What is the most economical hatchback for less than £2,000?

[ed6666]

Hi there,

I am looking to purchase a second-hand hatchback and have a budget of between £1,500 and £2,000.

My main priority is reliability and low running costs (fuel, insurance, tax, maintenance costs).

The car will be used occasionally (between 5,000 and 7,500 miles a year).

I am not concerned about car performance, however, I would like something that can handle motorway driving, so have predominately been looking at engines at 1.6L or over.

Cars I have found so far are:

FORD FIESTA 2005-2008 Diesel 1.6L Manual 3 doors ZETEC CLIMATE TDCI

PEUGEOT 207 2009-2010 Diesel 1.6L Manual 3 doors SPORT HDI (90)

I would be really grateful to get some thoughts on the above, any advice or guidance would be most appreciated.

Many thanks,
Ed

[Jag_NE]

at that budget the potential repairs will make or break the total costs. get a japanese petrol.

[Shiv_P]

For that mileage you will want a petrol. Focus springs to mind with the 1.6. I wouldn't worry too much about economy with your mileage, it will cost probably around £200 a year +- if you get a diesel vs petrol but a petrol is inherently a simpler engine and so will be less likely to go wrong vs a comparable diesel

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mainly buy based on condition and service history - indicators that the car has been looked after
Not too much on mileage

EP3 Civic 1.6

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


Honda Jazz also a contender but engines are fairly low powered at around 85hp so you may or may not like it for motorway - it will manage just fine but up to you. Bulletproof though.

[InitialDave]

Shiv_P said:

Honda Jazz also a contender but engines are fairly low powered at around 85hp so you may or may not like it for motorway - it will manage just fine but up to you. Bulletproof though.

They do seem to do a number on their gearbox bearings.

[RSTurboPaul]

Going from other posts on here, Yaris Diesel would fit the bill?

Cheap to buy, good mpg, chain-driven engine so goes forever...


I really should buy one myself for my long commute TBH, but I can't cope with 85ish bhp and dawdling morons on roads with limited overtaking opportunities...

[Jag_NE]

RSTurboPaul said:

Going from other posts on here, Yaris Diesel would fit the bill?

Cheap to buy, good mpg, chain-driven engine so goes forever...


I really should buy one myself for my long commute TBH, but I can't cope with 85ish bhp and dawdling morons on roads with limited overtaking opportunities...

yes I think it would fit the bill.

agree that for a long commute any form of city car is a no no unless you are in a cut your cloth situation.

[anonymous-user]

Personally for that mileage I would be going petrol all the way, surely we are talking a couple of hundred pounds saving a year?

Secondly, isn't the 1.6 engine fitted in those cars the PSA Ford engine which is renowned for it's unreliability?

[Shiv_P]

Joey Deacon said:

Personally for that mileage I would be going petrol all the way, surely we are talking a couple of hundred pounds saving a year?

Secondly, isn't the 1.6 engine fitted in those cars the PSA Ford engine which is renowned for it's unreliability?

Is that not the 1.6 diesel not the petrol?

[kiethton]

If you want MPG's above all else I'd be looking at something like this:

Polo Bluemotion:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

or

Audi A2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Honda Jazz

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

SMART:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Toyota Yaris:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[ed6666]

Am now a bit confused on whether I should be looking for a diesel or petrol car?

Are diesel cars more likely to give me higher repair bills, compared to petrol cars? If the answer is yes, then the saving from higher MPG from diesel is likely to be outweighed by the higher repair bills - so, therefore, I am now leaning towards a petrol car?

[eybic]

Very basically unless you are doing over 10k a year, petrol will be more economical over a given period, generally you pay more for a diseasel car, more to service it and more for the fuel. Yes it gives better MPG but below 10k miles a year, you're unlikely to see the benefit of a diseasel

[Shiv_P]

I would say petrol. Diesels will 95% of the time have turbos, and the engines are highly pressurised over petrols, and more things to go wrong. I know this is a generalisation as there are loads of diesel engines that are more reliable than petrol but my rule of thumb is if you are buying cheap buy petrol as they are inherently simpler machines
I would look around the 100bhp mark as a minimum for motorway work

[ed6666]

Okay great. Assuming I am settled on a petrol car.

What would be your top 3 or top 5 recommendations? Assuming I want a BHP above 90.

Would like highest MPG, cheapest insurance, lowest maintenance cost (so needs to be a very common car - easy to get spare parts) and lowest tax.

[hoax]

Ford Fiesta Zetec S mk6

Around town driving 32-38mpg
Highways 45+mpg
0-60 - 9.9secs
You can get one with Heated front screen, electric mirrors, aux connection, auto wipers etc.
Road tax £190
Insurance cheap
Looks like a Fiesta ST
Pretty nippy around town, so easy to accelerate from junctions/roundabouts
Extremely easy to overtake as the 5th gear still pulls well

Only problem is no 6th gear. But if you keep the speed to 60mph you will get less road noise and possible 50mpg on long trips.

[p1stonhead]

Fabia VRS TDI is a good mix of economy and a small bit of nippyness.

[ed6666]

I have never owned a Ford. Do you think they offer the same reliability as Kia, Hyundai, VW (polo/golf)?

[eybic]

The good thing with Fords is that generally if they go wrong, they are very common so should in theory be cheap to fix. Zetec S as above wouldn't fit the cheap insurance criteria. Have a look at a Focus perhaps: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=spons...

Edited by eybic on Thursday 22 March 15:47

[hoax]

eybic said:

The good thing with Fords is that generally if they go wrong, they are very common so should in theory be cheap to fix. Zetec S as above wouldn't fit the cheap insurance criteria. Have a look at a Focus perhaps: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=spons...

Edited by eybic on Thursday 22 March 15:47

Actually focus cost more for insurance.

[eybic]

Really? Shows what witchcraft insurance premiums are.

[ed6666]

For the Ford Focus, I have found the following model variants? Would anyone be able to explain the difference between these models as they all seem to have a similar spec?

Ghia
LX
Sport
Zetec
Zetec Climate
i