short term car for 5k or less

[Kaktus]

Getting really frustrated with this now. Been searching for two weeks and no where even close to even knowing what to look for

Price: 5k or less. OR 2-3k max loss on owning for 12 months. Above 2k loss on a monthly basis it starts getting to lease level / rent level prices so no point in buying.

Mileage: low, high dont care as long as it is ultra reliable and just needs petrol. No interest in buying/looking at cars that need cam replacements at xxxx miles or whatever. I will be putting less than 5k miles on it

Transmission: auto preferred, manual if it really makes sense because of the specific car/price

Type of car: couldn't care less. I'll have it for 12 months or less. small SUV, hatch, small saloon, coupe whatever

Features: air con and aux/BT would be nice but not necessary

Cars I have considered:

• Freelander 2 - decent ones all above 5k
• Focus 2005-2012 - apparently issues with auto transmission
• Scirocco 2008-2010 - no idea?
• VW Golf Mk5 2005-2009 - apparently "way over priced at 4-5k"
• VW CC - apparently prone to engine and transmission issues. Expensive to repair
• Mini 5dr / Mini Countryman - grossly overpriced, all kinds of mechanical issues in Mk2/Mk1 respectively
• Lexus IS200 - apparently dont want to get into one thats 90k miles + as its coming up on high repair costs
• Audi A5 2008/2009 - high mileage only for 5k price range, TDI's prone to failure, high repair costs, thrashed cars
• DS3 cafe racer lease currently available at 197 / month 1+11 - apparently avoid like the plague, piece of junk

So...just rent a toyota aygo for 250 quid a month then?

[sparkythecat]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kia-Magentis-2-0-manual...

There you go.

[Pistonheader101]

Lexus IS250 SE-L

You’ll lose £0 over the course of 12 months on one.

[dave_s13]

sparkythecat said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kia-Magentis-2-0-manual...

There you go.

Lol...that's mine...it's sorted. I bought it of some private seller-cum-trader wker off Facebook and it turned out to have a buggered drivers door lock, a dodgy airbag fault and a rough idle

Anyway, I spent a solid week on YouTube learning about fuel trims, spent too much on some engine code reading, serviced it. Put a good airbag ecu in it, sorted the passenger occupancy sensor, stuck a good map sensor into and it's now running sweet. Also sorted the door lock.

Then impulse purchased a BMW E93 with a fking oil leak.

It's a bloody good car really, just not terribly sexy.

[aka_kerrly]

Kaktus said:

• Lexus IS200 - apparently dont want to get into one thats 90k miles + as its coming up on high repair costs

not sure where that reputation has come from, they score highly on any reliability index. A bit thirsty for their performance but enjoyable to drive and carry speed well.

My brother & dad both drive Lexus IS200s and over the last few years both have been supremely reliable and not at all expensive to maintain.

[Kaktus]

aka_kerrly said:

not sure where that reputation has come from, they score highly on any reliability index. A bit thirsty for their performance but enjoyable to drive and carry speed well.

My brother & dad both drive Lexus IS200s and over the last few years both have been supremely reliable and not at all expensive to maintain.

don't ask me, this is on another car forum I had been asking on and I was pretty confused to hell when I was told by multiple posters avoid high mileage lexus cars. I also asked a friend who's dad has a used car dealership and he also said the same thing. Sick to death of the conflicting information out there tbh, not just on this vehicle but on every car.

Edited by Kaktus on Sunday 27th January 00:29

[Kaktus]

Pistonheader101 said:

Lexus IS250 SE-L

You’ll lose £0 over the course of 12 months on one.

Ok, I will look for these on AT despite what I have been told to the contrary because my understanding has always been that lexus and honda are pretty much the most reliable cars you can buy.

Now I can see on AT there are 15 examples at 5k or below and all have 90k+ miles. Is there anything I should look for in particular? I'm assuming:

-Full Lexus Service History
-12 month MOT?
-any known mechanical or other problems that start to pop up at this mileage?
-any known things that should have been replaced by now?

[dave_s13]

I made the mistake of researching all the possible issues BMW e9x n53 engine cars have after buying one. They are still excellent cars, in the right spec, they can just go wrong in thousands of different ways.

Point being. If you see a car, like it a lot and it all works lovely then just buy it. Within reason, worrying on the minutia of what could possibly fail will see you either on the bus or signing up to a lease deal. Whatever floats your boat mind.

[Mr Tidy]

Back in 2014 I wanted a cheap and cheerful everyday car and bought a 1996 Mazda 323f with just over 61K miles on it for about £500. It had only 3 previous owners, but scuffs on most panels. Still because it was a 1.5 litre it fell into the cheap road tax band for pre-2001 cars. And although it had a cam-belt, it was also a non-interference engine, so just run it till the belt snaps (which it didn't).

But I got fed up with it being a bit gutless and it only lasted 6 months until it got replaced by a BMW 325ti! But it cost me nothing in maintenance and I got most of my money back when I sold it.

