Recommend me a car: €5k to €6k

pokermanpat

- I am looking for a hatch/ decent looking saloon
- I do 10k km a year tops, mostly city driving
- Preferably lower mileage as I wont be adding much to it, say sub 120k km.
- With my budget it will be pre 08 so less than 1.6 litre for tax purposes
- Reliability important
- Could maybe stretch the budget to fit an 08 diesel like a focus but is that a false economy?

Thanks for the input.

Matthewjohn

It doesn't make sense to buy a diesel at your mileage. How about a Mazda 6 it's reliable good looking and most importantly good value. It's a 1.8 though but that's only slightly more tax than a 1.6 so I would stretch to it if you could

bazz26

You should be able to pick up a Honda Civic saloon on that sort of budget. They are 1.8 litre but are very fuel efficent, tax is less than €100 more per year than a 1.6 litre, they are very well equipped and very unlikely to give trouble.

For example:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=5813311441936680

Idbatterim

ford mondeo or focus... there is an alternative, get an 02 or 03 bmw or merc and use the money saved for the extra tax etc...

see below etc

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3543946
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3544753
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/520-I-SA/201214207654541/advert?channel=CARS
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/520-I-SA/6113330344382060/advert?channel=CARS

Diar

Audi A4 1.6
very smooth on the road should get a 04 for that price

166man

Good looking hatch? Get yourself an Alfa 147 1.6TS. Great car.

pokermanpat

Thanks for all the responses.


Never thought of a Mazda 6 but seems great value for the spec and my budget could get an 07.

Reliability is one of the most important factors so a ten year old BMW is definitely not on the list.

What is the reliability like on the 1.6 Audi, as it would be three years older than the Mazda, it would have to be good to hold up against it for my decision. I have had two VAG cars and lots of problems with them!!

166man it sounds like you are in the fan club! Heard of a lot of issues with Alfas so would like to steer clear.

Any other ideas considering a 1.6 was really at the top of the engine size, was more thinking 1.4 as the car is just a stop gap and unfortunately performance is just not a factor in the decision!

Dirkster

I honestly couldn't think of a reason why not to go for this. GF has one similar and they're a nice car.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3549376

Matthewjohn

If you wanted a 1.4 hatchback you could look at the Kia cee'd it's reliable and good looking and this one still has a warranty until 2014
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3536632