New Car Advise

techdiver

Hi,

I am going to need to change the car (due to changing family circumstances). I currently have a 2006 Alfa Romeo Brera 2.2 JTS (70000 miles approx) and reluctantly need to get a more "sensible" family car.

I don't do many miles (I cycle to work), so it would be mainly for evenings and weekends. I would prefer a petrol car, but because of this dumb CO2 tax based system, everyone bought a diesel post 2008, so 95% of saloons seem to be diesel now! I will buy a diesel if needs be, but would like something with a bit of "poke" in it, as I don't want to go completely cold turkey after my Alfa. In saying that I would ideally like to lower my motor tax bill also. The €951 per year for the Brera is a pain in the h**e especially considering I do so little miles per year!

I am looking at the usual suspects:

(2010+) Ford Mondeo
(2010+) Mazda 6
(2010+) Volkswagen Passat
(2010+) Opel Insignia
(2008+) Audi A4

I'm going at around €15000 mark (including trade in). Any idea what I could expect for mine as a trade in?

Now obviously, going with an A4 will cost more than an equivalent Mondeo etc, thus the difference in expectation regarding years. Although, what's putting me off the A4 more than just price is the quite high mileage on most second hand models available.

I previously owned a 2002 Mondeo and liked it quite a bit, so the Mondeo might be the favorite.

I'm just wondering whether any of you guys out there have any of the above vehicles and have any advise for or against them. I'm completely open to suggestions not listed above. I am kind of thinking of an Octavia vRS too, but not sure. (not many available either)

Cheers

GavMan

Bring the Brera around a few garages and see what they'll give you for it.

If its pretty paltry, try sell it privately for a similar price to your trade in. You'll get a better cash price. My guess is the Brera will sell if priced VERY keenly.

dh0011

Would you think of an avensis?
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Avensis/330tax,l/30513466795817200/advert?channel=CARS

TheBigGreen

dh0011 wrote: »

Would you think of an avensis?
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Avensis/330tax,l/30513466795817200/advert?channel=CARS

That yoke doesn't even have alloys!! Please don't...

vRS petrol would be a good buy, maybe import a nice onr from the UK?

dh0011

OP doesnt say he wants alloys.

TheBigGreen

dh0011 wrote: »

OP doesnt say he wants alloys.

True but if he's paying 15k on a car I'd say he would a set of alloys on it.

thecomedian

dh0011 wrote: »

Would you think of an avensis?
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Avensis/330tax,l/30513466795817200/advert?channel=CARS

An Alfa down to that heap!
Come on

techdiver

Alloys would be preferable, but I'm sure there are plenty of Avensis models with Alloys all the same.

Avensis wouldn't be top of my list, but I'm flexible and won't disregard any car at this stage. It's just the Avensis doesn't capture my imagination.

dh0011

thecomedian wrote: »

An Alfa down to that heap!
Come on

You would spend a lot less time on the hard shoulder in "that heap" than an alfa and the OP mentions family circumstances so I wouldnt like my wife/children in an alfa.

OP fair enough - if it doesnt capture your imagination then would you think of a subaru legacy.

techdiver

dh0011 wrote: »

You would spend a lot less time on the hard shoulder in "that heap" than an alfa and the OP mentions family circumstances so I wouldnt like my wife/children in an alfa.

OP fair enough - if it doesnt capture your imagination then would you think of a subaru legacy.

Never thought of a Subaru, I'll look into that.

BTW, I've had the Alfa 3.5 years and it has not let me down yet. Plus I still feel excited driving it. I'll be teary eyed letting it go to be honest!

dh0011

http://www.carzone.ie/new-cars/subaru/Legacy/saloon
will be my first purchase if i win the lotto (would go for an estate myself)

It hasnt broken in three and a half years - thats good to be fair.

MuppetCheck

I couldn't stomach paying as much as the asking no matter how low the mileage is but this is still a good option. Auto too - don't know if that would make a difference to you.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Accord/2.0-I-VT/36513732969788680/advert?channel=CARS



Not madly powerful but looks well, drives well and under budget. Low miles a bonus too.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazda6/GH-1.8-S/36813759506929780/advert?channel=CARS



The miles are a bit high on this but it's a great looking car with a fantastic engine.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Passat-CC/2.0-tsi-/36313748574839650/advert?channel=CARS

Noccy_Mondy

+1 on the mondeo. Would suit exactly for what you said, they can take 3 baby seats in the back! With the Titanium spec you cant go wrong, all the toys add to the pleasure :P

This particular one is a bit over budget...
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Mondeo/TITANIUM/33913633534884710/advert?channel=CARS

techdiver

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

+1 on the mondeo. Would suit exactly for what you said, they can take 3 baby seats in the back! With the Titanium spec you cant go wrong, all the toys add to the pleasure :P

This particular one is a bit over budget...
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Mondeo/TITANIUM/33913633534884710/advert?channel=CARS

That's a nice Mondeo alright!

