Peugeot 407, VW Passat or Mazda6?
Hi lads,
Any thoughts on the Peugeot 407 1.6-litre diesel? Seems to be great value. Looking at that or either a 2007 Volkswagen Passat or Mazda6.
I have heard mixed reports on all at this stage. Budget is tight so swaying to the 407 as seems to be a lot of spec etc.
Thanks,
Mick
Michael Mulvey (Ashbourne)Jul 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
Having contacted you by e-mail since we have a better idea of your budget and we know that you are trading in a 2006 Opel Vectra 1.6-litre petrol with 40k on the clock. You could get offered around €7,500 for your Vectra (depending on condition) and add your budget of €6,000 to this, so you'll have €13,500 or so to spend.
Of the cars that you mentioned the Peugeot 407 will no doubt offer the best value for money, quite easily in fact, with something like this 2007 model likely to end up within your budget. The 407 diesel is great for economy. The quality isn't bad either. You might get the odd electrical fault, but by and large these cars are capable of quite high mileage. I'd be more inclined to spend a little less if I was buying one.
The other cars you mentioned are the VW Passat and Mazda6. There are lots of Passats about so this means that there is lots of choice and the prices are pretty competitive too. A diesel one would put up with high mileage pretty well, like this example, which would be a nice car, feeling more upmarket than the Peugeot. They aren't without their faults though and the Passat has had issues with the handbrake and some other items.
Lastly is the Mazda6, which is a grossly under rated car and you could have a fully loaded 2.0-litre diesel version with low mileage and loaded with kit for €13,950. Of all these I would probably buy the Mazda, as it should be ultra reliable and there aren't too many reported faults with it.
I hope this helps, if there are any other questions then do come back to us.
What do you think of the Skoda Octavia 1.6 diesel?
What is your opinion of the new Skoda Octavia 1.6 diesel?
P Bruton (Killarney)Jun 2010 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
The Octavia is a car that makes so much sense for so many reasons. For a start, it is superbly built, with build quality as good as a Volkswagen. There is plenty of space both inside and also in terms of luggage space. The 1.6-litre engine offers low emissions and therefore is cheap to tax and to run. To drive, it is geared more towards comfort than outright agility (that is why it is a car so favoured by taxi drivers), so what you get is a car that is great for long trips. They have proven themselves to be ultra reliable too.
The price of the Octavia 1.6 is also very attractive and residuals have remained strong. It is definitely a car we would recommend without too much trouble.
What four-door automatic will I replace my Fiat Punto with?
My wife wants to change to a car with automatic gears as she has broken her leg and now her ankle has plates in it and recently she fractured a bone in the same foot, the left foot.
She does not put up much mileage and drives only local, no country or even cross-city. She has a 2006 Fiat Grande Punto with 18,000 miles on the clock. She wants a four-door and carries a few grandkids quite often. What would you recommend in an 08 or 09?
Frank Dodd (Dublin)Jun 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Frank,
You are likely to get up to €6,000 for your Grand Punto as a trade-in. Having spoken to you via e-mail we know that you have a budget of around €8,000 - €10,000 on top of this.
A car like the Mazda3 saloon with an automatic transmission would make a great choice, as it would be more than suitable for the small mileage your wife does and even though it is a petrol engine it won't cost a lot to run. Here is an example that should be well within budget.
If you wanted something that is a little bigger and more comfortable, then you could have a 2008 Volkswagen Passat automatic within budget. Here is a 2008 one on sale in Naas.
Another good choice would be a Honda Civic saloon automatic, which would be ultra reliable. This model would be well suited to your wife's needs.
I know that you didn't mention an SUV, but if your wife suffers from mobility problems, it can be a lot easier to get in and out of a higher vehicle and this Suzuki Vitara could be great, as it comes with an automatic transmission and has plenty of space for the grandkids too.
Out of all these, my hunch is that the Mazda3 would make the best buy for your needs. I hope this helps. Feel free to come back to us if we haven't quite hit the mark!
Trading up to a bigger family car.
Hi, I am hoping to trade up to a family car that will suit two toddlers and has a good sized boot. I am on the road a lot so need car that is very economical and safe and will last me a good while. Thinking of a 2007 or 2008 at a good price.
What do you recommend?
T McD (Roscommon)May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Tanya,
Without knowing your budget just yet, it is a little difficult to guess, but a car that is a top buy for a family, with a great boot is something like a Skoda Octavia. One like this has low mileage, a frugal diesel engine and will be perfect for a lot of mileage. It is solid and has a great sized boot too.
The Nissan Qashqai has been a massive seller in Ireland of late, with good reason too, as it is very good value, has a brilliant safety record, looks great and is perfect for a family. Here is a fully loaded 1.5-litre diesel for €20,950 with low mileage.
You could have the choice of a number of family hatchbacks too, such as a Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Auris or perhaps even a small MPV.
