What economical car for 3k?

[jay85]

Sorry for the 'what car' espically as its a bit non-PH and economical but a friend of mine is needing some advice on a new car.

He wants a car that offers:
Cheap tax
Cheap to insure
Good mpg (50+)
£3k ish

Also dosnt want to drive anything thats got a rubbish badge "like a Daewoo". The only cars I can think of are:
VW Polo 1.4 TDI (02 onwards)
Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDI (02 onwards)

He quite likes the Polo idea so if anyone has expierience of these, that would be great but also is there anything else out there that would meet his requirments?

Thanks in advanced,

Jay

[Jamie VTS]

Renault clio diesel? Should get one much cheaper than the budget (imo they still look quite good)

[mnkiboy]

Lupo/Arosa with the 1.4TD or 1.7D
C1/107/Aygo should be able to hit 50mpg driven carefully
Fabia 1.4TD or 1.9TD 100bhp
Focus 1.6TDCi - high mileage ones can be had for less than £3K

I don't know if i'd be going diesel though unless he does 20k miles per year. Any 1.6 petrol should be able to give high 30's mpg, and will probably prove to be cheaper to maintain.

[LHRFlightman]

Toyota Yaris tick all the boxes.

[djfaulkner]

Mazda3 maybe?

[gentlemangreen]

Panda?

We are looking at getting one as a hack. 3k should see you into a fairly sorted one, £30 a year to tax and great economy.

[GreatGranny]

A small 1,4 petrol will get 40+ mpg easy so tell him not to get too hung up on a diesel. Also they will be lower mileage and possibility newer.

Eg. 2006 Fiesta Zetec with 45k miles

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

What about the Ibiza?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Leftfield choices...

Audi A2
MINI Cooper

[Chrisw666]

How many miles a year does he do?

For less than 10,000 a year the sums might favour a small petrol car that manages around 40mpg and the budget will get him something that is newer and has done less miles than a £3k diesel, plus there are many more things that could go wrong with a leggy cheap diesel than a petrol.

[willp1987]

My brother runs a 2004 1.4 TDI Polo, it has generally been very good, he has had it for 2/3 years and never really had any reliabilty issues and while the interior is pretty plain it is comfortable and well put together (Does sound a bit like a tractor though!)

[FloppyRaccoon]

If you're doing enough miles to warrant a diesel, I think I'd rather a slightly larger car. Probably a 320d.

[jay85]

Thanks for the swift replies and some good suggestions!

The car doesnt have to be a diesel, just thought they would be better economy wise?
He says he does about 10k-12k a year and most journeys are fairy short, about 10-15 miles or 30 min drives.

Would a petrol be better suited and more reliable in these conditions?

[Synchromesh]

GreatGranny said:

A small 1,4 petrol will get 40+ mpg easy so tell him not to get too hung up on a diesel. Also they will be lower mileage and possibility newer.

What about the Ibiza?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Not so. My 2003 Polo 1.4 (same engine as in the Ibiza you posted, but the 16v 100bhp version) only got 40mpg at a steady 70mph run. 35mpg on mixed runs and high 20s around town.

I really can't quite believe (but am prepared to be proved otherwise) that some of these superminis get 50mpg combined...

[IT1GTR]

FloppyRaccoon said:

If you're doing enough miles to warrant a diesel, I think I'd rather a slightly larger car. Probably a 320d.

+1 on the 320d

[Chrisw666]

jay85 said:

He says he does about 10k-12k a year and most journeys are fairy short, about 10-15 miles or 30 min drives.

Would a petrol be better suited and more reliable in these conditions?

IME yes. Something like a 1.25 or 1.4 fiesta would be perfect, as would a Panda, Ibiza, etc etc. Most small diesels will have barely reached their optimum temp in 30 mins and will never quite produce their best economy figures.

If he was doing 10k a year and it was all 3/4 hour trips it might make more sense to go diesel but if is mainly short hops then petrol wins everytime.

[BE57 TOY]

FloppyRaccoon said:

If you're doing enough miles to warrant a diesel, I think I'd rather a slightly larger car. Probably a 320d.

A £3000 320d will be a bag of nails!

[300bhp/ton]

jay85 said:

Sorry for the 'what car' espically as its a bit non-PH and economical but a friend of mine is needing some advice on a new car.

He wants a car that offers:
Cheap tax
Cheap to insure
Good mpg (50+)
£3k ish

Also dosnt want to drive anything thats got a rubbish badge "like a Daewoo". The only cars I can think of are:
VW Polo 1.4 TDI (02 onwards)
Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDI (02 onwards)

He quite likes the Polo idea so if anyone has expierience of these, that would be great but also is there anything else out there that would meet his requirments?

Thanks in advanced,

Jay

Rubbish badge to my mind would = VW, way above almost anything tbh.

Apart from that, who really cares. Your friend is evidently not a car person or all that interested in cars. And for £3k there are around 10 billion suitable candidates from every major car maker in existence.

Just pick a colour they like and one that's local. No point wasting time and effort otherwise.

[jay85]

320d would be too much to insure and would be a leggy example for 3k.

Small, petrol powered Polo/Fiesta/Ibiza/Yaris/Clio it will be!

Cheers guys

[thinfourth2]

Nissian Micra K11 and 2 grand in the bank

[bakerstreet]

Synchromesh said:

Not so. My 2003 Polo 1.4 (same engine as in the Ibiza you posted, but the 16v 100bhp version) only got 40mpg at a steady 70mph run. 35mpg on mixed runs and high 20s around town.

I really can't quite believe (but am prepared to be proved otherwise) that some of these superminis get 50mpg combined...

I agree. I ran my wife's C3 1.4 petrol for about 6 weeks on a big commute and I was getting 35-37mpg.

I agree with what others have said as far as choices go.

Renault Clio 1.5DCI
VW Polo 1.4TDI

I think the Clio is only £30 to tax where as the polo is more expensive.

[PaperCut]

Does it have to be a small car? The criteria fits perfectly for a 2003/04 Seat Toledo 1.9 TDi 110/ PD130 Saloon. They'll do 50+mpg all day long, very comfy looks ok, lots of equipment - especially compared to base model Polos/Fiestas and has enough oomph as your friend will ever need. Can be had for less than £3k as it's (wrongly) not as popular as the Leon, parts & servicing are quite cheap and if you actually look into them they have an incredible reliabilty record.

Oh dear, i sound like a fanboy...