Small car for 5k - Mazda 2?
Discussion
My wife is going to be looking for a new car in the new year, we want to get rid of the HP payments on her Mito and get a cheaper car, for various reasons. Our budget is around 5k, she wants something that is not too quick, but faster than a 1.3 derv Mito, but must have 4 doors and be fairly economical. Mileage perhaps no more than around 60k. No barges as she doesn't like driving big cars, and must have good visibility.
My initial research has shown up the Mazda Madza2 1.5 Sport (new shape, not the old one thats really tall), for around 5-5.5k - your thoughts on these please?
My initial research has shown up the Mazda Madza2 1.5 Sport (new shape, not the old one thats really tall), for around 5-5.5k - your thoughts on these please?
Actually, why waste £5k? Just get this and spend the change on crack: http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
Only used a Mazda 2 ts2 as a courtesy car
Cracking little motor
Quite tardis-like in that doesn't look big on the outside but pretty roomy for a small car inside
Not exactly pokey but feels good and it wasn't too much of a hardship having one for the time mine was being serviced
Only downside, speaking as a Mazda owner, the paintwork may be a bit soft and alloys tend to corrode prematurely. Some owners may've taken advantage of the 3year warranty and have new wheels although, invariably, they'll be the same kind and will corrode in their own time
If you like lively colours then the Spirit Green is quite a popular choice on the 2s
Cracking little motor
Quite tardis-like in that doesn't look big on the outside but pretty roomy for a small car inside
Not exactly pokey but feels good and it wasn't too much of a hardship having one for the time mine was being serviced
Only downside, speaking as a Mazda owner, the paintwork may be a bit soft and alloys tend to corrode prematurely. Some owners may've taken advantage of the 3year warranty and have new wheels although, invariably, they'll be the same kind and will corrode in their own time
If you like lively colours then the Spirit Green is quite a popular choice on the 2s
lol caterhamboy said:
Also look at the suzuki swift 1.5 glx, £5k will get you a 09 plate with 25k. Aaverage 40 mpg and there fairly revy and handle very nicely with good visibility. bullet proof too.
This. I've had loads of cars and the last model of Swift is hard to beat.You get parking sensors and keyless on the 1.5 glx as well as aircon.
Really easy to work on but nothing seems to go wrong. The cams are chain driven too which will save you £300 or more every three years.
Swift is a no no.
Looked at a Mazda 2 Sport yesterday, nice looking car, done 40k but had excessive wear on steering wheel and gear knob. Same garage had a new shape Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 5 door with 26k for 6k - seemed cheap to me, until we opened the boot and it stank of dog!
Also looked at an Ibiza, however the Mazda has won, needs to be the sport model though.
Thanks for the advice.
Looked at a Mazda 2 Sport yesterday, nice looking car, done 40k but had excessive wear on steering wheel and gear knob. Same garage had a new shape Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 5 door with 26k for 6k - seemed cheap to me, until we opened the boot and it stank of dog!
Also looked at an Ibiza, however the Mazda has won, needs to be the sport model though.
Thanks for the advice.
I bought one of these yesterday with an old mate of mine who wanted my help. He was going to buy a Hyundai i10 but I told him with a 140 mile/day motorway commute he should pick a bigger car and not a supermini, but he (and his Dad) insisted the car should be as new and low miles as possible without going way overbudget. I made my recommendations and the Mazda (TS2 1.3) was favourite by the end.
We both drove it and both of us were very impressed, it's a surprisingly grown up little car, only pulling ~3000RPM at 65mph. I did my research and the engine beats Ford's 1.25 and pretty much everything else sub-1.3 for that matter in terms of torque and guts. The gear shift is lovely, the brakes and steering aren't ridiculously over-assisted a la certain french models and you get 3-way adjustable driver's seat and rake and reach adjustable steering column so we bothy found it easy to get comfy. (I'm 6' and he's 5'8-ish). Rear space seemed okay too. It came with AUX-in for MP3 as well which is nice. After reading reviews I was expecting a harsh ride but I found it perfectly acceptable on the 15" wheels.
It was a '59'-plate with one owner and 17,600 miles. Sticker price was £6k and although I tried to drive a hard deal it was clear there was little room for movement (It didn't help that another couple who had arrived 30 minutes after us also took an interest in the one we wanted). My friend also wanted to opt in to Mazda's lifetime warrantee (which actually looked rather good for our requirements) which came in at an additional £599.
Basically with little room for money off I went for extras instead and the final price was £6,599 with the warantee, 12 months tax, just serviced, just MOT'd, a full tank of petrol and a set of over-mats and the first service for free. Finally I went to town on the car's condition and insisted that they did a lot of rectification work to minor chips and scratches prior to our collection.
Naturally we would've wanted more off but it was the right car and the deal was just about decent enough for us not to walk.
We both drove it and both of us were very impressed, it's a surprisingly grown up little car, only pulling ~3000RPM at 65mph. I did my research and the engine beats Ford's 1.25 and pretty much everything else sub-1.3 for that matter in terms of torque and guts. The gear shift is lovely, the brakes and steering aren't ridiculously over-assisted a la certain french models and you get 3-way adjustable driver's seat and rake and reach adjustable steering column so we bothy found it easy to get comfy. (I'm 6' and he's 5'8-ish). Rear space seemed okay too. It came with AUX-in for MP3 as well which is nice. After reading reviews I was expecting a harsh ride but I found it perfectly acceptable on the 15" wheels.
It was a '59'-plate with one owner and 17,600 miles. Sticker price was £6k and although I tried to drive a hard deal it was clear there was little room for movement (It didn't help that another couple who had arrived 30 minutes after us also took an interest in the one we wanted). My friend also wanted to opt in to Mazda's lifetime warrantee (which actually looked rather good for our requirements) which came in at an additional £599.
Basically with little room for money off I went for extras instead and the final price was £6,599 with the warantee, 12 months tax, just serviced, just MOT'd, a full tank of petrol and a set of over-mats and the first service for free. Finally I went to town on the car's condition and insisted that they did a lot of rectification work to minor chips and scratches prior to our collection.
Naturally we would've wanted more off but it was the right car and the deal was just about decent enough for us not to walk.
Edited by HustleRussell on Sunday 6th January 21:14
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