What would you get if you had £2300 for a reliable car

[Mak93]

Looking to buy my first car, I have a £2300 budget and I am looking for a reliable, fairly cheap to run car. working it out roughly my driving mileage would be around 935-1220 miles per month as I travel from Wigan to The North east atleast twice a month, currently using the train and its simply getting unaffordable.

These are a couple cars I've been looking at and was wondering what people's thoughts were, they are all within 1900-2300 with full history and within a 80 mile radius to me. Anymore to recommend? If any out the list what would you go to view based on models?

Corsa
09 1.3 CTDI Diesel Echo Flex 56K
08 1.2 sxi Petrol 49K 16 V

Clio
57 1. 5 DCI diesel 61 K
07 1. 2 V Petrol 16K 37K

Fabia
2008 1. 6 TDI Diesel 66K

Fiesta
57 1. 4 Zetec Petrol 51 K
08 1. 4 TDCI 67K

Focus
2007 1. 6 Petrol 63 K GHIA
2006 TDCI Diesel 51K

Sadly I don't have the time to view all cars or can afford to have them all inspected so I'm unsure what one will be best for me, reliability is key for me, they all have full history with atleast, 6 month MOT .

Any other models I should look at, thanks.

[Campbells]

I’d be more tempted by something like this if you were after reliability
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Campbells]

I’d be more tempted by something like this if you were after reliability
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Mak93]

That has me temped, I imagine it's pricey on the I insurance tho but worth a quote.

[HustleRussell]

Japanese + Petrol. Honda Civic.

[HustleRussell]

Campbells said:

I’d be more tempted by something like this if you were after reliability
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

How many years do you suppose you can do 12k+ miles in a 100k mile car before it starts chucking bills your way?

[Mak93]

Yeah, nice car but the insurance and running cost would be to much for me anyways. Maybe look at a used Audi on my second car when I have more money to spend.

[HustleRussell]

Mazda 2 / 3
Suzuki Swift
Toyota Corolla / Auris
Get a quote on some saloon cars too, they’re often cheaper to insure than the obvious hatchbacks and will be more comfortable for long drives- Honda Accord, Ford Mondeo, VW Passat. Between quotes, wipe your cookies.

P.S. I wouldn’t recommend a Corsa, one reason being comfort. Diesels including the 1.6 TDCI in the fords can be trouble which is why I recommend petrol.

[durbster]

HustleRussell said:

Campbells said:

I’d be more tempted by something like this if you were after reliability
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

How many years do you suppose you can do 12k+ miles in a 100k mile car before it starts chucking bills your way?

It says it's been regularly serviced so miles aren't a problem but at 11 years old the rubbery bits will probably be starting to go so you'd want to allow a bit of budget for that.

Higher miles on a newer car would be preferable.

[DoubleD]

HustleRussell said:

Japanese + Petrol. Honda Civic.

Yep that was going to be my suggestion too. 1.8 civic would fit the bill nicely.

[IanCress]

DoubleD said:

Yep that was going to be my suggestion too. 1.8 civic would fit the bill nicely.

Agreed, although £2300 is towards the bottom of the market for the Civic. Then again, it's towards the bottom of the market for everything!
I paid £2995 for my Civic a year ago and it hasn't put a foot wrong. Never failed to start, and hasn't even displayed a warning light.

[MrAverage]

Petrol and Japanese as already mentioned is always a good idea, they're pretty frugal too.

However I'd say you wouldn't go far wrong with a focus or Mondeo either. I currently have a focus 2litre ghia, it had a proper FSH and cost me £1050

I done 2500+ miles in January, mpg won't go above 36 regardless of driving style but it feels solid and is a nice place to be.

If diesel is a preference id look for cars without a dpf and that's had mileage related work, clutch, flywheel etc. That's exactly what we did and ended up with a 2007 honda crv for er'

[mrtwisty]

Campbells said:

I’d be more tempted by something like this if you were after reliability
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Are you kidding? A 100k diesel with all the emissions gubbins and a DMF = reliable? Several big bills just waiting to pounce and make it uneconomical to repair (unless you're handy with the spanners, but even then....)

[Wacky Racer]

My son has a 2005 Kia Picanto he bought at three year old and 30,000 miles for £3500, it's now done 125,000 miles, he commutes 40 miles each way, does 45mpg and never let him down once.

Just routine maintenance and new cam belt at 80,000 as a precaution.

Looks like a year old car, no visible rust on the bodywork, probably worth £100, but he will run it until it drops.

[Trevor555]

mrtwisty said:

Campbells said:

I’d be more tempted by something like this if you were after reliability
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Are you kidding? A 100k diesel with all the emissions gubbins and a DMF = reliable? Several big bills just waiting to pounce and make it uneconomical to repair (unless you're handy with the spanners, but even then....)

I have to agree, I see so many big bills for repairs to diesels nowadays.

Just last week, 1.6Tdi VW needed new injectors, £1100 bill.

Week before a Tdi Golf EGR valve £450

Last month an Insignia total engine failure, sold for spares.

It's pot luck, they can be great for years, then without warning, big bill.

[Mak93]

DoubleD said:

Yep that was going to be my suggestion too. 1.8 civic would fit the bill nicely.

Yeah to be honest I always presume civics are out my budget and didn't even look. I will need to have a peak. I've had lots of honda motorbikes and never had a issue with any of them, even old bikes they just don't die. I'll have a look thnaks.

[Mak93]

Wacky Racer said:

My son has a 2005 Kia Picanto he bought at three year old and 30,000 miles for £3500, it's now done 125,000 miles, he commutes 40 miles each way, does 45mpg and never let him down once.

Just routine maintenance and new cam belt at 80,000 as a precaution.

Looks like a year old car, no visible rust on the bodywork, probably worth £100, but he will run it until it drops.

I'm a big fan of kias id have one any day for the right price.

[Mak93]

MrAverage said:

Petrol and Japanese as already mentioned is always a good idea, they're pretty frugal too.

However I'd say you wouldn't go far wrong with a focus or Mondeo either. I currently have a focus 2litre ghia, it had a proper FSH and cost me £1050

I done 2500+ miles in January, mpg won't go above 36 regardless of driving style but it feels solid and is a nice place to be.

If diesel is a preference id look for cars without a dpf and that's had mileage related work, clutch, flywheel etc. That's exactly what we did and ended up with a 2007 honda crv for er'

Yeah, the main reason I looked at a focus was I do a lot of mountain biking and the focus is more ideal in terms of size for me. I mean I could get on with a fiesta or similar size car but the focus would be more practical . I've got a mate who has the 1. 6 petrol tho and he says it's a pretty thirsty engine. But I suppose that depends on what one defines as a thirsty car. Heard good things about them tho.

[Mak93]

I'm just interested in what people's thoughts are on the corsa, particularly the 1. 3cdti? Reason I ask is I find the reviews for them very mixed, some say they are reliable and cheap to maintain, and others say they are terrible. I recently heard a case of a cam belt breaking at 57k.

Reason I ask is for the money I have I can get a lot newer corsa than pretty much anything else. But if it wasn't for that reason I'd probably look at something else.

[Torquey]

I'd trust a 1.6/1.8 petrol civic over a Mazda2 or Suzuki swift having owned all of them.

e.g. a civic 1.6 <2005 sport or a 1.8 > 2005.