4 door saloon

[Dave]

Back on the look out for a new car, sick to death of the Octavia, so want something a bit better.... gotta be diesel, with as many toys as possible, badge isn't a concern but I want something decent...around 10K..

Been looking at a couple of different cars lately, Honda Accord has topped the list, but there's a lot out there that either don't have history or mileage is too high!

Anyone got any suggestions?

[Danny Kierans]

05 octavis rs

[optical illusion]

Accords are damn comfortable, and nice looking too.

Plenty of luxobarges out there for that kind of money at the moment.

What about an A6, passat, mondeo, merc...?

[Dave]

Yeah, I want something half decent looking, just looking for some inspiration to be honest!!!

[CJ]

I've been driving Topcats old 320d daily for the past 3 months and I would recommend one if you do a lot of motorway driving. The only issue I had was body roll so I stuck a set of Eibach Pro lowering springs in which sorted that problem. All in all, a good package in terms of drivability, comfort, economy and reliability (the 136bhp model doesn't have swirl flaps like the 150bhp model). I wasn't a fan of Beemers to begin with (and I'm still not tbh) but its fulfills its intended purpose without problem.

I'm considering a charge at some point, contenders include (in order of preference) Alfa GT JTDm, Octavia VRS and Accord iCDTI. If I could stretch my budget, I'd seriously consider a late model Legacy boxer diesel, great engine by all accounts.

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

My toupence worth:

Alfa 159 Jtdm:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1614173

Citroen C4 diesel:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1579766

Alfa GT:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo ... annel=CARS

BMW 530D (E39):

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Seri ... annel=CARS

Honda Accord:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Acco ... annel=CARS

Saab 9-3:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Saab/9-3/V ... annel=CARS

Merc E Class;

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-B ... annel=CARS

[optical illusion]

Citron C4 would be damn comfortable.

I'd wonder about the legacy with regard to security issues, diesel or not. I know of too many that have been robbed.

Nissan Qashqai anyone?

[colm_mcm]

Drove a c4 before. NOt especially comfortable. C5 really comfy


Re the legacy and security, it'd be like saying you wouldn't buy a new colt because ftos don't have immobilisers

The current legacy has shielded door locks, deadlocks, immobiliser and a factory alarm.

[Dave]

cheers for the input folks, the missus wants a Qashqai actually....

Ugh, I was meant to go and look at an accord today, but couldn't muster the enthusiasm to go!!

[Danny Kierans]

faults i know in cars above .
bmw 530 = many turbo problems , steering racks
octavia rs- 2007 have injector problems around 1000 each to fix , year 2008 - are fine
accord 2.2 = timing chains around 1200 to do , turbos and ex manifolds
dont know alfa we dont touch them.
mazda 6 tdi turbos
05-passat are nice cars to drive and comfortable can can shade a light on common faults
merc e class good all round
cashqai are very slow and drive like a boat
citreon or p dont do it

[colm_mcm]

Just get a 530d for 8.5 and tax it with the rest. Job done.

[Danny Kierans]

Just get a 530d for 8.5 and tax it with the rest. Job done.

and get ready to change crank breather pipe and turbo...lol

but yes 530d for me to new shape of course.

[Danny Kierans]

or maybe best drive, most comfortable and great engine. skoda superb. honest not great looking but best of them all.

[colm_mcm]

For 10k you're talking old superb which is just 97 passat only bigger. Dave is bored with THe octavia as it is. I'd imagine Anyone who's owned a supercharged 350z or a heavily modified fto won't hang on to a superb too long.

[gfalls]

Simply gorgeous, and a true petrolheads car. But then I am biased..

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo ... annel=CARS

[Myfeckin FTO]

....Ugh, I was meant to go and look at an accord today, but couldn't muster the enthusiasm to go!!

You my man shouldn't be shopping for diesel family box. Don't you already have a mammy-wagon in the house?
Zeds are 10K now - buy a Diesel Skoda again when you're 50.

[Bernard]

buy a Diesel Skoda again when you're 50.

Can't say I agree.
If you do buy another Zed, keep it for more than a year

[Dave]

....Ugh, I was meant to go and look at an accord today, but couldn't muster the enthusiasm to go!!

