Young male seeking a boring, practical & reliable car (£8k)
Discussion
Hi all, apologies in advance for asking a question which is likely repeated constantly on this forum, but I was looking for a more tailored response for what I am currently looking for hence the post.
I am currently driving an 1.2l mk2 petrol manual skoda fabia which is on it's last legs and will likely die on me soon. I am in the market for a replacement and was hoping to get some recommendations about cars within my budget that I could then further research about. Just having a list in mind would be helpful for me in knowing where to start.
As per the title I am looking for a practical, cheap to run and most importantly reliable car that is £8k and under. Ideally this would be a petrol auto, however I am also open to another manual. The car will be used for mixed city driving as well as longer A/country roads, so a good overall Mpg is welcomed. It would need to be 4 doors with a decent amount of room as I am quite tall, as well as being cheap to insure with low road tax. Mileage is not too much of an issue as I will likely only need the car for a few years and my yearly mileage is around 3-4k. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
I am currently driving an 1.2l mk2 petrol manual skoda fabia which is on it's last legs and will likely die on me soon. I am in the market for a replacement and was hoping to get some recommendations about cars within my budget that I could then further research about. Just having a list in mind would be helpful for me in knowing where to start.
As per the title I am looking for a practical, cheap to run and most importantly reliable car that is £8k and under. Ideally this would be a petrol auto, however I am also open to another manual. The car will be used for mixed city driving as well as longer A/country roads, so a good overall Mpg is welcomed. It would need to be 4 doors with a decent amount of room as I am quite tall, as well as being cheap to insure with low road tax. Mileage is not too much of an issue as I will likely only need the car for a few years and my yearly mileage is around 3-4k. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
FiF said:
1st suggestion Suzuki Swift, lots of choice, reliable, goes well. 2014, 2016, even saw a 2018. All automatics, not many miles on them.
I was going to suggest Suzuki as well.Daughter of a similar age has an Ignis and likes it, a major factor being that it seems very roomy inside for a car that size.
It's been totally reliable in the 6 years we have had it
Do you have off-road parking? If so EV might be an option, and for that mileage, you wouldn't need a charge point. Maybe look for a BMW i3. Doesn't fit the bill of being boring though, as EVs are great fun to drive.
Pennies to run, and EVs are generally more reliable than Ice as they age. I'd certainly trust an £8k i3 far more than an £8k 1 series.
The i3 is also available in range extender form, but as it has a petrol engine too, it's obviously not as reliable, and more expensive to run than the pure EV.
Pennies to run, and EVs are generally more reliable than Ice as they age. I'd certainly trust an £8k i3 far more than an £8k 1 series.
The i3 is also available in range extender form, but as it has a petrol engine too, it's obviously not as reliable, and more expensive to run than the pure EV.
Edited by Pickle_Rick on Saturday 14th March 10:11
FiF said:
1st suggestion Suzuki Swift, lots of choice, reliable, goes well. 2014, 2016, even saw a 2018. All automatics, not many miles on them.
I've just had a look at some on autotrader, i noticed some lower mileage, higher spec imported versions priced much lower than the Uk equivalent. Is it usually a good idea to stay clear of Japanese imported cars? I've heard a lot mentioned about the lack of underseal, higher insurance and difficulty when trying to sell on the vehicle. Also the fact that the service history could be unreliable.Nicetobenice said:
I was going to suggest Suzuki as well.
Daughter of a similar age has an Ignis and likes it, a major factor being that it seems very roomy inside for a car that size.
It's been totally reliable in the 6 years we have had it
Does your daughter have one of the newer models? just seen a 2017 on for £8k low mileageDaughter of a similar age has an Ignis and likes it, a major factor being that it seems very roomy inside for a car that size.
It's been totally reliable in the 6 years we have had it
Pickle_Rick said:
Do you have off-road parking? If so EV might be an option, and for that mileage, you wouldn't need a charge point. Maybe look for a BMW i3. Doesn't fit the bill of being boring though, as EVs are great fun to drive.
Pennies to run, and EVs are generally more reliable than Ice as they age. I'd certainly trust an £8k i3 far more than an £8k 1 series.
The i3 is also available in range extender form, but as it has a petrol engine too, it's obviously not as reliable, and more expensive to run than the pure EV.
Unfortunately not, otherwise I would have likely been looking for EVs for that very reason. Some of the leasing deals are extremely competitive and would have been perfect for me.Pennies to run, and EVs are generally more reliable than Ice as they age. I'd certainly trust an £8k i3 far more than an £8k 1 series.
The i3 is also available in range extender form, but as it has a petrol engine too, it's obviously not as reliable, and more expensive to run than the pure EV.
Edited by Pickle_Rick on Saturday 14th March 10:11
Bigdonny said:
Hi all, apologies in advance for asking a question which is likely repeated constantly on this forum, but I was looking for a more tailored response for what I am currently looking for hence the post.
I am currently driving an 1.2l mk2 petrol manual skoda fabia which is on it's last legs and will likely die on me soon. I am in the market for a replacement and was hoping to get some recommendations about cars within my budget that I could then further research about. Just having a list in mind would be helpful for me in knowing where to start.
As per the title I am looking for a practical, cheap to run and most importantly reliable car that is £8k and under. Ideally this would be a petrol auto, however I am also open to another manual. The car will be used for mixed city driving as well as longer A/country roads, so a good overall Mpg is welcomed. It would need to be 4 doors with a decent amount of room as I am quite tall, as well as being cheap to insure with low road tax. Mileage is not too much of an issue as I will likely only need the car for a few years and my yearly mileage is around 3-4k. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Mazda3 Sport Nav:I am currently driving an 1.2l mk2 petrol manual skoda fabia which is on it's last legs and will likely die on me soon. I am in the market for a replacement and was hoping to get some recommendations about cars within my budget that I could then further research about. Just having a list in mind would be helpful for me in knowing where to start.
