Best car for about £2000-£3000?

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

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Joined
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Leicestershire
Hi all,
If my 2001 Ford Focus 1.4 gives up the ghost next year i'll need a new car sharpish so figured get aheads up on the best to look at now.

Basically 300 miles a week on the motorway plus other trips (about 50 miles 5/6miles up to 11/12miles).

Ideally best reliability, service cost (can do own servicing if required), MPG, tax etc.

Volvo is perking my interest because I have a mate who has had a few so was thinking V40/S40 things?

Recommendations?
 
300 miles a week...

Probably something comfortable (and very reliable), like an old Lexus. Not sure if they go as low as 3k for something economical though.
 
You have been doing 300 miles per week in a 1.4 Focus :eek: what makes u think it needs replacing?
Anyway 3k will get a 2008 Mondeo Zetec with about 70k on. Massive upgrade to an old Focus and great for the motorway.
 
Surely I can't be the only.person here that doesn't see 300 miles per week as high mileage? It'll only end up about 14.5k per annum, hardly requiring a large car for comfort

Just buy something similar, a newer focus, Mondeo, mostly anything Japanese, most Volvo's will be alright too.

Just follow the advice above and buy on condition not strictly mileage. Read up on specific engine faults / traits once you narrow down to a few cars too.

Plenty of decent, reliable cars for this kind of money if you throw out any sort of brand / market preferences.
 
rodenal said:
Surely I can't be the only.person here that doesn't see 300 miles per week as high mileage? It'll only end up about 14.5k per annum, hardly requiring a large car for comfort
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Me too.

I do 200 miles a week in a polo. It's fine. That's just a commute, and I'm not in the car longer than around 45 minutes at a time: OP might spend even less time in it if there's less town driving.
 
There is always that beautiful 1-2 owner, very well spec'd, full service history (bang on schedule with paper work/receipts) high mileage car out, you just gotta find it.
 
rodenal said:
Surely I can't be the only.person here that doesn't see 300 miles per week as high mileage? It'll only end up about 14.5k per annum, hardly requiring a large car for comfort
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And not essential to be a Diseasel either.

1.8 Petrol Civic would be ideal - something like:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201704064130407

Honda reliability, reasonable performance and economy. Comes with Cruise Control and Climate as well, so likely a step up in comfort compared to the Focus.

or 5 door SE:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201711211460016
 
Dav4 said:
You have been doing 300 miles per week in a 1.4 Focus :eek: what makes u think it needs replacing?
Anyway 3k will get a 2008 Mondeo Zetec with about 70k on. Massive upgrade to an old Focus and great for the motorway.
Click to expand...

Haha I never expected it as I bought a motorbike for it but with weather it's been the car.

It's a cat C and a cat D, it's had bugger all money spent on it bar oil changes and basics like clutch/cambelt etc.

I think it will be ok but when it does go it will fail on a lot lol.

Never considered a Mondeo. After mpg ideally because of mileage.
 
cheesyboy said:
Me too.

I do 200 miles a week in a polo. It's fine. That's just a commute, and I'm not in the car longer than around 45 minutes at a time: OP might spend even less time in it if there's less town driving.
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That's just it. 30 mins through main roads/dual carriageways then 30-60 mins on motorway. Max 1.5hrs each way because of traffic.
 
helpimcrap said:
Cheers for the heads up on a Honda. Are they still any good? Or has reliability suffered on certain models?
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Still good, and generally very few faults with that model. Possible corrosion on the roof is the only serious thing to look for that model, but a well maintained dealer serviced example should have had it resolved under warranty.

One of my colleagues at work has an '07 2.2 Diesel Type S that he bought at ~70,000 miles. It's now on around 240k miles, and in that time the only thing outside of normal servicing that has needed doing was the Dual Mass Flywheel, which is a known weak point of the 2.2 Diesel.
 
helpimcrap said:
Cheers for the heads up on a Honda. Are they still any good? Or has reliability suffered on certain models?
Click to expand...
I've got an 06 plate 1.8 that I picked up last year with 42k miles on it. 30k miles later (600 miles a week) and it's running fine, only issue I've had with it is a slightly garbled radio display (loose wire somewhere I think). Doesn't drink oil, returns 40-42mpg, comfortable, cruise control, has enough poke to overtake. Also got one with the glass roof so no corrosion to worry about :D

I think the 2.2 diesels have a very similar sort of fuel economy, but you've always got the DMF to keep an eye out for.
 
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