First Car Recommendations?

Tech Pete

Hey,

I'm looking to get a car soon.
Something for me, the missus and her kid aswell as all her toys and crap.
Basically a saloon. Now im 20 and have a provisional license.

I'm considering getting a VW Bora '00 for €6,500.
Any recommendations for me?

causal

If safety is a requirement then consider the Euro NCAP results (if available) for whichever car you choose.
Something in the recesses of my mind makes me think Seat Leon when I hear VW Bora.
Fair play to you going for a sensible car to suit your needs

causal

stratos

I am sorry I know this isn't helpfull.
But I can't wait for the buy a 27 year old bmw 740iL, debate to start again

ds20prefecture

Tech Pete wrote:

Hey,

I'm looking to get a car soon.
Something for me, the missus and her kid aswell as all her toys and crap.
Basically a saloon. Now im 20 and have a provisional license.

I'm considering getting a VW Bora '00 for €6,500.
Any recommendations for me?

Like Causal, I would immediately think of the VW group alternatives to a VW - i.e. Skoda Octavia/Fabia or Seat Toledo/Leon.

The Fabia is probably more than sufficient for your needs, but the Octavia can be had with a 75bhp 1.4 engine too and it's a much bigger car.

Just for perspective, I know of a '00 2.0 selespeed Alfa 156 going for €6,250 - but this really wouldn't suit as a first car. The insurance would be mad.

Tech Pete

Thanks i'll look at those other cars.

Man the Octavia is the same price as the Bora. :eek:

Nuttzz

since you are 20 years old with a provo licence, anything over 1.2l will be an insurance nightmare, look at a clio/206 type range

BrianD3

Nuttzz wrote:

since you are 20 years old with a provo licence, anything over 1.2l will be an insurance nightmare, look at a clio/206 type range

Yep. Maybe the OP could look at a 1.2 litre Opel Astra like this one. I believe this one is overpriced BTW.
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=164945
The there's the Fiat Stilo 1.2
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=250436

Both of these have plenty of space for kids and toys

boardsee

Something for me, the missus and her kid aswell as all her toys and crap.

heh heh, looks like someone got taken for a mug.
Tell her to provide for her own kid and lob all the toys in her own car.

causal

boardsee wrote:

heh heh, looks like someone got taken for a mug.
Tell her to provide for her own kid and lob all the toys in her own car.

Of course, he should get a 2 door sports so he can go out on his own and, eh, be on his own :rolleyes:
Like I said earlier Tech Pete - "Fair play to you going for a sensible car to suit your needs"

causal

Tech Pete

boardsee wrote:

heh heh, looks like someone got taken for a mug.
Tell her to provide for her own kid and lob all the toys in her own car.

Thanks for the completely useless comment and please keep them to yourself from now on.

As for insurance i heard that 1.1-1.4 is the same insurance range.
A friend of mine got a 1.4 and it cost the same insurance as the 1.1 model.

Well i will keep looking and thanks for the help.

causal

Tech Pete wrote:

As for insurance i heard that 1.1-1.4 is the same insurance range.
A friend of mine got a 1.4 and it cost the same insurance as the 1.1 model.

I don't know if all the insurance companies have the same criteria - but I'd certainly reccomend phoning around as many as you can - the difference can save you hundreds of euro.

Another consideration with engine size is fuel economy and cost of car tax:
The motor tax rates are €151 for < 1.0l; and €292 for 1.3 to 1.4

What size engine to get should depend on the type of usage the car will get.
If it's zipping around the city then a 1.0l is fine - but if you're travelling long distance or at motorway speeds regularly then a larger lengine is well advised.

I'd also personally advise to get a car with a boot, rather than a hatchback, partially for the extra storage and also for the extra safety it provides in a rear end shunt - aprticularly if there's going to be a child in the back seat.

causal

unkel

The Octavia would indeed suit you fine

Tech Pete wrote:

the Octavia is the same price as the Bora. :eek:

Where did you get that? When I was looking for the most suitable car for my mother in law 2 years ago, I recommended the Octavia and bought / negotiated it for her. It cost €4k-€5k less than an equivalent Bora. The boot of the Octavia is about the same size as my BMW 7-series and more practical at that

boardsee wrote:

heh heh, looks like someone got taken for a mug.
Tell her to provide for her own kid and lob all the toys in her own car.

Very helpful comment, you gobsh!te

causal

Just looking at the Top Gear 2004 Survey and the Skoda Octavia was best in the medium car category.
It placed 5th in the overall best car classification and fifth in the will buy this car again classification. Hmm, impressive.

Just a brief look at buyandsell.ie and in the 5000-7000 bracket typically the Bora are 1999 - but in the same price bracket the Octavia are typically 2000.
Obviously individual cars will be a good/bad deal but it looks like you'd get a year newer Octavia for the same money. And the fact that it is that close says something about the resale value of the Octavia - especially considering the extra initial cost for the VW!!!

Also, iirc VW doing away with the Bora - which won't help resale value either.

causal

commited

www.quinn-direct.ie do some decent online quotes if you want to compare a few cars

Octavia is a good buy but the 1.4 makes it very very sluggish

A few cars to have a look at maybe:
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_detail.asp?CBGID=317229&ID=545885&Make=Rover&Model=400&frmFilter=All
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_detail.asp?CBGID=316061&ID=544901&Make=Ford&Model=Fiesta%20Ghia&frmFilter=All
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_detail.asp?CBGID=301774&ID=530282&Make=Opel&Model=Astra%20XE&frmFilter=All

bazz26

commited wrote:

Octavia is a good buy but the 1.4 makes it very very sluggish

Bora uses the same engine as the Octavia. The 1.4 Octavia actually feels more nippy than the 1.4 Bora/Golf due it being that bit lighter.

Also note that the Octavia is a hatchback and would be more practical for a buggy, etc.

Plus the 1.4 was only available in the Octavia from 2001.

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=253523

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=264116

You might also want to consider the Seat Leon, the Octavia/Bora and Leon are all basically the same car made by VAG. The Leon is just as practical as the Octavia and is available in 1.4 from 2000.

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=240249

bazz26

Just spotted this on carzone:

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=254469

I know its an estate and might be slightly more than you need but it looks tidy enough, not bad for €6k.

Tech Pete

Sadly i have the biggest problem
Balancing 7000 Euro maximum against Milage.
I happened to find a nice Bora 00 with 32k on it for 7500.
Will keep looking but was warned to stay clear of the Rover 400.

commited

generally with Rover 400s if they have a full service history and are tidy then you are fine.

Mailman

Polo Classic or Corboda with a mug of Horlicks.

Squirrel

How about a KIA Rio?

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=245848
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=260599

Tech Pete

Squirrel wrote:

How about a KIA Rio?

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=245848
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=260599

Did you know the Hyundai Accent was voted the worst car EVER on Top Gear?
Guess what came second.... KIA RIO.

The safety on those cars is ****e!
Thanks for the idea though.
Keep them coming!

P.S im currently looking at a VW Golf '99 newer model.

Squirrel

What will you be using the car mainly for, town or open road driving?

Tech Pete

Squirrel wrote:

What will you be using the car mainly for, town or open road driving?

Mainly dual carrageways and motorways.
Not bothering commuting to work the bus is fine.