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Cheap and cheerful, hassle-free motoring?

  • 31-01-2015 08:11PM
    #1
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,266 ✭✭✭✭


    Hey folks,

    I'm car-less at the moment and, although I don't need a car for day-to-day living, unfortunately, I do need one for getting around for work related activities (photography).

    However, my last car, which I owned for a total of six months, absolutely broke my heart. It gave a problem almost every time I went near it and just put me off car ownership in general.

    So I'm looking to buy something cheap and reliable. I don't need anything too fancy, but I do want something that I won't be embarrassed to drive. :P


    I don't care about a 'fast car'. I don't care about big engines. I don't care about leather seats, 2 exhausts, dual climate control or fog lights. I really just want something that will go from A to B without me having to ring my mechanic.

    Ideally, I want to spend as little as possible. I'm not keen to pay any more than €400 per year on tax (1.4 engines). In a perfect world I'd spend about €2-3k and get something that hasn't gone over the 10 year mark. If it's economical fuel-wise - even better! (Don't want much, do I?! :rolleyes: )


    From mooching on DoneDeal, it seems Skoda Octavia's can be had for a pittance. I like the 2005 onwards Ford Focus but that particular one seems suspiciously cheap?

    A bit of boot space would be handy. I live in Louth but I don't mind travelling across the country (cars seem cheaper in the west for some reason?).


    Any suggestions? :)


Comments

  • #2
    Bpmull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,042 ✭✭✭Bpmull


    My dad a mk2 octavia similar to the one in your op. It was a 2005 and he had it for about 2 years sold it last year with 200k km on it. Tbh they are a grand car really for what they are. I drove his for a month or two and it's quite comfortable just start, goes and stops in the fact it's not something that will excite you but they are very dependable. His was a 1.9tdi diesel. You have 1.4 and 1.6 petrols in them I think the 1.4 is suppose to be quite dead to drive. Aim for a mk2 either way as the mk1 looks very old these days. If I was looking for a cheap run around myself they are something I would strongly consider.


  • #3
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,266 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    This Punto seems decent, too? A friend of mine has an 04 (I think.. older model?) Punto and its costing him nothing to run, and he's not had any issues at all.. is this generally true of Puntos? (much as it looks like it'd be soul destroying to drive).

    http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/fiat-punto-1-2-nct-02-16-only-40-000-mi/8573595?offset=18


  • #4
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,266 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Yeah BP, I have heard Octavia's are supposed to be fairly 'bullet proof' alright. I drove an older Fabia before and I could feel myself age inside it, such was the dullness of the interior, but actually driving it didnt seem too bad?

    (all things considered, the interior of the punto above looks a bit more 'exciting' than that of the Octavia, but again, ive no idea on the reliability of puntos).


  • #5
    PukkaStukka
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,226 ✭✭✭PukkaStukka


    Deleted User wrote: »
    This Punto seems decent, too? A friend of mine has an 04 (I think.. older model?) Punto and its costing him nothing to run, and he's not had any issues at all.. is this generally true of Puntos? (much as it looks like it'd be soul destroying to drive).

    http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/fiat-punto-1-2-nct-02-16-only-40-000-mi/8573595?offset=18

    A well looked after Punto is a great buy and they are very good to drive. Head gasket gremlins were common but most will have been long fixed by now and will give good service. Just Avoid anything that's been boy-racered. :)


  • #6
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,266 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    PukkaStukka wrote: »
    A well looked after Punto is a great buy and they are very good to drive. Head gasket gremlins were common but most will have been long fixed by now and will give good service. Just Avoid anything that's been boy-racered. :)


    Can i ask what the difference is in a Punto and a 'Grande' Punto? :confused:


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  • #7
    bazz26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,488 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    The Punto was sold up to 2006. The Grande Punto replaced it, they then gave it a facelift and changed the name to Punto Evo, then they just called it Punto again a few years back.

    Punto:

    fiat_punto_1_9_d_van_01_7450102417430572125.jpg

    Grande Punto:
    fiat-grande-punto-fia_gra_06_5t_6.jpg


  • #8
    nd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,855 ✭✭✭nd


    If that 40k miles is genuine that punto looks very nice.


