Recommendations on a £5,000 Budget?

[dcoa1993]

Hi All,

Looking for some recommendations for my 1st car.

I am a 28 year old male, passed my test a few months ago. I have one child (soon to be two), with first child being 2, so will have two children in the back.
My commute is approx 18 miles each way, across A and B roads, plus 2 miles of city driving. I anticipate driving between 10,000 and 12500 miles a year. I don't envision a great deal of regular motorway driving, although I am able to go on the motorway as part of the commute if needed (approx 8 miles).

The budget is £4-5000.00, although I would prefer to spend less and I am conscious of the current used car market.

I had originally looked at super mini's, however due to 2nd child, I think the minimum car size I can go for is a 'family hatchback.' I am also keen to keep it to this size, due to being a new driver, etc.

What I am looking for:

• Reasonable Insurance (they all seem to be quite similar in this class).
• Good/Excellent MPG. I have been struggling to decide between petrol and diesel on my budget, as there seems to be a lot more diesels available now. Conventional logic was always that diesels cost more, but this doesn't seem to be the case anymore? They also return significantly higher MPG, which helps with currently high fuel costs.
• Cheap servicing costs/reliable. I really don't want it to be a money pit, although I understand that any car can potentially be one.
• Good safety rating, i.e NCAP 5 stars.
• Manual Gearbox. This is largely cost driven, as they are cheaper and more economical.

I have looked at quite a few options, such as Ford Focus, VW Golf, Seat Leon, Kia C'eed, Hyundai i30, Mazda 3, etc but struggling to make a decision. Not 100% whether petrol or diesel would be preferred!

I really like the Mark 6 Golf, and have been looking at the 1.4 TSI 122HP and the 2.0 TDI 140HP in various specifications. I have however heard a lot of issues regarding the timing chain on the petrol car, and I am not sure if a diesel car suits my requirements? I really don't want the car to be expensive to run, as above. They are also typically fairly high mileage versions (80K to 110K).

I'd be grateful for any recommendations or ideas! Any general tips would also be great.

Thanks

Edited by dcoa1993 on Saturday 20th November 14:35

Edited by dcoa1993 on Saturday 20th November 14:35

[simonw67]

Ford focus will be ideal

[CoreyDog]

This is where my money would be going...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111179...

Good engine, decent spec, good mileage.

[NDNDNDND]

I'm in a similar position and bought a 2012 Alfa Giulietta.

Better looking than a Focus or Astra, probably doesn't drive quite as well as the Focus but it drives well enough and is faster. Comfy, quiet and smart inside and out.

Rust free and relatively robust, bar the odd minor electrical niggle. Mine's a Multair 170, is about £155 to tax and does about mid-40's mpg.

[simonw67]

NDNDNDND said:

I'm in a similar position and bought a 2012 Alfa Giulietta.

Better looking than a Focus or Astra, probably doesn't drive quite as well as the Focus but it drives well enough and is faster. Comfy, quiet and smart inside and out.

Rust free and relatively robust, bar the odd minor electrical niggle. Mine's a Multair 170, is about £155 to tax and does about mid-40's mpg.

A better choice but I would say with higher potential for more bills than a focus?

[ZX10R NIN]

If you're doing 36 miles a day then a diesel will be fine, as will petrols as long as you're happy with the fuel cost:

Lexus IS250 you'll want a 57 plate so you won't have any E10 issues, insurance wise you may well find these as cheap to insure as an Astrs etc:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111059...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110238...

1.6 Astra Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111179...

2.0d Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111129...

C220cdi Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111209...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111199...

200cdi

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111199...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110218...

1.4T Insignia SRI Nav 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110098...

2.0d SRI Nav 160

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111019...

Elite Nav 160

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111139...

2.0d Alfa 159 Ti 170 very good cars with the more modern & reliable 2.0d found in the Giulietta:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108316...

2.0d Giulietta Veloce 170

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111209...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...

1.4T Veloce 170

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111149...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111069...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 20th November 17:10

[PH User]

simonw67 said:

NDNDNDND said:

I'm in a similar position and bought a 2012 Alfa Giulietta.

Better looking than a Focus or Astra, probably doesn't drive quite as well as the Focus but it drives well enough and is faster. Comfy, quiet and smart inside and out.

Rust free and relatively robust, bar the odd minor electrical niggle. Mine's a Multair 170, is about £155 to tax and does about mid-40's mpg.

A better choice but I would say with higher potential for more bills than a focus?

Why is that?

[ZX10R NIN]

PH User said:

simonw67 said:

NDNDNDND said:

I'm in a similar position and bought a 2012 Alfa Giulietta.

Better looking than a Focus or Astra, probably doesn't drive quite as well as the Focus but it drives well enough and is faster. Comfy, quiet and smart inside and out.

Rust free and relatively robust, bar the odd minor electrical niggle. Mine's a Multair 170, is about £155 to tax and does about mid-40's mpg.

A better choice but I would say with higher potential for more bills than a focus?

Why is that?

It's better looking than the Focus but no less reliable but parts are a smidge more expensive.

[simonw67]

PH User said:

Why is that?

I was under the impression focus was more reliable. Do you think they are less reliable?

[PH User]

simonw67 said:

PH User said:

Why is that?

