Junior Dr needs better car, £10K budget

[Patrick1964]

My girlfrield's son has just started his F1 year at Middlesborough yesterday and wants to replace the 2003 MX5 he was gifted four years ago with something a bit newer.
The replacement needs to be reliable, fun to drive, able to carry more than two people, not too expensive to run (or insure, I ran a quote for a Fiesta ST and it came back well over £2k). It would be great if a bike could be carried inside. Under 10 years old / 70k preferably.
Budget around £10k but lower is better as it's his money. Suggestions ?

[biggbn]

F56 Mini in whatever spec he likes.

[Patrick1964]

biggbn said:

F56 Mini in whatever spec he likes.

We have recent experience of two diesel F56's, both of which were far from reliable. Also an older petrol model, which was no better.

[mcbook]

I'm not sure there's much that's fun by PH standards that really meets the requirements but how about a Honda Civic? £10k will get a nice 2015/16 1.8 petrol model. The Tourer in SR trim actually looks quite sporty and will fit all the bikes he needs in the back.

[biggbn]

Patrick1964 said:

biggbn said:

F56 Mini in whatever spec he likes.

We have recent experience of two diesel F56's, both of which were far from reliable. Also an older petrol model, which was no better.

That really surprises me. I've had mine for almost five years and added 60k miles to it. It's now on 105k and still drives brilliantly. Was it the BMW triple engine you had?

[geeks]

biggbn said:

Patrick1964 said:

biggbn said:

F56 Mini in whatever spec he likes.

We have recent experience of two diesel F56's, both of which were far from reliable. Also an older petrol model, which was no better.

That really surprises me. I've had mine for almost five years and added 60k miles to it. It's now on 105k and still drives brilliantly. Was it the BMW triple engine you had?

The earlier petrol turbo engines had elastic timing chains and plastic guides that were pants so well known to be troublesome.

Its a predictable and possibly boring choice, what about a Golf GTi? Not as troublesome to insure as a Fiesta

[Shabaza]

as mundane as it sounds, a 320d or 318d even, theyre a great steer considering the size and practicality.
Touring if he needs a bike in there.

[Zetec-S]

Suzuki Swift Sport.

PS. Not trying to be a dick, but why the need to reference "Dr" in the thread title?

[ninjag]

Sticking with Petrol options for reliability and fun....


Peugeot 208 1.6 THP GTi Prestige 3dr 2016 (16 reg)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307119...

Bags of fun and insurance shouldn't be too bad. No space for a bike though.





KIA Proceed 1.6 T-GDi GT Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (201 bhp) 2015 (15 reg)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306238...





Suzuki Swift 1.6 Sport Euro 6 3dr (SNav) 2016 (66 reg)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307290...

Perhaps lower insurance...Tons of fun! Definitely no bike though lol

[biggbn]

geeks said:

biggbn said:

Patrick1964 said:

biggbn said:

F56 Mini in whatever spec he likes.

We have recent experience of two diesel F56's, both of which were far from reliable. Also an older petrol model, which was no better.

That really surprises me. I've had mine for almost five years and added 60k miles to it. It's now on 105k and still drives brilliantly. Was it the BMW triple engine you had?

The earlier petrol turbo engines had elastic timing chains and plastic guides that were pants so well known to be troublesome.

Its a predictable and possibly boring choice, what about a Golf GTi? Not as troublesome to insure as a Fiesta

Earlier Minis could be problematic for sure but I'd thought the f56 was generally well regarded. I wasn't aware of any known issues but I guess all cars have them!

[biggbn]

ninjag said:

Sticking with Petrol options for reliability and fun....


Peugeot 208 1.6 THP GTi Prestige 3dr 2016 (16 reg)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307119...

Bags of fun and insurance shouldn't be too bad. No space for a bike though.





KIA Proceed 1.6 T-GDi GT Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (201 bhp) 2015 (15 reg)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306238...





Suzuki Swift 1.6 Sport Euro 6 3dr (SNav) 2016 (66 reg)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307290...

Perhaps lower insurance...Tons of fun! Definitely no bike though lol

Kia and suszuki are great shouts, no experience of pug. Kia is quite a juicy thing for what it is though.

[Patrick1964]

Zetec-S said:

Suzuki Swift Sport.

PS. Not trying to be a dick, but why the need to reference "Dr" in the thread title?

To make it stand out, and to indicate that it'll be parken in a hospital carpark, so ideally needs to be robust

Good shout re the SS, that's what I suggested. Mine was great.

[Patrick1964]

biggbn said:

That really surprises me. I've had mine for almost five years and added 60k miles to it. It's now on 105k and still drives brilliantly. Was it the BMW triple engine you had?

I couldn't tell you TBH, they were both bought new by my GF. Both needed top end rebuilds, the first one twice in four years, the second only once but that was enough to send it back at end of lease.

[rlg43p]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307270...

BMW 320i 30k miles

Cheap for £10k

Edited by rlg43p on Thursday 3rd August 20:46

[Deerfoot]

Patrick1964 said:

Good shout re the SS, that's what I suggested. Mine was great.

Mine too. Not much space for a bike though..

[TGCOTF-dewey]

I did my first degree at Teesside and my wife works there... NHS too funnily enough.

I'd suggest something bland that has zero theft appeal. Boro is a car theft hotspot.

[Patrick1964]

Deerfoot said:

Mine too. Not much space for a bike though..

Hey, he's had an MX5 for years. A swift is going to feel like a Transit in comparison

[biggbn]

Deerfoot said:

Patrick1964 said:

Good shout re the SS, that's what I suggested. Mine was great.

Mine too. Not much space for a bike though..

I get my bike in the mini, wheels off. As boring as this might sound, would something like a Honda Jazz or civic do, they are cavernous and reliable if slightly dull? The civic does come in warm sporty versions to be fair and I like the Jazz sport with the 1.5 twin cam but theu will be over budget.

[georgeyboy12345]

Commiserations to him for having to live near Middlesbrough. I lived nearby for a few years - one of the worst places I have ever been, and I've visited slums in Manila in the Philippines. Hopefully he's living somewhere half decent like Yarm, Eaglescliffe or Guisborough. I think Linthorpe/Acklam are kind of interesting too maybe.


Anyway, here are some cars that should be cheaper to insure as they are all under group 20, while still being fun to drive

Ford Focus 1.5T Ecoboost Titanium X
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307270...


Vauxhall Astra 1.6T SRI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307119...


Suzuki Swift Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306248...


BMW 118i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307260...


Same engine as above in this Mini Cooper
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307159...


Seat Leon 1.4 TSI FR SC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305257...


Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 TB Multiair Sprint
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307209...

[CG2020UK]

+1 for the Peugeot 208GTI fantastic car.

Reliable, lightweight, 208bhp, brilliant in corners, comfortable, incredible spec and good on insurance.

Downsides are drone on motorway and speakers poor.