Best car for under £2k

[Audis5b9]

I need a car to see me through 6 months till the new one arrives.

Budget up to £2k, but happy not to spend all of that!

Needs to be within 50miles of SO31 postcode (Central south coast)

Priorities:

1. Reliabilty (ideal I wouldn't spend a penny on servicing/ mot etc during these 6 months, obviously I am not expecting a faultless car for this budget so would take any faults that come up during ownership on the chin)

2. Petrol. It will generally be used for shorter trips, so petrol would be preferential

3. Comfort. An automatic, heated seats, leather clad barge would be ideal but I worry about cost of any issues that do come up. Hence this is lowest on the priority list.

I have very little mechanical knowledge but willing to do basic maintenance myself (via YouTube videos), so would rather buy one ready to go than a MOT failing basket case.

I feel like there's too much choice!

[ZX10R NIN]

Astra Design

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112130...

C230 it pretty much ticks every box & it's local:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...

[Craig W]

This is almost the new £1K in the current market. So my advice would be to apply those principles:

- Don't be fussy about which manufacturer.
- Buy based on condition and history.
- Avoid obvious money pits (leggy big engined mercs with 250,000 miles etc)

[Audis5b9]

ZX10R NIN said:

Astra Design

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112130...

C230 it pretty much ticks every box & it's local:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...

The mercs a good option... just worry it'll be pricey if it does go wrong. But ticks so many boxes and would be nicer to be in over winter than a focus!

[ZX10R NIN]

Audis5b9 said:

The mercs a good option... just worry it'll be pricey if it does go wrong. But ticks so many boxes and would be nicer to be in over winter than a focus!

No more pricey than a VW in terms of parts prices, do your checks & buy on condition.

[Super Sonic]

Honda Civic.

[Hoofy]

I've been running a £1k (Oct 2020) Merc C220 CDI as a shopping car and it's been fine. Some niggles but nothing serious. I'm planning to run it for another year so I might treat it to a well-overdue (2 years+) service and get some of the niggles sorted out.

Thing is, at this price point, you buy a car to run until the MOT then bin it.

You use the word "reliable". You will struggle to achieve that but it's more likely to last without issues if you buy a Toyota or Honda.

I've played the shed game for a few years. Just don't get attached to the car!

[Bannock]

Toyota Avensis, Mazda 6 or Honda Accord. Best example of those 3 you can find in your area. Should be plenty around, say, Bournemouth, given the demographic!

[anonymous-user]

Audis5b9 said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Astra Design

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112130...

C230 it pretty much ticks every box & it's local:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...

The mercs a good option... just worry it'll be pricey if it does go wrong. But ticks so many boxes and would be nicer to be in over winter than a focus!

That looks lovely. I bet nothing would go wrong.

[MattyD803]

For the money (considering this is the new '£1000' market), if you want something that's not going to give you any major headache or bills, or indeed not need you crawling underneath it. (Auto german barges are ultimately unlikely to offer you this). IMO, you want Japanese. I mean properly Japanese, not something underpinned by French mechanicals.

Buy on condition, buy private, a low owner car (ideally elderly) and solid history.....typically the duller the car the better.....and whilst i'm making many assumptions from the photos and description, i'd suggest something like this would see you through just right:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111099...

Get it for £1500, job jobbed. Cheap as chips to run and insure. Few quid spare to cover the MOT in February. Not known as 'cockroach' cars for no reason.

However, if you need something bigger and Auto is a must, this looks like a decent purchase, but obviously expect higher running costs....

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111089...

My odd ball suggestion would be a Mk3 Mazda MX5.....sell it in the summer and probably make a couple of quid....there are a few on there sub £2k....although again, you want something private and low/elderly owner.

Sorry....none of these are very "Pistonhead" type motors.....but then again, your missing AT LEAST one zero off your budget for most PHer's to be remotely interested

Edited by MattyD803 on Monday 13th December 17:45

[ZX10R NIN]

I think the C Class will see you right.

[georgeyboy12345]

That Merc C-class looks good

Here are a few others - they are all MOT'd beyond June

An Audi A3 1.8 SE from the era when they still made reliable cars should see you right
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111290...


This Honda CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC with 4WD will make an idea winter hack
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111049...


Or waft around in this lovely Jaguar S-Type 3.0 V6 SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112110...

[Audis5b9]

georgeyboy12345 said:

That Merc C-class looks good

Here are a few others - they are all MOT'd beyond June


Or waft around in this lovely Jaguar S-Type 3.0 V6 SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112110...

Thanks, I had found that jag, awfully tempting! Look at the MOT history....... can that mileage error be reversed?

[georgeyboy12345]

Audis5b9 said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

That Merc C-class looks good

Here are a few others - they are all MOT'd beyond June


Or waft around in this lovely Jaguar S-Type 3.0 V6 SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112110...

Thanks, I had found that jag, awfully tempting! Look at the MOT history....... can that mileage error be reversed?

Oh, I didn't notice that the first time I checked. How annoying! I have no idea

[eleveneleven]

I'm with @MattyD803 on this one

I'd take a good hard look at that roach car and have 6 months of boring but stress free motoring.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111099...

That Merc is tempting though...how reliable are the auto boxes on these?

[Hoofy]

eleveneleven said:

That Merc is tempting though...how reliable are the auto boxes on these?

Fine, but best to replace the fluids. I think the 996 Tiptronic is the same box and mine was playing up. Replaced the fluids and it's perfect.

[Hoofy]

Audis5b9 said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

That Merc C-class looks good

Here are a few others - they are all MOT'd beyond June


Or waft around in this lovely Jaguar S-Type 3.0 V6 SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112110...

Thanks, I had found that jag, awfully tempting! Look at the MOT history....... can that mileage error be reversed?

Lovely things (well, I like them, I know many don't) but I wouldn't call a £2k Jag reliable...

[georgeyboy12345]

Hoofy said:

Audis5b9 said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

That Merc C-class looks good

Here are a few others - they are all MOT'd beyond June


Or waft around in this lovely Jaguar S-Type 3.0 V6 SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112110...

Thanks, I had found that jag, awfully tempting! Look at the MOT history....... can that mileage error be reversed?

Lovely things (well, I like them, I know many don't) but I wouldn't call a £2k Jag reliable...

Agreed, but he only needs it to be reliable for 6 months, so that de-risks it a bit at least.

[MattyD803]

georgeyboy12345 said:

This Honda CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC with 4WD will make an idea winter hack
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111049...

Not a bad shout, but just be wary that the MOT history is littered with failures of various natures, many of which relate to suspension components over the years and most likely changed 'on the cheap', which means you might well want to invest in some ear plugs to drown out the inevitable clonking and banging....CRV's of this era are notorious for it.

[ChocolateFrog]

Im in the same boat, although I could push it to £5k.

There's very little interesting stuff about. I missed out on a decent looking Citroen C6, which I've always fancied. There's only 2 XJR's on Autotrader, I find that unbelievable even for this time of year.