The hassle of buying a new car!

phobia2011

Hi all,

Trying to decide in a new car is killing me.

First problem, just finnished with an opel zafira, diesel, had a lot of problem with Egr, Dpf,alternator,starter etc.
We only do small mileage per year, approx 10 - 12k. Mainly all town driving with odd long trip.
This has told me petrol is the way to go or was I unlucky.

Cars that interest me are, avensis and then mondeo. Like insignia but recent issues with the opel have scared me off.

Looking for 2010 as oldest, seems pretty hard to get a 1.8 avensis(petrol) with decent spec. I was then informed by a pal who drives an older avensis that it costs a fortune to run.

Any inputs, with do's/dont's or recommendations are greatly appreciated.

punisher5112

Your 1st mistake was buying a diesel.

With the driving your doing and budget you have I wouldn't let a 1.8 worry you.

If it's comfort you want the higher the engine size usually the better it is.

I am doing up to 500miles a week in a 2.0 petrol Octavia VRs. Which is getting up to 40mpg usually around 35mpg.

Short trips and stopping and starting kill the modern diesel so that is why all those faults happened if you had been doing big mileage none of those faults would have happened for a long long time.

bazz26

OP, first of all don't listen to nonsense from someone telling x car will cost you a fortune to run. At 10k - 12k km per year fuel costs will not be your biggest outlet on a car. As you have found out a diesel car isn't exactly cheap to run either, instead of spending it on fuel you ended up spending it on repairs.

Regarding the Avensis, the current Avensis has a different range of petrol engines to the older one. The newer Dual VVTi engines are more powerful, more fuel efficient and have lower emissions so lower tax. Have a look at the 1.6 litre, it has 130bhp which is slightly more than the 1.8 litre VVTi in the older shape Avensis.

For example:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Toyota/Avensis/NG-1.6/23713418449238070/

Another one to consider is the Honda Civic saloon, yes the Civic is technically from the class below similar to a Corolla but the saloon is actually not that far off the size of an Avensis. 1.8 I-Vtec engines is very frugal and has a decent 140bhp. Only down side really is that the tax is a bit higher at around €570.

Eg:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Civic/1.8I-SES/58914044772919660/

One more to consider is a VW Passat. 1.4 TSi while first impression is that it would be too small for a big car is actually turbo charged and has 122bhp. It is more than capable of moving around and they are not bad on fuel.

Eg:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Passat/Comfortline-1.4/61214053619681610/

marco_polo

Currently looking at similar cars myself I'd definatley throw the latest model 1.6 L petrol Mondeo and Volvo S60 on the list of possibilities as well. Easier to find in the UK mind