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Buying a used small car - What should we buy?

We're looking at buying a small second-hand car (e.g. Seat Ibiza, Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Vauxhall Corsa size). We want to spend around £5000 and would like a good deal with as low mileage as we can get.

We initially thought no older than five years but have just test driven a 2008 VW Golf which has had 3 owners, around 30,000 miles on the clock, good condition with full history for £4000. Just wondering what your thoughts were on this - is it a good deal (even though it's a slightly older car than we initially were looking at) and should we take it?? Thank you!

Asked on 21 June 2016 by H Dickson

Answered by Honest John
On the basis of reader feedback, Golf V and VIs initially look really good (which is the intention) but for reliability are disaster zones. See www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/ Strangely, and somewhat surprisingly, readers report very few faults with Corsas and the 2008 - 2013 Fiesta also comes up relatively trouble free.
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