Hatchback - UK to £4k, not deathly slow...
Discussion
I'm looking for a small/mid hatchback (no bigger than a Focus, happy with Fiesta sized) for up to £4k.
Currently have a Z4, which I'll be keeping, but want something to use for shopping, the commute, etc. Other half has a Focus estate, so we have the practical load lugger.
Needs to be a hatchback as it'll get used for picking up the odd sack of horse/dog feed and potentially to take the dog to the vet in an emergency. It'll do about 7,000 miles a year, a mix of country back roads and 10 mile runs on the dual carriageway (so enough to keep a diesel happy).
Surprisingly little available within about 40 miles of Colchester - mainly little 1L things with 0-60 times of 13+ seconds, which is just too slow.
So far, have found an 11 year 208 1.6 diesel with 77k on the clock. The only issue is that it doesn't seem to have done many miles at all for the last 5 years.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025022795...
Should I be worried about the DPF, or is this something a good 40 minute run at speed will sort?
I'm open to other suggestions too
Currently have a Z4, which I'll be keeping, but want something to use for shopping, the commute, etc. Other half has a Focus estate, so we have the practical load lugger.
Needs to be a hatchback as it'll get used for picking up the odd sack of horse/dog feed and potentially to take the dog to the vet in an emergency. It'll do about 7,000 miles a year, a mix of country back roads and 10 mile runs on the dual carriageway (so enough to keep a diesel happy).
Surprisingly little available within about 40 miles of Colchester - mainly little 1L things with 0-60 times of 13+ seconds, which is just too slow.
So far, have found an 11 year 208 1.6 diesel with 77k on the clock. The only issue is that it doesn't seem to have done many miles at all for the last 5 years.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025022795...
Should I be worried about the DPF, or is this something a good 40 minute run at speed will sort?
I'm open to other suggestions too
Do you specifically want diesel?
What about a Golf GTD...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505152...
0-60 in 8 seconds. There's even a Mk7 on AutoTrader for under £5,000 but on moon mileage.
If not diesel, and looking at a 208 there the GTi - I get just over 36mpg from mine just pootling around town.
What about a Golf GTD...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505152...
0-60 in 8 seconds. There's even a Mk7 on AutoTrader for under £5,000 but on moon mileage.
If not diesel, and looking at a 208 there the GTi - I get just over 36mpg from mine just pootling around town.
For 7k a year, I wouldn't be touching a diesel personally.
I've dailied my 2011 Zetec S for 4 years (1.6 petrol, 120bhp) - (these were the last of the good duratec engines before they went to the ecobooms)
These are surprisingly economical if your sensible, too. Real world 45MPG is easily achievable, on long trips even more. No DPF, DMF, expensive clutch or turbo to even worry about. Cheap motoring
I've dailied my 2011 Zetec S for 4 years (1.6 petrol, 120bhp) - (these were the last of the good duratec engines before they went to the ecobooms)
These are surprisingly economical if your sensible, too. Real world 45MPG is easily achievable, on long trips even more. No DPF, DMF, expensive clutch or turbo to even worry about. Cheap motoring
Moderator edit: no advertising
I ran a Clio 182 for three and a half years.
Despite what the internet will tell you about French cars I had zero issues under my custodian.
It did the boring stuff like the commute easily, often returning high 30mpg's but also satisfied on the weekend drive & the odd track day.
Plenty to be had within your £4,000 budget.
Despite what the internet will tell you about French cars I had zero issues under my custodian.
It did the boring stuff like the commute easily, often returning high 30mpg's but also satisfied on the weekend drive & the odd track day.
Plenty to be had within your £4,000 budget.
Honda Civic Mk8, 1.8 petrol. Type S maybe.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504201...
Edited by Skodillac on Wednesday 21st May 11:56
SEAT Leon 1.2 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505182...
0-62 in under 10
Low VED
Decent MPG
No DPF to worry about
0-62 in under 10
Low VED
Decent MPG
No DPF to worry about
What about something electric? Could bump budget up to £5k and still be better off due to fuel savings.
Can get something fairly modern, 0-60 around 11s but will feel faster in use due to the way EVs are.
Something like a Nissan leaf 40kwh, realistic 100 mile range, tekna has lots of equipment too like 360 cameras, decent bose sound system, heated seats, and most importantly this one appears to have a heat pump
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025050219...
Can get something fairly modern, 0-60 around 11s but will feel faster in use due to the way EVs are.
Something like a Nissan leaf 40kwh, realistic 100 mile range, tekna has lots of equipment too like 360 cameras, decent bose sound system, heated seats, and most importantly this one appears to have a heat pump
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025050219...