I was under the impression focus was more reliable. Do you think they are less reliable?

Fair enough, but based on?

[simonw67]

PH User said:

Fair enough, but based on?

I had the courtesy to answer your first question.

[clockworks]

I got fed up with losing a shedload of cash to depreciation each year, and have just sold my two relatively new Kias (Sportage 2 litre diesel and Picanto 1 litre turbo) for £30.5k while the market was high.

I've replaced them with a 2014 Citroen C3 Picasso for local use, and a 2012 Mercedes C220D coupe for longer journeys.
The Citroen is ideal for my business, and is actually not too bad for pottering around in. 30k on the clock, paid £5600 from a dealer with 2 year warranty.

The Mercedes was bought privately for £6k. Mileage is a little higher than I would have liked (108k), but everything works, MOT history is about as good as it gets, and the previous owner had recently taken it to a main dealer for a health check - passed with no issues. It has a couple of minor interior trim issues, easily fixed (I think!) for a couple of hundred quid.

A C220 saloon would've been a bit cheaper to buy than the coupe. I don't need the rear doors, and I prefer the looks of the coupe.

[PH User]

simonw67 said:

PH User said:

Fair enough, but based on?

I had the courtesy to answer your first question.

So not based on anything then.

[simonw67]

PH User said:

So not based on anything then.

Wrong.

[PH User]

simonw67 said:

PH User said:

So not based on anything then.

Wrong.

Ok, so based on?

[MrGTI6]

I'd be looking at a Focus 1.5TDCI or a Civic 2.2i-CTDI. Avoid diesel Mazdas and be very wary of anything VAG (VW/SEAT/Skoda/Audi).

[NDNDNDND]

simonw67 said:

PH User said:

Why is that?

I was under the impression focus was more reliable. Do you think they are less reliable?

From my research, the Giulietta seems pretty viceless. They suffer from the odd, minor electrical malady (the rear windscreen wiper not working is quite common, and requires soldering/replacing the boot-hinge harness) and the odd interior rattle, but mechanically they seem quite robust.
Alfa were stung by subframe rust on the 159, and seem to have gone to great lengths to rust proof the Giulietta - it's almost literally dripping with factory underseal.
The Multiair engines do require an expensive oil and demand punctual servicing, and I suppose parts might be a little more expensive than Ford, but there's not much to suggest a good one would throw up many unforseen bills. Making sure any car has a good, Alfa-specialist history showing the correct oil has been used would be wise.

I think issues with the Ford Ecoboost engine have been solved by now, but they don't have a great reputation.

I also wouldn't touch a Volkswagen group car with a bargepole. I considered an Octavia VRS, but the idea of playing camchain roulette put me off entirely.

[Captainfred]

Hold out for a golf mark 6. Excellent car for the money. Go for either the 1.6 or 2.0 tdi. Patch the tsi

[Craig W]

Honda Civic. I've got the 1.8 petrol which averages 42 - 45mpg with mixed driving. It's a nice place to be on commutes.

It's been bullet proof in the 4 years I've had it. The only unscheduled cost was replacing the droplinks on the front, pretty standard wear and tear item. It's cost me nothing apart from MOT, service costs, tyres and brake pads.

It's nice to drive too. Could go for the diesel if you were minded to, I went petrol based on a hunch that diesels would start getting hammered somehow which hasn't materialised yet, but I don't think I would change my mind anyway.

[Jonny_]

NDNDNDND said:

simonw67 said:

PH User said:

Why is that?

I was under the impression focus was more reliable. Do you think they are less reliable?

From my research, the Giulietta seems pretty viceless. They suffer from the odd, minor electrical malady (the rear windscreen wiper not working is quite common, and requires soldering/replacing the boot-hinge harness) and the odd interior rattle, but mechanically they seem quite robust.
Alfa were stung by subframe rust on the 159, and seem to have gone to great lengths to rust proof the Giulietta - it's almost literally dripping with factory underseal.
The Multiair engines do require an expensive oil and demand punctual servicing, and I suppose parts might be a little more expensive than Ford, but there's not much to suggest a good one would throw up many unforseen bills. Making sure any car has a good, Alfa-specialist history showing the correct oil has been used would be wise.

I think issues with the Ford Ecoboost engine have been solved by now, but they don't have a great reputation.

I also wouldn't touch a Volkswagen group car with a bargepole. I considered an Octavia VRS, but the idea of playing camchain roulette put me off entirely.

Giuliettas: Rear hatch wiring loom fails (relatively inexpensive to fix) and interior door handle on early cars can break (expensive if you replace an entire door card, cheap but fiddly to replace just the handle).

Definitely don't scrimp on oil for the Multiair engines, the recommended Selenia/Petronas oil is not cheap but an extra £15 or £20 every service is a lot better than £600+ for a replacement Multiair unit. Also worth replacing the Multiair inlet strainer every few services. If looked after properly the MA engines are surprisingly reliable.

At £5k my choice would be Giulietta or Focus, both are decent cars. Giulietta is nicer to look at, more interesting interior too, and the petrol engines are particularly good. Downsides are dated infotainment and slightly more expensive parts. Focus is generally regarded as better handling (although IMHO the Alfa drives very nicely) and unlike the Giulietta it's available as an estate.