I don't know if I'm up to date.

I'm looking at a 2001 VW Golf Comfortline from a dealer.

One owner, and 36,000 miles. In pretty ok nick.

They are looking for €12,250.

This sound reasonable?

Too expensive for a 4.5 year old car that has been replaced by a newer model. Should be buying this for closer to €11k. Don't listen to crap from the dealer about it being the Comfortline model. This model only has what other makers having been giving as standard for a good couple of years.

30-6shooter

30-6shooter wrote:

Bloody Golfs. :rolleyes: I hope its a 1.6L at least if you expect it to move at all.

Better off with a Focus, 306, octavia even, anything but an over-rated/over-expensiveVW.

1.4

I have a strange fondness for those big lumps of german engineering.

Plus I am coming from a 2L diesel corolla, so after that a suzuki swift would feel powerful!

Cyrus

1.4 golf is as slow as slow can be really!

30-6shooter

If you need a 1.4, get a decent Focus.

Otherwise, get a 2.0L Hdi turbo diesel Pug 306. Way more bang for buck.

Ps: your 2litre corolla diesel wil be faster than that 1.4golf. The golf is 74Hp, and heavy.

oli_ro

As a cheaper alternative to mkIV golfs, what do you think about the opel astra ? (the model before the new ones).

Yeah Kinda like that.

I'm reconsidering my Volkswagon choice after looking at my finances!

I want a reasonable car but not pay through the nose!

I'm looking at maybe a 5 door Almera as well as the focus.

hmm decisions.

Cyrus

not an almera, its an awful car, def get a focus over that

Cyrus

Cyrus wrote:

not an almera, its an awful car, def get a focus over that

Yeah the more I look at the focusthe more I am liking them.

Looking at a 2000 model with a list price of 10,500 although I'm sure I can knock that down a bit as they have a rake of them sitting in their yard.

Any more thoughts?

Thanks for your advice guys

Cyrus

yep, get a 3door in silver or balck with nice alloys (not after market ones but the ford ones)

You have a nice sporty looking car which handles well

Like this type of thing

http://www.cbg.ie/Car_detail.asp?CBGID=310347&ID=539161&Make=Ford&Model=Focus&frmFilter=All#

samo

Just to add ....I had an almera for a while, the 00 old style 1.4. HORRIBLE is being polite ....not a nice car, crap on petrol, crap handling, just not nice changed it for an 01 Focus 1.4 estate and the difference was unreal, It was a much better car IMO.

Try the South Dublin Ford Centre actually got a great deal from them including trade in and was pretty happy with the car/price overall.

3 door or 5 door focus..

Share your feelings

lomb

larger cars offer the best value, eg a 99 7 series bmw fully loaded with leather and climate and auto would be about that kind of money

BMW
MODEL: 728
VERSION: I E38 04DR A / SALOON / AUTOMATIC / PETROL ONLY /
MILEAGE: 70000 MILES

The information requested in respect of the vehicle shown is indicated below.
DATE OF FIRST REGISTRATION(MM/YY): JANUARY 1999
OPEN MARKET SELLING PRICE:
(applicable on enquiry date) €11588
RATE OF TAX: 30.0%
VEHICLE REGISTRATION TAX:
(payable on enquiry date) €3476

lomb

lomb wrote:

larger cars offer the best value, eg a 99 7 series bmw fully loaded with leather and climate and auto would be about that kind of money

BMW
MODEL: 728
VERSION: I E38 04DR A / SALOON / AUTOMATIC / PETROL ONLY /
MILEAGE: 70000 MILES

The information requested in respect of the vehicle shown is indicated below.
DATE OF FIRST REGISTRATION(MM/YY): JANUARY 1999
OPEN MARKET SELLING PRICE:
(applicable on enquiry date) €11588
RATE OF TAX: 30.0%
VEHICLE REGISTRATION TAX:
(payable on enquiry date) €3476

Woah whered ya get that information

plz share

lomb

www.ros.ie

bazz26

The Focus to have in my opinion is the 3dr Zetec model in Moondust Silver. Looks well with the alloys, front fogs and Zetec trim. The only downside to the Focus was that ABS was not standard on the car back then which is an important safety feature. I also think the lines of the original Focus looks better than the new model.

I would definately pay below €10k for a 2000 model. Again remember this is a five and a half year old car that has been replaced by a new model and there are plenty to choose.

