A few years old, used car for about £10,000

[scheim95]

Hello

I am a 23 years old man. I am driving for 3 years and feel confident as a driver, however my knowledge about cars is very limited. Also, my driving experience is limited roughly to one car: Seat Ibiza (2005), 1.6, manual. I was driving few more cars (renting etc.) but for now I can say that I am not a refined driver who will feel that much difference between driving different cars.

In the next few months I am planning to buy an used car and I don’t want to pay more than £12,000, however preferably I would spend much less like £8,000 or even £7,000. I know it is a big spread but it is because my knowledge is not that big so it may be possible that I was looking for a specific car from 2015, but your advice may be to buy the same car from 2013 cause it is very reliable.

I will be using a car for a daily commuting to work (about 7 miles each way), 2 times a moth for a short trip about 150 miles in total and 2 times a year longer trip. I believe diesel engine will be good in this case.

My main requirements (all of them important):
– The car must look nice (preferably Saloon type looking like Mazda6 or Vauxhall Insignia)
– The car must be cheap to maintain both when it comes to fuel consumption and repair
– The car must look nice inside, preferably having a display
– Gearbox: automatic
– Engine: I don’t need a sport car, however I want engine to be powerful enough to have a good acceleration if needed

Less important:
– Car not older than 5 years
– Lower mileage
– Comfortable and spacious interior
– Parking sensors

I already have a lot of candidates. I was checking a lot of opinions about them and asking my friends but I always found at least one opinion which was very negative about each car.
– Vauxhall Insignia
– Mazda6
– Mazda3
– Volvo S60
– Mercedes C
– Volkswagen CC
– Ford Mondeo
– Citroen C5
– Audi A4

Of course that for example Audi A4 is a much better car than Vauxhall Insignia but costs much more and I will get older car, with poorer version. What would be your advice?

Regards
Lucas

[ZX10R NIN]

With your mileage & requirements you'll need a petrol which will severely limit your options & mean you'll have to scrap your 5 year age limit.

The Mondeo would be my pick from your list but to get one for 10k you'll be looking at 2010/11 models:

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

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

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

These are reliable cars but they fall outside of your criteria.

It's the same story with the Mazda6:

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

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

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

Lexus IS250 F Sport these are nice cars (be aware that the water pump & plugs need doing at around 80k) so are a nice option but make sure you get one with the Nav as you then get the better stereo & rear camera, you can alway retro fti parking sensors if you don't like the camera.

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

SE-L

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

Advance

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

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

They're not as spacious but the Lexus is worth a look.

The three above are where my money would be going.

[PixelpeepS3]

2 year olds are not allowed to drive. Sorry

[stevekoz]

I'm going to second the Mondy.

Good looking saloon. Lots of kit. Nice to drive. Doesn't break the bank. Reliable and fairly cheap to run. Found this 2012 model for £9k. Which gives you something left out of your budget of max £12k.

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

Next on my list would be an Audi A4. Nice looking saloon. Generally a well built and reliable car and again relatively cheap to run.

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

No list of nice to drive kitted saloons would be right without an obligatory BMW 3 or 5 Series

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

but you'd probably need to stretch that budget to get the 5series.

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

A car based on the insignia you mentioned would be a later Saab 9-5

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

A lot of car for the money but at ht ehigher end of the budget. They are rarer these days. Lots of specialists around to still carry out repairs etc. if needed but generally reliable. And a bit left field from the more common choices.

[scheim95]

ZX10R NIN said:

With your mileage & requirements you'll need a petrol which will severely limit your options & mean you'll have to scrap your 5 year age limit.

The Mondeo would be my pick from your list but to get one for 10k you'll be looking at 2010/11 models

Thank you for your answer. Your suggestion add Lexus to the list is great!
I believe I will make at least 10-12k miles per year or even more if I will include that once a year I also plan to go abroad. During weekdays I will not do much, however I like to do a lot of short trips so I believe almost every weekend I will go for like 100 miles trip. I prefer to ask experts like you and not buy diesel if it will later make me problems. What other requirements do you mean that rather limit me from thinking about diesel?
So far I was rather thinking about diesel as these cars look to be cheaper in this option and with much lower fuel consumption which is important to me. If we consider diesel, do you still would go for Mondeo or Lexus?

PS. It doesn't have to be younger than 5 years, 2010/11 is good as well

[scheim95]

stevekoz said:

I'm going to second the Mondy.

Good looking saloon. Lots of kit. Nice to drive. Doesn't break the bank. Reliable and fairly cheap to run. Found this 2012 model for £9k. Which gives you something left out of your budget of max £12k.

Thank you stevekoz. I can see that Mondeo is recommended by a lot of people. BMW 3 series seems also interesting for me, so thank you for that position . You also think that in my case I should limit my search to petrol?

[stevekoz]

scheim95 said:

Thank you stevekoz. I can see that Mondeo is recommended by a lot of people. BMW 3 series seems also interesting for me, so thank you for that position . You also think that in my case I should limit my search to petrol?

Yes. With the miles you are doing, it doesn't warrant a diesel, you would be better off with a petrol IMHO.

[NewbishDelight]

stevekoz said:

scheim95 said:

Thank you stevekoz. I can see that Mondeo is recommended by a lot of people. BMW 3 series seems also interesting for me, so thank you for that position . You also think that in my case I should limit my search to petrol?