You my man shouldn't be shopping for diesel family box. Don't you already have a mammy-wagon in the house?
Zeds are 10K now - buy a Diesel Skoda again when you're 50.

Ha ha, I'm just waiting for you to stick the supercharged Zed up for sale again, I'd find it hard to go back to a standard Zed, I'd only end up chucking money into a twin turbo or engine conversion!! I don't think Jen would be too happy with me taking money out of the new house fund for that!!!

I might just bite the bullet and up the budget a bit and get something decent, I need a diesel for the work commute as I'm doing in excess of 500K a week, so something with 40+mpg is a must...

Anyone know anything about Alfa Romeo Brera diesels? Herself is at me now to change her car for a Qashqai too, so the Octavia will have to go either way, no hope of me pawning it off on her!

[Myfeckin FTO]

buy a Diesel Skoda again when you're 50.

Can't say I agree.
.............

Sorry I must have missed out a digit - I meant to say when you're 150!

[colm_mcm]

How about an mg zt ctdi

Next on my list. Can get a nice 04 for 5k from the uk.

[adrian]

Hey Dave,

These can look well (Volvo S40): http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/S40/ ... annel=CARS

and this for 14.5k (IS220 D - high miles): http://www.carzone.ie/search/Lexus/IS22 ... annel=CARS

or this one with lower miles: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Lexus/IS22 ... annel=CARS

What about a Mazda 6...2 litre Diesel: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazd ... annel=CARS
and the new shape for 17 grand? http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazd ... annel=CARS

and not exactly a saloon, but these get decent reviews and are 2 litre diesel: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Nissan/X-T ... annel=CARS

Adrian

[colm_mcm]

The 2.0 diesel in the 6 has a terrible reputation.

[Mustang]

I'm not sure that I'd rule out a mid 30's mpg reliable petrol -honda accord or similar. The modern diesel is such a minefield. That's another debate for another day though.
Anyway sticking with the brief.
For my money a commuter car should be comfortable (= big), economical (= diesel, if you focus on fuel costs only).
I'd be looking at
Volvo S60 D5 http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/S60/ ... annel=CARS

Passat (it is a commuter aferall) / A6/ 5 Series, E-class. Chrysler 300C
Accord CTDI

The problem (as I see it) with your criteria, is that the majority of diesels in that price bracket, are at or well past the 100k mark. Just at the point where the modern diesel is about to throw up an expensive bill, turbo, swirl flap, dual mass flywheel, etc. (there goes the economy out the window).

[Mustang]

Not a left field car -but perhaps a bit left field in this case.
Not a diesel, and not a saloon.
I give you the Golf 1.4 TSI
This particular example is 1.4 GT sport.
Critcal figures:
140bhp
162 ft/lb
0-62 in 8.8 sec
6 speed.
~40mpg combined , ~50mpg extra urban apparently.
1.4 litre tax. Middle class sensibility personified. Hatch back practicality.
In addition this one has reasonable enough mileage and is practically on your door step.

[Dave]

I'm not sure that I'd rule out a mid 30's mpg reliable petrol -honda accord or similar. The modern diesel is such a minefield. That's another debate for another day though.
Anyway sticking with the brief.
For my money a commuter car should be comfortable (= big), economical (= diesel, if you focus on fuel costs only).
I'd be looking at
Volvo S60 D5 http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/S60/ ... annel=CARS

Passat (it is a commuter aferall) / A6/ 5 Series, E-class. Chrysler 300C
Accord CTDI

The problem (as I see it) with your criteria, is that the majority of diesels in that price bracket, are at or well past the 100k mark. Just at the point where the modern diesel is about to throw up an expensive bill, turbo, swirl flap, dual mass flywheel, etc. (there goes the economy out the window).

I think you've hit the nail on the head to be honest, I think I really need to either adjust the budget or just swallow my hatred of the Octavia for another while.

I don't want to spend big bucks on a car again, well not one that I'm just going to plod up and down on the motorway in, so I either stick with what I have, throw another 5K on the budget or just get a weekend toy to dull the "bland-ness" of the Octavia...


Cheers for all the suggestions guys!!