Reliable, comfy car 5k tops budget
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm looking to get a hatchback or medium sized estate. Budget is ~3k but can go up to 5k if it's worth it.
Requirements:
Petrol
Manual
Sub 10 secs 0-60
Reliable
Comfy
Bonus points if it's somewhat engaging to drive. I do max 15k miles a year of mixed driving. Buying a house next year so looking to keep costs down.
Currently set on a 1.8 civic ES. It has cruise, A.C. and electric windows plus good reliability and 40+mpg on a run. Looks practical as well. I just need something that starts and only needs money spending at service/mot time.
Anything I'm missing that is equal too or better than the civic?
Any opinions from people who have or own a 1.8 civic? The year is an 07-09 plate.
I'm looking to get a hatchback or medium sized estate. Budget is ~3k but can go up to 5k if it's worth it.
Requirements:
Petrol
Manual
Sub 10 secs 0-60
Reliable
Comfy
Bonus points if it's somewhat engaging to drive. I do max 15k miles a year of mixed driving. Buying a house next year so looking to keep costs down.
Currently set on a 1.8 civic ES. It has cruise, A.C. and electric windows plus good reliability and 40+mpg on a run. Looks practical as well. I just need something that starts and only needs money spending at service/mot time.
Anything I'm missing that is equal too or better than the civic?
Any opinions from people who have or own a 1.8 civic? The year is an 07-09 plate.
I have a 1.8 Civic, 9th gen. Reasonably pleasant place to be, quiet engine, doesn't have too much ingear shove and you need to be careful to make sure you're in the right gear when accelerating or you'll get stuck at 25 in fourth and have to shift to second to get a move on, but free revving and can get a move on when you keep the gears low. Frugal too - I can get as high as 50mpg on the motorway, though average around 40. Haven't had a single problem but I have only had the car for 6months and it was 2 years old / 9k miles when I bought it, so wouldn't expect anything to have gone wrong.
The free revving engine makes it quite entertaining on the back roads, though the steering is quite light. Gearbox is very smooth and enjoyable to use
The free revving engine makes it quite entertaining on the back roads, though the steering is quite light. Gearbox is very smooth and enjoyable to use
Defcon5 said:
Octavia VRS?
Had a test drive of a mk5 gti, and it just didn't do it for me. Something about it just felt very boring for the money. If i was going for sonethi g performance related Id like it to feel special. Sat in a octavia vrs and it was just a worst version of the gti. Do like the mk3s though but they are way out of budget. Visually inside and out the Leon doesn't do it for me. I imagine it's very similar to the above.
Saabs a good shout but aren't they just a upmarket vectra? Also reliability is my concern. Don't want a any hassle of running back and forth to my mechanic for mechanical or electrical faults.
Integroo said:
I have a 1.8 Civic, 9th gen. Reasonably pleasant place to be, quiet engine, doesn't have too much ingear shove and you need to be careful to make sure you're in the right gear when accelerating or you'll get stuck at 25 in fourth and have to shift to second to get a move on, but free revving and can get a move on when you keep the gears low. Frugal too - I can get as high as 50mpg on the motorway, though average around 40. Haven't had a single problem but I have only had the car for 6months and it was 2 years old / 9k miles when I bought it, so wouldn't expect anything to have gone wrong.
The free revving engine makes it quite entertaining on the back roads, though the steering is quite light. Gearbox is very smooth and enjoyable to use
Thanks for the feedback, I believe I'll be looking at the 8th GEN. Your second paragraph is the bit that is swaying my own decision. I can potter around comfortably and still be engaged when a decent road present itself with the engine and gear change. Also going by Honda reliability it should just work and only need things replacing come service/mot time.The free revving engine makes it quite entertaining on the back roads, though the steering is quite light. Gearbox is very smooth and enjoyable to use
Any other experiences from anyone?
Anything other suggestions?
AB57 said:
Integroo said:
I have a 1.8 Civic, 9th gen. Reasonably pleasant place to be, quiet engine, doesn't have too much ingear shove and you need to be careful to make sure you're in the right gear when accelerating or you'll get stuck at 25 in fourth and have to shift to second to get a move on, but free revving and can get a move on when you keep the gears low. Frugal too - I can get as high as 50mpg on the motorway, though average around 40. Haven't had a single problem but I have only had the car for 6months and it was 2 years old / 9k miles when I bought it, so wouldn't expect anything to have gone wrong.
The free revving engine makes it quite entertaining on the back roads, though the steering is quite light. Gearbox is very smooth and enjoyable to use
Thanks for the feedback, I believe I'll be looking at the 8th GEN. Your second paragraph is the bit that is swaying my own decision. I can potter around comfortably and still be engaged when a decent road present itself with the engine and gear change. Also going by Honda reliability it should just work and only need things replacing come service/mot time.The free revving engine makes it quite entertaining on the back roads, though the steering is quite light. Gearbox is very smooth and enjoyable to use
Any other experiences from anyone?
Anything other suggestions?
Purchased 2007 Civic 1.8SE (with optional full [heated front] leather & rear parking sensors) Aug 2009, 14k on it, £11295 from Honda,
Sold last week at 71k, £2840, having spent £500 at Honda to MOT/ service it. Still will need 3 tyres (don't ask) and rear brakes for the next MOT (will be fine until then) and A/C compressor needs a repair kit, or more. Which is why it was cheap. At the top end of their pricing I'd expect all consumables on point and everything working. Compressor is £600 if required...
Only ever saw Honda. Generally meets your brief.
