Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget

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Tue 14 Feb 2012 21:40
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - boogercj

Seen a few posts like this, which have raised more questions than answers! I currenlty drive a Ford Puma 2001 1.7 VCT with 123K on the clock. Says a lot for keeping up the service history! I work from home in Devon but drive to Portsmouth once a week. Other than that, the car is used for going up onto the moors and camping trips. I'm doing about 18K miles a year but it's mostly A roads (A35/A30/A31) and B roads so not necessarily motorway cruising like a lot of people doing high milage. I think a medium sized hatch would be the most practical car for me. Anything Mondeo/Passat sized is a pain on the narrow moors roads but I do want 5 doors and enough comfortable room for 2 adults in the back. I also want something that's comfortable on a 3 hours journey, "classy", very reliable and is going to last me a good 4 to 5 years. I don't rag cars but I do like to get a shift on sometimes.

Before I started doing my research I was dead set on a Diesel due to my higher than average annual mileage, but within my budget it sounds like I may be better with a medium sized petrol due to the potentially high maintainance bills related to '05 on diesel cars with DPF etc. That said, I've heard good things about VAG 1.9 PD engines but I'm not really after a big car. Would prefer a chain cam for reliability.

Any suggestions? I like the look of the 1.6 8v SEAT Leon mark 2 (which I gather is belt cam). Maybe a 1.8 Focus?

I can't say I particularly like Skodas, Kias, Hyundais, Renaults and I find Toyotas a tad boring, if that helps!

Edited by boogercj on 14/02/2012 at 21:51

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Tue 14 Feb 2012 23:02
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - Avant

It's easy to forget the SEAT Leon on threads like this, but it's certainly worth a look. A VW Golf will be a little more expensive, but there are more of them around, so consider this as well. The Focus is a bit more fun to drive, but I'm not sure how well it would last if you keep it for 4 or 5 years as you suggest.

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Tue 14 Feb 2012 23:28
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - boogercj

Thanks Avant. Would you recommend a petrol or diesel in that price range? Just been reading about the Honda Civic 1.8 VTEC which sounds pretty tempting. Already used to poor rear vis from my Puma!

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Wed 15 Feb 2012 00:32
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - Avant

Modern diesels are getting more and more likely to sufer expensive failures as they get older, but the VAG 1.9 TDI seems to be an honourable exception. If you can get something witrh the 130 bhp 1.9 you'll do well. It depends how much more expensive a diesel is in your price range compared with a petrol.

If you're looking at a Honda Civic, consider the old-shape (up to 2006) Civic S-type with the 2.0 engine. Lots of acceleration, reasonable economy, plenty of room in the back, a bidet (rear wash/wipe) denied to the new-shape car, and no problems with rear visibility.

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Wed 15 Feb 2012 10:59
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - boogercj

Thanks again. Shame the mk4 Golf has had such bad reports. However, I could be tempted by a medium mileage A4 Avant unless I can find a decent spec Leon 1.9 TDI

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Wed 15 Feb 2012 11:23
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - Red&Bold

I don't how you view these but have you thought about an Astra? 1.7 or 1.9 Diesels are great cars and well within your budget with mileage around the 60k mark. and if your shrewd enough im sure you would be able to get a higher end model within that price range. i have 2 astras in our household and i can't fault either of them.

a few examples on A.T.

08 1.7CDTI 16v Astra £4999

08 1.9 SXI Astra £5450

and if your worried about the DPF (although i haven't heard much trouble with the astra) then there is the 1.3TDCI which is quite comfortable to drive, or the petrols are pretty good on the MPG.

Hope this helps

Happy Driving

R&B

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Wed 15 Feb 2012 12:33
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - balleballe

I thought the 1.9 had more than it's fair share of problems?

the 1.7 is a good engine though

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Wed 15 Feb 2012 12:41
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - Red&Bold

I thought the 1.9 had more than it's fair share of problems?

Your probably right, like i said i personally haven't heard of any but it doesn't mean there isn't.

