A reliable white good car for £3000?

[Acuity30]

Basically just need something to see me through the next 12 months with minimal repairs needed, then i'll sell it and get a half decent car (my salary will significantly increase). Can £3000 get such a thing until then?
Looking for:

Can do motorway journeys without being too stressed
Very reliable
Lowish tax (under 160)
Can get out of it's own way
Under 80k miles preferably
As new as possible

I've looked on Autotrader and it seems like £3000 gets you significantly less than it did a few years ago.

[biggbn]

Kia C'eed, similar from Hyundai or the beat Toyota of any flavour you can find. Avensis always seem cheap for what they are.

[dan98]

Acuity30 said:

Basically just need something to see me through the next 12 months with minimal repairs needed, then i'll sell it and get a half decent car (my salary will significantly increase). Can £3000 get such a thing until then?
Looking for:

Can do motorway journeys without being too stressed
Very reliable
Lowish tax (under 160)
Can get out of it's own way
Under 80k miles preferably
As new as possible

I've looked on Autotrader and it seems like £3000 gets you significantly less than it did a few years ago.

I've been considering something similar (also need ULEZ) - all these are comfortable in non-sport trim, 6 speed, cruise control:

Astra J 1.4t (test gearbox thoroughly)
Megane 1.5dci 110 (2015 on)
Focus 1.0 125 ecoboost

But If you don't need ULEZ you can pick up the older diesels even cheaper right now

Edited by dan98 on Sunday 23 October 15:12

[Rob 131 Sport]

Alfa Mito. I bought an approved used one (3 years old and 20k) for the wife nearly 8 years ago. Whilst she got a new car 2 years ago we kept the Alfa for the daughter.

Absolutely great little car and total reliability at 83k. I do have it serviced every year and changed the coolant and gear box oil at 50k. I would imagine it’s worth around 3k. The tax is zero and we wouldn’t part with it.

If you find a similar one that’s been well maintained, I’d go for it.

[heisthegaffer]

Honda civic. I've had 3 over last 7 years, 2 overlapping of different ages and were brilliant.

[anonymous-user]

dan98 said:

I've been considering something similar (also need ULEZ) - all these are comfortable in non-sport trim, 6 speed, cruise control:

Astra J 1.4t (test gearbox thoroughly)
Megane 1.5dci 110 (2015 on)
Focus 1.0 125 ecoboost

But If you don't need ULEZ you can pick up the older diesels even cheaper right now

I live in the soon to be expanded ULEZ zone so will need to replace my current Euro 4 diesel by August next year. As the OP pointed out, £3K doesn't get you much anymore, it certainly won't get you a 2015 on Euro 6 diesel, and I would be amazed if it got you an EcoBoost Focus or Fiesta. Not that I would want one anyway, google "Ecoboost Wet Belt"

I too am looking in this price range, you could get a 2010/11 1.6 Petrol Megane in this price range but the road tax is £235+ from memory.

Personally I would go for a Kia Rio or Ceed, or the equivalent Hyundai i20/i30. In this price range you are probably looking at something two generations old, but you might just scrape a previous gen Ceed or Rio for that money.

If you don't care about ULEZ then I can recommend a MK3 Renault Scenic/Megane with the 1.5 DCi engine. If you go for a 2009/10 model it won't have a DPF to worry about.

[ZX10R NIN]

Joey Deacon said:

I live in the soon to be expanded ULEZ zone so will need to replace my current Euro 4 diesel by August next year. As the OP pointed out, £3K doesn't get you much anymore, it certainly won't get you a 2015 on Euro 6 diesel, and I would be amazed if it got you an EcoBoost Focus or Fiesta. Not that I would want one anyway, google "Ecoboost Wet Belt"

I too am looking in this price range, you could get a 2010/11 1.6 Petrol Megane in this price range but the road tax is £235+ from memory.

Personally I would go for a Kia Rio or Ceed, or the equivalent Hyundai i20/i30. In this price range you are probably looking at something two generations old, but you might just scrape a previous gen Ceed or Rio for that money.

