A used boring/reliable, spacious car for £4k - £7k budget? Pls help!

bobert50

bobert50

bobert50

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I'm after advice/suggestions on a fairly strict criteria after not really looking at cars properly for seriously around 10+ years.

Criteria:

1) It has to be pretty reliable. I'm thinking almost Toyota-type bulletproof reliability of old with low running costs ideally. For this reason I'm assuming that anything German wouldn't work out well.

2) Very spacious in the front as I'm basketballer height :/ which rules out quite a lot already!

3) I'm not concerned about performance but wouldn't necessarily want anything really underpowered either.

4) Ideally a ton of boot space for the dog and also collecting large items. So I'm thinking a large hatchback or estate or SUV even potentially.

5) Probably not a diesel as I just don't do enough miles these days to justify it (5-6k miles a year max)

6) Perhaps low cabin noises too, especially on the motorway.

I've got so many questions, such as when did Kia start making decent cars and become quite big and getting rave reviews?! And are there any cheap SUVs yet that don't cost the earth to maintain?

The budget is loose and I just want value for money, really. I'm not hugely into cars or performance like I was once upon a time for various reasons (mainly health).

Does a 2014-2015ish Toyota Prius fit the bill for what I'm after as well as it feels on paper or is that a terrible idea? Obviously not an ex-taxi one though.

Any help would be very appreciated!
 
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The Superb is a very big estate with a very big boot. It gets good reviews. The only thing I'd say is it might prove a bit big sometimes for day to day use.
 
bobert50 said:
Oh yes! Thank you :) going to look at Youtube reviews right now
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I'm currently selling my 2015 Octavia Estate. I can post the Facebook Market link if you want to take a look. I'm in East Hampshire so might not be local enough for you, I advertised it last week on there and local selling sites as it is free. Thought I would give that a go before listing it on ebay and/or autotrader.
 
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I’m quite happy with my Lexus rx450h. Not the cheapest to run but very comfortable, luxurious, quiet and reliable. Boot is decent size too.
 
Do consider the Ford Mondeo hatchback and estate. I am not well versed with petrol engines from Ford but someone can chip in. Its a really good car for motorways, comfortable and good noise insulation. The hatchback has a huge boot space.

1998967d1587925052-ford-mondeo-mk4-tdci-comprehensive-ownership-review-boot-space-luggage-img_20190316_182531.jpg
 
Gredawarha said:
I'm currently selling my 2015 Octavia Estate. I can post the Facebook Market link if you want to take a look. I'm in East Hampshire so might not be local enough for you, I advertised it last week on there and local selling sites as it is free. Thought I would give that a go before listing it on ebay and/or autotrader.
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Sorry wanted to reply to this asap just to say sadly it’s too far from me to consider.
 
Thank you for the suggestions everybody. I’ve just been this morning to see a Skoda Octavia estate and wow, loved it tbh can totally see why they have the reviews they do. Brilliant cars.

I still need to test drive the mondeo as that is a serious contender also. I’m going off the idea of a Prius after sitting in the Octavia.

Space wise they’re ridiculous too. I’m 6ft 8” and you could easily fit a 6ft person in the rear seat right behind me, which I’ve only ever seen before in a BMW 7 series.
 
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bobert50 said:
Sorry wanted to reply to this asap just to say sadly it’s too far from me to consider.
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No worries, felt a bit uncomfortable plugging my sale!

I’ve owned mine since 2018 and it’s been a brilliant and reliable family car. Drove down to Dorset and back recently, easily get 50mpg and yet it’s still quick enough to pass cars on B roads.

My only issue has been the well known VAG DSG Micro switch which occasionally bongs a warning on the dash. It should be easily fixed with a piggy back switch that you connect to the gear stick but I couldn’t get it to work. I’ve only spent money on tyres and break pads so very happy.

I’m only selling as I’ve moved to an EV.

Good luck in your search for a new car.
 
I'd still say that a Toyota should be noticeably more reliable than a Skoda.

My parents have a 2010 Octavia estate and i've got an 2010 Avensis estate and mine has had far less issues than theirs, while theirs isn't an unreliable car per se it has had niggles over the years which you just don't get from a Toyota.

If you value reliability over everything else go Honda or Toyota imo.

Just re-read the OP, an Avensis is a good shout, very big inside with a huge boot and it's the quietest car of its class i've been in, i know its 1 size smaller but it's a lot quieter inside than my friends Audi A4 on the motorway.
 
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