Still something like that can't ever cost you more than you paid for it! A Honda Civic 1.5 was my other option, but there weren't any around near me at the time.

Even the much more entertaining 325ti only cost me £545 in depreciation in 3+ years!

[ninjag]

Plenty of fully loaded low miles 7th gen Honda Accord EX about for under £5k. Diesels are reliable, petrol are bullet proof. 2.4 petrol would be my choice but depends on your journeys.

[The Cardinal]

With similar requirements to the OP, I recently ended-up in a 2007 Audi A3 2.0T Sportback (same engine as GTI Mk5) for under £4k.

I've since spent a fair bit on getting it up to scratch, but that's mainly due to problems with me - not the car.

Edited by The Cardinal on Sunday 27th January 06:26

[Kaktus]

I think I've found one that looks quite good. 2008, low mileage, SE-L, apparently FSH and only 1 owner. Also comes with Levinson media pack

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

Problem is, WBAC / ABYC valued it at £3500 so approximately 50% of the advertised price. What offer should I put in on it given I will be holding it for 12 months or so.


Edit

---

Sorry I meant this one. I linked the SE-R above by accident. Which actually still looks pretty good...

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

Edited by Kaktus on Monday 28th January 17:34

[PTF]

130i

[ZX10R NIN]

Kaktus said:

I think I've found one that looks quite good. 2008, low mileage, SE-L, apparently FSH and only 1 owner. Also comes with Levinson media pack

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

Problem is, WBAC / ABYC valued it at £3500 so approximately 50% of the advertised price. What offer should I put in on it given I will be holding it for 12 months or so.


Edit

---

Sorry I meant this one. I linked the SE-R above by accident. Which actually still looks pretty good...

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

Edited by Kaktus on Monday 28th January 17:34

The car in the second link doesn't have the nav which means it won't have the Mark Levinson stereo.

As for the price ignore WBAC when it comes to pricing look at what other cars are going for that's more of an accurate price guide.

[Deep Thought]

PTF said:

130i

Very good call. Even more specifically a 130i M Sport LE

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

Slightly over budget, but very rare. I drove one once, nearly bought it. Stupidly didnt

[stevemcs]

Just buy a £1000 Volvo with the longest MOT you can find, then run it until it breaks and weigh it in.

[ZX10R NIN]

IS200

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

CLK350 Sport

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

[aka_kerrly]

Kaktus said:

don't ask me, this is on another car forum I had been asking on and I was pretty confused to hell when I was told by multiple posters avoid high mileage lexus cars. I also asked a friend who's dad has a used car dealership and he also said the same thing. Sick to death of the conflicting information out there tbh, not just on this vehicle but on every car.

Edited by Kaktus on Sunday 27th January 00:29

At present my brother has an IS200 with 130k on it, it cost £750 4 years ago , has passed every MOT an needed servicing, tyres an the only unplanned expense was a power steering pump which was £130 inc new belts, new fluid, new fluid bottle.

My father has my old IS200 which was a £600 car 3 years ago, it's now on 188k and passed it's MOT today, it has required 1 new wheel stud, 1 coilpack ( i changed all 6 & spark plugs plus rocker cover gasket at the same time because preventative maintenance is "my thing".

A good friend has the newer IS250 which is on high mileage and has spent a substantial chunk of it's life lowered excessively and yet it holds together, survives with next to zero maintenance & gets ragged from cold everyday we leave work. Another work colleague has owned a 2007 IS250 since new which with a days cleaning it could pass as brand new, a testament to the paintwork & interior materials.

I always perceived them as boring old mans cars but the IS models are a very good drive and have really changed my mind. It's a real shame that the UK didn't get barely more than a handful of IS300 combined with a manual gearbox - 330i challenger!

[PTF]

Deep Thought said:

PTF said:

130i

Very good call. Even more specifically a 130i M Sport LE

That might be a bit over budget, but an M-sport model could be had for £5k with probably 100k miles or so, or you should be able to find an SE for £5k with fewer miles.

Stonking engine. Bullet-proof reliability. RWD. Great steering. And they're not depreciating anymore.

[techaddict]

Ahh! It's a shame you're only after petrol.
I need to sell my 55-plate BMW 330Cd as I live in London and it the ultra low emission zone 24 hour charge is soon coming into force (April I believe - is that right?).

It's done 109k miles, M-sport automatic gearbox, heated leather seats, rain sensing wipers, auto-dimming rear view mirror, rear parking sensors and I've put an android-base head unit in it. Body-wise, it's got a few scuffs (no dents or major scratches) and the door handles are stiff as the adjustment bolt inside is threaded (don't have time to take the hygiene seal off etc).

Mechanically, it runs really well. No oil leaks - the only fluid leak is the windscreen wiper system which I just can't seem to find the source of. I had the brake fluid bled and replaced a few years ago, transmission oil replaced, air conditioning compressor replaced.

A lot of car for only £3k!