I would love to go for the Titanium spec alright. Would settle for Zetec though. Even something like this:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Mondeo/2.O-TDCI/7213389853912250/advert?channel=CARS

It's 2011 so has the slight "facelift" too.

Noccy_Mondy

techdiver wrote: »

That's a nice Mondeo alright!

I would love to go for the Titanium spec alright. Would settle for Zetec though. Even something like this:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Mondeo/2.O-TDCI/7213389853912250/advert?channel=CARS

It's 2011 so has the slight "facelift" too.

Ya there isnt an awful lot in the difference between the two.This one looks better, with the upgraded alloys and LED's infront
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Mondeo/ZETEC-2./36513724243705370/advert?channel=CARS

Scortho

Right I'm getting worse than 166man.
As you're clearly an alfa you know all about their niggles and should know that they need a bit of extra tlc.

An alfa 166 2.5v6. Plenty of room in the back for the kids, and its fast as feck.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/alfa/5496478

Another option would be a 159. A user on here sold his 166 and bought a 159 as it was a more suitable family car.
If you can find an estate 159 even better.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/alfa-romeo-159-2-2i-jts-sportivo/5440126

To the person who recommended the toyota, he's coming from an alfa brera. I don't know if you've ever seen one but he needs something to keep the smile on his face and make the tears disappear. A toyota would do the complete opposite, especially as its a car for the weekend.

Op if it was me, id go for the 166. If not another alfa then an Octavia vrs.

bazz26

I'd agree but to be fair, none of the other cars on the OP's original list are going to put a smile on his face either.

dh0011

Ye are missing the point OP wants a saloon to drive his family around not a sports car.

Scortho

dh0011 wrote: »

Ye are missing the point OP wants a saloon to drive his family around not a sports car.

Hence the 166 or the 159.
Both are saloons.
Both hold families.

Both look nice.
Both put a smile on your face.
Both make you cream yourself.
Both are fast. A standard a4 or mondeo isn't going to do that.

techdiver

I am under no illusions. I know whatever I get is not going to be as much fun or special as what I currently have. It's the nature of the beast as they say.

I suppose I've had my fun, time to cool down for a while until the mid life crisis sets in. :P

youwhoglue

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/10-alfa-159-diesel-low-mileage/5405655

-Lots of inane grins
-Somewhat frugal on the juice
-€570 tax
-Gorgeous


(2.4 diesels are out there but are rare.... saw a silver one for sale privately recently for €13,999, top Ti spec too.)

discombobulate

+1 on a 159 after buying one myself although if your doing low mileage the diesels won't suit and the 1.8 is a bit of a pig.

I've been looking at 159 / Brera prices for the past year so have seen a lot of the prices they were advertised for. The 2.2's and 3.2's are usually up online at least a couple of months before selling.

As for what you'll probably get for the Brera this one was for sale for a couple of months and i'd presume went for around the 7k mark max. I'd be surprised if you were offered over 5k for it as it'll be a hard sell for a dealer.

You might be best trying someone like Tractamotors in Blanchardstown as they deal in Alfa's. I'd try sell it privately first. Also join the Alfa Romeo owners forum and post about it in the for sale section in the Ireland threads. If you'd been 2 weeks earlier the guy who bought the Brera I linked to above was looking for one there.

Also look into getting a car in the UK as there will be a wider range of petrol models there.

By low mileage how low are we talking?

discombobulate

youwhoglue wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/10-alfa-159-diesel-low-mileage/5405655

-Lots of inane grins
-Somewhat frugal on the juice
-€570 tax
-Gorgeous


(2.4 diesels are out there but are rare.... saw a silver one for sale privately recently for €13,999, top Ti spec too.)

Lovely car but its the 120b bhp model which i'd imagine wouldn't be great in terms of power. The Lusso is a good spec though

R.O.R

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Insignia/ELITE-2./33913626761991800/advert?channel=CARS

Engine is an evolution of the diesel engine in the Alfa. Not bad to drive, 160ps is fairly decent and the Elite has the toys (Dual Climate, Electric heated memory seats, Xenon's) and 18" wheels.

Wonder what you could land an early new model S60 D5 from the UK for? 2.4 diesel, 5 cylinder, twin turbo, 205bhp, and fantastic handling. Even the D3 (2.0 diesel, 5 cylinder, 163bhp) is fairly good, and road tax is either band C or possibly D on the early new models.