€12000 plus 06 Avensis. Replacement suggestions

adox

So I've been driving a 06 1.6 petrol Avensis for the last six years and although not the most exciting of cars it's been bullet proof maintanence wise with no issues at all beyond the usual wear and tear.

Sailed through the NCT again a couple of weeks back and is now due it yearly. Being 10 years old I really have a choice of hanging on to it and driving it until it dies, or trade it in now when there is still some sort of value left on it(I'm thinking in and around €3000-€3500 trade in value depending on purchase) There's approx 185,000km on the clock.

So I think I've more or less decided to upgrade to a newer car but don't have any real ideas for what to replace it with, although have toyed with a couple of ideas. I'm the main driver of the car(just myself and the wife, no kids) and drive about 70km a day to and from work and also driven at the weekends.

I know it's very random but am looking for any suggestions here or recommendations. I have a budget of about €12000 cash plus the trade in value of the Avensis. Although there is only the two of us I still like a decent size car. Other than that I don't know if I have any other criteria. Reliability is of course is a want as is economical as well but sure who wouldn't want that.

I have been looking online the last couple of weeks without visiting any forecourts. I've toyed with buying a BMW 5 series, which I maybe could aim for a 09 model with my budget but have heard stories about issues with the Diesel engines. Also looked at the i40 which would maybe bump me up a year or two over the BMW with my budget. An A4 may be an option but again would be probably a 09 reg at best and most seem to have huge mileage on them.

I'm sure it's as vague a question that could be asked but I'd really appreciate some suggestions or pointing in the right direction/steered away from poor options.

bazz26

A few options:-

VW Passat CC:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Passat-CC/2.0-TDI/200814627805589260/

Honda Accord:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Accord/2.2I-DTEC/201114620270791020/

Volvo S80:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volvo/S80/SE-MANUAL/201314640001959200/

Ford Mondeo:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Ford/Mondeo/2.0-TDCI/8023121635773277894/

Ideally you would do better money wise by selling the Avensis privately and buying the new car straight.

grogi

If you're after that low-running costs, consider a Prius...

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Toyota/Prius/Hybrid-LUXURY/201014659945165470/

adox

bazz26 wrote: »

A few options:-

VW Passat CC:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Passat-CC/2.0-TDI/200814627805589260/

Honda Accord:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Accord/2.2I-DTEC/201114620270791020/

Volvo S80:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volvo/S80/SE-MANUAL/201314640001959200/

Ford Mondeo:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Ford/Mondeo/2.0-TDCI/8023121635773277894/

Ideally you would do better money wise by selling the Avensis privately and buying the new car straight.

Thanks for the above. The Passat CC is certainly something that wasn't in my thinking but is certainly a contender now.

adox

Just a quick update on this. I've upped my budget to €15000 plus the avensis.

So far have done lots of looking without any real enquiring just to get a feel for where the market is at price wise and what I can expect to get for my money.

I'm still all over the place with trying to decide what I want. Took a 2012 Mercedes C200 2.1 diesel for a test drive earlier and quite liked it(apart from the foot handbrake) but priced at just under €20000 and offering €3000 trade in allowance, the gap is too big to close. I'm not even sure I'd want the Merc if it somehow could be.

I've enquired about a 2013 1.4 TSI SE Golf and hope to have a look at that in the coming days. Priced at €16950 so within my new budget.

So it's a bit of a scattergun approach at the moment. I intend to test drive a few that catch my eye and see if I am any clearer in my decision making them or if anything grabs me.

I have decided that I most likely will buy something when the Avensis does seem to have some value left in it(yes I know it's all relative).

I'll update if and when anything changed or progresses.

adox

Took a test drive of a Octavia and quite liked it. It was from a local garage who are in business a long time.
My only concern was the mileage on it. It's 2013 model(UK import) and has nearly 70,000 miles on the clock(Diesel engine)

I know that's high but would it be considered excessive for a diesel? I'm guessing it was a reps car. It was well specd. Elegance line with half leather seats, sat nav, auto wipers and lights, dual climate control etc. 1.6.

Was priced at €17995. Dealer was looking for €14,495 with my Avensis with maybe a bit more wiggle room. Dealer says he has fully service history of the car etc.

Moonbeam

adox wrote: »

Took a test drive of a Octavia and quite liked it. It was from a local garage who are in business a long time.
My only concern was the mileage on it. It's 2013 model(UK import) and has nearly 70,000 miles on the clock(Diesel engine)

I know that's high but would it be considered excessive for a diesel? I'm guessing it was a reps car. It was well specd. Elegance line with half leather seats, sat nav, auto wipers and lights, dual climate control etc. 1.6.