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Wed 15 Feb 2012 13:52
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - boogercj

If I'm honest I like the look of either the new shape Civic 1.8 VTEC or the older shape 2.0 over any Astra. Reported better reliability and appeals to the part of me that wants something a bit different. I've driven Corsas and Astras and I can't say I was particularly thrilled by either.

My shortlist is looking like:

Civic 2.0 VTEC S Type (<2006)

Civic 1.8 VTEC 2006 onwards

Polo GT TDI 130 PD

Golf mk IV TD 130 PD

SEAT Lean TDI FR 150

Are there any other bullet-proof petrol cars I shuld be looking at?

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Wed 15 Feb 2012 15:45
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - Paul G1pdc

HI. looking at your list you have the polo but not the skoda/ .

check out the up to.....2005 fabia vrs (130hp 1.9)

look at "you tube" for the "top gear", track thrash again a mini cooper....

they also used the 130hp 1.9 in the leon, as well as the 150 you have listed above.

check for waterpump and cambelt changes on those 1.9 pd vw engines...

paul.

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Wed 15 Feb 2012 22:53
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - Big John

Don't rule out the VAG 1.9 PD 100/105 - drives better than the 100/105 implies

Still check cambelt/waterpump though

Edited by Big John on 15/02/2012 at 22:55

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 18:58
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - Buster Cambelt

The Hondas have, in experience, bomb-proof engines and transmissions as long as you put the right fluids in the right holes. The VTECs are really smooth right through the rev range (and they really like to rev...).

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 02:23
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - 1litregolfeater

I wandered into my local car supermarket a few days ago and couldn't believe my eyes, what you could get for £8000. BMWs, Mercs, as well as the usual culprits. All a few years old.

I reckon they're having a hard time getting rid of anything at the minute, especially the gas guzzlers, or indeed, anything that isn't extremely fuel efficient.

For 6Grand you'd get the same deal private.

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 11:42
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - Man without a plan

Which car supermarket was this please?

I would love a "few year old" BMW / Merc for £8k...

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 22:02
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - balleballe

Which car supermarket was this please?

I would love a "few year old" BMW / Merc for £8k...

There's plenty on autotrader

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 09:26
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - barney100
You mention Mercs etc. thing to me is as someone trying to keep costs down that if you buy a car you really like then you are liable to keep it longer thereby avoiding the biggest expense in motoring which is buying the car. I've got a car I really like and it's in it's fourth year with me. £10,000 so that is 2.5k a year and it's still worth 3.5/4k. We all look at running costs but car changing is the big one.
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Thu 16 Feb 2012 09:34
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - thunderbird

Don't discount the Kia Ceed before you try one. They are every bit as good as the normal Ford/Vauxhall etc. fodder and with your budget you should get one with a few years of the manufacturers warranty left (providing its been correctly serviced). The 1.6 CRDi up to late 2010 were not fitted with DPF's which is another good reason to take a look.

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 11:52
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - ChannelZ

Mk3 Mondeo isn't any wider than a Mk2 Focus. Plus the boot is enormous on the Mondeo. I find the Mondeo a far better car to drive than the Mk2 Focus.

I'd be looking at a 2007 1.8 Edge - late runout model of the Mk3 Mondeo, has auto lights, wipers, reversing sensors, nice 5 spoke alloys, etc, etc.

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 12:27
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - skidpan

Mk3 Mondeo isn't any wider than a Mk2 Focus. Plus the boot is enormous on the Mondeo. I find the Mondeo a far better car to drive than the Mk2 Focus.

Had both and I can tell you that my garage says that the Mondeo body was far wider than the Focus body, opening the door to get out was way easier in the Focus. The Mondeo would not fit in my neighbours garage wheras the Focus did. The total width of the cars including mirrors is about the same but the Mondeo mirrors are tiny. Add to that the Mondeo was about 2 foot longer thus should have had a bigger boot.

The Mondeo was no better to drive but it was far more comfortable.

