Which car to buy?

Stovepipes

Stovepipes

Stovepipes

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Joined
20 Dec 2010
Posts
1,273
Location
Lincolnshire
So some of you know I need a new car and I don't have the budget for the sexier motors some of you lucky folks have. I'm looking for something cheap, reliable, good on petrol, new-ish and comfortable.

I thought about going for another Fiat Panda 100hp but as fun as it was to drive it was quite cramped, not that economical and scarily uncomfortable on rough roads or speed bumps, I actively avoided them. Plus I was driving like a maniac in it.

Anyway at the moment I quite like the look of the Suzuki Splash/Vauxhall Agila. I also wouldn't mind a Toyota Yaris or perhaps a Renault Modus.

Most of my journeys are short trips mainly into London and I occasionally venture onto motorways on my days off, so far my budget £3500-£4000 any advice?
 
Hmm not really what I'm looking for. I want to avoid hot hatches for a while. As I said I went a bit mad in the Panda so slow and economical is what I'm going for.
 
Well, you'd easily get a 2008, maybe newer, 1.3 TR or T-Spirit or a three pot 1.0 at same spec levels within your budget. The diesels are very economical on the mk2 (2006+) but you don't appear to do the miles to warrant it?
 
malfunkshun said:
Well, you'd easily get a 2008, maybe newer, 1.3 TR or T-Spirit or a three pot 1.0 at same spec levels within your budget. The diesels are very economical on the mk2 (2006+) but you don't appear to do the miles to warrant it?
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It takes me about an hour to get to work but it's only about 20 miles so I'm not sure I need a diesel but yeah I've been looking at various low mileage 1.3 Yaris' for a couple of days. Right now it's a toss up between that and a Suzuki Splash, I'll see if I can test drive both of them.

ote1 said:
This Micra.

About as cheap and cheerful as it'll get.
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Wow £30 tax and just shy of 14,000 miles so to me it's almost brand new but it's a micra.:p
Still if it were under budget I'd have to seriously consider it.
 
Going to get stick for this but how about Honda Jazz?

Also might not be much of a choice for your budget but how about Hyundai i10? It's pretty modern, no frills and cheap to maintain and I believe the 1.0 is £30 a year to tax as well as, you know, slow and economical!
 
neoboy said:
Going to get stick for this but how about Honda Jazz?

Also might not be much of a choice for your budget but how about Hyundai i10? It's pretty modern, no frills and cheap to maintain and I believe the 1.0 is £30 a year to tax as well as, you know, slow and economical!
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You'll not get stick from me. Call me crazy but I've just been sorta lusting over a fully loaded one parked next to my courtesy car. Dunno why I never considered one but I'll have a look. As for the i10 I don't know why but it's just not for me.
 
A Mazda 2 perhaps?

Had one of these before my mum took it upon herself to write it off. Really fun to drive, not too bad on fuel and a generally very nice car. Also, not horrendously slow in 86bhp guise if you push it. Also, it stands up to rolling really well! :D

One of the most satisfying cars we've had in the family.

Edit: At this price point I'd be watching Autotrader day in day out. Someone will eventually put some up privately for the wrong (read too low) price and you can snap it up. I've done it before with a car for my brother. Drove 3 hours to see it the day it was listed and put down a deposit after negotiating a cheeky discount. When we returned to collect the car the owner said he'd been inundated with calls from dealers since my visit. It pays to 'waste' your days away on Autotrader. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself.
 
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