top 10 cars

In times of crisis, Poles are more willing to reach for proven German-made cars. This can be explained by the belief that cars from all over the Oder are a model of quality and uptime. The website Moto.gratka.pl presents the 10 most wanted cars of the end of 2012.

10 Opel Corsa

The third incarnation of the urban Opel was released in 2000. Three years later, the car underwent a facelift, and in 2006 the Corsa C was replaced by a new model. The car stands out not only from older models, but also from newer ones - it is the only one with taillights located in racks, which made them much more noticeable. The dynamic version 1.4 will be the best choice, which will provide sufficient performance not only for city driving. At the same time, fuel consumption remains at an acceptable level. In addition, this engine is considered the most durable of the entire line.

Unfortunately, the fragile steering and front suspension are also a weak point. This repair costs several hundred PLN and must be carried out every tens of thousands of kilometers. Opel Corsa is a car that is chosen not with the heart, but with the mind. The advantages of this solution are good performance and low operating costs - the cheapest in this respect is a 1.4-liter engine, which is driven by a timing belt. The cost associated with its replacement is still lower than with smaller units that have a short-lived and much more expensive timing chain replacement. On moto.gratka.pl, prices for the Corsa 1.4 fluctuate around PLN 14.

Opel Corsa on moto.gratka.pl

9. Audi A6

A large sedan from a manufacturer from Ingolstadt was introduced in 1997 at the Geneva Motor Show. The A6 was designed by renowned design firm Pininfarina with the goal of creating a modern fastback car. At the same time, the car had one of the lowest air resistance coefficients - 0,28. – In addition to the sedan version, it was also possible to buy a station wagon and an “Allroad”, an off-road version ideal for off-road driving, says Jendrzej Lenarczyk, moto.gratka.pl specialist.

The most expensive can be the repair of the front suspension, which does not tolerate driving on Polish roads. Original parts are very expensive, but there are many cheap replacements in the car, which, however, are not recommended by their users. “The poor quality of cheap substitutes meant they had to be replaced very quickly. The most common rockers and rockers. Front wheel bearing failures are also frequent failures, Lenarchik emphasizes.

On moto.gratka.pl, prices for the Audi A6 start at PLN 10. For this price, we get a family station wagon with a 500-liter engine. Unfortunately, this device is not recommended due to a defective design. “A much safer choice is the 2.5 TDi engine, whose durability is already legendary. It is also worth asking about the 1.9-liter supercharged petrol engines, which provide sufficient dynamics, being content with relatively low fuel consumption, Lenarchik suggests.

Audi A6 on moto.gratka.pl

8 Opel Vectra

The third generation of the popular mid-range sedan debuted in 2002. Initially, it was only available as a sedan, but after a few months, a liftback, the GTS, joined the offer. A year after the premiere of the GTS, the station wagon was introduced - Caravan. - In 2005, the car underwent a serious facelift, reminiscent of the Opel Astra, which turned out to be a real bestseller, - Lenarchik emphasizes, - three years later, the Vectra successor - Insignia was shown.

Opel Vectra is a comfortable car for a reasonable price, but you have to take into account the considerable cost of the suspension. The recommended engine is the 2.2 DTI unit, which, despite its simple design, provides sufficient dynamics, content with low fuel consumption. However, when buying, check the condition of the turbocharger and turbine hoses - the second element tends to depressurize. – Vehicles that have been serviced at an authorized workshop have their wires replaced during inspection, so they no longer have this problem. Prices start from PLN 16, Lenarcik reports.

Opel Vectra at moto.gratka.p

7. Ford Mondeo

The car debuted in 2000. This is the second, and not the third, as it is mistakenly believed, the generation of the middle class car. Compared to its predecessor, the car has grown significantly, which also filled the gap after the discontinued Scorpio. Three and five years after its debut, the Mondeo underwent minor facelifts that were accompanied by upgrades to the 1,8-litre diesel and petrol units. In 2007, production of a successor began.

The most important advantage is the size of the car and a spacious interior. We must not forget about the modified suspension, the management of which is a great pleasure. Unfortunately, you need to be prepared for body corrosion problems, which Ford has been struggling with for a long time. The lower edges of the doors are especially susceptible to this, in which “bubbles” have already appeared even in 3-year-old cars. True, the guarantee for the body is 12 years, but the condition is an annual inspection of the body at an authorized service station. HBO supporters won't be thrilled either, as Ford strongly discourages the use of HBO in their engines.

The best choice is a 1.8 liter engine with 125 hp. and a 145 liter engine with a power of 2.0 hp. They provide adequate dynamics and do not empty your pockets with repairs. - These units are the most numerous among all "petrol trucks". Prices start from PLN 13, Lenarczyk emphasizes.

Ford Mondeo on moto.gratka.pl

6. Ford Focus

The Ford Escort successor debuted in 1998. A year later, the car was awarded the "Car of the Year" award, and in 2000 - "North American Car of the Year". Three years after the premiere, a facelift of the front of the car was carried out, in which the most important change is the transfer of direction indicators from bumpers to the ceiling. In 2002, the C-max minivan joined the hatchback, sedan and station wagon as a stylistic preview of Ford's next best-selling edition. The car, with a very modern and attractive appearance, also had the best suspension in the class, which allowed for a dynamic and safe ride.

Five engines are planned for the European market. The weakest 1.4-liter developed 75 hp. Much better choices were 1.6- or 1.8-liter units with 100 and 115 hp. respectively. The 2.0-litre engine was available in three power levels: 130 hp, reserved for the sporty ST170 variant, 170 hp. and a supercharged motor for a real "hot hatch" - RS, whose power was 215 hp. The latest engine is a 1.8-liter diesel engine in four power options - 75 and 90 hp. (TDDi engines) and 100 and 115 hp. (TDCi engines). The optimal choice is a 100-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 1.6 hp. It is not as fuel efficient as a diesel of the same size, but maintenance costs are much lower. Prices for the first generation Focus start at PLN 8.

