Looking for a reliable car for under 4k with cruise control and a big boot.

rowanh · 31-03-2015 10:10AM #1

My girlfriend has been looking for a car for months, she is using her aunts car so it hasnt been too urgent but its getting to the stage where she needs to get something. The requirments are,

Good fuel economy- she does over 20k miles a year.
Comfortable, ideally with leather seats and some nice features like buttons on the steering wheel.
Has to have cruise control
Must be reliable..
Needs to have a reasonably big boot so small hatchbacks are out.

Budget is around 3500 euro, any suggestions?

Rowan

JuniorB · 31-03-2015 10:14AM

Jaguar X Type. 2.0 ltr diesel. Should pick up an 04 or 05 for that money.

rowanh · 31-03-2015 10:17AM

She would like an audi a4 or bmw 3 series but it seems like the 1.9/2l diesels in the audi are prone to expensive problems as it the 4 cylinder e46 engines. The Mazda 6 looked good but again the 2l Diesel seems to have a lot of problems and the 1.8 petrol gets bad fuel economy.

rowanh · 31-03-2015 10:18AM

The Jaguar X Type. 2.0 ltr diesel is reliable? Is it a ford engine?

Foxhole Norman · 31-03-2015 10:25AM

I was going to suggest a 1.9TDi A4/A6 Estate, the 1.9 is pretty bulletproof. A 320D Touring would also be a good call once the swirl flaps were removed or if you plan to remove them.

mhackett102 · 31-03-2015 10:26AM

Maybe a Ford Mondeo? Im driving a 2008 with a 1.8tdci engine. Very spacious and economical, and also has cruise control!

Just came across THIS one for sale in Cork.

I wouldnt be too worried about the mileage. Mine has 205k km and drives like new!

*May be over the €4k budget, but im sure there are cheaper around. Still be worth paying the extra bit, great cars.

chewed · 31-03-2015 10:26AM

I used to have an 04 Mazda 6 1.8 Sports Touring hatchback

It had sun roof, Air Con, Cruise Control, etc. and a very big boot. Drove like a dream and I never had any problems with it in the 6 years I had it. It wasn't brilliant on fuel though, but you could pick up a 06 or 07 model for under €4k

jimgoose · 31-03-2015 10:28AM

rowanh wrote: »

The Jaguar X Type. 2.0 ltr diesel is reliable? Is it a ford engine?

It's a Ford Duratorq unit. Hard-as-nails, but like most Ford engines if you don't watch the oil you'll hurt it. I've seen a fair few X-Types blow up due to gobadaw owners who wouldn't know oil if they slipped on it. Note that a 2.2l version of this engine appeared in 2005, with the usual motor-tax implications.

rowanh · 31-03-2015 10:41AM

I think the X-type might tick all the boxes, going to look at one tonight.

jimgoose · 31-03-2015 11:08AM

rowanh wrote: »

I think the X-type might tick all the boxes, going to look at one tonight.

Word to the wise: there's also a 2.1l V6 petrol version knocking about. Tax and fuel consumption would be a little more than on the Duratorq models, but there's should be tremendous value to be had, as well as the most fun you can have sitting down.

Atlantic Dawn · 31-03-2015 11:18AM

Volvo S80 or slightly smaller a Honda Accord

rowanh · 31-03-2015 11:50AM

The s80 and s60 are either a very uneconomical 2l turbo petrol or a 2.4 diesel which mostly have very high mileage. The Accord would be a good option though she doesnt seem to like them much, ive sent her links to a few. Reading about the xtype it seems a lot of people need to change the clutch at fairly low mileage, if the clutch is very worn out does it always have a very high bite point and can they just go very quickly or would they generally slowly ware down?

jimgoose · 31-03-2015 12:04PM

rowanh wrote: »

...Reading about the xtype it seems a lot of people need to change the clutch at fairly low mileage, if the clutch is very worn out does it always have a very high bite point and can they just go very quickly or would they generally slowly ware down?

You're more likely to notice the clutch slipping somewhat under hard acceleration. The 2.2s in particular give the clutch a hard time. DMF trouble is also not unheard-of with them, check for vibration/rattling while pushing down the clutch pedal slowly.

31-03-2015 12:22PM

jimgoose wrote: »

Word to the wise: there's also a 2.1l V6 petrol version knocking about. Tax and fuel consumption would be a little more than on the Duratorq models, but there's should be tremendous value to be had, as well as the most fun you can have sitting down.

Use almost as much fuel as the 2.5 without the benefit of AWD, the 2.1 is quite gutless.

jimgoose · 31-03-2015 12:23PM

Augeo wrote: »

Use almost as much fuel as the 2.5 without the benefit of AWD, the 2.1 is quite gutless.

I wouldn't say that, but you do have to cane it a bit to get the best out of it.

166man · 31-03-2015 12:36PM

rowanh wrote: »

My girlfriend has been looking for a car for months, she is using her aunts car so it hasnt been too urgent but its getting to the stage where she needs to get something. The requirments are,

Good fuel economy- she does over 20k miles a year.
Comfortable, ideally with leather seats and some nice features like buttons on the steering wheel.
Has to have cruise control
Must be reliable..
Needs to have a reasonably big boot so small hatchbacks are out.