Come back to us with more details and we will try and help you further. Just add your comment to the comment box below.
Mazda6 or Passat to replace my Vectra?
I am looking closely at buying a 2008 Mazda6, but I am not sure whether to go for diesel or petrol. The petrol is 1.8 and I am wondering how thirsty it would be. I do approx 12,000 miles per year on mainly good roads. Was looking at putting about €10,000 with my own car. I have a 2006 Opel Vectra with 38,000 miles on it. It is a 1.6-litre petrol.
Was also looking at a 2007 Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI, but heard a lot of mixed reports. Looking for something comfortable and reliable mainly.
Michael Mulvey (Ashbourne)May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Michael,
We found an identical car to yours with the same mileage for sale for €8,950. You probably won't get offered that much as a trade in, but you could have an overall budget of about €17,000.
In terms of the Mazda6, that is a really good car and there weren't too many of the diesel models sold initially. The petrol models sold in higher numbers initially because they were cheaper than the diesel ones at the time.
You would pay about €16,950 for a 1.8-litre petrol model like the one we found here at a SIMI dealer.
Here is another excellent one in Cork, for €16,900.
Diesel models cost quite a bit more, with a 2008 model at a SIMI dealer costing closer to €20,000.
For the mileage you do, you could get away with a petrol model without totally breaking the bank and you certainly won't save in fuel costs by spending the extra on the diesel model. Granted, road tax will be higher on the petrol.
You could probably get into a 2008 Passat BlueMotion with your budget and that too would be a good car. Yes, I've heard of some occasional issues with the latest Passat, such as a problem with the power steering and with the electric parking brake, but they have been pretty well dealt with by Volkswagen.
Volkswagen Golf or SEAT Leon?
I am replacing a 2005 Ford Focus. In all that I have driven I find the Volkswagen Golf comes closest.
I have yet to try the SEAT Leon. How do you compare them? There are so many different styles and prices in both that it is confusing.
I want a post-2008 diesel, and a comfortable seat is a must! There is a new SEAT Leon 1.9-litre Sport Limited Edition 105hp diesel, Tax Band B, reduced by €2,000 to €19,900 or a new Golf 1.6 TDI diesel 105hp for €21,200. Is there much difference in running costs between a 1.6-litre and 1.9-litre?
Angela Osullivan (Wicklow)May 2010 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hello again Angela,
I know Shane answered your last question, but I think I can answer your follow up question. The Golf and Leon are quite similar; the Leon is definitely the prettier car and the Golf the more sensible. I know what you mean about the Leon range, as there are 17 different versions, which seems excessive.
The thing is with SEAT is that it tends to get the older technology from Volkswagen, so the Leon still has an older engine range, namely the 1.9-litre TDI, which is quite a noisy old engine. The 2.0-litre TDI is also available in the Leon, but at a higher cost.
The 1.6-litre 105hp engine in the Golf is a newer and cleaner engine, with better fuel economy. It hasn't made it to the Leon just yet, so the better engine is in the Golf right now.
In terms of running costs, the road tax is slightly less on the Golf, at €104 against the €156 in the Leon. The Golf has slightly better fuel economy (62.8mpg v 56.5mpg) but that is a relatively small difference.
That Leon is great value, but in terms of an investment I would be inclined to go with the Golf, as I would think the residual value will be better with the newer Golf with the newer engine.
Hope that helps
What will I replace my Corolla with for high mileage?
I'm driving a 2002 Toyota Corolla hatchback and I am thinking of changing it.
My budget is €25,000 + the trade in value. I do about 18,000 miles a year. Should I go for petrol or diesel? Also any suggestions (new or second-hand) on what car to go for?
Anthony Murphy (Tulla)May 2010 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Anthony,
Well we can't quite say exactly what you are likely to get offered for your Corolla, but let's presume that it is likely to be about €2,500 - €3,000 when traded in against something new. With a budget of €25,000 on top of this then there is a lot of choice available to you. You could have a wide variety of new cars and an even greater choice of used models.
In answer to your first question, with you doing 18,000 miles per year, you could do with a diesel engine to keep your fuel bills down.
Your choices in terms of a new car are massive, including a brand new Toyota Avensis, which would probably add up to the best deal in terms of your trade-in. The new Avensis is remarkably comfortable and for a car that you are likely to spend so long in, this would make a nice place to sit. The diesel engine in the Avensis is very good, and it will be cheap to run and Toyota residuals are superb.
A sum of €26,735 will get you the 125hp Avensis Strata saloon. Another great choice for comfort and residual value would be the Volkswagen Passat. You could have the 1.6 TDI Comfortline BlueMotion for €27,375 and that has the feel of an executive car and would be great for the high mileage you do.
Almost impossible to ignore is the Skoda Superb. It really is great. You could have a 2.0-litre 170hp Comfort model for €27,805. Granted you might not need all that rear space, but there are few more comfortable cars on the road.
