Picking a 2nd car under £8k

[Jreedy98]

Hey everyone,

I am a uni student and have been driving my first car (nissan micra 2001) for 2 years now. Been feeling I need an upgrade.

Need some suggestions for a decent 2nd hand car thats around £8k or less. Preferably a hatchback with a decent amount of power behind hit, but also decent fuel consumption (cause only a student so cant afford to dump all my cash on fuel)

Right now I am looking at Seat Ibiza, ford focus st 3, Audi A3, and the Golf GTI. I am finding it pretty hard to pick one cause I have little experience with cars.

Thanks for any help guys.

[Shiv_P]

130i

[Jreedy98]

the 130i's would be really high mileage at my max price (most I saw are around 80k+). Wanna try and get a car below 50k

[ZX10R NIN]

Your insurance will be a factor with only two years NCB, I'd say the ST-3 but I'm bias as that's what I bought, the other option is the best drivers car in class & that's the Megane RS:

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

Your budget should land you a Facelift Focus:

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

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

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

Also consider warm hatches as you'll get a more insurance friendly option but still something with 170-200bhp to play with:

Focus Zetec S/

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

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

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

Alfa Giulietta Sportiva/Veloce 170bhp

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

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

Astra GTC Sport/SRI 180bhp

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

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

They won't be as sweet a steer as a true hot hatch but they'll be a good compromise between pace & running costs.

[Pete-mojsh]

Being in a similar boat but wanting reasonable economy on a longer motorway run I've looked at the zetec s, what's the reliability of the engine like? You hear a few stories of the ecoboost engines having issues.

[ScoobyChris]

How many miles do you do a year and what is your journey profile? There are a lot of hatchbacks which will feel brisk after a Nissan Micra and if you're doing longish journeys even something like a 120d would deliver what you're looking for with 170bhp and 40+mpg - very much enjoyed mine (in M-sport guise).

Chris

[ZX10R NIN]

Pete-mojsh said:

Being in a similar boat but wanting reasonable economy on a longer motorway run I've looked at the zetec s, what's the reliability of the engine like? You hear a few stories of the ecoboost engines having issues.

The 1.0 Ecoboost has had issues but the 1.6 is the same one found in the Fiesta ST so no issues to speak of.