Which used car?

M1k3H

M1k3H

M1k3H

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Joined
6 Jul 2010
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2,091
Hi all,

Having moved to the UK permanently this year, it is now time for me to buy a car.

I am going to go through finance.
My budget is a maximum of £5000.

Initially I thought going diesel and the cars that made the most sense were:

Honda Civic 2008 2.2 but 120,000 miles
Peugeot 407 2.0 with around 70-80,000 miles
and Skoda Octavia either the 1.9 or 2.0 around 100,000+ miles

My workplace is almost 6 miles from my house, and we are going to be alternating cars with a colleague, so I would be covering a maximum of 3,000 miles a year (I've put miles for travelling also).
I realized, that the savings I would make in road tax and fuel were not as much as I thought, because strangely, insurance is more expensive on a diesel.

So I started thinking about petrol.

The car that at the minute makes more sense and I also like it is the 1.8 Honda Civic model of 2006.
Those cars can be found with around 60-80,000 miles on my budget with a lot of extras. Also, they seem to be fuel efficient, and having test driven one back in 2008 brand new from the dealership, I can say I liked everything about them.

Can anyone please recommend me anything out of these, help me argue my way to the car that is best suited to me? Will consider cars other than these also.

Requirements: around 100bhp+ , around 40MPG, 5-door is not needed as I live alone and don't plan on a family in the near future :p
 
You do 3000miles a year, yet you want 40mpg?.

Go wild, buy something fun. Your hardly going to see a money burn on 3000miles.
You could get a hot hatch for 5k and enjoy those miles or go for a run of the mill mondeo which will no doubt be mentioned very shortly.
 
Philz0r said:
You do 3000miles a year, yet you want 40mpg?.

Go wild, buy something fun. Your hardly going to see a money burn on 3000miles.
You could get a hot hatch for 5k and enjoy those miles or go for a run of the mill mondeo which will no doubt be mentioned very shortly.
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No mondeos please :p

That is why I was thinking of the Honda Civic. It is 1.8, has 140bhp and averages a bit more than 40MPG. Also, it is relatively new and modern and comes with loads of extras. My only concern is reliability.
I am afraid of buying a car with so many miles on the clock. Even though my car back home has 200,000 miles :p

In regards to the hot hatch, which one would you recommend. I like the look of the Renault Clio III.
 
Surely 5k will net you an FN2 civic? How about the type-s? Should do 40mpg on a run, good handling, and plenty of space inside...

Civic
 
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4T5 said:
3k miles a year buy a V8.

/Thread :p
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Have in mind, that since I am 23 now, and this is my first car in the UK, the prices I am going to pay are a bit high (I think).

For the cars mentioned above for full comprehensive I can get around £700-800
a year if paid once off.
 
The 2.2 will be diesel however? And utterly useless for 3k annual mileage...

The 1.8 is more than economical enough
 
Philz0r said:
If you can get a decent focus st for 5k, probably best of the bunch, if not maybe something like a leon cupra 225
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Yes, because somebody looking at borrowing £5000 to buy a 1.8 Civic is obviously ideally suited to a Focus ST from the bottom of the market.
 
"if you can get a decent st if not look at the cupra"

What part didn't you understand fox?.

I didn't say go and buy a nail and i assume the guy has the mental capability to look at a car and see if the condition is good enough before putting money down.
 
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The problem is not so much the price of the car, I can stretch if I see a bargain of a much better car, but I'd rather not to, as I am saving for a house.

The problem is the insurance, keep in mind that for a sensible "grown up" car my quotes are around the £700-800 mark.

I am rather scared of what it will be if I get a 2.5 Focus ST :p
 
The 1.8 civic from 2006 is pretty much bulletproof - there's not much to go wrong with it. Ive had mine for nearly 3 years and all I have had to replace are consumables.

You have to give it some revs to make it exciting but its OK day to day. 6 gears for the m'way as well.

Depending on your driving type 40mpg is definitely achievable on medium-long runs (probably 45+ on longer ones), round town probably 35-40, especially in start stop traffic.

