What car? 5k budget, cheap to run, not boring? - Page 1 - Car Buying

ollyh1988

Original Poster

1,063 posts

227 months

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Friday 18th August 2023

I am looking for a car to use for a 20 mile round trip commute. Ideally I want it to be cheap to run (less than £35 road tax, cheap to insure, hopefully no maintenance issues etc). Id also rather it wasn’t ‘boring’ as id actually like to enjoy driving it. I need 4 seats as I’ll want to have a child seat in the back occasionally.

Top of my list so far is a Volvo C30 1.6d at £4000 with over 100k miles. Cheap tax and great mpg and it is orange, which is a plus. It’s had a recent clutch, timing belt and water pump - so hopefully should be good for a few years.

Before I go for this, any other options?

Fiat 500 twin air?
Toyota Aygo?

I’d rather keep below my budget unless there are any cars I should really consider. Thanks!

RD-1

1,147 posts

188 months

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Friday 18th August 2023

Subjective I know, but that Volvo sounds boring to me.

I would compromise for a bit more fun.

R53 will cost more to run, but should be a bit cheaper to buy.

Or a slight budget stretch would get an Abarth 500 driving

blue_haddock

4,981 posts

94 months

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Friday 18th August 2023

ollyh1988 said:

I am looking for a car to use for a 20 mile round trip commute. Ideally I want it to be cheap to run (less than £35 road tax, cheap to insure, hopefully no maintenance issues etc). Id also rather it wasn’t ‘boring’ as id actually like to enjoy driving it. I need 4 seats as I’ll want to have a child seat in the back occasionally.

Top of my list so far is a Volvo C30 1.6d at £4000 with over 100k miles. Cheap tax and great mpg and it is orange, which is a plus. It’s had a recent clutch, timing belt and water pump - so hopefully should be good for a few years.

Before I go for this, any other options?

Fiat 500 twin air?
Toyota Aygo?

I’d rather keep below my budget unless there are any cars I should really consider. Thanks!

The 1.6 diesel engine in these are not exactly reliable with a known issue on the turbos.

https://autotechnician.co.uk/workshop-repair-1-6-t...

ollyh1988

Original Poster

1,063 posts

227 months

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Friday 18th August 2023

RD-1 said:

Subjective I know, but that Volvo sounds boring to me.

I would compromise for a bit more fun.

R53 will cost more to run, but should be a bit cheaper to buy.

Or a slight budget stretch would get an Abarth 500 driving

Funnily enough I have an R53 S convertible but it’s not good for the commute - high tax, drinks fuel, high insurance, maintenance etc. Abarth is an idea as we had a 500 before but they are tiny in the back and not sure how good it would be for a commute?

ollyh1988

Original Poster

1,063 posts

227 months

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Friday 18th August 2023

blue_haddock said:

The 1.6 diesel engine in these are not exactly reliable with a known issue on the turbos.

https://autotechnician.co.uk/workshop-repair-1-6-t...

Could do without those issues - I’m not mad keen on diesel but thought I’d be doing enough miles not to cause any potential issues

RD-1

1,147 posts

188 months

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Friday 18th August 2023

ollyh1988 said:

RD-1 said:

Subjective I know, but that Volvo sounds boring to me.

I would compromise for a bit more fun.

R53 will cost more to run, but should be a bit cheaper to buy.

Or a slight budget stretch would get an Abarth 500 driving

Funnily enough I have an R53 S convertible but it’s not good for the commute - high tax, drinks fuel, high insurance, maintenance etc. Abarth is an idea as we had a 500 before but they are tiny in the back and not sure how good it would be for a commute?

You’re already paying tax and insurance on it anyway?

Will doubling up on tax, insurance, MOT, servicing and maintenance really save the running costs of commuting in the R52?

ollyh1988

Original Poster

1,063 posts

227 months

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Friday 18th August 2023

RD-1 said:

ollyh1988 said:

RD-1 said:

Subjective I know, but that Volvo sounds boring to me.

I would compromise for a bit more fun.

R53 will cost more to run, but should be a bit cheaper to buy.

Or a slight budget stretch would get an Abarth 500 driving

Funnily enough I have an R53 S convertible but it’s not good for the commute - high tax, drinks fuel, high insurance, maintenance etc. Abarth is an idea as we had a 500 before but they are tiny in the back and not sure how good it would be for a commute?

You’re already paying tax and insurance on it anyway?

Will doubling up on tax, insurance, MOT, servicing and maintenance really save the running costs of commuting in the R52?

Just more tempting having a commuting car that has no tax vs £395, 50ish mpg vs whatever the Mini is doing (not a lot), the Volvo has had a clutch and the Mini will need one at some point probably this year. I don’t need it to be the most fun car as have a car for that reason already, just didn’t want to get something like a Corsa if that makes sense

ZX10R NIN

30,391 posts

152 months

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Friday 18th August 2023