Rationalising

[ChevronB19]

Please be gentle...

Pre covid, and pre house move, we had the following driving pattern:

Me: 15 mile round trip to work, twice weekly 60 mile round trip to see daughter, occasional use to tow race car, occasional use for holiday trips. Car: 2014 Landrover Freelander 2 HSE manual diesel, 84k, bought 3 years ago for 18k and currently valued on WBAC at around 12k. Just spent £500 on new cam belt and auxiliaries plus a service.

Her: 60 mile round trip to work. Car: 2018 MX-5 ND RF. Bought new (by her) for 25k. WBAC says around 17.5k.

Fun: 2x historic race saloons.

All cars above owned outright.

Post covid, and post house move, the new pattern is this:

Me: Freelander as previous, but now zero commute (negotiated with work), 2x 5 mile trips to see daughter (moved closer), occasional shopping trip. Post restrictions I might do the occasional 60 mile round trip for meetings at work, but I’d get 45p per mile for that due to contract change. No towing of race car due to mate. Any long/bulky trips could be sorted by borrowing dads motorhome, mates van or hiring.

Her: MX-5 as previous, but again as we’ve moved, now a 5 mile town commute. No other use.

Fun: 1x historic saloon, 1x Lotus Elise

The Elise is staying, but we want to think about consolidating the Freelander and MX5 into one car, suitable for the use given above. Needs to fit 4, and 5 at a squeeze, for short journeys only. A ‘city’ car or small hatch I guess, and preferably manual petrol. Not to buy new, no pcp etc. Circa 5k, which in theory should free up just above 20k to spend on the money pit/new house.

No ‘hot’ stuff (Elise and race car covers that). I like my dads citigo (great handling), but has anyone any other thoughts?

Edited by ChevronB19 on Thursday 27th May 10:29

[fflump]

A diesel would be the last thing I’d want given your requirements

[stevemcs]

I'd keep the Freelander, but if you do want just a small city car then a Fiesta or Suzuki Swift. Or spend a bit more and go for an Up GTi.

[ChevronB19]

fflump said:

A diesel would be the last thing I’d want given your requirements

Sorry, typo! Meant to say *not* diesel

[Summit_Detailing]

Mazda 3
Astra
Focus (not ecoboost)
Possibly a B-class

All represent great value at your £5k budget.

Cheers,

Chris

[andburg]

My initial thought, which could prove to be just above budget was a suzuki ignis, all the reviews rave about how much fun they are to drive.
ignoring previous generations £6k should get you into an early one.

Also consider a swift sport

default answers have to be a mini or a fiesta for a fun to drive small family hatchback.

[croissant]

I know you said no performance cars, but that money and for those duties I'd probably get the best Mk5 or maybe even mk6 Golf GTI I could find.

[stevekoz]

Based on the brief. Nothing sporty. You have a new house so you want reliable, cheap to maintain.

I would opt for something like the Kia Sportage -

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=relev...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105112...

They are nicely equipped. Good for around town and shopping as the boot is quite large and if you fail to be able to borrow your fathers motorhome for family trips, it can do long trips with ease and in relative comfort. Bluetooth, aircon, cruise etc. As many modern bits as you need.

Whilst outside of the normal Kia Warranty - they are still cheap to maintain and service and the engine is easily worked on DIY if you are handy with some spanners - plenty of around around the quite small 1.6 litre petrol.

They are, granted, a bit plasticky inside, and those creak a bit with age - as any car does. But they are comfy, seats are supportive over long journeys. Had one as a family daily for 6 years and never needed anything but an oil pressure sensor and consumables (tyres/brakes). That was it. Very reliable and relatively nice to drive. Maybe a bit underpowered but then that was why they did the diesel. For the added oomph.

At £4-5k you could do a lot worse. It will see you in a circa 2012-2013 car.

[ZX10R NIN]

1.0T Focus Titanium X 125

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104211...

1.0T Astra Elite 110 a little creep but it get's you in a new shape Astra.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103019...

1.4 SRI 100

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105132...

Alfa Giulietta Veloce 170

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105012...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105072...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105243...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105182...

Mazda3 Sport Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105192...

The above are decent but I think you get better value from looking at Rep cars.

1.8 Insignia SRI Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105122...

SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105032...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104261...

Leftfield:

MG6 GT TSE robust reliable & cheap to buy

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105222...

GT SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104181...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105243...

[ChevronB19]

Update.

Man (and car fan wife) maths got in the way.

So we’ve gone from a LR Freelander 2 (mine), a Lotus Elise S3 (mine) and a MX5 RF (hers) to:

Up GTi (mine), Lotus Elise S3 (mine) and a BMW X1. A Triumph 2.5PI may follow (hers).

[stevemcs]

Excellent, so look to downsize, end up with 3 cars and possibly a 4th. Post pictures of the 2500 up when you get it.