If you don't care about ULEZ then I can recommend a MK3 Renault Scenic/Megane with the 1.5 DCi engine. If you go for a 2009/10 model it won't have a DPF to worry about.

Good news for you Joey the extension is pretty much dead in the water (66.6% voted against it) so I wouldn't rush to sell yet.

[anonymous-user]

ZX10R NIN said:

Good news for you Joey the extension is pretty much dead in the water (66.6% voted against it) so I wouldn't rush to sell yet.

I wouldn't be sure, I don't think they actually care about what people actually want this is about money. My current shed just failed the MOT and is having some work done at the moment so it can hopefully last another year.

So I am probably looking at getting something else by this time next year anyway, so if there is no ULEZ I will probably get myself a newer Euro 4 shed diesel to celebrate.

[ZX10R NIN]

Astra GTC 120/140 pretty much ticks all the boxes:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210160...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210200...

115 Elite:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208299...

Mito Veloce 140 very robust & good cars:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210080...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210220...

DS3 DStyle Plus this has the N/A 1.6 so not the troublesome 1.6T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206046...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210160...

[smithyithy]

heisthegaffer said:

Honda civic. I've had 3 over last 7 years, 2 overlapping of different ages and were brilliant.

This. Civic all day.

I'll be in a similar position to yourself soon OP, selling my current car and will need something in that budget / parameters to run for a year or two while sorting a house purchase.

All roads lead to a Civic, it seems. Mileage will likely be higher for <£3k, but I honestly wouldn't be bothered by that, they seem to sail past 100k with minimal issues. Tax is £220 for the 1.8 petrol which would be my choice, but it's £165 for the diesel (also a good engine if diesel is better for you) and for the 1.4 petrol (probably a bit gutless)

They look decent (IMO), are typically well-equipped, comfortable and practical (from experience, my colleague had one for a year or so), plus Honda quality / reliability.

[dan98]

Joey Deacon said:

I live in the soon to be expanded ULEZ zone so will need to replace my current Euro 4 diesel by August next year. As the OP pointed out, £3K doesn't get you much anymore, it certainly won't get you a 2015 on Euro 6 diesel, and I would be amazed if it got you an EcoBoost Focus or Fiesta. Not that I would want one anyway, google "Ecoboost Wet Belt"

I too am looking in this price range, you could get a 2010/11 1.6 Petrol Megane in this price range but the road tax is £235+ from memory.

Personally I would go for a Kia Rio or Ceed, or the equivalent Hyundai i20/i30. In this price range you are probably looking at something two generations old, but you might just scrape a previous gen Ceed or Rio for that money.

If you don't care about ULEZ then I can recommend a MK3 Renault Scenic/Megane with the 1.5 DCi engine. If you go for a 2009/10 model it won't have a DPF to worry about.

There's plenty of Focus 1.0 Ecoboosts around between 3 and 4k ...yes check the belt.
Likewise a handful of higher mileage Euro 6 Megane diesels or plenty of petrols.

My experience of Kia at that price point has been pretty unpleasant for regular long distance work (considering an easygoing engine / cruise control etc), but happy to be proven otherwise. Likewise Civic, couldn't live with the awful ride quality.

[Decky_Q]

Citroen c5, they arent that stylish so are overlooked by most buyers but they are reliable, well kitted and relatively new for a £3k budget. 2.0 hdi without the hydro suspension would be my suggestion.

[anonymous-user]

dan98 said:

My experience of Kia at that price point has been pretty unpleasant for regular long distance work (considering an easygoing engine / cruise control etc), but happy to be proven otherwise. Likewise Civic, couldn't live with the awful ride quality.

Interesting as I have been considering a Kia/Hyundai. Totally agree with you regarding the Civic, I had a 2.0 Type S and the ride was appalling, especially after the French cars I am used to. Plus Japanese cars seem to rust for fun, and at this price point every single bolt underneath the car will have rusted on.

