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Buying a used car - what's your advice with a £7000 budget?

I would like to buy a used automatic car (preferably approved used), priced around £7000 pounds.

Need to do 12000 miles/annum (80% London high streets, 20% motorway), with 3 people on board including a baby.

The attributes in order : safety, economy, comfort, practicality, high seating position, less than 4400mm length.

Need to use it for next 3-4 years.

I am very confused between models, could you suggest me one..

Asked on 10 June 2012 by jovacastle

Answered by Honest John
No reliable family sized automatic for £7,000 will be economical, especially in town. Might as well get a Focus 1.6 4-speed auto or a Mazda 3 1.6 4-speed auto: Around 33 - 35mpg on a run. Around 30 in town: www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/mazda/mazda-3-16-a.../
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