Cheap cars to run under £3k good for rural trips up north?

[anetos05]

Never owned a car before and trying to do research can end up confusing

[ARH]

At £3K it will be pot luck whether it is reliable or not whatever you buy. Buy on condition and how well it has been looked after, and at that price it will almost certainly need some work, so bank on having to pay for some work as well.

Looking at it a different way, modern cars are reliable if serviced, whatever make or model you go for. Most will get you easily from A to B on a daily basis. without problems. Some stuff that is not needed to make a car drive may not work. It all depends on what you can put up with.

[Mad Maximus]

Honda jazz.

If you’re not into cars they are the perfect runaround. Get a ex and you get cruise control (for the long trips) and pano roof. Quite comfy and very practical.

[InitialDave]

Consider both what you need the car to do, and what other factors may affect your decision (running costs? If you are young or have not had a licence long, could insurance be expensive?)

Hard to advise on minimal information, but as per the Jazz suggestion above, a small hatchbzck from a Japanese brand is likely to be a good choice.

If travelling north north in winter, invest in good all-season tyres.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Honda Jazz.

When the last star has long since died and the final shred of warms ebbs away, somewhere out there, will be a Honda Jazz, still fully mobile if not quite fully functional. Those things are akin to cockroaches in their indestructability. The flat folding "magic seats" make it a mini van too in terms of practicality.

[ExBoringVolvoDriver]

I would add the Honda Civic into the mix. A friend has a 06 model with 150,000 miles on it and has had very few issues with it.

My son had an 03 model with 125k miles which was running fine until it was written off.

[InitialDave]

Vsix and Vtec said:

Honda Jazz.

When the last star has long since died and the final shred of warms ebbs away, somewhere out there, will be a Honda Jazz, still fully mobile if not quite fully functional. Those things are akin to cockroaches in their indestructability. The flat folding "magic seats" make it a mini van too in terms of practicality.

Only note I'd add is don't buy one with a noisy gearbox, it's a common fault for the bearings in them to go.

[Vsix and Vtec]

ExBoringVolvoDriver said:

I would add the Honda Civic into the mix. A friend has a 06 model with 150,000 miles on it and has had very few issues with it.

My son had an 03 model with 125k miles which was running fine until it was written off.

Agreed, my partner had an 8th gen '11 plate Civic Type S once, for being only a 1.4 petrol, it was also very reliable. The engine felt like it would go forever (incidentally this is the same engine used in the Jazz I believe)

[ZX10R NIN]

anetos05 said:

Never owned a car before and trying to do research can end up confusing

First question, how old are you?

This will help with suggestions.

What sort of distance are we talking?

The 1.4T Astra GTC is a very good car for this 6 speed gearbox good on fuel sensible insurance & it's a Vauxhall so maintenance isn't wallet crushing:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508295...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508095...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510137...

The one belpw is silly cheap for the year, do your checks & you may grab a bargain:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510177...


CAT N:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503310...

Buy on condition & receipts , if there are no receipts then you have to assume it hasn't been done.
If you have someone who knows about cars then take them with you, or maybe consider paying for an inspection.