As per the title I am looking for a practical, cheap to run and most importantly reliable car that is £8k and under. Ideally this would be a petrol auto, however I am also open to another manual. The car will be used for mixed city driving as well as longer A/country roads, so a good overall Mpg is welcomed. It would need to be 4 doors with a decent amount of room as I am quite tall, as well as being cheap to insure with low road tax. Mileage is not too much of an issue as I will likely only need the car for a few years and my yearly mileage is around 3-4k. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603100...
SE L Nav:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603120...
Astra SRI Nav, conventional auto (so no potential dual clutch issues) loaded with spec whilst hitting your brief
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603080...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603090...
Elite Nav:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602280...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603070...
Skoda Rapid Spaceback.
I'm 6'4" and I don't have the seat all the way back. I fit in the back, too.
(The Fabia seating position puts me too upright and sort of square onto the pedals, IIRC... I wasn't a fan, anyway).
I've had it 6 and a half years (longer thon any other car) and put a bit over 50k miles on it.
It has needed regular servicing and nothing else (just put a new set of discs and pads on the front, but at 70k total miles, that seems reasonable).
45 mpg with my heavy right foot (this is the top spec 1.2/110bhp (-ish, apparently they tend to be healthily over) version); nearer 50mpg for my wife. £35/year tax.
Swallows 5 ton bags of garden rubbish, or a reclining/swivel high back chair, or even a 2 seater reclining sofa (we did have to strap the boot lid down on that one).
And yes, it's boring. Should be easily available within your budget (paid £8.5 for my 2016 model at just over 3 years old and 17.5k miles in 2020)
But it will take me across the country on 6-7 hours drives and I get out feeling ok at the other end... I just can't bring myself to sell it.
I'm 6'4" and I don't have the seat all the way back. I fit in the back, too.
(The Fabia seating position puts me too upright and sort of square onto the pedals, IIRC... I wasn't a fan, anyway).
I've had it 6 and a half years (longer thon any other car) and put a bit over 50k miles on it.
It has needed regular servicing and nothing else (just put a new set of discs and pads on the front, but at 70k total miles, that seems reasonable).
45 mpg with my heavy right foot (this is the top spec 1.2/110bhp (-ish, apparently they tend to be healthily over) version); nearer 50mpg for my wife. £35/year tax.
Swallows 5 ton bags of garden rubbish, or a reclining/swivel high back chair, or even a 2 seater reclining sofa (we did have to strap the boot lid down on that one).
And yes, it's boring. Should be easily available within your budget (paid £8.5 for my 2016 model at just over 3 years old and 17.5k miles in 2020)
But it will take me across the country on 6-7 hours drives and I get out feeling ok at the other end... I just can't bring myself to sell it.
Sounds like a Toyota to me, specifically an Auris hybrid like this
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512258...
£20 pa road tax, claimed 72 mpg. Should be reliable, spacious and cheap to run.
Be aware that I think a lot of the estates are used as taxis if that bothers you, but I don't know if the hatches are similarly, I've only seen the wagons.
Toyota Yaris, get one which has been looked after with full MD service history and reasonable/low mileage, it will be very reliable and run for a long time. Parts like brakes, shocks, suspension are dirt cheap.
Bought my son one of these 3 years ago and has been very reliable, plus parts have been dirt cheap, low insurance and tax etc.
Here is an example also with full MD service history, within your budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601239...
Bought my son one of these 3 years ago and has been very reliable, plus parts have been dirt cheap, low insurance and tax etc.
Here is an example also with full MD service history, within your budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601239...
Edited by RedLightGreenLight on Sunday 15th March 08:21
Bigdonny said:
Hi all, apologies in advance for asking a question which is likely repeated constantly on this forum, but I was looking for a more tailored response for what I am currently looking for hence the post.
I am currently driving an 1.2l mk2 petrol manual skoda fabia which is on it's last legs and will likely die on me soon. I am in the market for a replacement and was hoping to get some recommendations about cars within my budget that I could then further research about. Just having a list in mind would be helpful for me in knowing where to start.
As per the title I am looking for a practical, cheap to run and most importantly reliable car that is £8k and under. Ideally this would be a petrol auto, however I am also open to another manual. The car will be used for mixed city driving as well as longer A/country roads, so a good overall Mpg is welcomed. It would need to be 4 doors with a decent amount of room as I am quite tall, as well as being cheap to insure with low road tax. Mileage is not too much of an issue as I will likely only need the car for a few years and my yearly mileage is around 3-4k. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Something Japanese. But choose wisely and it could still be surprisingly babe-magnetty, if that is important. Years ago, I bought from my mother her ex driving school Honda Accord in pale metallic blue. The attention from girls I got was notable. Perhaps it conveyed the solid, sensible chap image absent from the other lads of my age in their modified Escorts.I am currently driving an 1.2l mk2 petrol manual skoda fabia which is on it's last legs and will likely die on me soon. I am in the market for a replacement and was hoping to get some recommendations about cars within my budget that I could then further research about. Just having a list in mind would be helpful for me in knowing where to start.
As per the title I am looking for a practical, cheap to run and most importantly reliable car that is £8k and under. Ideally this would be a petrol auto, however I am also open to another manual. The car will be used for mixed city driving as well as longer A/country roads, so a good overall Mpg is welcomed. It would need to be 4 doors with a decent amount of room as I am quite tall, as well as being cheap to insure with low road tax. Mileage is not too much of an issue as I will likely only need the car for a few years and my yearly mileage is around 3-4k. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff