New car - replacing a Peugeout 206

Funkstard

What would you recommend? My mom wants to spend around €15,000 on a replacement because our 206 is knackered. I was thinking a Ford Focus (old style), Golf, Fiat Stylo or something along those lines. We won't be buying a new car, we'll be buying one a few years old, and the main issue is the mileage. My mom's has 85k after 5 years so we need something relatively low.

Any recommendations?

scargill

For 15k you could do a lot worse than get a 2003 Focus. Great to drive and looks well too.

Have a look at CBG

2003 Focus

2003 Focus

Funkstard

Cheers for that, we're looking for a hatchback so the first one seems perfect. The new Focus is horrible, I don't know what they were thinking with it

How about looking around for a nearly new Astra?
We got one with 6000 on the clock, registered October '04, in may for €16,500.
Cracking car, cracking deal. Sould be able to find something similar yourself?

Funkstard

http://www.cbg.ie/Car_detail.asp?CBGID=328149&ID=561320&NumPics=3&Make=Fiat&Model=Stilo&frmFilter=Default

Wowsers - '05 Fiat Stilo 8k on the clock with 17" alloys for €15,500!

greglo23

the focus would be a better buy. in another year the stilo will depreciate even more and you would be lucky to get 5000 for it! also the modern fiats are rubbish bar the new panda.

vms7ply9t6dw4b

Dont mind people when they say ALL fiats are rubbish, they dont have a clew what they are talking about. the general view is that the 1.4 model is the one to go for,avoing the 1.6, go for the one with the skyroof as the aircon models have a pipe that cracks when the undertray gets scraped. www.carsurvey.org for opinions from people who have actually owned the car not ignorant people who think all fiats are like they were 10 years ago

bazz26

Ford Focus:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=258340

Seat Leon:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=237937

HungryJoey

I think focus' at this stage are alot too common and boring looking, the new one replaces it and looks well from the front but its not right at the back.

What about a megane ? They are very well spec'd. My mother just bought an 03 1.4L 16V Sport's Coupe Dynamique with full spec for just over 15K with beautiful Metallic Pearlessant paint. These are pretty cheap car's. Something like this :

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=291978

Or

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=282063


Very decent spec'd cars.


Hj

unkel

HungryJoey wrote:

My mother just bought an 03 1.4L 16V Sport's Coupe Dynamique with full spec for just over 15K

I feel that was a lot of money for a car like that. I predict she would struggle to get €7k if she would try and sell it in 2 years time

For only a bit more than €15k, you could get a brand new Skoda Octavia as a cash buyer

greglo23

Fernanda Unimportant Marriage wrote:

Dont mind people when they say ALL fiats are rubbish, they dont have a clew what they are talking about. the general view is that the 1.4 model is the one to go for,avoing the 1.6, go for the one with the skyroof as the aircon models have a pipe that cracks when the undertray gets scraped. www.carsurvey.org for opinions from people who have actually owned the car not ignorant people who think all fiats are like they were 10 years ago

as a mechanic with 29 years experience in the motor trade i do speak from experience. puntos blow headgaskets on a regular basis , clutches and rear arms need replacing on them regularly. i've seen longer lasting shocks on ladas than on the punto, brava or tipo. the alfas which are just an expensive brand of fiat suffer from much the same problems as in front and rear suspensions on the 156 ad 147 going at 30 to 40k. i could go on but lets see what others have to say !!!

Funkstard

So I should stay away from Fiats?

Funkstard

I'm finding some 02-01 PT Cruisers for around €16,000. I absolutely love these cars, anyony know anything about them?

HungryJoey

unkel wrote:

I feel that was a lot of money for a car like that. I predict she would struggle to get €7k if she would try and sell it in 2 years time

For only a bit more than €15k, you could get a brand new Skoda Octavia as a cash buyer

Well, that's the going price. Keep in mind this is the sports Coupe with the Panoramic roof aswel and full spec'd. So Over 15 k IMO was a good price and we aren't bothered about its depreciation. After all, A car's a car and IMO with these cars of such low expense Comparing to mercedes and bigger leading car's, It shouldnt really matter too much its depreciation value unless you have set off to buy a car that you know will hold its value in a few year's. And we went and bought a car not so it will hold its value, but for a nice, comftable and nice spec'd car.

Buying a brand new skoda for over 15K, I can tell you one thing, isnt going to get you spec's t match a megane. Although i will accept a skoda will more then likely be a more reliable car. But for a base model skoda, You get nothing.


Hj

unkel

HungryJoey wrote:

we went and bought a car not so it will hold its value, but for a nice, comftable and nice spec'd car

Fair enough

ciasto

greglo23 wrote:

as a mechanic with 29 years experience in the motor trade i do speak from experience. puntos blow headgaskets on a regular basis , clutches and rear arms need replacing on them regularly. i've seen longer lasting shocks on ladas than on the punto, brava or tipo. the alfas which are just an expensive brand of fiat suffer from much the same problems as in front and rear suspensions on the 156 ad 147 going at 30 to 40k. i could go on but lets see what others have to say !!!

Agree with everything, and you could just keep on going. It seems that Fiat does its best to build cars as cheap as possible. I had a fair bit dealing with Fiats and they seem to all fall apart.

Beacause of that it reflects their prices, after a couple of years.

greglo23

Funkstard wrote:

I'm finding some 02-01 PT Cruisers for around €16,000. I absolutely love these cars, anyony know anything about them?

afaik the early models had electrical problems. it was'nt unknown for a pt owner to return to their car and find all the windows including sunroof open and all doors unlocked. no info on the newer models .