Yes. With the miles you are doing, it doesn't warrant a diesel, you would be better off with a petrol IMHO.

The 7-mile run, unless you are hitting motorways, could hit your DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) if you're unlucky. I've just moved to somewhere 7 miles from work (with some quite fun B roads), but unlikely to hit the necessary temperatures for DPF...so looking for a petrol as well.

[Gliese]

I think a caveat here would be depending on the cost of the diesel vs a petrol with regards to DPF.
From my own seach for a new car I've seen a fair few instances where although a petrol would defintely suit my personal requirements if I opt for a diesel it expands the market of whats available but I can also get the same model car much cheaper.
I'm seeing diesel models now a good £1500 cheaper than the equivalent petrol which you could argue goes towards the replacement of a DPF should the worst happen.

[PixelpeepS3]

PixelpeepS3 said:

2 year olds are not allowed to drive. Sorry

1. ToughCrowd or #stJoke

postal votes only

[pb8g09]

ZX10R NIN said:

With your mileage & requirements you'll need a petrol which will severely limit your options & mean you'll have to scrap your 5 year age limit.

The Mondeo would be my pick from your list but to get one for 10k you'll be looking at 2010/11 models:

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

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

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

These are reliable cars but they fall outside of your criteria.

It's the same story with the Mazda6:

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

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

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

Lexus IS250 F Sport these are nice cars (be aware that the water pump & plugs need doing at around 80k) so are a nice option but make sure you get one with the Nav as you then get the better stereo & rear camera, you can alway retro fti parking sensors if you don't like the camera.

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

SE-L

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

Advance

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

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

They're not as spacious but the Lexus is worth a look.

The three above are where my money would be going.

I hope/assume you do this for a living, because damn you are good at this game.

[stevekoz]

Gliese said:

I think a caveat here would be depending on the cost of the diesel vs a petrol with regards to DPF.
From my own seach for a new car I've seen a fair few instances where although a petrol would defintely suit my personal requirements if I opt for a diesel it expands the market of whats available but I can also get the same model car much cheaper.
I'm seeing diesel models now a good £1500 cheaper than the equivalent petrol which you could argue goes towards the replacement of a DPF should the worst happen.

Alot of the difference may also be eaten up by tax and charges for running a diesel in coming years (2020). With charges where i live being levied at about £10 per day for driving in certain areas and with full inclusion some years after.

This doesn't just affect diesel but just newer cars. So if you own diesel it applies to cars manufactured before 2015 and petrol before 2006. So some difference.

Add to this the increase in TAX on diesels currently.

So in my book i would tend to stay clear unless the mileage and benefits on economy outweigh the elements like tax and charges against such cars in the coming years.

[pb8g09]

stevekoz said:

Alot of the difference may also be eaten up by tax and charges for running a diesel in coming years (2020). With charges where i live being levied at about £10 per day for driving in certain areas and with full inclusion some years after.

This doesn't just affect diesel but just newer cars. So if you own diesel it applies to cars manufactured before 2015 and petrol before 2006. So some difference.

Add to this the increase in TAX on diesels currently.

So in my book i would tend to stay clear unless the mileage and benefits on economy outweigh the elements like tax and charges against such cars in the coming years.

Also, if you're planning to resell your diesel in 5 years or so, who knows if it will actually be worth a dime with the Government pushing for us to not be driving them.

[stevekoz]

pb8g09 said:

Also, if you're planning to resell your diesel in 5 years or so, who knows if it will actually be worth a dime with the Government pushing for us to not be driving them.

what he said!

[ZX10R NIN]

scheim95 said:

Thank you for your answer. Your suggestion add Lexus to the list is great!
I believe I will make at least 10-12k miles per year or even more if I will include that once a year I also plan to go abroad. During weekdays I will not do much, however I like to do a lot of short trips so I believe almost every weekend I will go for like 100 miles trip. I prefer to ask experts like you and not buy diesel if it will later make me problems. What other requirements do you mean that rather limit me from thinking about diesel?
So far I was rather thinking about diesel as these cars look to be cheaper in this option and with much lower fuel consumption which is important to me. If we consider diesel, do you still would go for Mondeo or Lexus?

PS. It doesn't have to be younger than 5 years, 2010/11 is good as well

At 12k you'd be on the borderline for having a diesel but if you're closer to 10k or less I'd say get a petrol if you want a diesel you'll have to get a Euro6 & that means you're going to have to go to the higher end of your budget.

Also if you don't end up doing the longer journeys then you leave yourself liable to a DPF failure which could end up being more expensive than your fuel & road tax savings.

As for the cars your left with a few options all will have to be 2014 or newer, the Mondeo is (they'll be lower powered versions but still have nice spec) still the pick of the bunch but your much nearer the 12k than the 8k.

Titanium

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

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

Insignia Elite (if you buy one make sure you have the engine flushed every other oil change)

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

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

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

2.2d Infiniti Q50 Premium

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

[scheim95]

Thank you all for your answers !! At the moment I am much more aware of what my choice actually is.
I found myself more interested in cars now and will be watching this forum from time to time. Tomorrow I will meet my brother in law who is also an experienced person so will ask him what does he think about all information I gathered. As I said I plan to buy a car in few months, I believe February is the most possible so my biggest task is to actually decide if Petrol or Diesel will suit me more.
I will consider Mondeo, Audi A4, BMW Series 3, Lexus 250 and other cars as well