What should I get? £3k
- Thread starter geuben
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
He's doing what 3k miles a year why bother with a diesel?
Soldato
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yaris t sport X reg 
polo GTi x reg
civic sport 53 reg ( probs more than 3k)
polo GTi x reg
civic sport 53 reg ( probs more than 3k)
Caporegime
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He definitely can! I had a 1.4 petrol Zetec until recently and it was great. Cheap to run and reliable.
1.25 is probably better for him actually, slightly more economical on shorter journeys
With his mileage any difference in fuel economy is going to amount to pennies and is not even worth taking into consideration.
Soldato
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It's a statement about the particular engine.[TW]Fox;15274461 said:
It's still going to be good for what he wants, and it's in budget.
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He'd get a better petrol one, everyone wants a diesel Golf. No point suffering the horrible noise and unrefinement of a 1.9 TDI Golf if there is no need for the economy is there?
Come on guys, 'Spec me a £3k car' threads require you to use your brain and select appropriate cars not just fire off random £3k cars.
I looked at these, while I could get one within budget the insurance would be about £1500. Which is too much.
All this talk about economy and fuel savings. As has been stated I'm going to be doing many miles per year and I'm far from a skint student now so minor savings on fuel or a few hundred quid less on a car with a smaller engine isn't worth sacrificing getting a nicer car (if the smaller engine does mean a 'worse' car to drive that is).
Thanks [TW]Fox, it's all well and good posting makes and models of cars, but I'd be grateful if you could provide a bit more detail when you do so, i.e what age (mk5 etc doesn't mean much to me without googling it), etc.
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I would personally buy something like a Mondeo. I'll now explain why.
At this end of the market, everyone wants a small car. They are economical, cheap to run, low tax, and ideal for new drivers. As you've seen, £3k doesn't buy much Fiesta - its going to be quite old. The same is true of things like Golfs.
The most important thing about the car market is that car values are based on peoples PERCEPTION - what they THINK is the case, not what is actually the case.
It is perceived that a car like a Mondeo (Or a Passat, or a Mazda6, or whatever) is expensive to run, drinks petrol and is bigger than you need. This means demand for this sort of car is low - and as a result, so is price. You can pick up all manner of fully loaded cars of this type with leather seats, climate control, etc etc. They also have decent 2 litre petrol engines.
But you might say, I'm only doing 4 miles each way! I dont need a big engine!
Nope, you dont. But they are such great value why not have one anyway? Because you dont drive much the difference in actual money per month spent on fuel between a Fiesta and a Mondeo is pretty small. And a nice big comfy car is a nice place to sit whilst you are stuck in traffic.
Think about it like a promotional packet of cornflakes. You might not want 1Kg box of cornflakes but if Kelloggs were offering 50% extra free on your usual 750g box you'd take, it right?
Think of a Mondeo as a Fiesta with 100% extra, free!
At this end of the market, everyone wants a small car. They are economical, cheap to run, low tax, and ideal for new drivers. As you've seen, £3k doesn't buy much Fiesta - its going to be quite old. The same is true of things like Golfs.
The most important thing about the car market is that car values are based on peoples PERCEPTION - what they THINK is the case, not what is actually the case.
It is perceived that a car like a Mondeo (Or a Passat, or a Mazda6, or whatever) is expensive to run, drinks petrol and is bigger than you need. This means demand for this sort of car is low - and as a result, so is price. You can pick up all manner of fully loaded cars of this type with leather seats, climate control, etc etc. They also have decent 2 litre petrol engines.
But you might say, I'm only doing 4 miles each way! I dont need a big engine!
Nope, you dont. But they are such great value why not have one anyway? Because you dont drive much the difference in actual money per month spent on fuel between a Fiesta and a Mondeo is pretty small. And a nice big comfy car is a nice place to sit whilst you are stuck in traffic.
Think about it like a promotional packet of cornflakes. You might not want 1Kg box of cornflakes but if Kelloggs were offering 50% extra free on your usual 750g box you'd take, it right?
Think of a Mondeo as a Fiesta with 100% extra, free!
Mk3 Mondeo's (2000ish to 2007) are also very good on fuel. I'm getting just over 35mpg out of my 2.0l one. In comparison I got just less than 30 mpg out of the 2.0l mk1 Mondeo it replaced and my 200sx averages about 22mpg over my work commute (fast a roads with a bit of town at either end)
In the past I've run small engined cars and haven't averaged much over 35mpg as they need thrashing to get them moving at a decent pace.
In the past I've run small engined cars and haven't averaged much over 35mpg as they need thrashing to get them moving at a decent pace.