nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Fairly economical Petrol engined car for about €10k

goochy

Friend changing down from a japanese sports car to a cheaper car due to new house purchase . He plans on having a family soon also and sports car wouldnt suit anymore anyway.

He lives very close to work and in an urban area and occasionally makes trips up the country , so I was thinking a diesel car for €10k might not be worth risk ? More likely to have higher miles for the money and more things to go wrong than a petrol ?

I see Lambe & o connor have a 2012 Golf 1.2 tfsi auto with 74 k miles for €9,750 , might be a japanese import ? He doesnt particularly need an auto and i think that DSG autos are supposed to give trouble ? Not sure if this one is DSG.

Its just I believe this engine is very economical and japanese imports tend to be in great condition.

would an older or higher mileage diesel car for same money be better ?

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

Miscreant

Would a hybrid be out of the question? They can be got for less than 10k and are very reliable while being great on fuel. What kind of driving is your friend doing?

goochy

a €10k hybrid is a recipe for disaster - too many things to go wrong - Friend had a 9 year old Prius and had big expense when it reached 9 years old - Toyota covered some of it as loyal customer and FTSH.

He only does a couple of kms to work and then mostly driving around suburbs and odd trip up the country.

bazz26

The term "fairly economical" will be relative to what he is driving now. For example, most average petrol cars on the Irish market would be economical compared to if he were currently driving a Nissan GTR or Honda NSX for example. Telling us what he is coming from will help more with recommendations. Also if he is coming from a sports car then something like a 1.2 litre Golf might be too much of shock to the system power wise. And if he is starting a family he might want to consider something more practical than a Golf. An estate of some sort might be a more longer term proposition with a family in mind.

goochy

hes thinking of getting a Tucson but thats just following herd mentality - hes coming from a low powered but fun sports car not a supercar - a 6 yr old Toyota.

1874

Are you saying you think a 2012 Golf 1.2 tfsi is a japanese import??

Wishbone Ash

He drives a couple of kms to work?

That could be walked in 20mins and it would be even more economical (and healthier).

goochy

he walks the odd time but doesnt live in city centre

fact its auto vw golf with low miles and air con. makes me think jap. import

Miscreant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118357279#Comment_118357279

I had a hybrid that was 10 years old when I sold it on and it was as reliable then as it was when I got it. I would not judge ALL hybrids by one example. Besides, the 1.2tsi is not exactly the bastion of reliability either with apparent timing chain issues even with full dealer service history (you can look that one up).

Auto Golfs with Air Con and low miles are around and not necessarily Jap imports so I would not jump to that conclusion either. A friend of mine has a very similar model (1.4tsi with DSG) and it has aircon and is original Irish. The 1.2tsi with DSG was also available on the Skoda Octavia and Fabia models here as well as the VW Polo and Seat Ibiza and Leon . Have you a link to the ad your friend is looking at or is it this one: Car Details > 2012 > Volkswagen > Golf (loc.ie) ?

goochy

thats the car , tinted glass in rear also suggests Jap. import.

I still dont believe hybrids are a good buy at this price range , too many possible things to go wrong compared to a petrol or diesel.

bazz26

They have a few for sale at the same price, a white 1.2 and 2 x 1.4:

https://www.carsireland.ie/2985963

https://www.carsireland.ie/2966445

https://www.carsireland.ie/2982898

The white and silver ones are Japanese imports, they have an oddball spec and an aftermarket touchscreen head unit that seems to get fitted when they land here. The red one looks to be either an Irish or UK car. It has the Euro stock VW head unit but has velour seats similar to an Irish Golf Highline. The 1.4 is a better and more powerful engine than the 1.2 and I'd have the red one over the other two. It's a nicer colour and spec too.

BionicRasher

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118357279#Comment_118357279

I have a 10 yrs old Prius and it's rock solid

Never given an ounce of trouble bar a few bulbs and change the brake pads

Well worth it IMO

Would pick up something decent for 10k

goochy

the red one must be uk as otherwise they would show reg plate - isnt the 1.4 alot more thirsty ?

i thought the 1.2 tfsi were supposed to be fairly economical for a petrol ? a 1.0 Focus eco boost is another option ??

