Help - which used family car to buy? £5500

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Wed 9 Jan 2013 19:07
Help - which used family car to buy? £5500 - scotishgaza

I wonder if anyone could give me some advice on which used car to buy? I have £5500ish to spend, do 15,000+ miles a year, mix of town and motorway, need an estate for kids and dog and everything else that seems to travel with us. I have had a good look around auto trader and local car supermarket, and went to a car auction at Bruntingthorpe this morning but I just don't seem to be getting much for my money. Low running costs are important to me.

I had been looking at Focus Estates, I can get a 2008 1.6tdci with 80,000 on clock, or a V50 2005 with around 60,000 on clock. I have read on here the sage of diesels repair costs and am now very hesitant to go for these though. The difference in fuel and tax costs of diesel to petrol for me would be about £700 a year though by my calculations, in favour of diesel obviously.

Any advice welcome - I am nearly out of ideas entirely. Many thanks, Gary

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Wed 9 Jan 2013 19:11
Help - which used family car to buy? £5500 - Avant

I'd go for petrol if I were you. I'm surprised at it being difficult to find a Focus estate: try for a 1.8 petrol on Autotrader, and perhaps be willing to travel a bit. Also look at Toyota Avensis, Mazda 6 and Skoda Octavia estates - all of these are roomier than a Focus or V50 and shouldn't cost too much more, if at all, than a Focus. Petrol models should be a bit cheaper than diesels, so you can set this against the extra fuel cost.

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Wed 9 Jan 2013 21:08
Help - which used family car to buy? £5500 - Jase

Honda FR-V? (Seem to be suggesting that a lot at the moment). 1.8petrol, or even the earlier 2.0petrol.

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Thu 10 Jan 2013 10:20
Help - which used family car to buy? £5500 - Sulphur Man

I'd second the FR-V (highly satisfied owner), although I dont think your budget would stretch to the later 1.8 petrol, or the 2.2 i-CTDI diesel (which doesnt have a DPF) so 2.0 petrol is the one to look for.

Frankly, for that budget and requirement, stick with Far east manufacturers and petrol. On the shortlist, Accord estate, Corolla Verso, Avensis estate, Mazda 6 estate, maybe a late Honda Stream MPV, if you can find a good one.

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Thu 10 Jan 2013 15:34
Help - which used family car to buy? £5500 - oldtoffee

Toyota Avensis would be very high on my list. 1.8 petrol, probably a 2007MY. That engine is known to be very economical for a petrol and could reduce that £700 gap you mention. Reliable, spacious, comfy, refined cruiser.

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