Second car advice

MikeHiow · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:01

Sorry to disappoint - this isn't another for me, but rather for family this time;

Dad's looking for a day to day car - His Scirocco gets very little use (~4000 miles in nearly two years), and he drives the business pickup most of the time, so the car is mainly for my step mother.

It has to be comfortable, less than 10 years old (preferably newer), smaller than a Mondeo but big enough to take three grandchildren and it needs to be reasonably cheap to run and maintain.

Budget is ~£6k - but cheaper the better.

This screams 1.6-1.8 MK2 Focus to me, but I said I'd find some other suggestions.

I'll save Fox the trouble and simply say this is a fabricated story, and is a cover up because I can't afford my ST. :rolleyes:

DM · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:03

Get a golf if he likes VW's.

MikeHiow · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:05

He isn't particularly a VW man he just liked the Scirocco, and it seems you are right at the bottom of the MK5 market at this budget - a MK4 is no good.

Chris1712 · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:05

Think your on the money with a 05/06 ish Focus tbh.

DM · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:06

Im sure you can get a decent golf for 6k.

ScoobyDoo69 · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:07

Why spend so much on a second car?

MikeHiow · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:08

The other suggestion was a C4 VTR+ - you seem to get a lot more for your money with one of these, compared to say a Focus, but I think he'd has reservations with a French car after the problems they had with their 206cc.

ScoobyDoo69 said:
Why spend so much on a second car?

Well, in reality the Scirocco is the second car - so thats over 20K of second car.

DM · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:10

How about a Mitsubishi, they are cheap and wont go wrong.

MikeHiow · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:10

A Mitsubishi what?

DM · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:12

Lancer. Get an 05 for 3k.

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201031365194966/ There you go, perfect.

MikeHiow · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:16

Impressive value, not sure he'd go for that, although being nearly £3k under budget is certainly a plus point.

DM · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:21

Its no worse than a Focus, he seldom drives anyway does he.

Its a boring 1600 reliable car, same as a focus is a boring 1600 basic car, this one just costs less

[TW]Fox · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:30

The Lancer is widely known for being pretty dire is it not? Hence it being so much cheaper than a Focus.

MikeHiow · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:31

DiamondMark said:
Its no worse than a Focus, he seldom drives anyway does he.

Its a boring 1600 reliable car, same as a focus is a boring 1600 basic car, this one just costs less

I agree to a degree - but bare in mind this is where the step mother will spend most of her time driving, so it has to be reasonably good. Its a bit more than a shopping run around.

DM · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:38

[TW]Fox;17252228 said:
The Lancer is widely known for being pretty dire is it not? Hence it being so much cheaper than a Focus.

Well if his main car does 4k a year how many miles will this do, 1500 a year?

I suppose you have to decide what your needs are. I dont think those Lancers are any worse or better to drive than most other 1600 nondescript cars, its transport thats it.

Sone · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:44

I had a lancer as a rental car last year. I pushed the accelerator and it just got noisier not faster

MikeHiow · 27 Aug 2010 at 15:52

DiamondMark said:
Well if his main car does 4k a year how many miles will this do, 1500 a year?

I suppose you have to decide what your needs are. I dont think those Lancers are any worse or better to drive than most other 1600 nondescript cars, its transport thats it.

Sorry, I don't think I made the OP clear. This car will be replacing a MK1 Focus (which he doesn't like), which replaced a Honda Accord Auto (Bought after an operation on his ankle). These cars have done ~10K a year, as will the new one.