What car for approx 2k? Looking for something nice but reliable

Jonny

Jonny

Jonny

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Morning all,

I have been without a car for a few months now and need to pick something up for within the next couple of weeks but as I'm clueless with regards to mechanics I'm hoping I can call on your knowledge/ideas. Here is a breakdown of my requirements:

  • Will mainly be used for my commute to work which is only ten miles each way with a small amount of personal use. So roughly 150 miles per week
  • Other than changing a tyre and possible the oil/filter my car knowledge is limited so I'd like something reliable and relatively cheap to buy spares for if setting goes wrong
  • Due to a stupid oversight on my behalf I have an 18 month old IN10 on my licence (in short I thought I was insured to drive my sisters car on my third party cover-as it didn't have insurance in its own right I was wrong and got caught out). Therefore I'm looking for something relatively sensible insurance wise. To counteract this slightly I have 8 years NCB so it's not AS bad as it could be
  • Budget - approx 2-2.5k
Obviously I'd like something as stylish as possible if the budget allows but for this price I think I'd be better off perhaps getting something like a 1.4 fiesta? Although my eye was caught by a 2002 BMW 3 series (checked insurance and it was affordable) however - for this price would I be buying a heap of a car? I also can't imagine these to be cheap to repair as specified above!

Any suggestions appreciated :)
 
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£2,000 budget, limited car knowledge, and wanting a cheap to run car = Don't go near a £2k BMW.

I know it will be seen as the standard reply round here, but a nice 2.0 Mondeo would suit to the ground, or if you want a hatchback, a Focus.

Typically, the bigger the car, the more you get for your money second hand. So you'll likely get a better/newer specced Focus or Mondeo for your £2,000 than you would a Fiesta.
 
paradigm said:
I know it will be seen as the standard reply round here, but a nice 2.0 Mondeo would suit to the ground, or if you want a hatchback, a Focus.

Typically, the bigger the car, the more you get for your money second hand. So you'll likely get a better/newer specced Focus or Mondeo for your £2,000 than you would a Fiesta.
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I think a 2.0 mondeo is a slight overkill here, he only does a 10 mile round trip each day, which is exactly the same trip I do to work each day too. And I can't think why I would want anything larger than a focus sized car for this task.
 
rossk26 said:
I think a 2.0 mondeo is a slight overkill here, he only does a 10 mile round trip each day, which is exactly the same trip I do to work each day too. And I can't think why I would want anything larger than a focus sized car for this task.
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But, the fuel costs between a 1.6 and a 3.0 (let alone a 2.0) will be negligible with such low annual mileage. There is no way a Mondeo is "too large" for "this task".
 
Toyota Celica T-Sport, reliable, not bad on fuel or insurance, 190BHP. Don't get an auto or a 140 as you'll miss out on LIFT!!! Buy on condition not mileage
 
rossk26 said:
I think a 2.0 mondeo is a slight overkill here, he only does a 10 mile round trip each day, which is exactly the same trip I do to work each day too. And I can't think why I would want anything larger than a focus sized car for this task.
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I do a 10 mile round trip each day :D
 
paradigm said:
But, the fuel costs between a 1.6 and a 3.0 (let alone a 2.0) will be negligible with such low annual mileage. There is no way a Mondeo is "too large" for "this task".
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True, but my argument wasn't solely based upon mpgzzz. I just think there is no need for such a large car, if his journey is 5 miles there, 5 miles back...

The difference is about £200 per year fuel saving, enough to pay for a full set of new tyres on the focus...

There's also a difference of £70 per year in road tax.
 
I do a 7 mile round trip to work each day (although I guess 6 out of 7 days a week I do 20 miles a day roughly), in a remapped 2.0T A6 estate.

I really do need to chop it in for an Aygo though, as it's too big to deal with for such a piddly little daily drive.
 
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