Was priced at €17995. Dealer was looking for €14,495 with my Avensis with maybe a bit more wiggle room. Dealer says he has fully service history of the car etc.

If you like the Octavia ,try a Skoda Superb .

bazz26

70,000 miles is not high for a 3 year old diesel car especially one from the UK. Run the UK registration through the free MOT checker here: https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/. Also run a proper history report on it and verify the service history by ringing the garages who stamped the service book.

BTW is it the new model or the older model Octavia as here are a few with lower mileage for similar or less asking prices:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Skoda/Octavia/Elegance-DSG/200714617816025600/
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Skoda/Octavia/ELEGANCE-1.6TDI/7393710211979162234/
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Skoda/Octavia/ELEGANCE-1.6TDI/591929249058932604/

Soarer

Lexus CT200h?

adox

bazz26 wrote: »

70,000 miles is not high for a 3 year old diesel car especially one from the UK. Run the UK registration through the free MOT checker here: https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/. Also run a proper history report on it and verify the service history by ringing the garages who stamped the service book.

BTW is it the new model or the older model Octavia as here are a few with lower mileage for similar or less asking prices:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Skoda/Octavia/Elegance-DSG/200714617816025600/
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Skoda/Octavia/ELEGANCE-1.6TDI/7393710211979162234/
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Skoda/Octavia/ELEGANCE-1.6TDI/591929249058932604/

Cheers for that. Not sure if it's the the newer model or not:
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/skoda/octavia/used-2013-131-skoda-octavia-neary-ne-dublin-fpa-4475774017699619336

adox

Moonbeam wrote: »

If you like the Octavia ,try a Skoda Superb .

Thanks, a Suberb would set me back at least 2-3 years with my budget and the newer model Octaivas seem pretty spacious and well spec'd.

bazz26

adox wrote: »

Cheers for that. Not sure if it's the the newer model or not:
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/skoda/octavia/used-2013-131-skoda-octavia-neary-ne-dublin-fpa-4475774017699619336

That's the newer one alright. Seats look a bit higher spec than the standard Elegance you get here.

George Dalton

I think Octavias are very over priced tbh. People think they are good value but that simply isn't the case when you look at the figures. This car is the same price but in a different league altogether:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/passat/used-2013-132-983571983515-louth-fpa-8791684761218047705

adox

George Dalton wrote: »

I think Octavias are very over priced tbh. People think they are good value but that simply isn't the case when you look at the figures. This car is the same price but in a different league altogether:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/passat/used-2013-132-983571983515-louth-fpa-8791684761218047705

Thanks for that but that seems to be the exception rather than the rule for that spec model after a quick look?

The newer model Octavia is similar to the golf, same chassis etc, bigger and well spec'd and I thought(from my very limited knowledge)was regarded as a value for money car if nothing else?

George Dalton

That's exactly my point. The Octavia is regarded as being good value without actually being good value.

It's a class below the Passat but very often the prices being asked don't reflect that.

George Dalton

Some more examples:

A Jetta Highline from a main VW dealer with far less mileage than the Skoda advertised at the same price:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/jetta/used-2013-132-983571983515-laois-fpa-7456866604939231889

Mondeo 2.0tdci Titanium X with less mileage than the Skoda and slightly cheaper:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/ford/mondeo/used-2013-131-983571983515-sligo-fpa-200914643394103380

Lower mileage Avensis Strata same price:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/toyota/avensis/used-2013-131-983571983515-dublin-fpa-201114653874449390

Seat Leon FR from a main Seat dealer with less mileage than the Octavia. Same price as the Skoda despite the far superior chassis and drivetrain:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/seat/leon/used-2013-131-983571983515-kilkenny-fpa-201114622968218590

adox

George Dalton wrote: »

Some more examples:

A Jetta Highline from a main VW dealer with far less mileage than the Skoda advertised at the same price:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/jetta/used-2013-132-983571983515-laois-fpa-7456866604939231889

Mondeo 2.0tdci Titanium X with less mileage than the Skoda and slightly cheaper:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/ford/mondeo/used-2013-131-983571983515-sligo-fpa-200914643394103380

Lower mileage Avensis Strata same price:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/toyota/avensis/used-2013-131-983571983515-dublin-fpa-201114653874449390

Seat Leon FR from a main Seat dealer with less mileage than the Octavia. Same price as the Skoda despite the far superior chassis and drivetrain:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/seat/leon/used-2013-131-983571983515-kilkenny-fpa-201114622968218590

Cheers for that. Plenty of food for thought although I am getting more indecisive than ever!

slave1

Ha ha OP, very similar boat, 07 Avensis 1.6L petrol, getting just shy of 800km on a fill but I'd look to sell my car privately and import something like a Sportage/CR-V diesel, 17-20k a year on the road

adox

Dealer where I took that Octavia for a test drive came back to me this evening and said he'd do it for €14000 with my car.

