Had license for six years, time to buy a car. 5-7k budget

spm_uk · 27 Dec 2010 at 19:48

As title says, finally decided to open the purse strings and purchase a car.

Budget is 5-7k, the higher end would have to be something special

- Cheap to run
- Daily runner to work, maybe the odd road trip to France now and then

- Cheap on insurance

Not looking for anything too powerful as I'm a bit of a **** behind the wheel

Cheers.

Overlag · 27 Dec 2010 at 19:50

so have you not driven since passing?

spm_uk · 27 Dec 2010 at 19:56

I'm named on another car, only drive it a dozen times a year though.

TheCrow · 27 Dec 2010 at 20:01

Small car? Estate? What MPG you looking for? What age you willing to go to? Is it just a car you will use once a month or a daily drive? etc etc?

Overlag · 27 Dec 2010 at 20:03

kk i thought you was another one of those people that pass there test then never drive again... i got a few mates like that. Why spend so much money on passing a test then not driving lol.

At the risk of sounding too "motors forum" I was going to say a 1.8litre Mondeo, if you are planning on using it to have short trips to France, but maybe too big. Maybe a 1.6 Focus better suited.

Cheaper still would be a Facelift Mk6 Fiesta 1.25 (2006 onwards). But im not sure you want THAT slow?

johnny6 · 27 Dec 2010 at 20:03

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2075468.htm

I think this fits all your criteria

Morba · 27 Dec 2010 at 20:05

£3k mondeo or focus.

spm_uk · 27 Dec 2010 at 20:15

Facelift Mk6 Fiesta 1.25 looks like a good option, majority of the time in it is going to be city driving, whats the MPG like on these?

Janesy B · 27 Dec 2010 at 20:18

How frequent is this trip to France? The mk6 Fiesta is a heavy car for what it is, the 1.25 engine is a bit anemic for this use.

spm_uk · 27 Dec 2010 at 20:22

lol like once a year. I don't plan on doing a beer run every week or anything

Janesy B · 27 Dec 2010 at 20:28

If you really like the look of the mk6 Fiesta, get a zetec-s, the one with a 1.6 engine. Barely any more expensive than a 1.25 to run and you'll have something that isn't utterly gutless.

aproctor · 28 Dec 2010 at 10:38

Overlag said:
Why spend so much money on passing a test then not driving lol.

Because quite a few jobs require you to have a license and it isn't that expensive.

£500 for a lifetime.....

Randomface74 · 28 Dec 2010 at 10:43

Morba said:
£3k mondeo or focus.

+1

Spuderoony · 28 Dec 2010 at 17:35

Just get a 4/5k Focus if you're not bothered about anything better/quicker. Spend the rest on something you want to.

arknor · 28 Dec 2010 at 18:18

Overlag said:
kk i thought you was another one of those people that pass there test then never drive again... i got a few mates like that. Why spend so much money on passing a test then not driving lol.

At the risk of sounding too "motors forum" I was going to say a 1.8litre Mondeo, if you are planning on using it to have short trips to France, but maybe too big. Maybe a 1.6 Focus better suited.

Cheaper still would be a Facelift Mk6 Fiesta 1.25 (2006 onwards). But im not sure you want THAT slow?

insurance goes down regardless of wether you actually drive or not its based on how long youve had your license?

Janesy B · 28 Dec 2010 at 18:27

Spuderoony said:
Just get a 4/5k Focus if you're not bothered about anything better/quicker. Spend the rest on something you want to.

4/5k is an awkard budget for a Focus, it either buys you a nice but over priced MK1.5 or a rubbish MK2.

spm_uk · 28 Dec 2010 at 19:59

What about something like this?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201047373762487/

Randomface74 · 28 Dec 2010 at 20:00

Go give it a test drive - assuming you intended for an automatic

Janesy B · 28 Dec 2010 at 20:03

A 1.6 MK2 with an Auto box, that must be horrible.

spm_uk · 28 Dec 2010 at 20:10

lol whoops, just noticed that.

What would you be looking for in that price range then?