A car we have just spent a few days in is the updated Mazda6. The new model has a much better diesel engine than before, and there are some changes to the spec of the car. This offers a good blend between comfort and sportiness. It is a good-looking car too and comes as a hatchback.
A car I really like is the Subaru Legacy diesel. This is one of the most underrated cars around and it is lovely to drive. A 2009 model would cost you about €23,000 so it would be under your budget by quite a degree:
However, the car I'd think about with your budget is the VW Passat CC, the more coupé-like version of the Passat. There is a stunning 2.0-litre TDI model on sale in Dublin for €29,950 and it is absolutely stunning:
Do turbo petrol engines have a future?
I have an 2008 Volkswagen Passat 1.4 TSi petrol that I find excellent. Is there any indication from VW about turbo petrol engines in the new Passat due at the end of year?
More generally do you think turbo petrols will be a growth area?
I think they are excellent alternative to diesel which a lot of people are buying on dealers recommendation without being fully convinced of, with regard to smooth power delivery?
May 2010 Filed under: miscellaneous
Expert answer
Volkswagen aren't saying much at the moment, but you can take it as a given that the new model will feature the 1.4-litre TSi and I reckon (and this just a guess) that it will be the same one that is in the Passat at the moment. This is a reasonably new engine and I think it will be carried over to the replacement. The 122hp unit replaced the 1.6-litre petrol and for the first while I would see this engine being carried over.
As you can see from what they have done in the Polo, with the 105hp unit available, there is increasing popularlity and relevance for these smaller turbocharged engines and they definitely have a future. They offer a great way of keeping emissions down but at the same time returning pretty potent performance.
Everyone is being conditioned to buy diesel cars at the moment, but this new raft of small petrol turbocharged engines will offer a great alternative.
Changing my 406 Coupé for something new or used.
Hi guys,
Firstly, congrats on the website, fair play and good luck with it. I'm just looking for some advice! I'm 29, living in Dublin and do on average city say 14k per year in my car, a 2001 Peugeot 406 Coupé 2.0, which I love. I'm looking to trade up and am not sure what to go for? Would like something sporty-ish, comfortable, economical all round (fuel, tax, servicing) and not too common on the road. I have a budget of €15k with no real preference on year but the younger the better!
I've never driven a diesel before but with the way that diesel engines have improved I am not adverse to change. So I'm prepared to go for either.
Brian Gallagher (Dublin)May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hello Brian,
This is an interesting one. I am guessing, as you own and love the 406 Coupé that you don't really want something too mainstream. It might seem obvious to put you into something like a BMW 3 Series Coupé, but I don't think that is what you are after.
As you probably know, you might not get offered very much for your 406 Coupé, which is a shame. Try to sell it privately because these cars do have a loyal following and if you got €2,000 that would no doubt be welcome. There is one for sale with a lot less miles than yours in Dublin for €2,650, so work backwards from there.
Trading it is probably the easiest. Let's say that you have a budget of €16,000 and see what is around that might suit.
One, perhaps rather obvious, choice would be to go for a Peugeot 407 Coupé. The diesel model sold really well and remains expensive, but I found a 2007 2.2-litre petrol version with just 21,000 miles on the clock and they are asking just €14,950. You can find it here:
That might work given the really small mileage that you do and since you loved your 406 Coupé then this could be a great buy.
If you want something very pretty and unique, how about an Alfa Romeo Brera? Here is a 2.2-litre petrol model for €17,950, but you could well haggle this price down further. There aren't too many about and while we cannot say that it won't give you the odd headache, it is a real head turner.
Even if you're not a BMW guy, it's worth considering a 2006 320d Coupé, which will be reasonably economical for under €16,000. This one is in Monaghan and the mileage is pretty good at 69,000 miles.
I don't think you need a diesel given your mileage. I'd pick a Volkswagen Golf GTI. I know it isn't a coupé, but it is a super car to drive. This one is a 2006 model, but you might sneak into a 2007 version for your budget too. The example we found has the brilliant DSG gearbox, has done just 26,000 miles and is loaded with kit. It is such a rewarding car to drive and, since you live in the city, the gearbox should suit you perfectly giving you the best of both worlds.
Please feel free to come back to us if we are way off the mark!
I need a diesel car for high mileage
I am driving between 800-900 km per week to and from work and I am looking to change from a 2005 1.4 petrol Volkswagen Golf with 133,500km (82,950 miles) on the clock, to a diesel car.
My budget is approx €13,000 euro but am not sure what to buy. I have looked at the Volkswagen Passat, but are there other options out there that you could recommend?
Ollie Walsh (Donegal)May 2010 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Ollie,
Cars like your Golf are retailing for around €8,000, so you might get close to this as a trade in against another car. Presuming that it might be a little less, say €7,000, we could say that you have a €13,000 budget overall. I will come back to you shortly once I have done some more research for you.