£4000 Budget - Most Reliable Car

[crouchmagic]

Hi

Hoping for some help from those who are more knowledgeable on cars than I am (everyone).

Quick run-down;

- I had a Kia Picanto which set itself on fire just before Christmas. Still in warranty. Kia don't know what caused it. All they're doing is paying the Insurance costs - insurance will pay out market value.

- I estimate it will be around £4000 mark


My intention was to run the Picanto into the ground, however that's no longer the case. I am absolutely useless with cars.

I'm looking for something around the £4000 mark. The most important factor is reliability - I just want it to be a work horse for my commuting. Average 15k a year motorway driving mostly. I'm not bothered about the make/model. Needs to be bigger than a small city car as children will be on the way shortly.


Any suggestions of which cars to look at will be hugely appreciated.

Also, am I right in thinking that I should go for cars with the lowest possible mileage?


Cheers

[Shominy]

Petrol and Japanese is going to be the order of the day I suspect. Something like a Honda Civic would be a decent shout. Plenty big enough and loads of them about to choose from. At the £4k mark you want anything that has been looked after. Full service history, matching tyres and an MOT history of not massively failing every year is advantageous.

[imck]

I had a 2008 Kia Ceed Diesel Hatch for pretty much the same Commute for 6 Years
Your mileage is on the borderline for Petrol/Diesel.

I always join the Forums for Cars I own. No common faults. Some Turbos and Clutches at 100K+
The Independent Garage I used once out of Warranty was impressed with the condition at 130K Miles.

They will have been Serviced regularly for the first 7 Years/100K
Decent sized Boot on the Hatch. Even more so on the Estate.

Nothing special. A great Commuter Box.

[Morry10]

Something like:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[funkyrobot]

Five quid left over. Winner!



https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Phunk]

Toyota Prius

/Thread

[saaby93]

Phunk said:

Toyota Prius

/Thread

[culpz]

funkyrobot said:

Five quid left over. Winner!



https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Now that's a good find!

However, while it may be reliable, which is still questionable, i doubt it'll be cheap to run.

Sorry to be a party-pooper

[exelero]

culpz said:

Now that's a good find!

However, while it may be reliable, which is still questionable, i doubt it'll be cheap to run.

Sorry to be a party-pooper

It is cheap to run, as long as you don't use it

[Alex3369]

HONDA! And if they're not your cup of tea, anything Japanese and you won't go far wrong.

[kurt535]

Alex3369 said:

HONDA! And if they're not your cup of tea, anything Japanese and you won't go far wrong.

+1000% for Honda/Toyota. Not so much Nissan due to the French connection.

[Dan_1981]

A PD engined something or other.

[crouchmagic]

Cheers for the replies everyone - seems like Japanese cars are well recommended so I'll have a good browse at those.

Regarding the Prius; not that I know anything at all about cars, but don't they have a bad stereotype? From this thread I'm assuming they've good cars.

What type of year car should I be looking at? Or just the best mileage / service history for the money?

Thanks

[crouchmagic]

Dan_1981 said:

A PD engined something or other.

Sorry mate can you briefly expand?

[shotta287]

I think your mileage justifies diesel. Maybe one of the VAG 1.9 TDIs? Although there are one or two engines from that range that should be avoided. I'm sure someone will be able to clarify.

[fido]

Honda CR-V 2.2 Diesel. You can get an '05 and possibly a high mileage '06 for £4k - which was the last of the squar'ish compact models before it became rounded and bloated.

[kurt535]

fido said:

Honda CR-V 2.2 Diesel. You can get an '05 and possibly a high mileage '06 for £4k - which was the last of the squar'ish compact models before it became rounded and bloated.

if it helps with pricing i recently bought an 06 mk2 model diesel basic se spec with 23k on the clock for £5.5k.it is very basic though!

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd normally say go for a diesel with your budget but getting a good car with low miles & decent spec is hard but they're out there, if you're mainly doing motorway miles I'd say something with a 6 speed box or an Auto will tick the boxes with that in mind here's where I'd be looking:

Mondeo Titanium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Titanium X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Diesel Titanium X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Lexus IS200 LE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Lexus IS250 SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mazda6 TS2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Insignia SRI CDTI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Petrol SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mercedes C270 Elegance SE (These are bulletproof & the one I'd be looking at diesel wise)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C320 Avantgarde SE as above but a bit more juicy but you do get a 7speed box for even more relaxed driving

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C220 Avantgarde SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Volvo S60

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Honda Accord diesel EX

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Any of the above would be suitable & they're all reliable saying that the C320 would be my first pick followed by either Titanium X Mondeo & the Honda Accord.

VFM wise it's really hard to look past the Insignias.

[7heGeneral]

funkyrobot said:

Five quid left over. Winner!



https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I would stay well away from this dealer. I went in there as they had a car which met my needs - reliable and under £3k. I went to see a car described as fantastic. I turned up, and looked around the car. There wasn't a single panel which did not have scratches on it. Not just ones that a detailer could sort either, most were down to the metal. Appalling attitude too "Don't expect a brand new car" is what I kept getting told when asking them how they could describe this as "Fantastic" lol.

I'd recommend something like a Toyota Auris 1.6. We've just bought one to replace a corolla that got written off - it's our car for local use (shopping/station etc). These cars are perfect, give them abuse, but they keep running! Should be able to find one well within your £4k budget!

[sparks_E39]

Don’t get hung up on mileage.