I'm really rather clueless about cars! I've never owned a car and am hoping to buy my first soon, even those it's over 15 years since I got my licence!
I need:
a smallish car (I like the size of Micras, but could do with a bit more boot space. someone suggested a Ford Focus, but that's too big for my liking)
it has to have a good MPG (preferably in band D for road tax)
5 doors
needs space for one, possibly 2 kids and 2 adults
HAS to be reliable
low insurance group as I have no no-claims bonus
folding rear seats
cost max £5000 (used obviously!)
powersteering
I don't care about what it looks like and am not fussed about gadgets!
What would you suggest?
Thanks!
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ps - I probably won't use it a huge amount. Trips to the shops, short daytrips/weekends away, visiting friends and relatives occassionally. I can't even imagine that it'd get used every day.
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A Focus is too big, but you still want five doors, space for four and a decent boot.
That all adds up to a Focus-sized car.
How about a Toyota Corolla?
I think it's slightly smaller, and they have a good name for reliability which might suit someone who is not into cars.
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Corolla is a good choice. Don't overlook the Astra either. Better value on the used market than the likes of the Focus, and very easy and pleasant to drive. You don't say why you are averse to larger cars, but if it's parking / manoeuvrability, a friend's mother upgraded from a Micra to an Astra a couple of years ago. She's tiny and not the most confident of drivers, but she manages very well with the Astra, and lives inside the M25.
Astras are pretty reliable, last well, and being a Vauxhall will have cheap parts/service/repair costs, and any half competent mechanic will have seen hundreds of them and be able to deal with it.
A 1.4 would fit your criteria on everything except VED (Band F), but should still return 40 mpg, and your budget should get you a nice 3-4 year old example with sensible mileage.
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THanks for the replies.
I've looked at the corolla dimensions online and it looks a bit big too. I think really I need a tardis! LOL!
DP - I don't want a big car because of parking, etc and I'm a rather petite female. I'm also not a very confident driver! The Astra sounds ok. I'll have to have a look at one.
What would a "sensible" mileage be? I really have no idea!
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Toyota Yaris perhaps?
Honda Jazz?
Both small cars that are largish on the inside.
Last edited by: a900ss on Fri 20 Aug 10 at 10:28
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Yep! I'd suggest looking at a Toyota Yaris as well.
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If this is who I think it is asking, ive suggested the Ford Fusion elsewhere due to compact imensions but decent interior room.
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>> DP - I don't want a big car because of parking, etc and I'm a
>> rather petite female. I'm also not a very confident driver! The Astra sounds ok. I'll
>> have to have a look at one.
>>
>> What would a "sensible" mileage be? I really have no idea!
Lots on Autotrader between 30,000 and 50,000 miles. Barely run in at that mileage.
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Two other suggestions spring to mind.
Skoda Fabia estate - very decent boot on those but still not Focus sized. www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/skoda/fabia-2000/
Mazda 2 ( 2003-2007 model ) - the boot on these is also very reasonable - the petrol is only group B tax and they are well made. www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/2-2003/?
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Hello Stu! I ventured over here as you advised!
DP - to me that seems like a huge amount of mileage! Just shows what I know!
I need to make a list and start comparing!
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>> DP - to me that seems like a huge amount of mileage!
Hello Hope, that's low mileage really. Generally, average mileage is around 12,000 miles per year so average mileage for a five year old car would be 60,000. My Megane is 7 years old but only has 59k on it so it's 'low mileage'.
I have owned cars with high mileage - I once had an eight year old Vauxhall Vectra 2.0 with 130,000 on it and it drove perfectly well. Mileage isn't really a top concern, as long as you can see that the car has been maintained regularly and well.
I'd also recommend a Toyota Yaris. My mother-in-law has one and it's a cracking little car. My wife has a three year old Fiat Grande Punto and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one of those either.
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>> DP - to me that seems like a huge amount of mileage! Just shows what
>> I know!