Servicing is pretty reasonable, has a chain not a belt so no massive belt service costs.

Interior is OK - the seats are comfortable but some of the interiors a little plasticky. Try and find an EX edition and you will have dual zone climate control, sat nav etc.

Probably avoid 18inch wheels as they make the ride much harsher.
 
Philz0r said:
"if you can get a decent st if not look at the cupra"

What part didn't you understand fox?.

I didn't say go and buy a nail and i assume the guy has the mental capability to look at a car and see if the condition is good enough before putting money down.
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The Cupra is equally pointless. He just wants a car, he hasn't said he wants something fast or fun. Just a car. Everyone is suggesting fast stuff because of his low mileage, what's the point? My gran does low mileage too and she doesn't have 200bhp either.

Normal Focus or Civic are far better for people who are not car enthusiasts.
 
FuriousGeorge said:
The 1.8 civic from 2006 is pretty much bulletproof - there's not much to go wrong with it. Ive had mine for nearly 3 years and all I have had to replace are consumables.

You have to give it some revs to make it exciting but its OK day to day. 6 gears for the m'way as well.

Depending on your driving type 40mpg is definitely achievable on medium-long runs (probably 45+ on longer ones), round town probably 35-40, especially in start stop traffic.

Servicing is pretty reasonable, has a chain not a belt so no massive belt service costs.

Interior is OK - the seats are comfortable but some of the interiors a little plasticky. Try and find an EX edition and you will have dual zone climate control, sat nav etc.

Probably avoid 18inch wheels as they make the ride much harsher.
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Pretty much spot on. I've got the 2006 1.8 ES version. Just watch out for the bump stops as they might need replacing. Other than that a solid car which is reliable and will munch miles. Also, I would avoid the 'semi-auto' and would go manual.
 
Nocturne_sa said:
Pretty much spot on. I've got the 2006 1.8 ES version. Just watch out for the bump stops as they might need replacing. Other than that a solid car which is reliable and will munch miles. Also, I would avoid the 'semi-auto' and would go manual.
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Manual all the way !

Listening to you guys saying how reliable it is, I'm more at ease with the Civic 1.8. Will have a look around and see.
 
Decent cars, drive one and maybe try the focus/mazda3 and anything else that kind of size that takes your fancy.

I much prefer my civic as an all round package to any of the other mid sized hatchbacks of its time, but then I wouldn't have bought it if I didn't. The 1.8 is far from my favourite engine but it will do everything you want and they pretty much just dont break, as you've already thought there is zero point in going diesel - they like to destroy clutches and silly bits and pieces will cost you a fair sum (compared to the competition) if you need to go to the dealer or a specialist.

The robotised manual is crap, look for an EX and you'll have a well specced car or go for a type S if you're more interested in the looks as the 3 door is definitely a bit better looking
 
Would not recommend even looking at the Peugeot 407, parents have one with about 45,000 miles and within two years we've had it after one other owner, the clutch slips, the air conditioning is broken and poor build quality (buttons breaking etc.). Actually costs more to repair than its worth now. Turns out there all common faults too. Not the most exciting car for a 23 year old either.

I'd go for the civic myself :)
 
connorholmes said:
Would not recommend even looking at the Peugeot 407, parents have one with about 45,000 miles and within two years we've had it after one other owner, the clutch slips, the air conditioning is broken and poor build quality (buttons breaking etc.). Actually costs more to repair than its worth now. Turns out there all common faults too. Not the most exciting car for a 23 year old either.

I'd go for the civic myself :)
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I totally agree with the Peugeot 407. My father has one and he wishes he never bought it 14 months after purchase. He got it from the main dealer when it was 2 years old.

Clutch destroyed itself at less than 60,000 miles destroying the DMF. He had to fight with dealer to get it done under warranty. Since then the car has slowly started to destroy itself with the latest issue being the crankshaft pulley.

All the electrics are shot with the ESP, ABS and various other lights saying things have failed. The LCD screen only works intermittently.

He is terrified of what it is gonna cost at the next MOT. Nice comfortable car but woefully unreliable.
 
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