Medium+ size car recommendations in this season of joy!

[trickywoo]

Sounds like you need a petrol Toyota Corolla to right the ship for the time being.

[TazLondon]

Any old Honda, Toyota, maybe even a really old Lexus?

[ferrariF50lover]

£5k gets you an example of pretty much every car sold in the UK over the last 15 years.
Pick any one you like (cars are extraordinarily reliable these days) and go to view some well cared for examples. You can't lose.

Funny enough, I did that very thing with a Volvo S60 D5. 140,000 miles, all the toys (built in phone, like rocking horse st), started, drove and whatnot faultlessly. Paid a grand to a lovely Polish couple in Devon and off I went. Gave me not one ounce of trouble. Used a parsimonious amount of fuel, was much quicker than it needed to be (although the gearing was very short) and, unusually for a diesel, went well across the entire rev range. Loved it and would buy another in a heartbeat if the need arose.

[economicpygmy]

OK, trying to sort the Japanese wheat from the chaff. Its amazing how many cars described as 'stunning' have been neglected in servicing which is evident by the MOT history.

I went to see a Avensis described as in good condition when looking previously. Rust piles left on drive, slight engine oil leak and clutch was badly slipping but apparently they all do that.

However, from my own experience of a Jap cars I dont doubt that I stand a more favourable chance of finding something OK(ish).

ferrariF50lover said:

You can't lose.

[trickywoo]

ferrariF50lover said:

Loved it and would buy another in a heartbeat if the need arose.

Sounds like OPs will be for sale soon, make him an offer.

[economicpygmy]

trickywoo said:

ferrariF50lover said:

Loved it and would buy another in a heartbeat if the need arose.

Sounds like OPs will be for sale soon, make him an offer.

Its just had 4 new tyres fitted at my expense, its a bargin!

[ZX10R NIN]

Reliable options

2008 Mazda6 2.5 Sport 54k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...


2007 Mondeo 2.5T 57k Ghia FSH

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...


2008 Mondeo 2.3 Titanium 21k FSH

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2007 Accord 2.4 EX 50k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[WJNB]

FOCUS
MAZDA 3 / 6

[Evanivitch]

Mazda3/6 great mechanically, just cast a good look for rust in that budget. Mazda diesels have a bit of a bad rep for that era with oil mixing issues.

I would say Toyota myself. Check any car's history on MOT website and if it's looking like it's been kept upto date on tyres and brakes then I would say it's probably been looked after fairly well.

[rxe]

5K will get you pretty much anyhing. The duller it is, the more reliable it is likely to be. Boring Vauxhalls and Toyotas are a safe option.

I've just bought a 2001 Alfa 156 Sportwagon - 2.4 diesel for £380. Based on 200 miles already in a few days, I'm planning on taking it to the south of France....

[exelero]

I was incredibly lucky when I bought a MK1 Focus with 60k miles. All I did is replace the clutch and get a new set of spark plugs and an oil change. Never let me down in the 8-9k miles I covered since March.

[exelero]

exelero said:

I was incredibly lucky when I bought a MK1 Focus with 60k miles. All I did is replace the clutch and get a new set of spark plugs and an oil change. Never let me down in the 8-9k miles I covered since March.

and does 400 miles from a tank, which is not bad, 1.6.