Car Advice, £2.5k

[T 28]

I'm looking to get a new car. As I'm stepping away from my job/company car to start up on my own, my budget is quite limited. £2.5k.

I do a 20 mile round trip each week day to my office. Most of it is country roads (50/60mph limit) with a couple of little towns either end. Along with the occasional trip to the shops. I also do a 300 mile round trip at least once a month to see relatives. I will be the only driver, but I will be ferrying my wife, 3 kids, a bit of luggage and very rarely our dog (Labrador for size reference).

The car I'd say will have to last me 2 years. I know it can't be avoided, but I'd like something what will be reliable other than routine maintenance, something no older than 12/13 years, spacious for the family, decent comfort. Only definite it needs is cruise control and not be French (5 previous French cars owned, 5 complete breakdowns costing nigh on their value)!

I know it's asking a lot for the little cash I have. Possibly an impossible task?? But any help will be apreciated.

[Trevor555]

It's a bit pot luck at that sort of budget.

All I'll say is, when you buy, take as long a road test as you can get away with.

When you get back feel the wheels to see if any are hotter than the others (binding brakes)

And leave the engine idling for some time, ideally until you've heard the cooling fan cut in and out a couple of times.

Start/stop the engine a few times.

Some dealers put out an engine light for the sale.

Some fault codes take 3/4 start cycles before the engine light re appears.

[ingenieur]

Probably better not to spend the full budget on the car. I often keep a bit back to cover the hidden repairs for which the previous owner had decided to sell.

[7 5 7]

Insignia is my thinking here, or Astra J Tourer, and petrol for reliability, lots of them in this price bracket and will most likely get a newer plate car too.

Or, an Avensis petrol estate I would consider? But, this may stretch you budget for your age you require.

Or, Honda Civic petrol mk8, loads about!

Check out the (Joy of running a shed thread) lots of good examples on there of people running cars with 1/2 of your budget, successfully.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Tuesday 21st November 16:34

[VeeReihenmotor6]

At that sort of budget you options are limited but I'd be aiming for Petrol and something from less popular brands, preferable from the East for simplicity.

Mazda 6 £2.5k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310183...

MG6 £2k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311143...

Kia Soul (higher miles, no bad thing though if car checks out) £2.2k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310052...

MG3 (perhaps a bit small) £2k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311083...


Check MOT history on all cars and avoid anything with rust advises. Other stuff can be fixed reasonably.

Edited by VeeReihenmotor6 on Tuesday 21st November 16:21

[georgeyboy12345]

This Subaru Outback 2.5 SE looks roomy, should be capable, reliable and nice to drive with AWD, a 2.5 boxer motor and auto gearbox. It has either 17 or 22 service stamps in the book, depending on what line of the advert you read. The dealer is even offering a parts and labour warranty (whatever that means) and 12 months AA breakdown cover. Would make a great winter hack. The engines on these are good for around 150k, so at your annual mileage, this should be good for at least another 3 years or so.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308301...



If you want a bit more performance here's a Saab 9-3 2.3 HOT Aero Estate for a grand under budget. The grand you have saved could go on repairing that door that looks damaged. As long as you keep them stock, the engines on these should be good for 250k, so even though this one is quite leggy at 210k, you've got another 40k of life, or 4 years motoring left in this one.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310072...



Finally there's the classic Volvo V70 - this one has the normally aspirated and very under-stressed 140 bhp 2.4 5 cylinder, which should also be good for at least 250k, so hopefully you can get another 2 year out of it

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309192...

[EVOTECH3BELL]

Honda accord 2.4 type S tourer

[ZX10R NIN]

The best 1.8 SRI Insignia you can find lovally:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311033...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311133...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311164...

Mazda6:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309041...

[anonymous-user]

I know you say no French cars, but in your budget and age criteria I would say a petrol 1.6 Renault Megane Dynamique would be an excellent car.

They are decently built, the MK3 is head and shoulders above the MK2 quality wise. They are dirt cheap as few people want them because of the "French unreliability" tag they got from the early 2000s electrical issues.

I have a Mk3 2011 Coupe and it is the best cheap car I have ever owned, it feels a very well screwed together car and I have had zero issues with it. I borrowed a 2022 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 recently and my Megane is a much nicer car to drive.

[Alfa Pete]

At this price I’d try not be too fixated on a particular car , just keep an open mind and buy whatever comes up within budget with some kind of service history , in as good condition that your budget buys that would do the job.

[GreatGranny]

Avensis 2.0D-4D estate

Bomb proof, boring, mundane but will keep going and going.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311194...

or a higher mileage new shape

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311153...

[StefanYHU]

id be going for an older skoda octavia estate.

Look at what the taxi men drive and go from there.

[CivicDuties]

Look for something unfashionable, but robust. Like a KIA Magentis or Hyundai Sonata.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311063...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301123...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311103...