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Advice? What used car to buy and where to buy it? (And...what to avoid)?

  • 07-05-2025 10:46PM
    #1
    DrFroggies
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 342 ✭✭


    Hi folks,

    Just wondering if anyone here could advise me on a decent car dealership as I need to purchase a car under the following criteria (it’s pretty specific stuff so I expect I’ll have to compromise somewhere):

    I’m trying to find a car that:

    *Is under €2.5k/€3k
    *Can fit a wheelchair and walker
    *That is unlikely to breakdown frequently or catastrophically (especially if I have vulnerable passengers in it)

    Also ideally…

    *Won’t be too expensive to tax
    *And Automatic - if possible (injured knee = clutch in slow traffic is agony…although I know this is virtually impossible at my price point if I want something reliable)

    Now I absolutely appreciate that it’s a lot to ask at the price I’ve got to play with but I’ve seen a few come close and the spend I’ve got is the spend I’ve got and time is an issue here.

    I’m afraid I’m suffering from analysis paralysis doing my research as I’ve seen people warn against various cars and various dealerships so I’m hoping I can get some kind of clarity to get myself on firmer ground to just make a decision.

    **I suppose what I’m asking here is…if anyone has any suggestions on cars worth looking at and dealerships that are reliable for this price bracket. Or basically anything I might be failing to consider (it’s been 16 years since I last bought a car)

    🚙 For reference - Cars I’ve been looking at are:

    *Nissan Quashqui (almost impossible to find automatic in this price bracket but again that’s an ideal not an essential unless my knee completely goes)
    *Toyota Avensis/Carolla
    *Opel Insignia/Astra
    *Ford Mondeo/Focus

    Thanks in advance for any tips or advice you can give 😊 👍️

    Tagged:


Comments

  • #2
    goochy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,011 ✭✭✭goochy


    Thats far to low a price to buy from a dealer just check general DD ads and get mechanic to inspect private sale . A specialist / dealer will only dealer in cars that can make secret profit in . Maybe Google them and see what they do with trade ins



  • #3
    Buddy Bubs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,473 ✭✭✭Buddy Bubs


    I thought your request was so far fetched I had a look on donedeal.....

    I am possibly putting too much emphasis on the wheelchair part of your requirements and I can't believe I'm recommending this but Nissan Cube

    https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-cube-2006/39424363

    Looks terrible, but space looks OK. Fits the rest of your requirements maybe. Once you can get over the looks.

    Your budget makes it very tough and you want something somewhat reliable which is a lottery really.

    Would the cars listed in your shortlist not struggle to take wheelchairs?

    Apologies, worst looking car I've ever seen but might work for you



  • #4
    User1998
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,968 ✭✭✭User1998


    Toyota Prius, Nissan Cube, Honda Stream, Nissan Note, Toyota Wish,



  • #5
    road_high
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,870 ✭✭✭✭road_high


    Hate to break it to you but at this price point you’re in banger territory - forget dealers they’ll only have clapped out back of the yard tat. Your only bet is the classified privately and buying on solid history and condition of the car itself. Would stick Japanese (Yaris, Corolla, civic, jazz, note) and try up the budget a fair bit to get something half decent



  • #6
    blanchwill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 ✭blanchwill


    Something like this jazz? Back seats fold down flat so will have no issues fitting a wheelchair and a walker into it. I have a manual version and it is very reliable

    https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-jazz-automatic/38619044



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  • #7
    road_high
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,870 ✭✭✭✭road_high


    that Nissan cube is a cool little thing but reading the ad it says that there is a noise from the transmission (aren’t those Nissan auto boxes notoriously problematic)



  • #8
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,961 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    ^ Just about to post that:

    "noise from transmission hence sale"

    Not your ornery onager



  • #9
    monseiur
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,595 ✭✭✭monseiur


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058409159/advice-what-used-car-to-buy-and-where-to-buy-it-and-what-to-avoid

    Had a quick look on Done Deal, check out the following, all are automatic (apologies I'm unable to provide a link)

    2016 Toyota Prius, 2 owners, 168,000Km, 1.8L Petrol/Hybrid Price €1,275.(just up on DD less that 2 hours)

    2009 Honda Insight, 187,000Km. 1.3L Petrol/Hybrid, 3 Owners, Price €2,850

    2009 VW Passat 1.6 Petrol, Silver, 125,000Km. NCT to Feb. 2026, 2 owners Price €2,950

    2009 Citroen C4 Picasso Grey, Diesel, 129,000Km. 7 seater, 4 owners, Price €1,850

    The VW Passat seems to be the best of the above.



  • #10
    User1998
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,968 ✭✭✭User1998


    I haven’t even seen the Prius but I can assure you the actual price is €12,750.



  • #11
    goochy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,011 ✭✭✭goochy


    Picasso would be good buy if u needed space



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  • #12
    Fishdoodle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 571 ✭✭✭Fishdoodle


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123427295#Comment_123427295

    Agree… under 3k for what you’re looking for -slim pickings, ask friends.

    Fiesta €2.5 k . Looks good value.
    https://www.adverts.ie/car/ford/fiesta/2006-ford-fiesta-price-drop/36646061


    Honda Insight:

    https://www.adverts.ie/car/honda/insight/2009-honda-insight/37020806

    Post edited by Fishdoodle on


  • #13
    bazz26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,556 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    OP's budget is pretty low which puts them in a mine field regarding used cars.

    I certainly wouldn't be recommending a car auction to someone who is asking even basic stuff like what car to buy and where to buy it. Too many pit falls for a novice at an auction.

    Something Japanese is less risky than any other brand but will be hard to find a decent one these days for 3k or less that won't need additional money spent on it soon after. Forget about buying from dealers, all they will be selling are polished turds in that price range and any warranty won't be worth the paper they are wrote on.



  • #14
    monseiur
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,595 ✭✭✭monseiur


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123430676#Comment_123430676

    You are correct, it's shows the price under photo in big bold black figures €1,275…………but on reading the small print it is 12,750 . The devil is always in the small print😊 No doubt a deliberate click bait ''error'' by the seller.



  • #15
    User1998
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,968 ✭✭✭User1998


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123433857#Comment_123433857

    The cost of an add is a lot cheaper for a €1k car vs a €12k car. Thats why people do it. I used to pay €5 for an add a few years ago. Now I pay around €50. Absolute joke.



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