Help needed with boring car purchase.

[5 cylinder dreamer]

So I'm a 80 mile a day commuter currently running a mk2 focus 1.6 tdci with a slightly dodgy cylinder head. An engine knowledgeable friend has said get rid of it quick as these are not good engines.

I have had so much bad luck with cars recently (2 previous cars written off by other drivers in less than a year) I am at my wits end and the wife is about to go on mat leave so money is tight.

Any suggestions for a reliable, economical, low insurance hatchback that I can run for a year or 2 for less than £2500. Strangely tempted by diesel minis. Any suggestions welcome.

[TurboHatchback]

Anything made by Toyota or Honda with a petrol engine and a manual gearbox is your answer.

[aussieal]

Couldn't think of many worse places to spend 80 miles a day than a mini, certainly those within budget anyway. Small, noisy, harsh ride = miserable commute.

Honda is a great shout.

[Philibuster]

Yep as above. I'm in the same boat as you with about 80 miles a day commuting and a new baby in the house.

Having been burned previously with electrical problems in a V70 I wanted to buy the most reliable car I could think of that I could park wherever and not worry about.

I ended up buying a 1.3 mk1 petrol Yaris. Chain-driven engine with a manual gearbox. I paid £650 for it, and then immediately spent the same again on a full service, clutch, tyres etc. Had it 3 years and I spend about £400 a year on service/MOT/maintenance. Very happy with my choice.

I went Yaris rather than Jazz as when they're old the Yaris is cheaper to fix. I reckon a grand would get you something decent. Good luck with the hunt, and also with the baby when it comes!

Edit: PS my wife has an estate for the bulk of the baby carrying so I can live with a small car. If I'd needed more space I'd probably have bought a similar vintage Corolla.

Edited by Philibuster on Tuesday 9th March 14:18

[Pegscratch]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009043...

[5 cylinder dreamer]

Pegscratch said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009043...

I'm afraid I don't know how 34 mpg, 305 quid on tax and high 20's insurance group meets the criteria I talked about earlier? I had a 1.8 tdci focus before and that would be a lot cheaper to run than the corolla I'm afraid.

[ZX10R NIN]

There are some very good cars that'll serve you well.

2.0d Kia ProCeed

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102179...

2.0d MG ZT & these respond well to a remap & are a very good car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101208...

2.0d Laguna GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103079...

2.0d Astra SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009153...

2.2d Civic SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008092...

Auris SR 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012127...

Leftfield

Cat S Alfa Giulietta Veloce haggle hard & you could get this on budget

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103079...

Cat D Astra SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102269...

[imck]

First Gen of the Kia Ceed Diesel
Boring and reliable.
The 115BHP version goes OK. Fairly comfortable and a decent size inside.
I had one for several Years for a 70 Mile daily Commute.

I was confident enough in it to sell to a Colleague at 130K/8 Years old.
Now on 200K. Very little has gone wrong with it.

[leef44]

TurboHatchback said:

Anything made by Toyota or Honda with a petrol engine and a manual gearbox is your answer.

The perfect combination for low risk, low maintenance.

[stevemcs]

A 1.8 Avensis would be a good place to pass the time or a 407 Diesel, however if the Focus hasn't broken then run it until it breaks. They don't normally have issues with cylinder heads, the turbos can fail due to oil carbonising which is a result of poor servicing, keep changing the oil every 10k and run it until it breaks.

[5 cylinder dreamer]

imck said:

First Gen of the Kia Ceed Diesel
Boring and reliable.
The 115BHP version goes OK. Fairly comfortable and a decent size inside.
I had one for several Years for a 70 Mile daily Commute.

I was confident enough in it to sell to a Colleague at 130K/8 Years old.
Now on 200K. Very little has gone wrong with it.

Was that a diesel or petrol. Thanks for your comment I have spotted the kias and I am tempted

[Raino144]

ZX10R NIN said:

There are some very good cars that'll serve you well.

2.0d Kia ProCeed

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102179...

2.0d MG ZT & these respond well to a remap & are a very good car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101208...

2.0d Laguna GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103079...

2.0d Astra SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009153...

2.2d Civic SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008092...

Auris SR 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012127...

Leftfield

Cat S Alfa Giulietta Veloce haggle hard & you could get this on budget

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103079...

Cat D Astra SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102269...

☝️ You can’t beat looking at this list

[imck]

5 cylinder dreamer said:

imck said:

First Gen of the Kia Ceed Diesel
Boring and reliable.
The 115BHP version goes OK. Fairly comfortable and a decent size inside.
I had one for several Years for a 70 Mile daily Commute.

I was confident enough in it to sell to a Colleague at 130K/8 Years old.
Now on 200K. Very little has gone wrong with it.

Was that a diesel or petrol. Thanks for your comment I have spotted the kias and I am tempted

That was a Diesel.
The 1.6D is Cam Chain. The rarer, discontinued 2.0D has a Belt.

[Wheel_Turned_Out]

I'd be tempted by a Vectra (don't shoot me). Here's my reasoning.

