What car advice - Supermini

[worsy]

So I've managed to pick up a gig just outside London, which involves a weekly commute (with hotel stay) of around 340 miles a week. Am likely to be here for 6 months and the train is not viable.

I'm not particularly happy in commuting in my own car, not least having to park it in a public car park for several days, the additional mileage, the poor fuel consumption, and the likely cost of a set of tyres!!.

I'm in the fortunate position of being able to expense my mileage so have been doing the man maths in buying a 3-4k supermini such as a Fiat Panda/Suzuki Alto/Citroen C1. Once I'm done I could then give the car to my eldest who has just turned 16 and will invariably want some wheels around this time next year.

On the basis that a 3k spend is about cost neutral, I could buy a 13 plate Suzuki Alto or C1 with 20/30k miles on it. Any thoughts on this? Buying a barge is not likely an option, am looking for something cheap, ideal as a first car and reliable.

[Surdjoe]

A 2011> Kia? Super cheap to buy and service and comes with a manufacturers 7 year warranty. Are you doing lots of motorway miles or mainly city/town?

[worsy]

Pretty much motorway, barring 15 miles at either end.

[Surdjoe]

You'd probably be looking at a Picanto at that price point so maybe skip it. Very un-refined at Motorway speeds from my experience

[worsy]

Even assuming max 75mph, much of the M1 is actually 40-50 as I get past Milton Keynes.

I could look at a 1.2 like a Clio/Vaux Adam

[MorganP104]

Have you considered buying something a little older, but also a little bigger?

Doing motorway miles in a £3k supermini is going to be a miserable experience, and frankly, is no way to live.

Personally, I'd be sinking my £3k into a small-engined variant of one of the following:

- Ford Focus
- Honda Civic
- Toyota Corolla (possibly also Auris, if in budget)
- Kia Rio (or maybe Ce'ed, if in budget)
- Renault Megane

Not only will your motorway commute be marginally more bearable, your son will thank you for the additional interior space afforded by a Focus-sized car... If not for the weak engine specified (for insurance purposes, my boy!)

[worsy]

An option yes. The eldest is female but am not going to make assumptions as to size of car she would like

[loskie]

Get a Volvo s60 for up to £2k, you will end up loving it and keeping it. Bank the remainder and spend it on the kids when the time comes.

[worsy]

Well went to see a Ka tonight. It was ok, but for a 5 year old car the described excellent condition didn't stack up. One tyre badly needed replacing, a few interior marks, new wipers needed, bad rattle from the exhaust. Perhaps I need to reevaluate my standards.

[Momentofmadness]

worsy said:

Well went to see a Ka tonight. It was ok, but for a 5 year old car the described excellent condition didn't stack up. One tyre badly needed replacing, a few interior marks, new wipers needed, bad rattle from the exhaust. Perhaps I need to reevaluate my standards.

Yes you do - depending on how it was priced, none of that sounds too bad?

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd be looking at something Clio/Focus sized with that commute as comfort has to be a factor too.

With that in mind here are a few options worthy of consideration:

2010 Megane 1.6 Dynamique 45k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2010 Alfa Mito 1.4 Veloce 42k FSH

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2007 Volvo C30 1.6S 26k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2008 Ford Focus Saloon 2.0tdci Titanium 42k FSH (worthy of consideration despite the looks for the fuel consumption)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2008 Clio 1.2tce Dynamique 22k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[kiethton]

I'd be looking at one of these:

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mum has an older (pre-this model) 1.4 which hasn't missed a beat in over a decade (beyond a snapped spring, and a clip on the clutch linkage)...it gets rated like st, used and abused without issue - not cleaned in a good 6 years either!

My GF had one of the above in the same spec and engine, again no issues despite non-existent servicing (prior to meeting me!)

[worsy]

Thanks guys

To close this down, I picked up a 63 plate Fiat 500 and used it to go to London yesterday (360 round trip). Wasn't the best day weather wise but a full tank (£31) of petrol later and all good. Comfy enough and cruised at 75 with Radio 5 live on without any great issue.

Daughter is chuffed to bits, even though she has just under 12 months to her 17th.