Pro's- 1.8 has cam chain, no belt to swap. Still looks good (IMO), dash in particular like nothing else and very pleasing for it. Never broke down. Robust- paint wore miles/ scratches very well, not so much as a squeak on sale. If you get Honda to service it, the equivalent of AA cover (specific to the car) is included for peace of mind, which takes the edge off the £160ish basic charge to change the oil/ tighten everything up (which did make a difference, especially with worn components like brakes). Jelly-mould shape is really easy to clean, they are quite small so it can be done quickly. Back seats fold completely flat or up, kept it for so long because it was very practical and went from commuter to tip run car with ease. Leather was proper stuff, and very comfy, modern plastic equivalent gets nowhere near it. 43mpg lifetime average. Tax under £200 I think, insurance cheap.
Con's- They are robust, so servicing is frequently skimped on by owners- and as above an annual tweak works wonders. Handling- mediocre at best, even with 4 new Bridgestones (as per Honda spec, still £80+ a corner), distinct lack of front end grip and even on the 16" alloys there is little room between the 205 wide rubber and the arches, so the ride is very firm indeed (17"s would be dire I'm sure). Expect crashiness over potholes. Distinct lack of torque, so 0-60 feels very laboured despite book times, and noisy over about 3000 RPM. Rear vision bad with no back wiper/ stupid spoiler blocking our view, but you get used to it in all bar the worst of wet motorway weather. Jelly-mould shape makes corners difficult to see, by others as much as the driver, so scrapes are common, and parking sensors a real plus (esp given the poor rear vision).
Overall, they're not far off white goods, which it sounds like you need, and at your price range everything will be a bit ropey. Just don't expect to remember it (bar the dash), which might be a good thing!
Sold last week at 71k, £2840, having spent £500 at Honda to MOT/ service it. Still will need 3 tyres (don't ask) and rear brakes for the next MOT (will be fine until then) and A/C compressor needs a repair kit, or more. Which is why it was cheap. At the top end of their pricing I'd expect all consumables on point and everything working. Compressor is £600 if required...
Only ever saw Honda. Generally meets your brief.
Pro's- 1.8 has cam chain, no belt to swap. Still looks good (IMO), dash in particular like nothing else and very pleasing for it. Never broke down. Robust- paint wore miles/ scratches very well, not so much as a squeak on sale. If you get Honda to service it, the equivalent of AA cover (specific to the car) is included for peace of mind, which takes the edge off the £160ish basic charge to change the oil/ tighten everything up (which did make a difference, especially with worn components like brakes). Jelly-mould shape is really easy to clean, they are quite small so it can be done quickly. Back seats fold completely flat or up, kept it for so long because it was very practical and went from commuter to tip run car with ease. Leather was proper stuff, and very comfy, modern plastic equivalent gets nowhere near it. 43mpg lifetime average. Tax under £200 I think, insurance cheap.
Con's- They are robust, so servicing is frequently skimped on by owners- and as above an annual tweak works wonders. Handling- mediocre at best, even with 4 new Bridgestones (as per Honda spec, still £80+ a corner), distinct lack of front end grip and even on the 16" alloys there is little room between the 205 wide rubber and the arches, so the ride is very firm indeed (17"s would be dire I'm sure). Expect crashiness over potholes. Distinct lack of torque, so 0-60 feels very laboured despite book times, and noisy over about 3000 RPM. Rear vision bad with no back wiper/ stupid spoiler blocking our view, but you get used to it in all bar the worst of wet motorway weather. Jelly-mould shape makes corners difficult to see, by others as much as the driver, so scrapes are common, and parking sensors a real plus (esp given the poor rear vision).
Overall, they're not far off white goods, which it sounds like you need, and at your price range everything will be a bit ropey. Just don't expect to remember it (bar the dash), which might be a good thing!
I'm in the same position, looking to spend 3-4k on a something reliable and good value.
Civic 1.8 ES/EX seems to tick the boxes, and there still a handful out there with full Honda SH and low owners/mileage, but as poster above mentioned, 90% need work or are badly maintained.
I've also noticed that the BMW 1 Series is the same price for age/mileage. You can get a 118d which seems to be pretty reliable, but I'm not sure about running costs.
Also considered:
Ford Focus - Slightly cheaper so get something newer, but petrol engines just seem weak. Only 99bhp from the 1.6 which is the recommended version.
Vauxhall Astra 2011 onwards - Cheaper still, and newer shape, but not many available as it's right at the bottom of the market at this price range.
VW Golf - Discounted because all you can get is the mk5 which was released in 2004 and have aged terribly. Mk6 start at 5k, which look more modern.
Toyota Auris - Discounted on account of the looks, looks like a pensioners car.
Civic 1.8 ES/EX seems to tick the boxes, and there still a handful out there with full Honda SH and low owners/mileage, but as poster above mentioned, 90% need work or are badly maintained.
I've also noticed that the BMW 1 Series is the same price for age/mileage. You can get a 118d which seems to be pretty reliable, but I'm not sure about running costs.
Also considered:
Ford Focus - Slightly cheaper so get something newer, but petrol engines just seem weak. Only 99bhp from the 1.6 which is the recommended version.
Vauxhall Astra 2011 onwards - Cheaper still, and newer shape, but not many available as it's right at the bottom of the market at this price range.
VW Golf - Discounted because all you can get is the mk5 which was released in 2004 and have aged terribly. Mk6 start at 5k, which look more modern.
Toyota Auris - Discounted on account of the looks, looks like a pensioners car.
Edited by Jiebo on Tuesday 15th August 14:03
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