Key worker friend needs 'new' car

[Detinker]

I have a female co-worker whose car has recently decided to spit out its ball joint, twist the axle and throw itself onto the tarmac at 40mph. It terrified her as she has 2 small children who were with her at the time. Luckily she didnt hit anything as she was on a straight stretch but she doesnt want to get back in the car. The car itself was a bit of a wreck anyways and needed more work with a replacement radiator etc. all needed.

So she's after a new car, I'm aware the car market is a bit stuck under current circumstances but she's a key worker, so any help would be appreciated.

She has 2 small children, both requiring child seats so Isofix is a must.
Needs to have good boot storage.
Ideally newer than 2010.
She said similar size to an Astra, so assuming family hatchback.
Something with a fair turn of pace (Previous cars include a RR Sport and M3) so not deathly slow but 0-60 below 10 secs would be favourable.
£4000

She asked me what I thought she should get but I wanted to call on the PH collective expertise.

Thanks

[grudas]

that's ford focus/mazda 3 money.

[stumpage]

Honda Civic

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

3 Door

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

More practical 5 Door

Also has storage under the rear seat and Japanese reliability.

Edited by stumpage on Tuesday 21st April 09:40

[Triumph Man]

Detinker said:

I have a female co-worker whose car has recently decided to spit out its ball joint, twist the axle and throw itself onto the tarmac at 40mph. It terrified her as she has 2 small children who were with her at the time. Luckily she didnt hit anything as she was on a straight stretch but she doesnt want to get back in the car. The car itself was a bit of a wreck anyways and needed more work with a replacement radiator etc. all needed.

So she's after a new car, I'm aware the car market is a bit stuck under current circumstances but she's a key worker, so any help would be appreciated.

She has 2 small children, both requiring child seats so Isofix is a must.
Needs to have good boot storage.
Ideally newer than 2010.
She said similar size to an Astra, so assuming family hatchback.
Something with a fair turn of pace (Previous cars include a RR Sport and M3) so not deathly slow but 0-60 below 10 secs would be favourable.
£4000

She asked me what I thought she should get but I wanted to call on the PH collective expertise.

Thanks

How shagged was that ball joint to be spat out?!

[LuS1fer]

A female care worker that I know just took a gamble and bought a low mileage (51k) Kia Carens from a Birmingham dealer who delivered it to her home address in South Wales. Slightly scruffier than photos suggest but for £1500, not a bad deal.

Not exactly sporty though. A quick look at Auto Trader shows a few low mile new shape Astra SRi 1.6s for that money. Probably better value than a Focus.

[Detinker]

Well, the pictures I've seen show the wheel about 5 inches away from the car at right angles to the body...

[mbwoy84]

What about something like an E90 320i Saloon?

0-60 8.3secs, surprisingly sprightly for a 4cyl BMW, not too heavy on tax, good on fuel with a nice 6spd box, well-equipped with ISOFIX etc, practical 4 door. Bit longer than an Astra, but not much bigger overall. Depends on what the exact requirement is for boot space. Obviously not a hatch if that's a must, but no shortage of general boot space. Of course there is an estate version, but people who don't want too big a car tend to be put off by estates for some reason, even small ones.....

[kiethton]

mbwoy84 said:

What about something like an E90 320i Saloon?

0-60 8.3secs, surprisingly sprightly for a 4cyl BMW, not too heavy on tax, good on fuel with a nice 6spd box, well-equipped with ISOFIX etc, practical 4 door. Bit longer than an Astra, but not much bigger overall. Depends on what the exact requirement is for boot space. Obviously not a hatch if that's a must, but no shortage of general boot space. Of course there is an estate version, but people who don't want too big a car tend to be put off by estates for some reason, even small ones.....

At that money I’d be sticking to Ford/Honda/Toyota/Skoda/Seat/Kia/Hyundai etc.

You get a lot more for your money, typically a new car with less miles which should prove more reliable.

Octavia/Focus/Auris/i30/Ce’d should all be suitable, just pick a shape/spec that you prefer as there is little to choose between them. I’d be slightly more hesitant on Mazda, at that age/cost you may be looking at the age of car that likes to rust.

[MrGTI6]

mbwoy84 said:

What about something like an E90 320i Saloon?

Does she like the strong scent of burning oil? If so, that would be the perfect choice.

I reckon a Mazda 3 2.0 petrol would be worth a look. Good balance of performance and economy, reasonably practical and should be reliable.

Edited by MrGTI6 on Tuesday 21st April 11:32

[Pothole]

stumpage said:

Honda Civic

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

3 Door

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

More practical 5 Door

Also has storage under the rear seat and Japanese reliability.

Edited by stumpage on Tuesday 21st April 09:40

Civic all day long

[ambuletz]

If she's a key worker have her consider renting a car. Many of the rental companies are offering their cars for £1/day if you're a key worker/NHS.

this will at least help for the time being before she gets a car.

[MXRod]

We have just been in a similar situation , this time it was a kind person reversing , blind, from a parking spot in a supermarket managed to write off my daughters Ibiza , not a lot of body damage but front wheel/ steering beyond economic repair .
Due to current situation , finding car sales places open was a saga.

We dismissed private sales as no protection , then via Autotrader ads found lots of front door car dealers , again little protection .And a sort of car supermarket selling heaps with 10 min warrantee.

We did though find a proper dealer through Autotrader working by appointment only and with a £4k budget found a Mk6 Bluemotion Golf late 2009 , in good condition . A test drive confirmed all was well , and the deal done .
Best part was , as my Daughter is a key worker , the dealer upped the 12m warrantee to 18 m and full mechanical cover .
What I would say , I am sure all the suggestions are made with the best intentions , the only way to find the right car is to put the co worker in a selection of cars and let her make her own choice, and push for the protection of a warrantee.
I am in SE London so no point in posting a link to the dealer

[some bloke]

Kia Rio? 5 seater, 5 door, and reasonably punchy with an intercooled turbo.

[jagfan2]

or Mazda 3 Sport
Leather, bose stereo
Petrol
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
or diesel
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[ZX10R NIN]

Focus 1.6T Titanium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Mazda3 Sport Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Astra Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Petrol

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Giulietta Veloce

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Kia Ceed 3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...