Ford Focus on moto.gratka.pl

5. Skoda Octavia

The Czech compact was introduced in 1996 and was in production for 14 years. At the time of the presentation of the second generation, in 2004, the predecessor was still on the assembly line, from which it had already left under the name Tour. The car was made in two body styles - a 5-door liftback and an even more functional station wagon. The Czech manufacturer is known for its active participation in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and in 1998 introduced the Octavia WRC with a 300-liter turbocharged 2.0 hp engine.

In 2000, a facelift was carried out, in which the front and rear lights were mainly changed. It was also decided to use a new range of equipment options. At the same time, a 4×4 version and a sporty version of the Czech hit RS were released. The car was produced in the Czech Republic and India. In total, almost one and a half million copies of Octavia were produced.

The best choice would be a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 102 hp. This is a very good and durable unit that can withstand driving with a gas installation with almost no problems. This is evidenced by the installation of such a setting at the factory. What's more, these cars were given the same mechanical warranty as other gasoline-powered models. Prices for these models on moto.gratka.pl start at around PLN 8.

Skoda Octavia at moto.gratka.pl

4. Audi A4

Production of the second generation A4 began in November 2000. Initially, it was only offered as a sedan. The station wagon (Avant) was launched a year later, and in 2002 the Cabrio variant was added to the lineup. At the same time, a sports version was introduced - S4 with a 8-liter V4.2 engine.

After four years of production, it was decided to seriously modernize. The car received a new distinctive feature - a huge "single-frame" grille, which is also associated with a modified front bumper. The headlights also received a new shape. Together with another image, it was decided to replace most of the unit's palette. After the upgrade, the successor to the most powerful A4, the RS4, was introduced. 4,2-liter engine with 420 hp accelerated the car to an electronically limited 250 km / h, and acceleration to 100 km / h took 4,8 seconds.

Before buying a car from abroad, you should carefully study the offer, because it may turn out that the cars have a history after an accident, have a huge mileage or after a flood. All units deserve attention with the exception of a 2.5-liter diesel engine and a 1.6-liter gasoline engine. The former suffers from frequent and costly breakdowns caused by poor construction. “The smallest petrol engine is too weak and, despite its solid construction, it is not fun to drive. Any overtaking will have to be carefully considered, Lenarchik sums up.

Audi A4 on moto.gratka.pl

3. Volkswagen Golf

The fifth generation of the Wolfsburg bestseller was introduced in 2003 and it's safe to say that this is the most stylistically revolutionary edition of the Golf. The only thing that resembles its predecessor is the shape of the body. Thrill-seekers disappointed by the GTI variant of the predecessor will be pleased that the 200bhp under the hood of a newer model will allow them to behave worthy of a sports hatchback. At the end of 2004, an improved version of the Golf: Plus debuted. A year later, the Jetta sedan and the Eos hardtop convertible debuted. At the same time, the successor to the most powerful Golf R32 was shown. In 2007, the range of bodies was replenished with the Variant station wagon.

Your best bet is to look for vehicles in the comfortline and sportline trims, which provide the appropriate level of equipment the seeker is looking for. Particularly noteworthy are the 2.0 FSI and 1.4-liter TSI versions (without additional compressor). They provide the right amount of power and consume a reasonable amount of fuel. Seekers of engines that run on gas without problems should be interested in the 1.6-liter unit with eight valves, which runs without problems on LPG for a long time. Among the diesels, it is worth noting all the names, except for the 1.9-liter aspirated, which is very hardy, but also slow. Prices for the fifth generation Golf on moto.gratka.pl start at PLN 20.

Volkswagen Golf а moto.gratka.pl

2. Volkswagen Passat

The upgraded fifth generation Passat was introduced at the end of 2000. The biggest changes on the outside included the entire front apron and taillights. In the middle is the armrest and chrome lining. Until the end of production, no modernization or minor facelift was carried out. In 2005, the model was replaced by the new Passat B6. However, this does not mean the end for this model, as the car is still built in Shanghai Volkswagen factories in China.

If you don't want to buy a long-lived 1.9-liter diesel, you should be interested in a supercharged 1.8-liter engine. The petrol Passat is both economical and dynamic. It's worth noting that the naturally aspirated version consumes the same amount of fuel, and it's definitely slower. - True, the car consumes a large amount of oil and has minor problems with the durability of individual timing units, but these are defects that will not be difficult to eliminate. Prices for cars from 2001 fluctuate around PLN 17, sums up Lenarczyk.

Volkswagen Passat on moto.gratka.pl

1. Opel Astra

The third generation of the popular Opel compact car was presented in September 2003 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. A year later, the car hit the showrooms. Three years later, it was decided to refresh the model a bit. Astra is available in five body styles: hatchback 3 (GTC) and 5-door, station wagon, sedan and convertible coupe. This compact is still produced under the name Astra Classic. The successor (Astra J) has been in production since 2009.

The rival Volkswagen Golf used as a car is much cheaper, better equipped and stylistically more attractive. The optimal choice is a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and a 120-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 1.9 hp. The first will please the driver, who does not require special dynamics from the car. The second is an ideal offer for those who are looking for a relatively strong and dynamic car. “So far, most Astra models have performed flawlessly and there is no sign that this will change in the coming years. Prices for these cars start from PLN 16, the moto.gratka.pl website specialist concludes.

Opel Astra on moto.gratka.pl