3k for a car.

metbandit1

metbandit1

metbandit1

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I've got to the point now where I have 5k to spend on a car/ insurance.
3k for the car gives me more than enough leeway to purchase insurance and a bit in the bank for new tires etc if needed as well.

I've spotted this near me:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...chad/new/postcode//page/6/radius/30?logcode=p

which seems like good value for a car of its type, seems to be low mileage as well compared to similarly priced mondeos.

Or this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif..._control/radius/40/postcode//page/1?logcode=p

or even this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ostcode//radius/40/quicksearch/true?logcode=p

the first one seems good due to the fact its a bigger car with cruise etc as I head down to Southampton fairly often to see the Mrs at uni.
The other 2 seem good because of the powahhhhh, one has cruise the other one doesn't, but they are smaller cars.

The reason I post Mazda is because you seem to be able to get a lot for your money in comparison to ford etc?
 
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ruffneck said:
I picked up a MK2 1.6 Focus Zetec with low miles for around your budget. So far I've been really impressed with it.
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I like the idea of a more Mondeo sized car (e.g mazda 6) mainly due to the legroom. I also drive over to Lincolnshire quite regularly with the gfs family so room in the car is needed for that.

This will be my first car but I want it for a while, so I would like it to do as much of everything as possible :p.
 
How old are you and how tall are you?

Do you do the family trips often accross to lancashire? A focus or similar could lomst likely handle the odd time that family is in the back.

Just asking these points because well you are only young once, and you sound quite young as the gf is at uni. Save the mondeo for when you have kids and need something bigger.

If this is your first 'nice' get something you enjoy being in and driving. I almost made a similar mistake thinking I 'needed' a diesel or something 'sensible'.

By all means not having a go or anything just trying to through some spanners, and the mondeo may well be the best bet as it is a great car. :)
 
lucky13 said:
How old are you and how tall are you?

Do you do the family trips often accross to lancashire? A focus or similar could lomst likely handle the odd time that family is in the back.

Just asking these points because well you are only young once, and you sound quite young as the gf is at uni. Save the mondeo for when you have kids and need something bigger.

If this is your first 'nice' get something you enjoy being in and driving. I almost made a similar mistake thinking I 'needed' a diesel or something 'sensible'.

By all means not having a go or anything just trying to through some spanners, and the mondeo may well be the best bet as it is a great car. :)
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I have always had this arguement with myself. I have alwasy been tempted with a two seater sports car as i always say to myself, you are only young, you have no kids e.t.c BUT i then always think that it is then limited as to what i think a car should be. I want a car that is not only quick and good to drive but that can also hold 5 people when i want it to..or transport a large bit of furniture/hold a lot of stuff.

This is why i have always gone with hot hatchbacks because they manage to do everything fairly well.

Obviously this comes from only being able to afford to run one car. If i could have a car that is massive and practical and then a fun sports car for fun i would do that.
 
You have sort of answered your own question there, to me anyway. :p
I was in a similar position, I had a larger car, the old mk4 astra, and it had it's uses. Including moving furniture and other items between mine and the gf's house. I was also looking at mondeos and similar but then fell in love with the clio sport :P

So far it has not been an issue, a bit of a squish if I was to transport 2 people in the back, but it did manage to get a large dog cage in with the seats folded amongst other things.

My advice would be to buy for your day to day journeys not the one offs like driving family accross country. Are you the only one with a car?


Or blow it all up in the air and get a two seater :p
 
lucky13 said:
How old are you and how tall are you?


Do you do the family trips often accross to lancashire? A focus or similar could lomst likely handle the odd time that family is in the back.



Just asking these points because well you are only young once, and you sound quite young as the gf is at uni. Save the mondeo for when you have kids and need something bigger.

If this is your first 'nice' get something you enjoy being in and driving. I almost made a similar mistake thinking I 'needed' a diesel or something 'sensible'.

By all means not having a go or anything just trying to through some spanners, and the mondeo may well be the best bet as it is a great car. :)
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Im 6ft and 20 years old, I head down to southampton every 2 weeks and lincolnshire every time the gf is back with family.

I know what you mean about a smaller fun to drive car, but the most I see in a car is 1) the most comfortable/waftiest for the money (this is where cruise comes in) and 2) a bit of power to cruise.

Im not too fussed about really fun to drive etc because I have a track bike for when I want to go all hooligan and I need my licence for my job.
I drive a ford ranger about 15k a year for work delivering etc.
 
Recently (~3 months ago) bought a 2006 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, so any questions do ask :)


First up, the hatchback 3 has loads of room in the back, and with the arm rest down is a pleasant place to be.

Of the two 3's posted, I would get the 56 plate hatchback for several reasons, mainly because it is a facelift.


The face-lift version of the 3 brings in a very large number of improvements, for example;

- 6 speed gearbox, reduces noise on long motorway journeys by a lot
- Revised seats that are a lot more comfortable and look so much better
- Cruise control becomes standard
- Bose stereo system becomes standard (it still makes me smile 3 months on how good this stereo is, and that's something that really can help to eat up the longer journeys)
- I think Xenon lights become standard, but not 100% on that one
- The key fob becomes a flip key instead of a seperate key and remote locking button (minor thing but still nice)
- Wheels have a redesign


All of those add up, and when in a friends parents Mazda 3 (albeit a TS2) thats pre-facelift, the differences are massively apparent, and for whatever cash saving I could have got going pre-facelift, it was not worth it, the facelift is worth every penny (for comparison, I paid £4650 for mine with 36k miles on it).


As for the engine, it definitely has enough power to be fun, and doesn't feel like it's being left behind on motorways. Overtaking is relatively easy and painless.



Think that covers everything but please ask if you have any questions :)




Tried to get one in that colour when buying buy couldn't, a shame because it really does look ace in the flesh.
 
Thanks for your input Voxination :)
Im going to look at the 2 mazda 3's tomorrow, the more I think about it the more the facelift one with the 6speed tempts me.
Just as long as the paperwork all matches up and its a tidy car though.
76k miles doesn't seem like too much either for one of these cars, should take me a good 3 years to crack 100k let alone anything higher.
 
The mazdas are a nice looking car. Mileage won't matter to a degree just find one that has been well loved and looked after. Just check when belts or other bits need changing if the mazdas have any.
 
Any time mate, any issues just shout :) if you don't get the facelift I can see you kicking yourself in the future.

Wouldn't worry about the mileage, a close mate has just bought one on 150k miles and it's completely sound, had a major service done and the mechanic didn't find any issues either. No belts to worry about in the petrol variant, the engine is chain driven.
 
Went to look at a few mazdas today, the blue one i posted seemed the tidiest of them all.
Going for a test drive on friday and depending on how that goes a deal will be negotiated.

Fingers crossed.
 
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