Budget is around 3500 euro, any suggestions?

Rowan

You're asking a lot for a budget of €3.5k to be fair....

An older 406 HDI could be a good call....

Foxhole Norman · 31-03-2015 12:37PM

166man wrote: »

You're asking a lot for a budget of €3.5k to be fair....

An older 406 HDI could be a good call....

Have to agree, if you're willing to go over 2.0 into bigger tax you can find some really high spec cars.

ba_barabus · 31-03-2015 01:05PM

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/8845510

What about one of these Volvos? Fairly rugged, well specced, comfortable but not sure about cruise control

Northern Monkey · 31-03-2015 01:09PM

This forum has changed. They need a big boot and no one has mentioned an Octavia? :pac:

ba_barabus · 31-03-2015 01:13PM

Northern Monkey wrote: »

This forum has changed. They need a big boot and no one has mentioned an Octavia? :pac:

They also want extras.....

166man · 31-03-2015 01:31PM

ba_barabus wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/8845510

What about one of these Volvos? Fairly rugged, well specced, comfortable but not sure about cruise control

The cynic in me says I'd be looking carefully at that mileage... Back in 2001 diesels were bought for doing proper miles, that one claims less than 10k miles a year.....................

ba_barabus · 31-03-2015 01:34PM

166man wrote: »

The cynic in me says I'd be looking carefully at that mileage... Back in 2001 diesels were bought for doing proper miles, that one claims less than 10k miles a year.....................

Can't argue with that at all. Its very hard, but not impossible, to find a low mileage older diesel.

fricatus · 31-03-2015 01:42PM

Something like this?

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/honda/accord/used-2005-honda-accord-executive-cork-fpa-201451229542249

I have the exact same car, down to the colour, except with even higher mileage! It still runs beautifully and still feels like it was screwed together yesterday.

Couldn't recommend it highly enough, but of course a lot will depend on how well it's been looked after, and its service history. Tax is fairly saucy, the guts of €900, but there you go. I get around 50 mpg with about half motorway and half city driving.

rowanh · 31-03-2015 01:51PM

Might be asking a bit much for the budget but the x-type looks good, going to look at this later,

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/jaguar-x-type-2-0d-2005/9008566?offset=1

One of the older s40s would be an option but i dont think she would go for an 01 reg, a most of them seem to have leather and cruise control alright.

Dord · 31-03-2015 01:56PM

Northern Monkey wrote: »

This forum has changed. They need a big boot and no one has mentioned an Octavia? :pac:

Fits the bill! Any of the leather ones on DD are way too scruffy.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-octavia-1-9-tdi-dsg-/8585326?offset=8

jimgoose · 31-03-2015 02:00PM

rowanh wrote: »

Might be asking a bit much for the budget but the x-type looks good, going to look at this later,

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/jaguar-x-type-2-0d-2005/9008566?offset=1

One of the older s40s would be an option but i dont think she would go for an 01 reg, a most of them seem to have leather and cruise control alright.

Nice, but how about this monster:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/jaguar-s-2-7-diesel-luxury/8946082?offset=5

Now I know the tax is a bit mental, but 43MPG is not to be sneezed at from such a behemoth, and your missus won't do better in terms of pampering!

runawaybishop · 31-03-2015 02:05PM

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

I was going to suggest a 1.9TDi A4/A6 Estate, the 1.9 is pretty bulletproof.

Second this - the 1.9 is better than the 2ltr.You'd pick a 2004 a6 up with leather seats and cruise control for around that budget, boot is also massive.

bazz26 · 31-03-2015 03:26PM

A first generation Skoda Superb would be worth looking at, boot and rear legroom are huge and 1.9 TDi engine should last once it has been looked after. Need to watch out for knackered ex taxis/hackneys though as they were popular with them.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/1-9-tdi-105-bhp/8992353?offset=3

rowanh · 31-03-2015 04:18PM

The S Type jag would be savage, pretty cheap for a diesel one, tax is pricy but she is going from a petrol bmw 325 so overall would be cheaper to run.

I think she would prefer an Audi over anything else, if she got one with 100k miles on it what would be expected cost wise over the next 40k miles outside of normal servicing? From posts on here and other forums it seemed like they have a lot of expensive repairs which would be likley to crop up in that mile range.

Leather is not essential just would be nice, cruise control is essential though which i dont think any skodas have otherwise the superb would be great.

Foxhole Norman · 31-03-2015 04:19PM

rowanh wrote: »

The S Type jag would be savage, pretty cheap for a diesel one, tax is pricy but she is going from a petrol bmw 325 so overall would be cheaper to run.

Leather is not essential just would be nice, cruise control is essential though which i dont think any skodas have otherwise the superb would be great.

Most of the midrange Superbs would have it, generally I've found that if they have a leather wrapped wheel they'll have cruise as well.

jimgoose · 31-03-2015 04:20PM

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

Most of the midrange Superbs would have it, generally I've found that if they have a leather wrapped wheel they'll have cruise as well.

Oh yeah, any Superb I've seen has CC.

Looking for a reliable car for under 4k with cruise control and a big boot.

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