Good car for 12k

[Jivemonkee]

Hi.
My mondeo on its way out. I do about 20k a year miles, have dogs in the boot and sometimes (but this is not a priority as only rarely) I two a caravan. Shortlisted a few cars and would appreciate some guidance. I generally buy cars a few years old and run to about 150 to 200k. Ideally want something fun to drive, comfortable and reliable.

Like the idea of SUV but nothing standing out as that great after research was looking at kia sportage and hyundai tucson but hear they don't drive that well

Mazda 6 Love the look but hear reliability issues for diesels so must be petrol and not sure about that with miles I drive

BMW 3 series, but worried about expensive repairs as will run it for years

Voltswagon passant, but heard they are boring to drive

Mondeo, but have one now and wanted a change. especially after all the issues with my current 09 plate diesel over its life

[jwilco]

Sorry to say it but you basically are describing a Mondeo. They're a sweet steer. Or the Insignia VXR - they're an underrated steer.

[andburg]

depends how big the caravan is really...

Civic Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010024...

from personal experience they drive really well and are dit cheap to run (I've seen an average 83mpg indicated on a run from Bath to Barnsley)

£12k is gonna buy you a 3 year old low mileage example and its camchain so no cambelts to factor in.

bit bigger?

£12k will buy you a lot of Skoda Superb/Octavia.

[anonymous-user]

Had a 1.6 I-DTEC Honda Civic as my last car, and the MPG was superb. Very practical as the boot was huge (Hatchback too, not the estate).

Good amount of torque, typical Japanese bulletproof engine, and great fun around the corners too.

[Jivemonkee]

Thanks for the recommendation, will look at the civic...

Having just had a mondeo, wanting to try something different and lots of issues with it, I won't buy another mondeo, but agree it was great to drive!

[ZX10R NIN]

There are some very good diesel options for your budget:

2.2d Q30 Sport proven reliability as it's an A Class underneath

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006170...

Permium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009244...

308 GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010014...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010144...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

Volvo V40 D4 R Design (with a Polestar map)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007301...

R Design Lux

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008112...

New shape Megane Signature Nav (well appointed with a very good 1.6d)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010104...

Signature Nav Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009244...

Astra Elite BiTurbo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010024...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008052...

Giulietta Speciale

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010014...

All of the above are good reliable options, for me the Infiniti/Megane & Volvo are the picks.

[homebredsquid]

thanks, like the look of the v40 a lot, will add to list. family telling me to get Kia sportage as family have two, like idea of raised position but not sure about kia

[ChrisH72]

Nothing wrong with Kia as a brand nowadays.

I think the Sportage is one of the better looking SUV's but only buy if you really want one. An SUV of any kind will be more expensive than the cars you're looking at and also won't drive as well.

[homebredsquid]

thanks figured as much, just now need to drive a few, volvo v40, sportage, petrol mazda 6 top of list atm... will see how they drive

[ZX10R NIN]

As much as I like the Sportage for me the Kuga is the better car & it has the (I know you're not a Ford fan) better drivetrain:

Titanium X/Titanium X Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009264...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010134...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010155...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007131...

If you do like the Sportage also look at it's sister the Hyundai Tucson they're more overlooked so in some cases workout a better buy.

SE Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008032...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009264...

Premium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010024...

Honda CR-V EX

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009053...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008032...

[E63eeeeee...]

I had a Tucson briefly as a courtesy car due to a puncture on the way to the airport emergency situation. It was the worst modern car I've ever driven. It didn't so much handle as flop aimlessly about the place and it was so under-powered, overweight or over-geared that joining busy roundabouts or motorways was genuinely scary. The fact this cut through the pathetic gratitude to still be moving in the right direction should probably say something about just how bad it was.