Whatcar - 4k budget - Sensible daily

[anonymous-user]

Hi all,

Changing circumstances have lead me from just over a 10k budget for a performance car to a 4k budget for a sensible daily. I decided to invest the large chunk of my monthly savings into my house deposit savings.This put me into the situation of being able to afford and run a 5k hot hatch comfortably. But over the last 2 weeks I was offered a secondment role in a position i really enjoy with a high chance of a job waiting at the end. However taking the role has meant that I lose a chunk of money off my pay cheque which puts the prospect of owning something fun or interesting on the back burner for a year or two.

So here are my requirements and I have a budget of 4k tops. Currently running around in a Y reg 1.3 Ka as a stop gap however I'd like to upgrade it to something more comfortable and practical.

- Manual
- Very reliable
- Comfortable
- Sub 10 secs 0-60
- 30+ MPG
- Estate preferably, if not a saloon, no hatchbacks please


My commute is 40 minutes, 22 miles each way, mainly A roads and motorway. Just want something that I can jump in and it'll start no problems, be relaxing and comfortable and not throw any big bills. Also not something too big that it makes parking and the likes hard work. If it can be a half decent steer as well then I'll be onto a winner!

Any suggestions and personal experience will be much appreciated!

[Nickp82]

I think I would be looking at a Volvo V50 if I were you , ticks the box on comfort and is not too big. Will be reliable too.

[snowandrocks]

Honda Accord Tourer ticks all the boxes.

About as reliable as it gets, silky smooth vtec petrols that love to rev, easy 30+ to the gallon and handles nicely for such a comfortable old bus.

4k should get you a pretty tidy 2.4 exec with all the toys - we picked up a one owner, fsh early 2.0 exec tourer last year for £1600 (?!) and it's been faultless. I actually prefer driving it to the 2013 E350 I otherwise drive!

Edited by snowandrocks on Tuesday 2nd May 00:06

[Register1]

Lexus IS250
Circa 2007 onwards,

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want it to be a good steer then I'd say look in the Mondeo's direction.

2007 Mondeo Titanium X 2.5T Saloon 62k (an easy 30mpg car with a nice amount of performance) 225bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2005 Mondeo ST220 Estate (real world 28mpg might be a limiting factor but these are a very good steer) 81k 220bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2008 Mazda6 Sport 2.5 Estate 75k 170bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2008 Mazda6 Saloon 2.5 54k (High Spec) 170bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2009 Insignia SRI 2.0T 73k 220bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

From those I'd go for the 2.5T Mondeo then the Mazdas

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the replies so far. The lexus really isn't my thing plus huge tax for something a bit unexciting. The V50 from what I've read is based on the focus platform. People seem to say either get the V70 or don't bother? It's actually about the right size for me, the accord estate is personally a bit too big.

However the accord is what I've been looking at for a car that will just work and hopefully cost nothing to run. Is the 2 litre good on MPG, what have you been averaging so far? People say to go for the 2.4 as the 2.0 can be somewhat hard work due to low torque, what's your opinion?

Loving the Mondeo and didn't realise it was in budget, feels a bit Q car which is great. Only 2 things putting me off, potential reliability and MPG. Are parts cheap/reasonable, any major issues? Will it average 30+ mpg being driven sensibly? What's comfort and NVH like anyone?

I don't want to be throwing in fuel just to go to and from work, it seems rather pointless as my commute is a boring one. Averaged 25mpg in my E46 330Ci and it just felt like a massive waste of cash topping it up with super unleaded just to go up and down dual carriageways and the motorway at the speed limit. I want something that will be relaxing on the commute but still engaging to drive down a nice A/B road @ sub 100MPH.

Currently got the Mondeo and Accord on my watch list, anything else I may have missed?

[snowandrocks]

AB57 said:

However the accord is what I've been looking at for a car that will just work and hopefully cost nothing to run. Is the 2 litre good on MPG, what have you been averaging so far? People say to go for the 2.4 as the 2.0 can be somewhat hard work due to low torque, what's your opinion?

I don't want to be throwing in fuel just to go to and from work, it seems rather pointless as my commute is a boring one. Averaged 25mpg in my E46 330Ci and it just felt like a massive waste of cash topping it up with super unleaded just to go up and down dual carriageways and the motorway at the speed limit. I want something that will be relaxing on the commute but still engaging to drive down a nice A/B road @ sub 100MPH.

Currently got the Mondeo and Accord on my watch list, anything else I may have missed?

Just checked and ours is doing low thirties MPG driven on a mix of town and twisty b-roads - it's not driven especially carefully though so maybe room for a little improvement. If you're used to driving a diesel or something genuinely fast or turbocharged it'll probably feel a bit flat initially but it pulls well enough and is actually quite quick if you use the revs. Not tried a 2.4 so can't comment if there's much of a difference. The only negative I can think of is the gearing - 5th doesn't feel quite high enough for fast cruising (80+) but you quickly get used to it. The 2.4 has the 6 speed box though which would probably help.

So far ours hasn't needed anything other than service parts which are cheap and there's obviously no timing belts or anything to worry about.

[kurt535]

Register1 said:

Lexus IS250
Circa 2007 onwards,

+1