With money on everyone's mind we take a different twist to this year's recommendations. PADDY COMYNand MICHAEL McALEERchooses their list of favourite cars for every pocket for 2012
€10,000–€12,000
USED CAR
2010 Mazda2 1.3 Comfort €10,950
The Mazda2 is one of our favourite superminis, either new or used, and there is incredible value at the moment in used Mazda2s. Iin our view it’s one of the most underrated cars on the market. 2010 examples can be found in the classifieds right now with very low mileage for under €11,000 and that is a car with a low-emission 1.3-litre petrol engine, air conditioning, 15 alloy wheels and pearlescent paint. This car is a practical five-seater that will be reliable, is fun-to-drive and well-equipped.
€12,000-€15,000
SUPERMINI
Skoda Fabia 1.2 Sportline 60bhp €14,610
The Skoda Fabia is one of the best value superminis on the market and also one of the best built. The five-door Fabia is practical and spacious with a 300-litre luggage capacity. For under €15,000 you can have the 1.2-litre 60bhp petrol model, which has an adequate amount of power for an engine of this size and with emissions of just 134g/km sits in motor tax band B. This example also comes with 16 alloy wheels and a leather steering wheel.
FAMILY HATCHBACK
Seat Ibiza ST 1.2 70bhp €14,750
Perhaps an unlikely choice, the Ibiza ST is more of a large supermini than a family hatchback, but by offering this as an estate model for under €15,000 at entry-level you are getting a fair amount of space and practicality for the money. It comes with a 3-cylinder 70bhp petrol engine that needs to be worked pretty hard to get the best out of it, but there is a rather useful load space at the rear and the build quality is really very good. Despite being a petrol model, this engine is frugal and has emissions of 128g/km, placing it in motor tax band B and returning fuel economy of 5.5 l/100km.
USED CAR
2009 Toyota Avensis 1.6 €15,000
A budget of €15,000 will now get you into the first examples of the outgoing generation of the Toyota Avensis. There perhaps isn’t all that much that is sexy about the Avensis but it is a really excellent family car that will provide its keeper with pain-free motoring in comfort and safety. The newer cars are better equipped than before and the latest 1.6-litre petrol engine is a good one. This is a smart choice as a family car at this budget.
€15,000-€18,000
SUPERMINI
Kia Rio 1.25 EX €16,495
A newcomer to the Irish market in this form, this new Rio is totally different to the model it replaces. For a start, the last one was awful, but this new ones bears no relation to that car. The new design is really smart in the Rio, it is a five-door with a decent boot and in EX grade is loaded with equipment, including air conditioning, alloys, Bluetooth for phone and audio and of course there is that seven-year warranty. We’d expect this car to be a big seller next year and give the “big boys” a run for their money.
FAMILY HATCHBACK
Hyundai i30 1.4 Classic €17,495
There may be an all-new version of the i30 on the way, but there are good offers on the run out examples of the car. The i30 is a spacious, well-equipped and handsome enough car, which doesn’t quite rattle the likes of the Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf in other areas, but is well worth a look when price becomes the primary focus. The i30 1.4-litre has 109bhp, which is more than many of its pricier equivalents and this engine is still frugal enough to put it in motor tax band B, with annual road tax of €156.
MPV
Fiat Qubo 1.3 16V 75hp Multijet €17,595
Quirky looks and somewhat van-like driving style aside, the Qubo is a seriously useful small family MPV that offers great value for money. €17,595 gets you the Qubo with a 1.3-litre multijet diesel that sits in band A in terms of emissions, and you get things like alloy wheels and air-conditioning thrown in. The Qubo’s sliding rear doors are mega-useful too.
USED CAR
2004 Porsche Boxster €14,950
If you decided you wanted some excitement for your €15,000 then you could have a Porsche Boxster with low miles for under €15,000. We found one that had covered less than 80,000km, had a full service history and looked like it had been well cared-for, with an asking price of €50 less than €15,000.
€20,000-€25,000
FAMILY SALOON
Peugeot 508 1.6 HDi 112bhp Access €24,850
It is a very competitive segment and the 508 comes out as our top choice in this class as a saloon, with the 1.6-litre HDi Access model coming in under €25,000. The 508 looks great, feels really nicely built and blends comfort and driving suppleness brilliantly. This is the best Peugeot to date. Basic Avensis and Hyundai i40 run it very close.
FAMILY HATCHBACK
Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi 115bhp Zetec €23,875
It is a close-run thing at the moment as to what is the best family hatchback in this price range but the latest Ford Focus has the edge over the VW Golf right now, just. This latest car is very refined, more spacious, more comfortable and brimming with technology. At this price it is verging on the premium end of the market, but it is a very good car and this would be our specification of choice.
CROSSOVER
Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDi Ambition €24,280
The Skoda Yeti has the edge over the much-loved Nissan Qashqai in this price segment because you can have the 2.0-litre TDI engine for under €25,000, while you need to spend over €25,000 to get a diesel Nissan Qashqai. The Yeti is nothing short of brilliant and it makes you wonder why it doesn’t wear a Volkswagen badge. You could cough up more and get a 4wd version, but winter tyres are much cheaper.
