€30k budget-what would you buy?

glynf

Im buying a car in the next few weeks, €30/31k max to spend. for tax reasons, it has to be a diesel, and also a large boot needed. I'm thinking about an '02 Audi A4 1.9 Tdi 130Bhp, or the new volvo S40 2.0 Tdi.
the volvo has a 3 month waiting list, and i probably can't wait that long.
any suggestions?

Thanks,

G.

Nuttzz

Laguna II deisel is supposed to be good and you will get a new/nearly new for that price, though it has been panned in certain sectors for being boring

glynf

yep,nice cars, whats the re-sale like?

BrianD3

How about a new Peugeot 407. It's a brand new design and comes in a 1.6l 110 bhp diesel which is a bit under 30k and a 2.0l 136 bhp diesel which is a bit over 30k. Big, elegant looking car which has been praised for its handling and ride. Boot is supposed to be a bit smaller than the class average @ approx 400 litres.

PS if you're looking at the Renault Laguna, be aware that a facelift is imminent. The specs. may change/improve with the facelift and prefacelift cars may lose some value when the facelifted model is introduced.

BrianD3

glynf

Thanks Brian, will do.I really love the Audi, drove one again today-but it 's a bit nuts spending so much on a two year car. some serious thinking ahead me thinks.:dunno:

unkel

Originally posted by glynf
it 's a bit nuts spending so much on a two year car

A bit?

Ok it has to be diesel. Is it your own money or is it a company car? Either way but especially if it's the latter you should seriously consider the Alfa 156 JTD. It is no doubt the best diesel engine in the world in the non-executive market. Not too sure what your budget would get you but the 2.4 JTD 5 Cylinder with it's default 175 BHP and 385Nm :eek: torque (easily chipped to even greater figures) should be your pick, unless you don't like cars or driving

ToxicPaddy

Diesel, Bit Boot, €30k to spend and company car!!

Sounds like you are going to be limited to the kind of typical fleet car range..

Most of not all of these should be in or around the €30k mark..

Saloon / Hatchback:

Citreon C5
Ford Focus/Mondeo
Nissan Primera
Opel Vectra
Peugeot 407
Renault Laguna
Skoda Octavia/Superb
Toyota Avensis
Volvo S40
VW Passat

Estate:

Citreon C5/Xsara
Ford Focus/Mondeo
Nissan Primera
Peugeot 307 SW
Skoda Octavia
Toyota Avensis
Volvo V70
VW Golf / Passat

If you are going to be planning on doing a lot of driving, I would be going for comfort
and extras more so that looks..

Tox

Gmodified

Audi is nice. A4 goes for mad money but how about 00 A6 which should be a lot cheaper

Furp

How about a new Mazda 6 nice looking car IMHO http://www.mazda.ie/

2.0 TDI 120BHP Comfort 5dr hatchback List Price is €30,825

Or Toyota Avensis: www.toyota.ie

2.0 D-4d Aura Liftback List: €29850

Or Peugot 407: http://www.peugeot.ie/html/showroom/407/introduction_407.asp

407 SR 1.6 HDI 110 BHP FAP 28195

glynf

thanks all for the suggestions. its not a company job, I'm self emp., so resale value is important.
volvo gave a delivery date in early october for the new S40, must check out the 407 & Avensis(but the flash bastard in me still says the A4).

Auslander

I suggest that if you are thinking about resale values,
you should forget all about buying a new car all together!

As soon as you turn the key, you've lost @4k regardless
of the make and perhaps more.

If you want to update the car in the next 2-3 years you're
gonna have to head back to the dealer, and you'll be stuck
in that cycle

or perhaps you'll try and sell the car in (e.g.) buy&sell
in which case you are going to take hit on value because
nobody likes to pay out top dollar for a 2-3 y.o. car, without
a dealer to fix up any problems.

I for what my opnion is worth, suggest that you forget about all
the above mentioned euro-boxes and go with something you've
probably not given much thought to.

Mercedes E220 CDI

Now you are talking resale values.

A 00 - 01 should set you back @30k, and the car has already taken
the brunt of depreciation.
Have a look for yourself online.

Tops you're going to be hit for @2k per yr depreciation on a CDI
And remember that when you want to get rid of it,
every taxi driver in the country would trade in his/her mother to get his
hands on it, 'cos he knows what I've just outlined to you.

