Some of you may have seen that in the "Whats ruining your life" thread I posted about my poor little car being involved in a non fault collision in a car park the repairing garage for the body work on my current car have warned it's likely to be written off. The damage to the car is purely cosmetic, but I guess they are think along the lines of its considered an old car (12 years old) not overly high on mileage though. Damage is a cracked front bumper and a dented bonnet and other associated trim pieces (grills, plastic clips etc) Annoying the car is mechanically sound and it needed very minimal work to pass it's MOT. Currently have a 2004 Nissan Almera 1.5 SE Extras. Its been a great ca and Its been with me for the ast 5 years so I am rather sad to see it go. If it is written off I've a few cars in mind. Generally used for my commute to work (3 miles there, 3 miles back) some long distance driving when I want to visit the family in Pasty Land or if the Mrs wants to use it to go to see her family in Bromley. Also used for transporting the dog (rotti, mastif, gsd, staffy cross) so he is quite a big dog and with that in mind I've been looking at bigger cars or cars round the same size tha I have now. Contenders so far Kia C'eed 1.6 CRDi pre the DPF so 2008 and below. Kia C'eed Petrol. New shape Vectra. Hyundai i30 (not so keen on these as the C'eed) Mazda 3. Ford Focus / Mondeo. Skoda Octavia/Fabia Golf (if I can get one with milage below 100,000!) If it wasn't for the practical side I'd e looking to buy an Mx5 or even a Celica. I think I posted a similar thread last year or te year before when I thought some money was coming my way but that never materialised so that was the end of that really. I am mega fussy about mileage on a car, and whilst I know its only a number want something below 100,00 miles that said its not an issue if the car has been looked after perfectly. if there's anything I've missed then feel free to suggest it
I can insist but if its too costly to repair I may not have any choice. I'm expecting the worse but if my current car is repaired then I'll be more than happy
Having owned three of the cars in your budget namely Golf, Octavia and Fabia, I would rate the Golf as overrated. You get the same engines and tech in the two Skodas, but your money will go a LOT further. A vRS if a sportier car is up your street is in budget. If going for petrol try and get one of the punchier turbo versions, especially in the Octavia which will suffer a bit. The diesel options are reliable in my experience though. I have driven an i30 diesel on a number of occasions and they are also good value for money and features/performance are what you would expect. Avoid petrol versions though, stick with turbo diesel. My parents owned a 1.7 tubo diesel focus of model which will sit in your budget range also. It too was a solid reliable car. Top tip here is to make sure you get a sport, zetec or titanium so you have heated front screen which will change your life. My parents just traded in one of these with this diesel engine and it had loads of poke, it was around 4k so should fall in budget. There are several second hand car supermarket places down here. Motorpoint at Newport, another Portishead, small one outside Nailsea near Puxton Park, few more whose name escapes but you won't be stuck for choice.
Could always see if they will cat C it and get it repaired, OK itll have a mark on it if you go to sell after but would mean you have a working car that you know works. Could have a nose at something like a Ford C-Max, not bad cars room enough to swallow the hounds, that or go for a C'eed estate, Saab 9-3 estate (I drive one). Not sure if youve tried it but when you go shopping an walk to or from the car make a note of cars you like the look of an go from there, opens up lots of options.
To be honest at 6 miles/day I'd shy away from anything diesel and head for a simple, non-turbo petrol car. I think I'd buy a 1.6 or 2.0 Mk.1/2 Ford Focus. Brilliant-handling cars, very reliable, easy and cheap to fix if something needs doing. £3k will get you a very nice, low-mileage example and leave plenty in hand for a repair/maintenance fund (cambelt, suspension etc which may need doing at some point, and well worth doing imo).
Like Bindi said, but including your other needs.. If not then... I know this car isn't on your list, and likely you'll probably hate it for whatever reason. But for fuel consumption, and space for your dog, not too high on price and under your mileage. I have one, wasn't really my choice. But it has grown on me. Has a bit of punch with the 2.0ltr diesel. It is no Golf, but hey, you could get 10 of your dog in it. Does about 560 miles on one tank of 60 litres. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...m-badge-engine-size=1.8&radius=1501&logcode=p
4K should get you a nice Mk 2 Focus 1.6 Zetec, should be loads to choose from. 6 miles a day forget a diesel.
To be fair though the mileage could actually be more, I only take into account the mileage when I drive. As Mrs does not work she usually has my car so the mileage could be a bit more than this. I know my annual yearly mileage looking at MOT's is around 5 - 6 thousand a year.
If you're looking for a bigger car, vectra would be ideal as it has a lot of space in the back. We currently run an 08 plate 1.8 SRi and it's a decent car, if a little cheap in the interior department. As far as the engine is concerned, no complaints... runs like a charm.
I've had Vectra before - 1.8 LS 16v X Reg - was nice car but got very rusty which is why I got rid of it. Mrs. wants something thats cheap to tax so that rules out anything with a powerful engine
On a 2nd hand car in the 4K bracket I wouldn't be too governed by the tax issue I would rather get something I know has a good rep to be reliable and fairly bullet proof. For example you will be able to find a great variety of cars with the early PSA 1.6 diesel lump in your price range and it will have lower tax but that would not be enough to make me take a chance on one!
I had a quick look on Autotrader for £4k cars and typically something French seems to offer something newer than the alternatives. I have avoided French in the past but am currently driving a 308 (2010) and it has been pretty good so far. It's the VTi 120 so uses the BMW/PSA engine also in the Mini Cooper and DS3 IIRC. Focus 1.6 (99bhp) 2008 69k Leon 1.6 (100bhp) 2007 46k 308 1.6 (120bhp) 2009 52k Megane 1.6 (110bhp) 2010 42k
If you want a car that just runs and don't want to hate it, I'd recommend a basic Focus/Mondeo. Had an N-reg Escort 1.8 petrol, years ago and I still miss it after hitting black ice. Loved that car.
I'd absolutely love something like that - but I know she won't. Sadly he doesn't care much about cars as long as it goes, if it was a Motorbike on the other hand would be a whole different story. That said its my money and really I can buy whatever I like - although as we both use the car we both pay towards its running costs, tax, insurance MOT, repair etc.
Subaru? Other than having a numpty bash into the back of me at a junction I'm really enjoying my Impreza wagon and they don't have to be mad turbo monsters, comes in 1.5 & 2 litre normally aspirated. Or a Legacy / wagon though most of those are diesel engines. Or if you like your Almera, bag another and spend your change on a holiday? From my personal experience I'd veto the Golf - I know they're generally considered to be really reliable things. However, mine was some kind of automotive horror - if it could go wrong it did; exhaust, electric windows, battery, shocks, trailing arms, heater matrix, third gear (generally best to just pretend it wasn't there) ABS, handbrake, bonnet catch, reversing switch, breaking switch there was more, I just don't want to remember at the moment they all either broke compleatly, or just didn't work properly, the final nail in the coffin was suspected ringland failure.