MPV
Mazda5 1.6 Comfort €24,995
Possibly not the most obvious choice for most buyers, but the Mazda5 does everything the more expensive Ford Grand C-Max does and is really impressive to drive. The latest model has a better interior layout than the previous version and with this new 1.6-litre diesel engine, has emissions of just 138g/km. It also looks really good too.
USED
2009 Audi A6 2.0 SE TDi €24,950
A superb buy for half of the price it was when new, after just two years this Audi A6 looks and feels upmarket and would be relatively cheap to run. 2009 models from main dealers with proper warranties are going for this sort of money and they would be a decent buy.
€25,000-€30,000
VALUE FAMILY SALOON
Skoda Superb 2.0 TDi Ambition €29,815
The size of a luxury saloon, massive rear legroom, 565-litres of luggage space and brilliant build quality. The arguments for the Skoda Superb are very compelling and this would be our choice for under €30,000. The 2.0-litre TDi does ask you to pay a little more in annual motor tax (€302) but it’s worth it for the extra power to carry this substantial car.
FAMILY SALOON
Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 140hp Zetec €29,495
For some, the typical German executive saloon from BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz isn’t the be-all and end-all, they want something a litte more discreet from their family car. The latest Ford Mondeo is very good and if you are shopping at the upper levels of the family saloon market then the 140bhp diesel Mondeo is a great choice. The new car feels very refined and looks very upmarket and while it isnt selling as strongly as it perhaps should these days, it remains a really considered choice. This gutsy engine still sits in motor tax band B.
FAMILY HATCHBACK
Lexus CT200H S-Design €29,990
We could have chosen the new BMW 1-Series here or an Audi A3, or a well-equipped standard car like a Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf, but the value and quality offered by the latest Lexus is impossible to ignore. With 136bhp from this Hybrid model it out-muscles the diesel equivalents in the price bracket and is seriously well equipped too. The new 1 Series is its closest rival and while its better to drive, the Lexus offers a better value deal.
CROSSOVER
Kia Sportage 1.7 D GSE 2wd €29,995
Kia’s Sportage looks great, is cheap to run (band B), is spacious and comfortable and is in such high demand that there are waiting lists in dealerships for it. You could buy the Hyundai ix35, which is very similar and very good and there is little between them.
MPV
Ford Grand C-Max 140bhp Activ €29,795
Without a doubt, the new Grand C-Max is the most desirable MPV on the market and the best to drive by some degree. With great looks, sliding doors for added versatility and a great choice of diesel engines, this is the best of its kind on sale at the moment.
USED
2006 BMW M5 €25,000
Okay, it will cost you an arm and a leg to run, but this 5.0-litre V10 powerhouse, which would have cost more than €100,000 back in 2006 can now be had for a quarter of that and with the new car now a V8, this could well be one of the last V10s we see in a “regular” car. You’d need to budget much more than the purchase price to keep the M5 on the road, but it remains one of the best cars around, anywhere.
€50,000-70,000
PERFORMANCE COUPÉ
BMW 1 Series M Coupé €67,250
Quite simply the best fun we had all year in a car. Outstanding performance from the 340bhp M-powered M in an awesome, muscular package. There aren’t many left, but you can still have one. If you have the means, just do it.
USED CAR
2006 Aston Martin AMV8 €59,995
Rather than buying a brand new Mercedes or BMW Coupé you could get your hands on a barely used Aston Martin. The AMV8 is one of the most agile Astons and you can have a low mileage example with the full, proper service history for under €60,000.
€70,000-€90,000
LUXURY COUPE
Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 CDi Sport €76,700
The latest CLS is a stunning piece of design and an impressive car overall and for under €80,000 for this six-cylinder 350, it looks something of a “bargain” if you can ever say that of a car of this price. Head turning, potent and agile, this CLS was one of our top cars of 2011.
USED CAR
2007 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG €77,995
If you want a truly awesome performance car that is also massively luxurious, then the CL63 AMG offers the best of both worlds. They were enormously expensive when they were new, but now you can have a four-year old example for a “mere” €77,995 which is about a third of what they would have cost new.
€90,000-€150,000
Luxury saloon
Mercedes S350 Bluetec €96,500
Rivals may have closed the gap by raiding the electronics stores for new gadgets, but this is still the benchmark in terms of prestige and innovation, not to mention it’s rock solid resale values. You won’t get much change out of €120,000 by the time you finish with the options list, but the S-Class is still the leader of the luxury pack.
€40,000-€50,000
LUXURY CAR
BMW 520D Efficient Dynamics Saloon €42,180
It’s still the benchmark against which the other cars in its class compare themselves. The 5 Series now faces stiff competition from a much-improved Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel and the new Audi A6, but you only have to look at the sales figures to see that the 520D SE outsells the Mercedes-Benz E-Class two-to-one. A brilliant car and a brilliant buy. And now this one comes with band A emissions.