Have a think about it, and shop around for insurance quotes..

PADDY

glynf

every taxi driver in the country would trade in his/her mother to get his

cheers, will do

bop1977

maybe look at the seat telado tdi (its the same car underneat as the audi with a cheaper price and looks decent if u get a spoiler and alloy wheels fogs ect)and its dirt cheap to run

Cassiel

a4 & s40 are pretty pokey inside compared to what you could get.
Would second Gmods A6, 2.5TDI moreso than the 1.9. An Avant (estate) is monstrously practical.
However, there was a fine looking A4 Quattro 1.9TDI Saloon on www.cbg.ie for about the €30k. Think it was 01 though.

You are going to take a hit on depreciation anyway, hold any car for three years and it is going to be worth about half of what you paid for it. So spend less to lose less or accept the inevitable

I'm averse to depreciation so I'm more low budget and would maybe looking at a loaded Volvo 850 T5 '95 at about €5k, though I WILL have an Audi S8 Quattro 4.2l.......one day.;)

cassiel

$lash

Alfa Romeo 156 JTD -> the best midrange diesel saloon by far...

The Clown Man

Yea the Alfa is one nice car alright.

But if you wanted to go for one that will hold its value the Merc is probably to one to go for.

But in my opinion a 01 new model BMW 320 TD is the best buy all-round. It's just a nicer car than the 00-01 model Merc. You'd have to purchase privately to get a good price though as long as you're comfortable with it.

Have a look round buyandsell.ie and you'll get some good prices.

http://www.buyandsell.ie/scripts/lootsite.dll?Search&Offset=140&FirstClass=7120000-7129999&Location=15

$lash

merc is a poor car imo - the bmw is nice - but the alfa is better!

unkel

Originally posted by $lash
Alfa Romeo 156 JTD -> the best midrange diesel saloon by far...

Originally posted by The Clown Man
Yea the Alfa is one nice car alright.

Originally posted by $lash
merc is a poor car imo - the bmw is nice - but the alfa is better!

Didn't I tell ya

Only thing I failed to mention was that the 2.4JTD @ €35k would be outside of your budget. The 1.9JTD @ €30k isn't though. Cheap tax and insurance as well as running costs

I would prefer the 320d myself as an allround package, but would not be able to justify buying it second hand here in Ireland. Your budget is a good bit short of buying one new unfortunately (€43k) unless you enhance your budget. Might be worth giving that a thought...

The Alfa has the most advanced Diesel engine in the world - a truely amazing one at that

glynf

heh... just looking at the alfa site at the mo,
tasty car, wonder if they're more reliable these days.

i got "www.alfaromeo.ie/official site for Ireland for the Fiat division"
after doing a google for alfa- does'nt exactly inspire confidence though.

unkel

Originally posted by glynf
i got "www.alfaromeo.ie/official site for Ireland for the Fiat division"
after doing a google for alfa- does'nt exactly inspire confidence though.

Not sure what you mean there m8 - you do realise that FIAT owns Alfa Romeo, don't you?

And, to shock you a bit more, FIAT owns Ferrari as well

glynf

I do now!

i meant when i typed "alfa" into google,.i got "official site for Ireland for the Fiat division" after the www.alfaromeo.ie link.

Iwent for a good spin in a new Volvo S40 today, and was well impressed.
Beaut to drive, seriously well finished interior, boots a bit small though.
For €33,300:
S2.0 Tdi SE 136 Bhp(Max Torque320 NM)
stability and traction control,DSTC anti-skid, leather and wood trim,climate control, 6x CD,8 speaker and sub,cruise control,trip comp., 17" alloys, front fogs, c-locking and alarm-all standard on the SE.

I'm putting a deposit on one during the week...have to wait 'till sept, but you cant have it all:)

ps. thanks for all the suggestions

unkel

The S40 is a nice car. Glad you're happy to go ahead and get one

BHP is not huge, but should be compensated totally by the torque (340NM actually)

You do know though that new Volvo S40 = new Ford Focus
(guess you do now again)

One thing you ought to know is that the old S40 was built in the Netherlands in the Volvo/Mitsubishi Plant. The new S40 is built in Belgium in the Volvo/Ford Plant. Would worry me slightly, but Ford has done an awful lot of goodness in terms of quality control since about the time the Focus came out in '98

Have a patient wait - I'm sure it's worth it