Advice on new(er) car

byte

Just looking for advice on a car. I'm hoping to buy in the next few weeks, with a budget of 5,000 to 5,500.

I would prefer a 1.4L but can push to 1.5L though I'd prefer not an injected car, as insurance jumps through the roof! Age of cars around 00/01 or thereabouts which I think is achieveable with the budget.

Cars that I'm thinking about:
1.4l Ibiza
1.4l Leon
1.5l Almera
1.5l Civic
1.4l Astra
1.4l Fabia

Which of these do you think is better? I was in favour of the Astra (since I own what has been a very reliable 1.2l 95 Corsa) but I hear so many differing opinions on Astra, so I'm a tad wary now.

I'd really like a Leon, but these are quite scarce compared to some others. Of course, there's always a Corolla, but these might be priced outside my budget unless I go for an older Corolla.

Important factors are reliability, interior (easiness ot change headunit!) and fuel economy.
Any opinions greatly appreciated.

colm_mcm

any car from 00 wil be fuel injection.

byte

Yeah, you're possiby right. Surprised the Hibernian CS person didn't realise this when I asked for quotes! She just said, if I went for injected models, premium woudl rise.

I guess this restricts me a bit more to 1.4L. Horsepower isnt really that important to me, but I'd still like to be able to overtake without needing to say teh Rosary mid-overtake!

mike65

As far as I know there has'nt been a new carb fed car since 1992, your old Corsa has single point mechnaic injection.

Mike.

byte

So, on that note, any car that says it's 1.4 is by nature now a 1.4i?

Anyway, which of the cars would be best from the list above? Or would I be better going for an older Corolla?

Is the Astra really that bad? I'm going for the 1.4l Astra if any (insurance jumps too high if I want the 1.7D model).

colm_mcm

The civic is the best out of that lot, but you left out some really good cars like the Mazda 323

omb0wyn5ehpij9

A golf possibly?

byte

Golf's are overpriced I think. I'd thought I'd be better going for a cheaper VAG car than a Golf.

Hadn't really considered the 323 as I'm not keen on the styling.

Also have no interest in the Pug 206, 306, or Renault Meganes.

milltown

Out of that list I'd have a Leon but I just plain don't like Japanese cars so I am biased. I have owned a Leon and an Ibiza and I would definitely be happy driving another Leon (not the new one though, eurgh). Solid, reliable, comfortable, economical, well specced and not too slow thanks to short gearing although the trade off becomes obvious above 85ish mph.

HungryJoey

Id' go with the Leon out of them. Bought one recently.. Great car, solid, performance is good considering the Weak golf engine, Reliable and stylish enough. Not sure if you would get or even find one for that price.

Hj

bazz26

byte wrote:

Just looking for advice on a car. I'm hoping to buy in the next few weeks, with a budget of 5,000 to 5,500.

I would prefer a 1.4L but can push to 1.5L though I'd prefer not an injected car, as insurance jumps through the roof! Age of cars around 00/01 or thereabouts which I think is achieveable with the budget.

Cars that I'm thinking about:
1.4l Ibiza
1.4l Leon
1.5l Almera
1.5l Civic
1.4l Astra
1.4l Fabia

Which of these do you think is better? I was in favour of the Astra (since I own what has been a very reliable 1.2l 95 Corsa) but I hear so many differing opinions on Astra, so I'm a tad wary now.

I'd really like a Leon, but these are quite scarce compared to some others. Of course, there's always a Corolla, but these might be priced outside my budget unless I go for an older Corolla.

Important factors are reliability, interior (easiness ot change headunit!) and fuel economy.
Any opinions greatly appreciated.

Most cars have had fuel injection systems since the early 1990s so that person at Hibernian is talking trip.

From your list above I would say the Civic is probably going to be the most expensive to insure because of it's boyracer image.

The 1.4 Astra will probably be the most powerful of the rest with 90bhp.

The Leon probably looks the sportiest of the bunch. The 1.4 has only 75bhp so performance wise you may be a bit disappointed.

The Ibiza and Fabia are basically the same car underneath both based on the Polo and are smaller than the others listed above.

alias no.9

Since the introduction of compulsary catalytic converters in jan 1993, virtually all cars have had fuel injection of one sort or another. I know some smart ass will tell me their 1994 mercedes or japanese import integra has a carb, but for the most part, everything's got fuel injection since 1993, many model ranges launched from 1990/1991 onwards had it as standard, rather than requiring a reworking of the range when the new regulations kicked in.

byte

Thanks for all the replies so far folks!

As I am beginning to find out, a Leon is not going to be a runner, as they were apparently introduced later in 2000, and so a 00 is harder to find. The only Leon I came across today was 2 2001's, one was kitted and a staggering €10,500. The other was cheaper at €9,000

So, despite the Leon being my favourite, it does seem it's the least likely out of my choices.