CROSSOVER
Range Rover Evoque 2.2 TD4 Auto Pure €48,085
You might want to spend a little more on the Evoque to get just the right specification but if you budget doesn’t extend beyond €50,000 the five-door Pure model is still the way to go as the new Evoque has really impressed with its great looks, impressive driving dynamics and perhaps unmatched status. Just a month into the models arrival and the Evoque is already selling strongly and will be a sure hit in 2012.
USED CAR
2005 Porsche 911 Carrera €40,900
Examples of the 911 from 2005 are being listed for sale for just over €40,000, so if you have this particular itch to scratch, prices are quite decent right now. Most have low mileage and most have high levels of equipment. The 911 is one of the few truly useable supercars.
COMPACT EXECUTIVE
Audi A4 2.0-litre TDi 120hp SE €36,060
The Audi A4 is due a refresh but remains our top choice in the segment at this price, especially given the specification offered on current models. All models in 2012 get items like Bluetooth as standard and customers can choose the S Line model for just €750 extra. While sales of rivals such as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class have lost out to their larger siblings, the A4 remains a strong-seller and especially when fitted with quattro all-wheel drive makes a great all-weather all-rounder. However, the new 3 Series is due, so keep an eye out for The Irish Times road test of it to see if knocks the A4 off its throne.
€30,000-€40,000
CROSSOVER
Audi Q3 2.0 TDI 140bhp SE €33,850
Set to be one of the most desirable SUVs of 2012, the Q3 will hit the right note thanks to a good engine range, superb build and the right price point for the executive end of modern Ireland. The best buy is likely to be this 2.0-litre TDI SE which comes in under €35,000 and has a decent level of equipment, although do allow a few more euro for options.
USED
2008 Jaguar XF 2.7 D Premium €34,950
The Jaguar XF arrived in 2008 and there are quite a number of these now cropping up on the used market and they are being offered at a decent price. With just 40,000km on the clock the example we found came with a full service history and was loaded with equipment. This is a super luxury car, for the price of a basic new BMW 3 Series.
€18,000–€20,000
FAMILY HATCHBACK
Volkswagen Golf 1.2 TSi 85bhp Trendline €19,895
We might not have predicted that we would see the day when the entry-level Volkswagen Golf is significantly cheaper than the entry-level Ford Focus, but this is now the case and for under €20,000 you can have a well-equipped Golf with an excellent 1.2-litre TSi engine putting out 85bhp yet still with low emissions of just 131g/km (Band B). This is a great petrol engine and the Golf remains a beautifully built car.
CROSSOVER
Nissan Juke 1.6 Sport €19,995
The quirky but clever Nissan Juke is a good choice in this price range if you want something that offers the desirability of an SUV, but with the fun-to-drive qualities of a hatchback. We feel the petrol engine suits the Juke better than the diesel and with band B emissions from the 117bhp 1.6-litre engine, you can have the Sport model for less than €20,000.
ESTATE CAR
Renault Grand Mégane 1.5 dCi €18,000*
As long as you are trading in a car, although we imagine you would probably get it buying as a cash buyer – you can have the Renault Grand Mégane with a 1.5 dCi engine for €18,000 (thanks to a €3,300 Trade-in Booster*) and that for us is truly excellent value. The car looks good, is well equipped and comes with a five-year warranty. They are selling very well and at this price it is not hard to see why.
*If you trade-in a used car and the price drops to €15,500 if you trade-in a 10-year old car.
USED CAR
2006 Volvo XC90 2.4D €17,950
Perhaps one of the most coveted family SUVs around, the XC90 was a small fortune when new, but they are starting to become pretty affordable on the used car market. We found a private seller in Cork asking €17,950 for one with 122,000km on the clock. This seven-seater is built-to-last and if looked after would serve for many years to come.
€150,000-plus
LUXURY LINER
Rolls Royce Phantom €500,000-plus
The boldest and the best, it’s a magic carpet ride with the latest toys discretely blended with the brand’s rich heritage and tradition. More than just a bling barge, it’s great to drive as well. New coupe (above) just adds to the appeal. Forget about Maybach, this is rightly the grand dame of motoring.
USED CAR
Audi R8 5.2 V10 €159,995
This awesome R8 V10 featured in Motors in 2010 and has been on sale for a while now and offers a €50,000 saving off a new one.
CITY CAR
Kia Picanto 1.0 LX €11,495
The Kia Picanto was always a good little car, but this new generation model has really stepped up in terms of quality, size and value for money. The ultra clean 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine is putting out 69bhp and this worthy little engine feels peppy, even on the motorway. The Picanto offers superb value for money too, with €11,495 getting you the LX version. Spend €1,100 more and you can have the fully- equipped EX version. This is a city car that feels more like a supermini and with a seven-year warranty included it is hard to ignore at this price.