Re: penny pinching
With a 1.8 you are essentially getting an car that will be easier to drive. It will also be easier to overtake in. It will also be a stronger engine, therefore under less strain and should last longer.
While I agree entirely - I drive a 1.8 T myself and drove a 2L before this - there is unfortunately an argument in Ireland for buying a smaller-engined car, namely: depreciation.
1.8, 2L-engined cars and above depreciate much more rapidly in Ireland than similar cars in the UK (in my experience) due to:
(a) inflated initial purchase price due to factors including limited competition and VRT;
(b) lower demand for such cars due to smaller population size and inferior roads;
(c) rip-off higher insurance in Ireland (just because it's a 1.8 or 2L car does not mean it's a sports car, despite what many Irish insurers think)
(d) high road tax and running costs.
So, you need to be careful to buy a marque that will hold its value as much as feasible in the segment you are buying in, or else hold on to it for a couple of years before you sell it.