2nd car help...

[MrsConbo]

Hi

I'm after a 2nd car for myself. I know very little about cars excepting how an engine works and that it has gears!

I usually just go for something cheap and cheerful. I started off with a little M reg fiesta, upgraded to a focus which I wrote off, downgraded to a £500 banger just to get around and then a skoda fabia before another 02 plate fiesta and recently an 18 plate corsa which the OH now uses.
I'm seriously not a girly girl and I don't care about colour of cars but I do like comfort, heated seats, steering wheel, screens are always a lovely bonus. I like to feel that I am driving the car and that it has a bit of weight to it.

I ideally don't want much more than a 1.6 as its not required as I won't be commuting, I literally just want a run around but then at the same time I'm thinking I should invest in a half decent car for once, one that doesn't depreciate too quickly and that I could probably keep for a good 10 years. I have a budget of around £7k, ideally don't want anything over 10yrs old already or over 100k and the cheaper the insurance and tax the better but I have been driving over 14 years so its not a huge amount regardless. I could push the budget for something very special but it would have to be all singing and all dancing.

Cars that are a definite no no are: fiat 500s, vauxhall adams, any citroen or peugeot (just don't like them), anything with less than 5 seats or classed as a starter car, smart cars

Cars I like: Audi A1 or A3, BMW 1 series, Civics, alfa romeo guiliettas....

What would anyone suggest?

[Driver101]

See the car you like? Buy that one.

[MrsConbo]

Driver101 said:

See the car you like? Buy that one.

Helpful!

[Trevor555]

The best daily car at that sort of budget I can think of is the Fabia Monte Carlo if you want cheap to run, 2015 onwards models.

The 109bhp 4 cylinder 1.2 Tsi petrol engine is great. (gets the 6 speed gearbox also)

£20 Road tax.

More equipment than you'll get in the equivalent Polo, and better dealers in my experience.

Screen that connects your mobile via smartlink so you can use Google maps.

[Driver101]

MrsConbo said:

Driver101 said:

See the car you like? Buy that one.

Helpful!

It's the correct answer.

Buy what car you like and get a proffessional to inspect it for you.

[ZX10R NIN]

There are a few options but with that healthy budget you can get a nice smart reliable car.

Alfa Giulietta Sportiva

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010034...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010034...

Veloce

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104141...

1.4T Astra GTC Limited Edition

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104161...

SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102239...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103290...

Next Gen Astra SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104040...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103170...

[LightningBlue]

It’s hard to predict long term residuals for older cars especially with combustion engines being banned from sale from 2030. At £7000 they’ll have done most of their deprecating though so there’s not that much to lose. I’d try an Alfa Giulietta just for something different, everyone goes for the Germans but it says nothing about you. Reliability is meant to be pretty decent with the Giulietta.

[A500leroy]

Toyota rav 4.