That's a €4000 trade in value. I know it's all relative and it does depend on €4000 off what figure but the best I've been offered so far was €3000 when I looked at a €20000 car and another dealer told me the best he could do would be €1500 to €2000.

Certainly given me more food for thought.

bazz26

Focus on the cost to trade up price rather than the value they are putting on your old car as the trade-in price can be distorted to look appealing while it's just clawed back on the asking price of the newer car.

Have you priced the cost to trade up to a similar Octavia from a different dealer?

adox

bazz26 wrote: »

Focus on the cost to trade up price rather than the value they are putting on your old car as the trade-in price can be distorted to look appealing while it's just clawed back on the asking price of the newer car.

Have you priced the cost to trade up to a similar Octavia from a different dealer?

Thanks bazz. Haven't looked at any other Octavias yet so haven't got a trade up cost. The price advertised for the car seems about the norm, maybe ever so slightly higher than it could be because of the mileage but the spec does seem to be slightly higher than its Irish equivalent. Half leather seats, sat nav, the alloys look like a step up too.

Must see what I'm offered elsewhere. There's a Skoda dealer 2 minutes out of my way on the way home from work so will see what they can offer.

Oh and btw, the dealer offering the Skoda @€;14,000 trie to steer me away from petrol golf I looks at elsewhere. The 1.4 TSI engine in the mkvii model. Can't remember exactly what he said but suggested they were problematic and recommended the 1.6 diesel instead.

Speaking of the golf, I looked at the above car, again UK import, 2013, 27000 odd miles on it. For sale at €16995, they wanted €15000 with my trade in. Wouldn't go any lower.

Oh and as if the car was dropping hints that it wants to be changed, hopped into it Saturday morning and it wouldn't start. First time in my six years of ownership it's happened. Battery was dead but nothing left on overnight. No jump leads to hand or from neighbours so ended up getting pushed out of driveway and starting it on the push in reverse. Made my journey, turned off ignition and battery dead again. Ended up getting a new one in, an expense I didn't want but had to be done.

bazz26

You need to compare like with like to understand if you're getting a good deal or not. So you need to find out what a different dealer wants with your old car for a similar Octavia. Also don't rely on the advertised prices in garages when you have a trade in as most likely the advertised or sticker price is nearly always the cash price (ie no trade-in). The trade-in price will nearly always be higher.

adox

Ok so think I nearly have my mind made up. Test drove a 2012 Passat today and really liked it.

http://www.joeduffy.ie/volkswagen/used-cars/13190/volkswagen-passat/

I`m gonna end up paying two grand more than the Octavia I drove but I loved the Passat a lot more than the Octavia. Had to haggle the hell out of them to get it to that price too. Havent fully committed yet but more or less have my mind made up. Got a cartell report from them as well and everything looks in order.

Would love to hear any opinions on the above, oh and thanks for the contributions and advice so far. Much appreciated.

adox

Anyone any opinions on the Passat linked above? €16000 plus my Avensis.

bazz26

It's hard to know whether it's a good deal or not without going to another dealer with a similar car and see what sort of money they want with your Avensis.

Realistically though a main dealer is not going to give you much for a 10 year old Avensis. They are not going to retail a car of that age on their forecourt. They will sell it straight onto the trade (smaller dealer) as is so they need to buy it from you at the lowest price to them as possible. You would be financially better off trying to sell the Avensis privately but that can involve more time, patience and dealing with tyre kickers.

adox

One more question lads. The Passat is due its first NCT(due at the end of July). Asked the seller about it and he said that they dont send cars for NCT themselves that I would have to get it NCTd and if there were any issues that they would sort them out.

Is this normal? Can they sell me a car without a valid NCT?

grogi

adox wrote: »

One more question lads. The Passat is due its first NCT(due at the end of July). Asked the seller about it and he said that they dont send cars for NCT themselves that I would have to get it NCTd and if there were any issues that they would sort them out.