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 13:57
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - ChannelZ

Mk3 Mondeo isn't any wider than a Mk2 Focus. Plus the boot is enormous on the Mondeo. I find the Mondeo a far better car to drive than the Mk2 Focus.

Had both and I can tell you that my garage says that the Mondeo body was far wider than the Focus body, opening the door to get out was way easier in the Focus. The Mondeo would not fit in my neighbours garage wheras the Focus did. The total width of the cars including mirrors is about the same but the Mondeo mirrors are tiny. Add to that the Mondeo was about 2 foot longer thus should have had a bigger boot.

The Mondeo was no better to drive but it was far more comfortable.

If the OP is worrying about width of the car inside the limits of the mirrors while driving on narrow roads, then he's got other things to worry about.

Pre-facelift Mondeo mirrors are tiny (like Mk6 Fiesta ones), the ones on the facelift cars are much bigger, similar to Focus mirrors in most respects.

Focus doors are like tin trays compared to Mondeo doors, I know which I'd rather have seperating me and the rest of the motoring public.

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 17:41
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - grimep

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20120745010...f

If I had 6K burning a hole in my pocket that would be it. 2010 Focus 1.6 petrol Zetec on 12k, serviced by Ford less than 2000 miles ago.

Perfect car for your needs, no worries about diesel reliability, virtually new for next to nothing.

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 22:07
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - balleballe

If it was me:

Civic type S in a 2005 plate (the last of the 'bullet' shapes)

Excellent examples on autotrader for 3-4k

I also like the 1.8 i-vtec in the newer shape. It's unfortunant that the 2006-2011 civic is not as reliable as it sure does look rather 'cool' and the 1.8 I-vtec has the perfect blend of performance and economy IMO

A close friend had the 1.8 - gets around 30-35mpg in town and has seen upto 48mpg on the motorway (brim-to-brim). He was driving on an empty motorway at 60, but still impressive for a petrol

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Fri 17 Feb 2012 08:31
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - skidpan

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20120745010...f

If I had 6K burning a hole in my pocket that would be it. 2010 Focus 1.6 petrol Zetec on 12k, serviced by Ford less than 2000 miles ago.

Perfect car for your needs, no worries about diesel reliability, virtually new for next to nothing.

Something not right there. The book price is £8500 with double the mileage, similar cars round here are priced at £9k approx.

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Fri 17 Feb 2012 10:42
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - grimep

Not necessarily, I bought a Focus last year so did several months' worth of Autotrader searches and bargains like that are not as rare as you'd think. A private seller needing a quick sale perhaps? It'll cost you a few quid to do an HPI check but so long as it comes up clean and you do the usual due diligence, why not?

Last summer I saw a black 2010 Focus Style Estate 1.6 petrol with 10k on the clock at a car supermarket in the midlands for just over 6K. I was pretty tempted, but decided to take a risk with a diesel cos of the insane fuel prices.

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Fri 17 Feb 2012 11:23
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - boogercj

Thanks all for the input.

Have to say I'm leaning further and further towards the 1.8 VTEC Honda, what with the chain cam, intellegently designed space, good level of equipment and futuristic looks. I'd be able to get a 2008 model at a push too, so not too old.

Haven't ruled out the Focus, but others have expressed concern about longevity. Plus, the Honda looks much more exciting to me, which I think is important too.. Not keen on Skodas really. It's a looks thing - they're just too square and boxy for my tastes.

I did look at the range of compact executives, but at my price range, most of them seem to have too many miles on the clock or are old. It also looks like they would be more expensive to service or repair.

My Dad's always had Mondeos. Whilst I don't doubt they drive well, they too big and also "meh".

Edited by boogercj on 17/02/2012 at 11:32

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Fri 17 Feb 2012 12:32
Any - Looking for my next car £5-6K budget - Bobbin Threadbare

I've been reading this thread but haven't chipped in as yet.

The Civic sounds like a pretty good choice to me. A mate of mine drives one and he really likes it. He's 6ft 7 and he fits in very comfortably. They are nice looking cars.

Let us know how you get on when you do go shopping!

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