City runabout suggestions - No M5's please!

Casati

Looking to replace an 07' Megane Sport Tourer - all ideas welcome

Requirements:
Want min 2 years manufacture warranty - don't have time to deal with running around fixing up problems with cars. If I have an issue I just want to drop it to main dealer and not worry about cost to repair. Don't want a mapfire or similar insurance policy either

Driving - all city driving, approx 10km p.a so I think diesel is out ideally

Space - needs to fit three children in back seat, one of which is in a car seat. I.e. Megane is wide enough but anything much narrower/ or with badly shaped back seat would be a problem

Other - ideally want something a bit of fun - i.e. doesn't have to have 200 bhp but should have a little bit of zip and tidy handling.

Budget - max 15k, and running costs need to be low too. So unfortunately no M3's, RS6's or XJR's!

Will consider buying in the UK if a solid saving exists

So far Im thinking about another Megane, but don't see any petrol secondhand, maybe a 1.0 Focus but v rare & v expensive used. Don't really know if the mini MPV's offer good space but something lie an ix20 might be an option?

Veloce

Fiat Panda 100hp?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2007-fiat-panda-100-bhp-1-4-special-addition/7854021

Veloce

Skoda Octavia VRS? http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-octavia-vrs/8195290

Casati

Veloce wrote: »

Fiat Panda 100hp?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2007-fiat-panda-100-bhp-1-4-special-addition/7854021

Thanks Veloce, not sure that meets any of my requirements - bar the fun to drive one, but it has made me think about Fiats - does anybody have an opinion on the 500L?

braddun

fiats are pretty crap reliabilty

Casati

Veloce wrote: »

Skoda Octavia VRS? http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-octavia-vrs/8195290

I think I might have almost bought that exact car four years ago, or one v similar to it. Great cars mind but I already have another Skoda for the long drives. Maybe a petrol Octavia might work but again not many around second-hand and a bit over budget buying a new one

Bigus

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/seat-mii-132d-1-0-5dr/8186677

€7250 cheap car great fun to drive

pajosjunkbox

I was in this position 2 weeks ago. I have a superb estate for long journeys. I wanted to replace a megane 3 door with a petrol hatchback for town driving .

Bought a 1.8 civic 5 door. Love it. It's well made , looks nice , plenty of power and surprisingly practical with the magic seats and deep boot .

colm_mcm

Bigus wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/seat-mii-132d-1-0-5dr/8186677

€7250 cheap car great fun to drive

3 children in the back?

Casati

pajosjunkbox wrote: »

I was in this position 2 weeks ago. I have a superb estate for long journeys. I wanted to replace a megane 3 door with a petrol hatchback for town driving .

Bought a 1.8 civic 5 door. Love it. It's well made , looks nice , plenty of power and surprisingly practical with the magic seats and deep boot .

Thats funny, my other car is a Superb Estate too!. Will check out the Civic's - probably one car that I'd risk buying without warranty. Did you drive the 1.4 before going for the 1.8?

Casati

colm_mcm wrote: »

3 children in the back?

I did a search and see they are only a 4 seater, but thats serious value - a year old car for under 7k!

pajosjunkbox

Casati wrote: »

Thats funny, my other car is a Superb Estate too!. Will check out the Civic's - probably one car that I'd risk buying without warranty. Did you drive the 1.4 before going for the 1.8?

Didn't test drive 1.4. I bought a 06 one so 1.8 is usually cheaper than 1.4 to buy due to tax .

CharlieCroker

braddun wrote: »

fiats are pretty crap reliabilty

Much like your grammar!

OP, Fiats are coming with a 5year warranty now (actually the first to introduce a 4 yr warranty in 2006). While it wouldn't be my cup of tea, they're not bad, go have a look. You'll find it tough to find a non diesel I'd imagine.

bazz26

MINI Countryman - You might have to go to the UK for a petrol one within budget though.

Special Circumstances

bazz26 wrote: »

MINI Countryman - You might have to go to the UK for a petrol one within budget though.

Would they be in op's budget already? Are they two distinct seard in the back rather than a bench type? Or maybe it's the clubman that has those seats.

3 child seats is gonna be the issue here. Contradicts "city car" and "fun to drive" in most cases.

bazz26

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Would they be in op's budget already? Are they two distinct seard in the back rather than a bench type? Or maybe it's the clubman that has those seats.

3 child seats is gonna be the issue here. Contradicts "city car" and "fun to drive" in most cases.

Op said 3 children, one child seat.

Clubman is just an estate version of the hatchback, Countryman is more a crossover. Looking at the photos here it may accommodate a centre booster seat and allow kids to sit either side of it.

Special Circumstances

Out of budget with a 2year warranty regardless.
Any Countryman I've seen had the (what I now presume is optional) centre rail thing with 2 kinda semi bucket rear seats.


Although the smallie would have a ball if the child seat could be mounted on the rail like some amusement park ride. Wheee I'm in the back, wheee I'm in the front...

Casati

Countryman is a bit rich for the budget, and yeah I think the rear seat looks a bit tight - one of the children is in a full size seat, one (small) booster. If I only had the two of them a Clubman would be a good option & one I hadn't thought of

Any opinions on the Toledo? I see a few 141's for 13,000. Ive driven the 1.2 in 105 form and it feels a bit faster than the power fig, but haven't driven the 86 bhp so not sure if its dead?

