Best small car under 3k?

Best small car under 3k?

Author
Discussion

AuthurDaley

Original Poster:

566 posts

222 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
Afternoon All,

Looking to buy a small car under 3k as a present for someone. They currently have a 2004 Fiesta Zetec which is getting a little haggered. Could maybe stretch budget a little closer to 4 for the right whip.

I have had a think but wanted to open it up for input so I don't missing anything. Criteria as follows:

- Ultimate reliability and cheap repair costs
- Not too heavy on fuel
- No bigger than a Golf
- As new as possible, approved used from manufacturer would be excellent
- Preferably something with a bit of style as opposed to a cockroach type Nissan Micra.

Thanks dudes.
AD




Vaud

55,186 posts

170 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
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I was quite impressed by a loaned Mazda 3. You can pick one up for <4k from a Mazda dealer with reasonable miles. Ditto the Mazda 2.

deck_93

3 posts

101 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
You can pick up a 10 year old Mini one for around that price. A couple of friends have had them and said they were amazinlgy good and reliable. They're probably one of the better looking card around that price range as well!

Torquey

1,928 posts

243 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
I bought a 2009 Suzuki swift sport for £3200 last year. 37k miles, 31mpg in rush hour traffic, 40+mpg on open road.
Its quite boxy and not too comfortable but much better more than some of its rivals.
Its not for sale because I cant find anything better/more suitable to replace it with.

Edited by Torquey on Friday 3rd February 12:29

Toyoda

1,557 posts

115 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
AuthurDaley said:
- Ultimate reliability and cheap repair costs
- Not too heavy on fuel
- No bigger than a Golf
- As new as possible, approved used from manufacturer would be excellent
- Preferably something with a bit of style as opposed to a cockroach type Nissan Micra.
Quite a big list of criteria with just £3k to play with. Given the 'new as possbile' tag I thought Dacia Sandero but seems they're over budget still. So hows about the Clio 3 its based on? Shouldbe able to get a 2011 car on budget. They're one of the biggest cars it its class (or were at the time), not bad looking and there's a choice of engines though probably the 1.2 petrol or 1.5 diesel in this price range. There's the turbo'd 1.2 TCE if you can find one or the budget stretches to it.

R4PID

1,060 posts

260 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
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mk1 Audi TT?

culpz

4,957 posts

127 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
AuthurDaley said:
Afternoon All,

Looking to buy a small car under 3k as a present for someone. They currently have a 2004 Fiesta Zetec which is getting a little haggered. Could maybe stretch budget a little closer to 4 for the right whip.

I have had a think but wanted to open it up for input so I don't missing anything. Criteria as follows:

- Ultimate reliability and cheap repair costs
- Not too heavy on fuel
- No bigger than a Golf
- As new as possible, approved used from manufacturer would be excellent
- Preferably something with a bit of style as opposed to a cockroach type Nissan Micra.

Thanks dudes.
AD
Honda Civic of some sort? Spec and model completely up to you.

neil1jnr

1,485 posts

170 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
Civic Type R EP3

Quick-ish, not bad on fuel and reliable, it's no larger than a golf either.

It's not a new car that's the only issue but I don't know how new you could get within that budget?

crofty1984

16,448 posts

219 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
I bought a 2010 Mazda2 about 18 months ago for 3k. It had the sporty body kit, is green as fk (other colours are available) and has a 1.6 diesel engine that averages 60+mpg.
It's basically a Fiesta in a frock so cheap to service.

trickywoo

13,008 posts

245 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
deck_93 said:
You can pick up a 10 year old Mini one for around that price. A couple of friends have had them and said they were amazinlgy good and reliable. They're probably one of the better looking card around that price range as well!
I personally wouldn't touch a 10 year old Mini with your bargepole.

Hoolio

1,180 posts

236 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
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Fiat Panda 100HP

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

213 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
neil1jnr said:
Civic Type R EP3

Quick-ish, not bad on fuel and reliable, it's no larger than a golf either.

It's not a new car that's the only issue but I don't know how new you could get within that budget?
How times have changed

Not too long ago the CTR was right at the top of he hot hatch tree now quick ish

culpz

4,957 posts

127 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
How times have changed

Not too long ago the CTR was right at the top of he hot hatch tree now quick ish
They're still a quick car by all means but fast forward to the year 2017, with all the daft horsepower, heavy, turbo hatches available with instant get-up-and-go, and they're are unfortunately forced to the back of the pile.

npfmedia

83 posts

215 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
Maybe something like this? its not mine!

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/r...

vtecyo

2,122 posts

144 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
culpz said:
Welshbeef said:
How times have changed

Not too long ago the CTR was right at the top of he hot hatch tree now quick ish
They're still a quick car by all means but fast forward to the year 2017, with all the daft horsepower, heavy, turbo hatches available with instant get-up-and-go, and they're are unfortunately forced to the back of the pile.
I got annihilated by a 330D yesterday in mine. I knew they were quick but it just stormed off.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

213 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
vtecyo said:
culpz said:
Welshbeef said:
How times have changed

Not too long ago the CTR was right at the top of he hot hatch tree now quick ish
They're still a quick car by all means but fast forward to the year 2017, with all the daft horsepower, heavy, turbo hatches available with instant get-up-and-go, and they're are unfortunately forced to the back of the pile.
I got annihilated by a 330D yesterday in mine. I knew they were quick but it just stormed off.
A 330d is a 5.6 second car to 62mph and it's only auto so can do it over and over again.

ManOpener

12,467 posts

184 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
Hoolio said:
Fiat Panda 100HP
Was about to suggest this. Or a Twingo 133.

M-SportMatt

1,923 posts

153 months

ambuletz

11,286 posts

196 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
anything japanese is the obvious answer.

suzuki alto
suzuki swift
toyota yaris
mitsubishi colt

culpz

4,957 posts

127 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
vtecyo said:
culpz said:
Welshbeef said:
How times have changed

Not too long ago the CTR was right at the top of he hot hatch tree now quick ish
They're still a quick car by all means but fast forward to the year 2017, with all the daft horsepower, heavy, turbo hatches available with instant get-up-and-go, and they're are unfortunately forced to the back of the pile.
I got annihilated by a 330D yesterday in mine. I knew they were quick but it just stormed off.
The magic of a diesel's torque; a fast one at that.