  • #9
    Stheno
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 51,690 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stheno


    I'd a Punto (think it was a 00) years ago, head gasket went on it, got it repaired and it ran like clockwork

    Wasn't a bad little beast to drive either


  • #10
    Toyotafanboi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,917 ✭✭✭✭Toyotafanboi


    people on here give corollas a hard time, but imo driving doesn't get much more terminal than a 1.4 octavia, i would avoid like the plague. dull as ditchwater interior, poor engine and it still comes with VW bills.

    if you are willing to upset yourself with one of those, it's well worth looking at a corolla. look at the link in my sig, i'm not trying to shill it but €3500 would buy it or one similar to it. they certainly look better inside and out than a low spec octavia (imo), they take hassle free to a new extreme, 1.4 petrol well capable of 40+mpg, pretty decent spec, barely 10 years old and if you go to sell it in 12 months, i'd be confident of getting 80%+ of my money back on it.


  • #11
    jacksie66
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,988 ✭✭✭jacksie66


    This post has been deleted.


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  • #12
    nd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,855 ✭✭✭nd


    When I read trouble free a-b motoring I thought corolla too as that's what I know. Have had my 02 just over a year and it has cost me a pittance other than petrol. Would recommend to any family or friend looking to run a car on a tight budget and I'm very fond of my car.


  • #13
    PukkaStukka
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,226 ✭✭✭PukkaStukka


    Just to add that my comments above related to a mk2 punto from 2001. I also had a grande punto that was an 07 diesel. Pound for pound I'd say the older one was better value than the newer one. I found the build quality and a whole pile of niggly faults on the newer one a complete turn off. The older one I had for nearly 5 years and never failed once. I got rid of the newer one after 18 months.


  • #14
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,266 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    What do yet guys make of the Zafira?
    The astra seems to have very few common problems and you can pick up a Zafira for pocket change?

    I seen an 03 one for €1k from a dealer. NCT was due but assuming it went through it seems like a cheap way of getting a big boot (assuming the Zafira isn't a problem car in general)?

    Had a rav4 before and liked the big cargo area (rear seats on the 2004 Rav are removable, making it essentially a van).

    A black Zafira with tints could look decent enough too? (no matter what I buy it'll get tinted).

    I know it's very different from anything mentioned earlier but big boot space does appeal..

    (can't link to DoneDeal as I'm on the phone).

    Edit: the Ford C Max seems decent too? Would that be ad reliable as the average focus?


  • #15
    MuppetCheck
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,865 ✭✭✭✭MuppetCheck


    Seriously, with the requirements you've outlined you should be looking at a small Jap.

    Corolla, Mazda 3, Yaris etc.


  • #16
    bazz26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,488 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    Don't waste your time looking at cheap cars from dealers, they offer nothing in the way of warranty worth talking about in the way of warranty. Anything being sold by dealers at this price level tends to be junk gotten rid up by the previous owner. A €1k Zafira is just a money pit waiting to happen.

    Did you look at the bangernomics thread?


  • #17
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,266 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    MuppetCheck wrote: »
    Seriously, with the requirements you've outlined you should be looking at a small Jap.

    Corolla, Mazda 3, Yaris etc.

    Yeah I know, but I love having a big cargo area :o It was one of the things I missed on the Rav, so i just seen them so cheap and was tempted with the old "sure whats the worst that can happen" attitude.


    bazz26 wrote: »
    Don't waste your time looking at cheap cars from dealers, they offer nothing in the way of warranty worth talking about in the way of warranty. Anything being sold by dealers at this price level tends to be junk gotten rid up by the previous owner. A €1k Zafira is just a money pit waiting to happen.

    Did you look at the bangernomics thread?


    Ah, I wouldn't expect anything that costs less than 5k off a dealer to have anything in the way of warranty at all (and I wouldn't expect any indy to keep their word). It was just the cheapness of it and the fact that, without trying to sound too iffy, I always see Zafira's driven by the same type of person, and they're the kind of person that generally don't seem keen on spending money on fixing up a car, so I figured they'd be a reliable motor for pocket money.


    Have mooched through the bangernomics thread a few times, but nothings really caught my eye in it, to be honest. I notice a lot of the cars there are larger enginged cars (2.0, 2.2, 2.5 etc.) which are grand if you're taxing it the once, but i want to keep the next car until it dies on me.


  • #18
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,266 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    What do ye guys think of this C Max?

    http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-c-max-04/8443229?offset=2


    From searching on boards, HERE, for example, it seems they give very little trouble? I'm also really warming to this thing of having a bit of space in the boot (i have the idea in my head that I can use it to travel around Ireland and go camping etc. :pac: )


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