Avensis or Octavia

S

Sunster

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Hiya,
The time of life has arrived when one has to consider buying the wife a family car for the first time. I love my own sports car too much to trade in so am considering buying the dreaded second car.
Prefer something practical yet with decent enough driving ability so that I'm not too frustrated when driving it myself. Not keen on base models, so prefer something decently equipped. She also prefers a saloon which she reckons might be safer. Thankfully I've talked her out of getting a jeep!
We've set a budget of €28,000.
At present the Avensis or the new Octavia spring to mind. Maybe a Jetta or Passat though not sure of the spec for that price range.

All views, opinions and experiences welcomed!!
Thanks
 
Does it have to brand new?

I would imagine a big hatch back would best option if there are a few kids.

How much mileage roughly will the car do?

Buy a 3 year old family car and use the rest of the budget to update the sports car.
 
Presently we are thinking new to 1 year old.
I fancied a golf myself but she prefers a saloon.
I wouldn't dream of udating my own car...I've grown quite attached to it!
 
for 28K there's a lot of good cars out there, definately second hand, even 2 or 3 years old.
If it was me, maybe a ford focus hatchback (they also do saloon version) smaller car than the cars your looking at.
do you want diesel or petrol?
 
Thanks for the replies. I've never been a fan of Fords...I do love the way they drive, but have found it difficult to live with the plastics that Ford use for their interiors. I'm currently driving an audi so you might understand what I mean.
A 1.8 petrol or a good diesel...mix of economy and performance.
 
ok, speaking from experience here, for 28K you'd get a pretty new BMW 320d E46 model saloon, 150BHP excellent plastics inside! and 45-50MPG

To be honest the 130bhp diesel vw group engine is a second (but good) best.
 
Re. BMW- I shouldn't be put off by it being the previous body? Might it not be harder to sell on in future?
Alot of the new VWs either do the diesel in 105bhp or 140 bhp. Both seem to be pretty good.
 
the BMW is a solid car and the diesel is the most popular model, but all cars depricate,being a old model i would haggle more to get say a 30K model down to 28K, and with the current climate of SSIA fever, it might be possible to get some good cash deals.
Yes forgot about the 140 2.0TDI engine, also a solid buy.
 
Good plan go for highest spec bmw or VAG diesel you can find.
100 miles to a tenner even with the climate control working hard.
Will hold value better than the equivelant petrol.
Worth a test drive as the 130 vw or 150 bhp bm pull realy well
 
Try to find an M-spec BMW, she'll have some extra extra's! and different wheels,bumpers a nicer looking car.

As for vw/audi/skoda , maybe a passat 140BHP with DSG auto gearbox is very.nice but hard to find.

do a search on www.carzone.ie

then maybe www.autotrader.co.uk to get a UK comparison, you'll get a higher spec in the UK generally but watch for higher mileage cars.
 
Sunster said:
Hiya,
The time of life has arrived when one has to consider buying the wife a family car for the first time. I love my own sports car too much to trade in so am considering buying the dreaded second car.
Prefer something practical yet with decent enough driving ability so that I'm not too frustrated when driving it myself. Not keen on base models, so prefer something decently equipped. She also prefers a saloon which she reckons might be safer. Thankfully I've talked her out of getting a jeep!
We've set a budget of €28,000.
At present the Avensis or the new Octavia spring to mind. Maybe a Jetta or Passat though not sure of the spec for that price range.

All views, opinions and experiences welcomed!!
Thanks
Click to expand...
Octavia is plasticy inside.
 
Note: The Toyota Avensis has the best residual value in the family saloon class. Ask any leasing company.
 
Bongo said:
Note: The Toyota Avensis has the best residual value in the family saloon class. Ask any leasing company.
Click to expand...
You’re probably right, but for 28K you’re going to get a 2006/2005 very new avensis, which still has a steep depreciation ahead of it (their 29250 new)
Where as for 28K you could get a 03/04 bmw 320d or equiv audi/vw which has a lot of its steep depreciation done (the 320d e46 was around 45 to 50K new)

If the OP likes an avensis, and not too concerned about new, then maybe a 3 year old avensis diesel (new shape) would be a fair comparison to the BMW. They are around 21K on www.carzone.ie
 
Yea...to be honest I hadn't thought of getting a 2-4 year old car cos of the hassle of the servicing, NCT, potential wear and tear mechanicals. Having said that, you have put a thought in my head now about the possibility of a old BM or Audi, maybe even a jag x type. Must do some more searching!
 
Sunster said:
Hiya,
The time of life has arrived when one has to consider buying the wife a family car for the first time. I love my own sports car too much to trade in so am considering buying the dreaded second car.
Prefer something practical yet with decent enough driving ability so that I'm not too frustrated when driving it myself. Not keen on base models, so prefer something decently equipped. She also prefers a saloon which she reckons might be safer. Thankfully I've talked her out of getting a jeep!
We've set a budget of €28,000.
At present the Avensis or the new Octavia spring to mind. Maybe a Jetta or Passat though not sure of the spec for that price range.

All views, opinions and experiences welcomed!!
Thanks
Click to expand...

Just sit inside the Honda Accord. I saw 05 models going for 27.5k
 
I actually love Hondas...I've had 2 civics in the past...bomb proof. Again I hadn't looked at the second hand prices for these, but noticed the new accords were quite pricey, in the BMW/Audi bracket
 
Sunster said:
Yea...to be honest I hadn't thought of getting a 2-4 year old car cos of the hassle of the servicing, NCT, potential wear and tear mechanicals. Having said that, you have put a thought in my head now about the possibility of a old BM or Audi, maybe even a jag x type. Must do some more searching!
Click to expand...

Most Japanese cars are ridiculously reliable, so 2-4 years old is nothing! I bought a 2 year old Nissan 10 years ago, and only now am I thinking of changing it, not because it has suddenly failed but mostly because I am very bored with it by now! Different situation to yours of course (I don't put much mileage on it as I work locally), but my motoring costs have been exceptionally low all these years. Depreciation in cars is evil.
 
mc-BigE said:
ok, speaking from experience here, for 28K you'd get a pretty new BMW 320d E46 model saloon, 150BHP excellent plastics inside! and 45-50MPG
Click to expand...

I'd second this, for your budget you'd get a very well equiped model indeed. Lovely cars to drive and diesels have better residuals than the petrols anyway.
 
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