Ask Honest John

Honest John Ask Honest John » Family car buying advice
What do you think of Elon Musk? Have your say | No thanks

Family car buying advice

I need to buy a used car for max £10K. I need to drive to work approx 35 miles /day and do some short trips during the week. Need to fit one small child car seat and occasionally a second child + plus shopping etc. For large loads we use the other vehicle, Fuel efficiency / emission are important to me. I live in the countryside so roads are skiddy in the winter and dark so something I feel safe in. I like a slightly higher riding position although that is not essential. Looking at a variety of models: Renault Scenic, Hyundai i20 or i30, Seat Leon, maybe a Ford but not sure which one. It seems I could also get a used Volvo V50 for that money (I like the styling) although that is not a high riding position. Any thoughts?

Asked on 23 August 2015 by daisy1999

Answered by Honest John
Agreed about the styling of the V50. It's really a Focus underneath, which is a good thing. Current shape i30 and Kia Cee'd handle almost as well. The higher you sit, as a generality, the less well a car will handle. A Mazda 5 MPV or a Ford C-MAX are probably the best £10k high seat handlers.

Our honest used car pricing is a little bit different to all the others. You can get to our values through make or model - you don’t have to follow a prescribed route. Plus, it’s live, which means we can react to changes in the market quicker than any printed price guide.

Honest Used Car Prices

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....
Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:
    Select a few terms below
Similar questions
Can you tell me when the 3008 Hybrid will be available in the UK and have there been any reviews yet?
With the likehood that increasing worlwide demand for fuel will continue to hike up prices, I am seriously thinking of buying a Toyota Prius. I do, however, have reservations about the batteries and whether...
I was pleasantly surprised at reading about Renault's intention of developing 'quick drop stations' to swap batteries in their electric cars. For the past two or more years I have been banging on about...
Related models
Sliding side doors, can carry seven people in comfort, well styled, rearmost seats fold flat into the floor, five-star crash test rating.
Neat styling. More practical than a Ford Focus. Fine blend of ride comfort, handling and driver enjoyment. High-quality interior.