Here are a few examples:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=256016
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=243246

Also as an alternative look at these:

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=236496
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=232455
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=256459
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=254860
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=240249
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=236948
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=241275
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=240340
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=189176

Cyrus

those two focus's linked are nice

however if we are linking octavias (anything non rs just wont do it for me ) and avensis's

have a mans car

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=255944

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=255681

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=170028

or even

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=227590

or stretch to this

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=251941

nice


found this on my travels. Have been reading for the past hour.
http://www.newbuyer.com/autonew/howtobuy/dealers.htm

ando

that second focus linked is a 1.6.
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=243246

although I never drove a 1.6 I've been told they are a lot more lively than the 1.4. The 1.4 is slow

bazz26

Best stick with the Focus, Octavia, Passat, Avensis, etc they are the thinking man's car. They will see you through the other side of 100k miles without any issues and will be kind to your pocket.

Alfas like other Fiats are cheap second hand for a reason and its not because sellers are kind or generous.

Cyrus

bazz26 wrote:

Best stick with the Focus, Octavia, Passat, Avensis, etc they are the thinking man's car. They will see you through the other side of 100k miles without any issues and will be kind to your pocket.

Alfas like other Fiats are cheap second hand for a reason and its not because sellers are kind or generous.

Thinking mans car? try boring old mans car, if you want a car that will last until 2090 buy a toyota corolla

And i wouldnt generalise about reliability like that, octavia/passats/golfs arent as reliabile as people believe VAG reliability hasnt been brilliant for a while now.

Cyrus

Cyrus wrote:

Thinking mans car? try boring old mans car, if you want a car that will last until 2090 buy a toyota corolla

And i wouldnt generalise about reliability like that, octavia/passats/golfs arent as reliabile as people believe VAG reliability hasnt been brilliant for a while now.

I'm driving a 92 corolla with 160k on it at the moment, Have great respect for it. I'd bet it would last at least another 100k if it was looked after.

Cyrus

thats all well and good but do you look back at it when you walk away?

bazz26

Well calling these cars boring old man's cars is a generalisation too. Not everyone buys a car just based on it's looks, otherwise the whole country would probably be driving Alfas. Alot of people look at reliability, cost of ownership, maintenance and durability. I'm not overly concerned whether the likes of a Toyota lasts until 2090 but I want it to last for as long as I own it, whether it be 2 or 8 years. How many 8 or 9 year old Alfas do you see driving around? You can call it boring if you but I can live with that. But I do agree with you about the reliability of VAG, it is average.

Back to the original poster, if you are keen on a Focus best thing to do is go and test drive one. Don't be afraid to walk away if the price is not right as there are plenty about. The 1.4 is a bit slogish but will probably be a rocket ship compared to the old Corolla diesel which was not the most refined in it's day.

Best of luck with your choice.

Cyrus

fair enough bazz, alfas get an unduly hard time from non alfa owners it just rankles sometimes, and only for the savage depreciation i wouldnt have been able to afford mine

As for the focus,id really go for a 1.6 if i could, and as bazz said a nice zetec trim in silver is really nice id have one of those myself!

bazz26

bazz26 wrote:

Back to the original poster, if you are keen on a Focus best thing to do is go and test drive one. Don't be afraid to walk away if the price is not right as there are plenty about. The 1.4 is a bit slogish but will probably be a rocket ship compared to the old Corolla diesel which was not the most refined in it's day.

Best of luck with your choice.

Sage advice.
I think I kind of got caught up in the whole get a new car mood and wasn't thinking sensibly.

Ive done a bit of home work and I'm going to get finance sorted before jump at anything.

Very easy to overspend if you have a slick salesperson throwing low weekly payments at you!

impr0v

I used to drive a 3 door 1.6i zetec Focus and would recommend it without reservation.

HashSlinging

Cyrus wrote:

And i wouldnt generalise about reliability like that, octavia/passats/golfs arent as reliabile as people believe VAG reliability hasnt been brilliant for a while now.

my SEAT leon 1.6 had 80,000 miles on it, and it never gave me so much as one problem. I had the Golf 1.6 before that and the same, no problems. I only changed as I thought the Golf was too bland.

Of course there will be a few people who buy VW cars just for the badge but cant afford to get them serviced properly, but to say the problem is with the group as a whole is BS.

Cyrus

i have an alfa 156 and have had no problems, eoin_s has one and his dad ditto.

does that mean alfa do not have a reliability problem?