€10-12.5k for a Family Car...

damoz

As per the title... what do you recommend with a 10k -12.5k budget for a, soon to be expanding, family car. I would import or buy in Ireland - wherever the best deal is - so for imports need to factor in VRT etc.

Contenders :
A4 Avant (prob pre-2005 50k miles + based on budget)
Ford S-Max (or C-max?)
Nissan Quasqhai

Any additions/suggestions welcome. Also any advice on where best to buy in Ireland and UK.

biggus

S-max best from your list, would only now be in your price range because of economy in the pits and cars impossible to sell ......see can't sell my car now thread.

Price the vrt on ros.ie and get an example price from web example cargiant.co.uk

When you know how cheap you can import one use this as ammo to bargain a good price locally.

Lex Luthor

If you are going from 1 to 2 kids then the Focus would be worth looking at...

Hard to find a 04 Avant for that money

I would guess if you looked hard enough in the UK you would find a 04 Accord 2.2 diesel for that money

Other options are the Ford C-Max

Robertr

Could save you the trouble of going to the UK. I have a great family car in the for sale section.

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=76317&cat=500

bazz26

OP I think you need to re-evaluate your budget or car choice. You will not buy a S-Max or Qashqai here for that money over here. The cheapest asking price for a Qashqai on carzone.ie is €18,800 and S-Max is €22k. Even buying one of them in the UK and paying the VRT you will be hard pushed to get one for €12.5k.

I think the C-Max is more realistic but be aware they are a 5 seater only:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1227364

You will do better in the UK.

Tony Broke

Go the UK, go diesel to beat the vrt and add a few japanese alternatives to your list

Honda Accord for example is better than any Focus or Quasqhai.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ni/cars_popup.jsp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=block&sort=3&hassearched=Y&make=HONDA&min_pr=4000&source=0&model=ACCORD&max_pr=8000&miles=1500&agerange=1&mileage=&postcode=m52ty&variant=&bodyid=3&trim=&fuelid=2&colour=&transmissionid=0&keywords=&ukcarsearch_full.x=41&ukcarsearch_full.y=1&start=4&distance=49&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200847323583129

2006, 140bhp, 153g emmisions, 54k miles, leather and only €13000 vrt'd.Im sure you can get cheaper than as well.

Robertr's Primera is also worth a look.Fantastic car for the price.

Lex Luthor

Tony Broke wrote: »

Go the UK, go diesel to beat the vrt and add a few japanese alternatives to your list

Honda Accord for example is better than any Focus or Quasqhai.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ni/cars_popup.jsp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=block&sort=3&hassearched=Y&make=HONDA&min_pr=4000&source=0&model=ACCORD&max_pr=8000&miles=1500&agerange=1&mileage=&postcode=m52ty&variant=&bodyid=3&trim=&fuelid=2&colour=&transmissionid=0&keywords=&ukcarsearch_full.x=41&ukcarsearch_full.y=1&start=4&distance=49&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200847323583129

2006, 140bhp, 153g emmisions, 54k miles, leather and only €13000 vrt'd.Im sure you can get cheaper than as well.

Robertr's Primera is also worth a look.Fantastic car for the price.

Agree about the Accord, but go for the Executive spec over the Sport...much more equip and the ride is not as harsh

kuro_man

2004 Honda Stream with 31k for <€12k?
http://cars.rte.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1190342

damoz

Robert - what MPG does it get? Will it be taxed at 790 for the rest of it days or is there a cut over to CO2 based tax at any point - if so what are the emissions.

Based on my original, and hasty, post - i realise now i was off the mark including s-max or qashquai.

Anyone have a c-max and be willing to review it?

smash

Go mad.... I need a bigger car so I'm thinking of combining what I have now, with a bit more space so I'll probably be getting an Alfa 156 GTA!

Stevie Dakota

I rented a 1.6 C-Max for a week, didn't see the point it over a Focus, seemed to have a smaller boot, same space inside, just more headroom which is great if you wear a top hat when you are driving. As a family car I don't get it. Scenic seems far cleverer.

Robertr

damoz wrote: »

Robert - what MPG does it get? Will it be taxed at 790 for the rest of it days or is there a cut over to CO2 based tax at any point - if so what are the emissions.

Based on my original, and hasty, post - i realise now i was off the mark including s-max or qashquai.

Anyone have a c-max and be willing to review it?

Hi, Here is a bit more information, it will be on the old tax system for the rest of its days unless they make further changes to the system.

Fuel Consumption (Urban) 35.8 mpg
Fuel Consumption (Extra-Urban) 55.4 mpg
Fuel Consumption (Combined) 46.3 mpg
0-62mph 10.9 seconds
Top Speed 121 mph
Engine Power 126 bhp
co2 Emissions 161 g/km


Cheers!

Lex Luthor

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

I rented a 1.6 C-Max for a week, didn't see the point it over a Focus, seemed to have a smaller boot, same space inside, just more headroom which is great if you wear a top hat when you are driving. As a family car I don't get it. Scenic seems far cleverer.

cars like the C-Max & Golf Plus don't seem to have a place...they are just a higher roof than their hatch back equivalent with one or 2 more cubby holes

The proper MPV's like the Scenic & Verso are better

GERMAN ROCKS

peugeot 407???????????????????

brianc42

I am currently looking for a car in the uk too.I have checked http://www.niautotrader.co.uk/contentv3/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pageID=12611

http://www.exchangeandmart.co.uk/iad/car/used/result
I found hundreds of cars within my budget . You will probably find the same.To find the VRT you have to pay try https://www.ros.ie/VRTEnquiryServlet/showVRT

The airports ryanair fly into all have postcodes on their websites.If you copy and paste these into the postcode seach box and select radius of within 10-20 miles there will be a huge selection of cars for you.
Hope this is of help.

eamon234

Octavia Combi would be a good bet would be more in your price range you'll pick up a pretty high spec one too for good money if you import

ninty9er

How expansive is the family becoming?

for 2 small kids this should be fine, safe too.

http://cars.rte.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1201452

damoz

For the replies. I think ill test drive a few of the options this weekend and see how that goes....

groupb

Tony Broke wrote: »

Go the UK, go diesel to beat the vrt and add a few japanese alternatives to your list

Honda Accord for example is better than any Focus or Quasqhai.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ni/cars_popup.jsp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=block&sort=3&hassearched=Y&make=HONDA&min_pr=4000&source=0&model=ACCORD&max_pr=8000&miles=1500&agerange=1&mileage=&postcode=m52ty&variant=&bodyid=3&trim=&fuelid=2&colour=&transmissionid=0&keywords=&ukcarsearch_full.x=41&ukcarsearch_full.y=1&start=4&distance=49&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200847323583129

2006, 140bhp, 153g emmisions, 54k miles, leather and only €13000 vrt'd.Im sure you can get cheaper than as well.

Robertr's Primera is also worth a look.Fantastic car for the price.

The accord is'nt in the same class as a focus or qashqai , and also unlike the focus its never been a class leader. I was given a primera diesel as a company car before and to my surprise it grew on me for its comfort and great torque. It would pull like a train no matter what gear it was in.

Biro

groupb wrote: »

The accord is'nt in the same class as a focus or qashqai , and also unlike the focus its never been a class leader. I was given a primera diesel as a company car before and to my surprise it grew on me for its comfort and great torque. It would pull like a train no matter what gear it was in.

It doesn't have to be a class leader to be better than the Focus.
The Primera is one of the most horrible designs inside and out in the last 10 years. Which diesel is in the Primera? I only drove a petrol one.