most reliable small car? £3k

[skinny]

she got one of those solar power battery top-up things you leave in the windscreen and plug in to the ciggy lighter. doesn't seem to help.

she's hoping for a £2k saving just based on selling and purchase price of the golf and its replacement. it's a 56 plate on low miles so should be £4k once i've polished the paint scuffs out.

In no rush as so we'll be able to have a proper look around for a good car. Not sure whether to try and go private and find someone who's looked after it, or go dealer and get a 1 year warranty.

[Swanny87]

There isn't a (normal every day) car on this planet that would have charge left in the battery if left for a few weeks. You need to trickle charge it to keep it alive. The fuel economy you're seeing is also a result of not driving it often.

[skinny]

i would have thought a modern car can go for a good month or two without being used with no issue? Is that really to be expected, flat in 3 weeks!?

the fuel economy i saw was on a long trip for a weekend away, the average trip finished on about 38mpg. (obviously she has no idea of MPG, never brims the tank and keeps the display on miles to empty!)
My 260bhp Seat Leon Cupra R gets the same on a long trip.

[Swanny87]

The reason it is a modern car exacerbates this in my opinion. It does depend on what the car has running when it's stood still (alarm/anti-theft system etc...) but not every car is the same. Two weeks max is the general rule of thumb. It may even say something in the owners manual about this. I would look to be running it once a week if it was my car. I don't think you need to be looking to get it fixed or another car though as it sounds like normal behavior to me. I do stand to be corrected though

Edited by Swanny87 on Friday 25th July 15:56

[Spare tyre]

skinny said:

she got one of those solar power battery top-up things you leave in the windscreen and plug in to the ciggy lighter. doesn't seem to help.

she's hoping for a £2k saving just based on selling and purchase price of the golf and its replacement. it's a 56 plate on low miles so should be £4k once i've polished the paint scuffs out.

In no rush as so we'll be able to have a proper look around for a good car. Not sure whether to try and go private and find someone who's looked after it, or go dealer and get a 1 year warranty.

is the fag lighter switched, does it work when the ignition is off

some numpty i know got one and claimed how much easier their car started - i coudlnt work it out as their fag lighter was on a switched ignition

[Al U]

skinny said:

she paid £200 for a specialist to not be able to diagnose the fault.

Sounds like a good specialist. Just take it to a main dealer for diagnosis and then an indy to get the work done.

[Al U]

Double post. But i'll use it to say are you going to make the buyer aware of the electrical fault when you sell it?

[CrisW]

K11 Micra 1.3. Budget less than £1,500. Will cost nothing to run and the EOL models have aircon, PAS, leccy windows etc.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[Sheepshanks]

Noesph said:

Honda Jazz?

We've had a couple of Honda Jazz's in the family and they're not without issues as they get older.

Similar shape car, and fits the "basic" requirement, we've also had a Mitsubishi Colt for 7 years. That was half the price of the Jazz's and it's been brilliant. Wouldn't like to drive any distance in it, though!

[Highway Star]

skinny said:

i would have thought a modern car can go for a good month or two without being used with no issue? Is that really to be expected, flat in 3 weeks!?

the fuel economy i saw was on a long trip for a weekend away, the average trip finished on about 38mpg. (obviously she has no idea of MPG, never brims the tank and keeps the display on miles to empty!)
My 260bhp Seat Leon Cupra R gets the same on a long trip.

38mpg isn't bad. Is it the 2.0 FSI? I've one in my 05 Octavia 4x4 and average 34mpg, up to 40 on a long run at 70mph.

[gaz1234]

surely msport 135i lease

[nickofh]

If you want reliable and simple to maintain its this

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/miscellaneous/201...

I had one for three years and 80K . Nothing ever broke it never failed ,original front discs and pads did 70k & it was easy to service. I could reach the oil filter and drain from under the car just by laying down , so 10 mins to change oil , 30 secs to change air filter. Did 40 mpg on my 60 mile commute. Bought for around £3400 at 20k miles from main dealer sold for £2000 three years later. Only expense was 60K service at specialist for £321 inc cambelt and plat spark plugs.

Real value motoring.

[gaz1234]

Swanny87 said:

There isn't a (normal every day) car on this planet that would have charge left in the battery if left for a few weeks. You need to trickle charge it to keep it alive. The fuel economy you're seeing is also a result of not driving it often.

Mine is fine

[Sheepshanks]

Swanny87 said:

The reason it is a modern car exacerbates this in my opinion. It does depend on what the car has running when it's stood still (alarm/anti-theft system etc...) but not every car is the same. Two weeks max is the general rule of thumb.

I often don't use my Merc for a month at a time, although I do make a point of taking it out for a run if it's been left that long.

[Zoon]

Swanny87 said:

There isn't a (normal every day) car on this planet that would have charge left in the battery if left for a few weeks. You need to trickle charge it to keep it alive. The fuel economy you're seeing is also a result of not driving it often.

I've left my car for 3 weeks before with no use and it started fine.

[skinny]

i'm inclined to think it's an issue as it was fine with this sort of usage say last year - i think some electronic gremlin has appeared.

now we're thinking mk1 Focus (1.8 zetec).

[Carreraman]

seriously, its utter madness to swap a MK5 Golf with a small electrical niggle for a 1500 pound beater which can or even is likely to produce all sorts of small niggly problems!

SORT THE GOLF at an indy!!!

[Carreraman]

seriously, its utter madness to swap a MK5 Golf with a small electrical niggle for a 1500 pound beater which can or even is likely to produce all sorts of small niggly problems!

SORT THE GOLF at an indy!!!

[skinny]

yeah i do get that... but first off, the O/H won't want to drop another load of money on it just for someone else not to be able to fix it. she also wants to free up a grand or two to re-do her bathroom