First, it's going to be reasonably comfy for your commute - all things being relative. Second, it's going to have a huge hatchback so handy for family stuff if needed. Third, it's not going to carry the "all Japanese cars are reliable" premium, which means you can get a better looked after car for lower money. They also don't hide neglect as well as some Japanese cars, so it'll be a bit easier to spot one that's had a relatively easy life amongst the loads that are available.

An Avensis has enough old man image to be cheap, and they're great, but like other Hondas and Toyotas cheap ones often end up getting mercilessly abused because they can usually handle it - unless you're very lucky in finding a good one, it's going to be a risk that you'll be the person who the old warhorse finally gives up on.

Something like this, for example - boring. I know. Boring. But gets the job done.

Edit- adding a diesel option.

Edited by Wheel_Turned_Out on Tuesday 9th March 21:08

[Skyrocket21]

A Skoda Octavia mk2 diesel estate, mk5 golf chassis so independent rear suspension. Buy the old school 1.9 pd engined one or the newer 1.6 common rail diesel engined version. For 2.5k you could probably get the facelift version so there is the 1.6 cr diesel with £30 tax. They have massive boots, so excellent for a new baby and all the extras you have to carry.

Look for a lowish mileage one with full service history and not an ex taxi, make sure it's had the cambelt plus tensioners and water pump done recently, the clutch isn't worn and no coolant lose or turbo going into limp mode through clogging. The DPF never existed on the 1.9, it does on the 1.6 diesel.

There is also the hatchback version with a huge boot too. Look for the Elegance model which has all the optional extras maybe the Laurin and Klement too if you like leather seats. Might be worth spending out on an AA RAC inspection for extra peace of mind.

[stevemcs]

Vectras are ok, the front subframes can rot, i'm not sure i would buy a car from Peterborough though .....

[5 cylinder dreamer]

imck said:

5 cylinder dreamer said:

imck said:

First Gen of the Kia Ceed Diesel
Boring and reliable.
The 115BHP version goes OK. Fairly comfortable and a decent size inside.
I had one for several Years for a 70 Mile daily Commute.

I was confident enough in it to sell to a Colleague at 130K/8 Years old.
Now on 200K. Very little has gone wrong with it.

Was that a diesel or petrol. Thanks for your comment I have spotted the kias and I am tempted

That was a Diesel.
The 1.6D is Cam Chain. The rarer, discontinued 2.0D has a Belt.

Thanks again great to hear from an owner. I believe its the same engine as hyundai i30 which seem similar on the price.

[5 cylinder dreamer]

aussieal said:

Couldn't think of many worse places to spend 80 miles a day than a mini, certainly those within budget anyway. Small, noisy, harsh ride = miserable commute.

Honda is a great shout.

That's funny coz even though I'm 6ft 3, my missus used to have a 1.6 Cooper d. We did over 1000 miles in 4 days round Scotland in it and I loved it.

When I started this job with the 80 mile a day commute I owned a 03 civic and spending that time in it made me sell it. The minis interior was so adjustable and the civic wasn't. I had the seat right back to fit my legs in but the wheel wouldn't adjust back so I always had achey shoulders reaching for it. That said it was reliable and a tardis. Good for chucking the mountain bike in

[5 cylinder dreamer]

Skyrocket21 said:

A Skoda Octavia mk2 diesel estate, mk5 golf chassis so independent rear suspension. Buy the old school 1.9 pd engined one or the newer 1.6 common rail diesel engined version. For 2.5k you could probably get the facelift version so there is the 1.6 cr diesel with £30 tax. They have massive boots, so excellent for a new baby and all the extras you have to carry.

Look for a lowish mileage one with full service history and not an ex taxi, make sure it's had the cambelt plus tensioners and water pump done recently, the clutch isn't worn and no coolant lose or turbo going into limp mode through clogging. The DPF never existed on the 1.9, it does on the 1.6 diesel.

There is also the hatchback version with a huge boot too. Look for the Elegance model which has all the optional extras maybe the Laurin and Klement too if you like leather seats. Might be worth spending out on an AA RAC inspection for extra peace of mind.

Not sure where you are in the UK, but down south it's hard to find a skoda or vw with low miles under 3 grand. I've always been put off because the slightly higher insurance and lower mpg doesn't seem to match up with the (what I think) overpriced nature of vw group cars.

[5 cylinder dreamer]

stevemcs said:

A 1.8 Avensis would be a good place to pass the time or a 407 Diesel, however if the Focus hasn't broken then run it until it breaks. They don't normally have issues with cylinder heads, the turbos can fail due to oil carbonising which is a result of poor servicing, keep changing the oil every 10k and run it until it breaks.

The problem has come from the injector seal constantly failing and previous owners having it repaired badly. My current mechanic has fixed it to the point where he said it won't be repaired again unless the head is swapped. As a diesel tuner he said avoid the 1.6 ford and volvo diesels as they ain't great. I'm well aware of the turbo issues to as in the last 18 months I've had an intermittent limp mode. The car has been nothing but ball ache and I would never recommend another. The earlier 1.8 tdci (mine was written off) was apparently a lot more reliable engine than the newer Ford diesels.