Thanks for the suggestions.
Not set on diesel, just that most of the petrol options around here are the tiny engined ones.
We've had a second gen Mini before - liked it, but other half not keen to go back to them.
I've toyed with an EV - we're on Economy 7 (no mains gas here) , so it would be stupid cheap to run, at 6p a unit.
I'm tempted by a Zoe with battery lease, to avoid the risks of an older battery.
Not set on diesel, just that most of the petrol options around here are the tiny engined ones.
We've had a second gen Mini before - liked it, but other half not keen to go back to them.
I've toyed with an EV - we're on Economy 7 (no mains gas here) , so it would be stupid cheap to run, at 6p a unit.
I'm tempted by a Zoe with battery lease, to avoid the risks of an older battery.
How about a Honda CRZ? I sold mine last year after 7 years of ownership & almost 90k miles driven.... & I miss it terribly.
Granted, more a 2-seat coupe than a hatch (rear seats are virtually useless - but I did used to use mine to transport our young son to & from nursery in a rear fitted child seat) Pretty unique styling, interior quality a cut above most run-of-the-mill cars, good economy, cheap to insure & £25 to tax.
Performance doesn't really match the looks, but its enough to be entertaining with a sweet handling chassis down a twisty B road.
Fuel economy either isn't quite as good as you would hope either for a Hybrid, but 45~55mpg depending on how you drive/journey driven, makes it better than most petrol powered cars.
£4K I imagine wil get you a decent one, look out for non-operating door handles (the mechanism in the handle flexes on hot sunny days meaning they stop releasing the latch). Rust on underbody & rear arches.... & they have a tendancy to snap driveshafts where they corrode beneath balancer rubber is fitted, but otherwise normally very reliable.
Granted, more a 2-seat coupe than a hatch (rear seats are virtually useless - but I did used to use mine to transport our young son to & from nursery in a rear fitted child seat) Pretty unique styling, interior quality a cut above most run-of-the-mill cars, good economy, cheap to insure & £25 to tax.
Performance doesn't really match the looks, but its enough to be entertaining with a sweet handling chassis down a twisty B road.
Fuel economy either isn't quite as good as you would hope either for a Hybrid, but 45~55mpg depending on how you drive/journey driven, makes it better than most petrol powered cars.
£4K I imagine wil get you a decent one, look out for non-operating door handles (the mechanism in the handle flexes on hot sunny days meaning they stop releasing the latch). Rust on underbody & rear arches.... & they have a tendancy to snap driveshafts where they corrode beneath balancer rubber is fitted, but otherwise normally very reliable.
CRZ is tempting, but probably not practical enough..
I'm also recovering from a partial knee replacement, which makes getting in out of the Z4 a little painful, so the CRZ might not be much better.
I had a Volvo C30 until a week ago, when it decided to die quite spectacularly (diesel engine runaway, stopped only by ripping off the air intake hose!). That was considerably more comfortable for my knee.
I'm also recovering from a partial knee replacement, which makes getting in out of the Z4 a little painful, so the CRZ might not be much better.
I had a Volvo C30 until a week ago, when it decided to die quite spectacularly (diesel engine runaway, stopped only by ripping off the air intake hose!). That was considerably more comfortable for my knee.
66HFM said:
If you quite liked the C30 how about its bigger brother the V50 or even an early V40 or V60...
Yep - would consider any of those, if I can find one within an hour's drive. About the only option nearby is a 2.0D (they have the DPF which should be replaced at 130k) with 150k on the clock and original DPF. Cost to replace or remove is around £600, according to my local diesel specialist - they quoted me for sorting the C30 before it expired.Just spotted a 3.0d Jaguar XF for £4k, with full dealer service history - that'd certainly be comfortable for me, but probably not the most practical option
CHLEMCBC said:
SEAT Leon 1.2 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505182...
0-62 in under 10
Low VED
Decent MPG
No DPF to worry about
The 1.4 FR has a 0-60 just under 8 seconds and still only £35 tax or whatever it is. Perfect hatchback for size, moderate power and economy! I'd be hard pressed to choose the 1.8 over it to be honest.0-62 in under 10
Low VED
Decent MPG
No DPF to worry about
1.6T Focus Zetec S:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505222...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503200...
1.6T Astra SRI:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403257...
SE:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504241...
Giulietta Cloverleaf:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505182...
MG6 GT SE:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505172...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505072...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504301...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505222...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503200...
1.6T Astra SRI:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403257...
SE:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504241...
Giulietta Cloverleaf:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505182...
MG6 GT SE:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505172...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505072...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504301...
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