It's not so much the insurance for the Civic that bothers me, it's that it's more likely to be nicked and joyridden than my others. Though, that said, from what I can gather from others too, they're a great car with good reliability.

So, perhaps I should broaden my scope somewhat. What about a Ford Focus? Older style I liked.

Any others I haven't mentioned worthy of note? As long as it's circa 1.4L and not a bank breaker, and bigger than a Corsa!

byte

OK, sorry to drag up an old thread, but this is related to my car search.

Yesterday, I went to look at a black 2000 1.4L 16v Seat Leon. The car drove and seemed fine with all electrics etc, but for one major problem - the oil was sludgy white/black. So, I immediately assumed head-gasket was gone.

Today, the seller rang me and told me he had taken the car to his mechanic, and that his mechanic said it wasn't the gasket, but condensation from the cold weather and too many short journeys.

Subsequently, I've rang my own mechanic, and he's told me it may be a recirculation pipe (not sure what he called it now) that is supposed to recirculate gases, but is known to become blocked and send gases back into the head, which in turn condensate and emulsify with the oil.

Now, I hope to take this car into my mechanic for fuller inspection, but I was wondering if anyone else here had a 1.4 VAG engine wiht similar problems in the past? This engine is used in the Bora, Leon, Ibiza, etc.

Should I bother with the car at all, or just let it go?

BTW, the asking price for the car was €6250, though assuming all is OK, I should get it for €5750. Woudl you consider this a suitable price for a 2000 Leon?

natnif

byte wrote:

Yeah, you're possiby right. Surprised the Hibernian CS person didn't realise this when I asked for quotes! She just said, if I went for injected models, premium woudl rise.

She is talking through her arse!I used to work for them, the cars are all classified on a case by case basis. you try insure a 1.5 civic, you will get a hefty price. insure a 1.6 golf (still injected as far as I know) for much much cheaper.
Generally,you can go by the reputation of the car...(boy racer?civic?yes please!!!)golf?not so much!!

Esel

I have heard good reports about the Fabia. Boot on saloon is massive, and price should be right!

ninty9er

I'd have the Leon too, but have you considered Fiat Bravo not Brava(ugly) or end of the line Escorts were fairly wel specced

byte

With regards the Civic, insurance for the Civic was much cheaper than for a 1.7D Astra (reason for this is because of Ignition thing, so over 1.6L, insurance rockets seemingly regardless if engine is petrol or diesel). The Civic insurance was nearly the same as equivalent Almera.

Yes, a Fabia seemingly is a good enough car, though they're a bit scarcer to buy second hand than others, in my price league anyway.

As for Fiat, no never have considered them, and tbh, I don't think I ever will!

byte

Just to update this thread for hopefully the final time, I've decided on my Corsa successor!

It's a 2000 1.4L SEAT Leon SE. It's a fine car, nicer than the previous one, with all electrics etc. I'll be buying it for €6,000 (bargained him down from €6,500) from nearby SEAT dealer, with 6 months warranty.

The only downside is that there is no spare key. Generally, for older cars this might not be an issue, but as this is a chipped key, it is quite a bit more expensive I think.

On that final note, anyone got an idea as to how much a replacement chipped key would cost? The dealer said I could be looking at around €150 or more!

Del2005

Basicly the dealer has you by the short and curlies. The only place you can get the keys is from a dealer, and I'd say thats the best you'll get.
With all the electronics/immobilisers(sp?) on cars now a days they are the only place to go. Not to sure on VAG cars but on Toyota they give 3 keys (2Black, 1Brown) and if you loose the brown key it'll cost about a grand to get fixed as they have to replace the ECU.
So check if thats the master key you have. If they have them on VAG?

colm_mcm

Del2005 wrote:

on Toyota they give 3 keys (2Black, 1Brown) and if you loose the brown key it'll cost about a grand to get fixed as they have to replace the ECU.

not quite true, new master keys can be ordered from a chassis number, you only need a new ECU if you lose all the keys

Del2005

Yeah that what I meant, it was late at night. But if you loose the 2 Black keys and the brown you are done for as the brown key is what they use to program all the others. No brown key new ECU

Henry Ford III

esel wrote:

I have heard good reports about the Fabia. Boot on saloon is massive, and price should be right!

Unfortunate nmae that the Fabia :eek:

Regarding the key situation on your Seat, be wary. There'd be nothing to stop the holder of the 2nd chipped key casually walking up to your pride and joy, unlocking it, un immobilising it, and just heading off into the sunset is there?

I wouldn't be happy with that.

byte

Yeah, Ive asked the dealer to make contact with the previous owner and see if he can get the spare key.

According to the manual, there should be some sort of tag too, which is needed to replace the key. Though I thought all they'd need was chassis number, that's what the dealer led me to beleive...