Is this normal? Can they sell me a car without a valid NCT?

A self respected dealer would never sell a car without an NCT, unless it was a genuine overlook.

Once you pay for the car, it becomes your problem. It wouldn't be the first time the sells-man attitude changes dramatically once the cash is handed over.

adox

grogi wrote: »

A self respected dealer would never sell a car without an NCT, unless it was a genuine overlook.

Once you pay for the car, it becomes your problem. It wouldn't be the first time the sells-man attitude changes dramatically once the cash is handed over.

Cheers. yeah I dont even know where Id stand legally if I drove a car off the forecourt without a valid NCT.

bazz26

I'm a bit surprised a main dealer would come out with such a statement about the NCT on such a fresh car. My guess is they are trying to avoid the hassle of booking it in due to the usual waiting times and are afraid you grow tired and buy elsewhere. If you are ready to buy then I'd insist that a fresh NCT is a condition of the sale otherwise your not interested.

I wouldn't worry too much about them having trouble getting a NCT appointment, dealers are some of the NCT's best customers in that they are sending cars their way nearly every week, so they are usually fairly accommodating to them when it comes to "fitting them in". If I had to wait a week or so for them to get it tested then I'd wait.

adox

bazz26 wrote: »

I'm a bit surprised a main dealer would come out with such a statement about the NCT on such a fresh car. My guess is they are trying to avoid the hassle of booking it in due to the usual waiting times and are afraid you grow tired and buy elsewhere. If you are ready to buy then I'd insist that a fresh NCT is a condition of the sale otherwise your not interested.

I wouldn't worry too much about them having trouble getting a NCT appointment, dealers are some of the NCT's best customers in that they are sending cars their way nearly every week, so they are usually fairly accommodating to them when it comes to "fitting them in". If I had to wait a week or so for them to get it tested then I'd wait.

Yeah Ive to contact him today to let him know if I want to buy.
I`m going to insist on the car being NCT`d before purchase or I`ll walk away.

Lovely car I really liked it when I drove it but I`m not going to let my heart rule my head.

adox

So eventually convinced them to send the car for an NCT.

Looking for a booking deposit off me today.

adox

Ok so just a quick update.

Haven't put the deposit down yet but really like the car and most likely will go ahead with the purchase.

However, after reading the VW emmsions scandal thread on here I have a couple of concerns.

I was well aware of the scandal and realised the car I would be buying would be one of those affected. I didn't have a problem with this.

However reading the thread, although the value of th second hand VWs has held strong, there is speculation on there that the price of them may eventually plummet. Also some question marks over the fix that it may affect and reduce the performance of the car.

Are these real concerns? Whatever car I buy I will hope to hold onto for at least 4-5 years.

bazz26

Your buying a 4 year old car now, in 4 or 5 years time it's going to be 8 or 9 years old so at that stage it will have already lost a fair share of it's value.

Regarding the VW scandal, I think there is a bit of mass hysteria going on around where used VWs just become worthless overnight. Nobody knows but they are a popular brand so it's very unlikely they will become unsellable anytime soon. People are still buying them brand new despite all the predictions of doom.

adox

Verbal agreement struck. Should be putting deposit on the car tomorrow, garage send it for NCT and then payment in full.

May pay another quick visit tomorrow for another visual inspection before officially setting the wheels in motion so to speak.

Thanks for the help and advice. It's much appreciated.

adox

Paid a deposit today after giving the car a visual inspection. Waiting for NCT to be passed and issued before paying in full and getting the car.

Really happy with the purchase. Car seems in great nick, is really well specd and was a very comfortable and enjoyable drive(coming from a 06 Avensis)

12 month VW warranty, the car was originally bought from and has a full service history from dealer I buying from.

Just need to stop reading the emissions scandal thread as its making me doubt my purchase.

bazz26

adox wrote: »

Paid a deposit today after giving the car a visual inspection. Waiting for NCT to be passed and issued before paying in full and getting the car.

Really happy with the purchase. Car seems in great nick, is really well specd and was a very comfortable and enjoyable drive(coming from a 06 Avensis)

12 month VW warranty, the car was originally bought from and has a full service history from dealer I buying from.

Just need to stop reading the emissions scandal thread as its making me doubt my purchase.

Good luck with it. Sounds like the dealer was trying to chance his luck around not bother doing the NCT in the hope you wouldn't bother standing your ground.