Reliable, robust, cheap, petrol hatchback

[flatso]

Starting this for a friend of mine who is looking for a cheap, ultra-reliable and robust hatchback, cca. 2005 or so build for his wife to use in Romania.
The Budget is around 3000 €. It Needs to have a decent size boot and have a decent Petrol engine (not a hot-hatch but also not a a complete slouch).

Thanks for the Input.

[Toed64]

If you need/want a petrol, I'd go for the latest Focus I could find within budget. Are you looking for a LHD? Good older cars are a lot cheaper here than in the LHD European countries.

If a diseasel would be OK, I'd go for a pre DPF 1.9tdi Leon/Golf/Octavia.

[ZX10R NIN]

Alfa 147 in either petrol or diesel form they're very durable, both the petrol & diesel drivetrains are (as long as you get an 8v) pretty much on par with anything else & over here in the UK they're cheap.

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

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

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

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

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

[Edible Roadkill]

Is Alfa Romeo and reliable allowed to be used in the same sentence?

Maybe they are better now but I had a 1998 Alfa 156 that had terminal rust by the time it was 7yrs old. Lovely car otherwise.

[ZX10R NIN]

Yes it is come out of the rust age, park your prejudice & embrace the fact that a 147 is a decent proposition

[flatso]

Hmmm, the 147 is a charming Proposition, I doubt however that I can bring any arguments to convince her that the decade long Image is not true.


Thanks for the suggestions, I am surprised that nobody mentined any japanese models.

Petrol is more desirable.

[Red 4]

Mazda 3.

You should be able to find a half decent one for that kind of money.

Focus underpinnings, chain driven, very reliable, big boot.

Just watch out for rust issues (especially around the arches and underneath obviously, some cars are worse than others) and ABS module failure.

Other than that not much goes wrong.

As ever, on an older car condition is everything and there will be some sheds about - find a good one though and they are a good buy.

[Horsey McHorseface]

Civic 1.8 (06-11)

Huge boot. 35-40mpg. Go with 15” wheels if you value ride quality.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-Civic-1-8-ES-I-VT...