Toyotafanboi

I'd try and get into a Mk7 Golf for a bit more but naturally I do think a Golf is a good shout.

A Mk7 would hold it's value better, it's too late in the day to be paying big money for Mk6's, they're well overdue a haircut pricewise IMO.

The Mk6 1.2 is pretty desperate reliability wise too, a Mk7 1.2 is a far superior engine.

bazz26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118357852#Comment_118357852

They could have just removed the plate for the photos. The fuel difference between a 1.2 and 1.4 is going to be negligible especially when it sounds like he isn't even going to be doing a lot of driving. It's not like they are panzer tanks.

Personally I think paying 10k for a 10 year old Golf is a little crazy but people always seem content paying high prices for Golfs no matter what the age.

Toyotafanboi

Red one is definitely Jap it has a flare in the passenger footwell.

goochy

no lambe & o connor only remove plates on imports . There are not that many cars you would get for €10k that are newer than 10 yrs old , low mileage and are an in demand model.

Phil.x

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118357279#Comment_118357279

Really, what happened it, didn't he get the yearly battery health check for €50. Toyota are usually bullet proof.

goochy

Think battery and some motor failed as it had full toyota history and another family member was buying a new car . Dealer and toyota covered it

Sir Galahad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118357807#Comment_118357807

They are all Japanese imports.

mikeecho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118358879#Comment_118358879

Correct.. if you look at the rear bumper you can see the mark where the square Jap plate was.. and the 4 screw holes.

On one of the cars you can see a square front plate mount, behind the show plates.

Personally, I wouldn't go for a Jap import, They were fine back in the day, when cars were basic and all you had to change was the radio.

But nowadays, there's far too much digital display and menus, that will be in Japanese, and usually can't be easily changed to English.

Also, Jap radios don't have rds

1874

Well, first time for anything, but have never seen or heard of a non Japanese make grey import car, thought they might only come in a high spec European car, my understanding was the Japanese have high tariffs to protect their own car industry. Id still be checking the car to confirm, but with the prices of grey imports, unless someone is looking for something specific, I dont think they are worth it anymore, grey imports and those examples if they are are priced high. As one poster said, all you used to have to do was change the radio, more or less. Do they have an integrated immobiliser? if they are grey imports, I would check to see what insurance might be as that might be affected or even if they will be covered.

goochy

never seen non japanese grey imports ? have a look at Car warehouse Cleveland or Specialist cars York , unbelievable european japanese imports being sold in UK .

Flinty997

The Japanese models are high spec usually and low mileage. Also usually petrol. When I was looking for a specific car last year the only petrol ones in the year and budget I was looking for were all Japanese imports.

Larbre34

Kia C'eed, Irish spec.

Don't bother with Jap spec imports, no matter what they tell you, parts will become an issue.

And all the infotainment is in Japanese script, so you can't use it.

goochy

yes not a bad car , but a bit bland compared to Focus / Golf is it not ?

kaahooters

just get a prius,all the taxis are becoming prius, parts aren an issue and the onboard system can be cahnges for 200 is, guys on done deal based in blanch does it, takes about 2 hours.

bazz26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118364610#Comment_118364610

They are all various shades of bland in that segment.

corks finest

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118357279#Comment_118357279

ive a 2012 Honda Insight ( second one went back to hybrid after 7 months in a normal petrol)

like all the jap imports I know about the insight is Uber reliable- Honda Insight central forum has all the facts n figures ref economy / reliability-

to “ Honest John “ gives it same reviews

afaik Prius is the same

corks finest

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118363554#Comment_118363554

Disagree completely I had/ have 3 jap imports over the years

2 insights

suzuki swift

no issues whatsoever ref parts etc as they’re the exact same

ref Sat nav etc can be changed for e200

uber reliable- economic- loaded with extras compared to Irish models

my runaround- Sat nav etc

bluetooth

heated seats

cruise

auto lights/ wipers

paddle shift

automatic

park sensors

[Deleted User]

Can a factory Japanese euro import radio not be flashed with EU software? Would have assumed it can and someone should be able to ..

you might need fm expander or something but I would have thought for production purposes the modern factory radios are probably identical and software is all that differentiates them