Just my opinion, I know everyone seems to rave about Japanese sheds but I would have a Renault any day.

[imck]

I had a 2008 Ceed 1.6D for doing 17K/Year
Reliable enough to confidently pass on to a colleague at 130K. Died at 220K earlier this Year.

Comfy enough. Drove quite well. Capable on the motorway.
First owner upgraded to 17s which gave a slightly bumpy ride. Door bins were rubbish.
Recommend for white goods motoring.

Had a 1.4 petrol i30 as a holiday hire. Very dull engine wise compared to the 1.6D
No idea what the 1.6 petrol is like.

[anonymous-user]

In the current market £3k gets you into something that would have been borderline scrap not long ago, I'd look at private sales vs dealers and look for Toyotas. Being willing to travel helps.

FWIW I picked up a shed Peugeot 208 1.6 diesel by accident a year ago and it's a brilliant snotbox for all the things you need, very underrated little thing.

[anonymous-user]

Toyota Avensis - i had a 2007 one for ages, brilliant car all round - huge boot , comfy enough , apparently unbreakable, good mpg, interior looked like new even after 100k. Not memorable to drive (although imho you can have fun in any car) but the perfect everyday transport when you just want to get there and back with zero hassle day after day.

In the end i traded it against a CTR as i had a hankering for one for years and work from home now so whatever car i had was going to do very little mileage, but if i were commuting and wanted a cheap solid mid to large car again then an Avensis would be top of my list.

[georgeyboy12345]

Mazda 2 1.5 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210180...


Toyota Auris 1.3 VVT-i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210160...


Vauxhall Astra 1.6 16v
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210150...

[Acuity30]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Mazda 2 1.5 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210180...


Toyota Auris 1.3 VVT-i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210160...


Vauxhall Astra 1.6 16v
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210150...

The Astra would be a good buy:

Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Petrol Excite 5 door. Mot until June 2023. 1 Previous owner, partial service history (7 stamps in the book). CAMBELT REPLACED AND NEW THERMASTAT. NO DEALERS OR TIME WASTERS Only selling as no longer needed lovely car. Black, 1 owner, £2,700

Just a shame the engine is a bit drab, 10.9 0 to 60. But beggars can't be choosers I guess

[heisthegaffer]

smithyithy said:

heisthegaffer said:

Honda civic. I've had 3 over last 7 years, 2 overlapping of different ages and were brilliant.

This. Civic all day.

I'll be in a similar position to yourself soon OP, selling my current car and will need something in that budget / parameters to run for a year or two while sorting a house purchase.

All roads lead to a Civic, it seems. Mileage will likely be higher for <£3k, but I honestly wouldn't be bothered by that, they seem to sail past 100k with minimal issues. Tax is £220 for the 1.8 petrol which would be my choice, but it's £165 for the diesel (also a good engine if diesel is better for you) and for the 1.4 petrol (probably a bit gutless)

They look decent (IMO), are typically well-equipped, comfortable and practical (from experience, my colleague had one for a year or so), plus Honda quality / reliability.

I didn't have too much time earlier to give more detail but I just sold a 2008 Civic with 77k miles, family owned since demo (3 owners in total), exec spec so leather, xenons, ancient sat nav, panoramic roof, heated seats, absolutely faultless other than air con. £2,400 I got for it.

[ZX10R NIN]

Acuity30 said:

The Astra would be a good buy:

Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Petrol Excite 5 door. Mot until June 2023. 1 Previous owner, partial service history (7 stamps in the book). CAMBELT REPLACED AND NEW THERMASTAT. NO DEALERS OR TIME WASTERS Only selling as no longer needed lovely car. Black, 1 owner, £2,700

Just a shame the engine is a bit drab, 10.9 0 to 60. But beggars can't be choosers I guess

Go for the 1.4T engine & you'll get a more interesting drivetrain that's 2 seconds quicker 0-60 & a bunch more midrange too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210140...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210220...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210160...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210010...