Best used estate for under £5k?

I’m after an estate to replace my 1996 Audi A4 Avant 1.9TDI. My priorities for the new car are reliability, low running costs and one or two driver comforts. I am not bothered by what badge it wears, nor am I phased by age and mileage. I only drive 15 miles to work and have £5000 to spend – what do you recommend I buy?

Asked on 4 November 2013 by WillUK1

Answered by Honest John

The 2008-2011 facelift MkII Ford Focus was pretty good. Most reliable with 1.6 petrol engine. Plenty of ex-fleet examples about, though most of them are diesel and can have DPF failure. www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/ford/focus-2008/?

Tags: estates buying a used car dpf diesel engines reliability

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