Would it be worth bringing something like this in from the U.K. - Rapid 105bhp 2014 for £10k?


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201405134159918/sort/ageasc/keywords/105/fuel-type/petrol/price-to/10000/usedcars/page/2/radius/1501/maximum-age/up_to_1_year_old/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/co2-emissions-cars/up_to_140/quantity-of-doors/5/postcode/n87ex?logcode=p

colm_mcm

Toledo/Rapid is very narrow, its essentially an Ibiza saloon.

commited

We had a Skoda Rapid TSI 105 as a rental and I was surprised by it overall, boot was massive and interior was fine space wise. Bit plasticky though...

thierry14

I would just buy a new 151 Mitisubishi Spacestar for 11,800e if you don't want any hassle and wants something reliable.

8 year warranty for under 12k.

mitsubishi-motors.ie/car/space-star/

Even the Lancer 1.6 120bhp for 18k is an unreal deal.

Don't buy unreliable crap from BMW/VW group whatever you do.

Hyundai, Kia, Honda etc is the way to go for small petrol's.

zwind

cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-gs450h/7835238


2008 lexus GS450H auto

fit the budget nicely.
340 horsepower
0-60mph in 5.4
road tax is 750. it's be a bit too much for a 3.5
acceptable city mpg for being a hybrid.

not sure about its reliability either.

main issue: not main dealer.

Casati

thierry14 wrote: »

I would just buy a new 151 Mitisubishi Spacestar for 11,800e if you don't want any hassle and wants something reliable.

8 year warranty for under 12k.

mitsubishi-motors.ie/car/space-star/

Even the Lancer 1.6 120bhp for 18k is an unreal deal.

Don't buy unreliable crap from BMW/VW group whatever you do.

Hyundai, Kia, Honda etc is the way to go for small petrol's.

That spacestar is too small and though the Lancer is worth considering- probably a reliable option but they are seriously dated looking I think- I'll see if any secondhand exists though

Casati

fleex wrote: »

cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-gs450h/7835238


2008 lexus GS450H auto

fit the budget nicely.
340 horsepower
0-60mph in 5.4
road tax is 750. it's be a bit too much for a 3.5
acceptable city mpg for being a hybrid.

not sure about its reliability either.

main issue: not main dealer.

Nice car but I think its expensive for a 7 year old motor with no warranty- main issue is potential hassle factor plus cost to fix anything big going wrong

colm_mcm

thierry14 wrote: »

I would just buy a new 151 Mitisubishi Spacestar for 11,800e if you don't want any hassle and wants something reliable.

8 year warranty for under 12k.

mitsubishi-motors.ie/car/space-star/

Even the Lancer 1.6 120bhp for 18k is an unreal deal.

Don't buy unreliable crap from BMW/VW group whatever you do.

Hyundai, Kia, Honda etc is the way to go for small petrol's.

The space star would have been outclassed 10 years ago. Its a step back from the Colt it replaced.

bazz26

The Space Star was primarily designed for developing countries. It's built to a budget and feels it. The 8 year warranty would not even be a consideration for me as the thought of owning it for 8 years would depress me. There are better cars out there for €12k.

thierry14

bazz26 wrote: »

The Space Star was primarily designed for developing countries. It's built to a budget and feels it. The 8 year warranty would not even be a consideration for me as the thought of owning it for 8 years would depress me. There are better cars out there for €12k.

There are better.

Not with 8 year warranties.

All city car's like Fiesta's, Clio's, Fabia's in standard 1.0l/1.2l are depressing, I would rather pay 8k less with a much longer warranty.

If OP want's something fun and practical, he would have to look at ST, VRS, RS model's and your not going to get a decent warranty with them for 12k.

fryup

colm_mcm wrote: »

The space star would have been outclassed 10 years ago. Its a step back from the Colt it replaced.

totally agree,

the colt was a fab little car surprisingly spacious inside with the added bonus of removable rear seats which makes it very practical

ba_barabus

Op I walked passed Ken Lawford motors near Harold's cross in dublin yesterday and they had a 141 Nissan Note new model for 15k in the window. Looked good value to me. Can't post a link currently

Casati

ba_barabus wrote: »

Op I walked passed Ken Lawford motors near Harold's cross in dublin yesterday and they had a 141 Nissan Note new model for 15k in the window. Looked good value to me. Can't post a link currently

I guess it was this one http://www.kenlawfordmotors.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1146468&r=

Looks like an interesting option as its a nice spec and looks like a demo rather than an ex rental. I did a search and see Nissan are still offering a Twice is Nice deal - basically I pay full list now on a Note and get a 151 D in Jan and a 161 the following Jan, though it would be 17k+ They do an interesting supercharged version, but its 2k more expensive and only provides and extra 8 bhp so can't see that working.

ba_barabus

Casati wrote: »

I guess it was this one http://www.kenlawfordmotors.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1146468&r=

Looks like an interesting option as its a nice spec and looks like a demo rather than an ex rental. I did a search and see Nissan are still offering a Twice is Nice deal - basically I pay full list now on a Note and get a 151 D in Jan and a 161 the following Jan, though it would be 17k+ They do an interesting supercharged version, but its 2k more expensive and only provides and extra 8 bhp so can't see that working.

It was a silver one but that black one looks great