Our two current cars (Golfs) have 107,000 and 138,000 miles on them. Both still perfectly reliable daily drivers, although the 107,000 mile one is going to need a clutch, and probably a flywheel (£400 worth of parts) in the not too distant future. But that's a monthly finance payment on a new one, on a car that's cost me buttons to own and run in the last 18 months, so not really too bothered in the scheme of things.
You should get at least 100,000 reliable miles out of any modern mass produced car if it's been serviced on time, and not led an unduly hard life. Badwolf's example above is quite common. A well driven, properly maintained 130,000 mile car will often be a better buy than a thrashed, neglected 50,000 mile one.
Last edited by: DP on Fri 20 Aug 10 at 11:59
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Tardis equals Berlingo or Partner. About the size of a medium hatchback, the version on sale until 2008 was based on the Peugeot 306, but with the capacity of a large estate. Sliding doors make for easy access and the high driving position and massive mirrors give excellent all round visibilty.
You have to put up with lots of postman pat jokes though!!
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It seems I have expensive tastes! (now there's a surprise!)
I've been doing a spreadsheet, as you do. My favourites are: Toyota Yarris SR, Honda Jazz, Mazda 2 (07 onwards), followed by the Fiat Grande Punto. But most, bar the latter, are beyond my price range! Of course they would be as they are the most fuel efficient.
What do you think of Vauxhall Corsas? They seem a bit bigger than Micras (which for some reason seem to be my benchmark!) but quite fuel efficient.
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For your budget, you are looking mainly at cars around the 5-7 years old really to get within your budget so I wouldnt get too attached to cars out of reach, easily done!
The older Yaris is a good buy and very economical.
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For the mileage you're going to be doing, probably 5,000 miles per annum, you're just not going to have to worry about being "economical".
The difference between 50mpg and 25 mpg is a tank of petrol every six weeks.
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Perhaps not your thing Hope but with near identical requirements late last year we bought a Citroen C3. We wavered between that size and a Focus size and in the end decided to stay small. Of the small cars the C3 felt the most roomy around the front seat head/shoulders area... some other makes felt really cramped.
For £5000 you could go to a Citroen main dealer (for a good warranty) and get a 2008 C3 5dr 1.1 petrol with only 26,000mls in near new condition.
As Mapmaker says hardly worth diesel at your mileage and going petrol gives a wider and cheaper choice.
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How about a £4,000 2006 KIA Rio 1.4, 27,000 miles, and 3 years warranty left. (Auto Trader site (Arnold Clark)).
Last edited by: Old Navy on Fri 20 Aug 10 at 18:31
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Another vote for the Fabia, Yaris or Jazz. All three have been around long enough for there to be plenty around to suit your budget, and all are well-built and should last a long time.
Ford Fiestas vary in quality but there are lots to choose from. I wouldn't myself go for a Vauxhall Corsa - very boring to drive and there has been a batch of them (made in 2005) which have a camshaft problem meaning major engine failure at quite low mileages.
You'll pay more if you go to a dealer, but you'll get more protection under the Sale of Goods Act.
Good luck, and do tell us how you get on.
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Reliable means either newish or Japanese.
You can get a fairly new Fiat Panda in your price range, but it might be a bit small. The Panda has a good reliability record. The Fiat Grande Punto does not, and you should avoid it.
If not the Panda, my top 3 recommendations would be
Mazda 2 ( 2003-2007 model )
Honda Jazz
Mazda 2 (2007-present model)
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Thanks for more advice! I'm still considering it all.
I think I shall have to book a few test drives so I can see how the bigger cars feel. It's all very well dismissing them in abstract, but I must try them!
I saw a fusion when out today and it didn't look that big and neither did the focus. But the road tax does seem rather high for what they are.
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Its well worth taking along any large bits of family kit and seeing how they fit in the car when you test something.
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Just speaking from personal experience, once you get used to the benefits of a larger vehicle you will probably find that you wouldn't ever want to return to a small one. They might be easier to park etc but the usefulness of a car with room far outweighs that. Bigger generally equals safer too.
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help me choose a car! - hope
