Reliable hatch up to £4500

[Jimjimhim]

I'm looking for a car for a friend, she has up to £4500 to spend and needs a 5 door small to medium sized hatch that's cheap to run and reliable. The car will mostly be used for shortish journeys for her and her young daughter.

I'm thinking a 2016> Vauxhall Astra with either the 1.0turbo petrol or the 1.4turbo petrol. Any thoughts on these cars?

Any other options?

Thanks

[Pebbles167]

That'll be fine, as will most any small car. Will come down to her personal preference, and ultimately what's in the distance she's willing to travel.

If looks and performance are not that important, she'll get a really low mileage Dacia Sandero for her budget.

[Jimjimhim]

Yes I looked at the Dacia, but they look a little more basic than the Astra for the cash?

[Jimjimhim]

Is it the 1.0 Ford engine that's meant to be unreliable?

[blue_haddock]

Vauxhalls really arent reliable.

For me I'd be looking at korean or japanese so the Kia Ceed, Hyundai I30, Toyota Auris etc.

Much more likely than a vauxhall to just run and run.

[Defcon5]

Jimjimhim said:

Is it the 1.0 Ford engine that's meant to be unreliable?

Yes, they have multiple points of potential catastrophic failure

[Shabaza]

Consider less well known models to gain value for money - Perhaps Skoda Rapid or the Rapid spaceback.

Something like this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403267...


Very white goods but very capable

Edited by Shabaza on Wednesday 3rd July 12:53

[Jimjimhim]

blue_haddock said:

Vauxhalls really arent reliable.

For me I'd be looking at korean or japanese so the Kia Ceed, Hyundai I30, Toyota Auris etc.

Much more likely than a vauxhall to just run and run.

The MK7 looks to be no worse than many other cars? A few issues I suppose but what car doesn't?

[CubanShirtEnthusiast]

My vote would be for a 2010-2017 Suzuki Swift. I used to have one and it was almost entirely trouble free, cheap to run and a lot more practical than its small boot might suggest. It was really well-equipped as well with air con, reversing sensors, cruise control and sat nav.

I say "almost entirely trouble free" because my ownership ended in a fairly spectacular manner. Turns out the dealership falsified the service history and the previous owner, who had it from new, never serviced the thing. I changed the oil several times in my ~1 year of ownership but couldn't save it - the engine started using loads of oil before completely letting go.

Long story short, buy one with full service history - £4.5k should get you a good 2014/2015 car.

[ZX10R NIN]

blue_haddock said:

Vauxhalls really arent reliable.

For me I'd be looking at korean or japanese so the Kia Ceed, Hyundai I30, Toyota Auris etc.

Much more likely than a vauxhall to just run and run.

Have to disagree with this they're no worse than any turbo car.

OP with your friends budget in mind I'd also consider the 1.6 N/A unit as well:

1.6 Limited Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406060...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405199...

1.4T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406251...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406110...


1.6 Elite:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406190...

[Wheel Turned Out]

blue_haddock said:

Vauxhalls really arent reliable.

For me I'd be looking at korean or japanese so the Kia Ceed, Hyundai I30, Toyota Auris etc.

Much more likely than a vauxhall to just run and run.

Generally Toyota is a good shout, but the Auris is not one of their better products.

For me I'd go Honda Jazz - yes they're dowdy, but get one that isn't too crispy underneath and it's hard to go far wrong.

[Jimjimhim]

ZX10R NIN said:

blue_haddock said:

Vauxhalls really arent reliable.

For me I'd be looking at korean or japanese so the Kia Ceed, Hyundai I30, Toyota Auris etc.

Much more likely than a vauxhall to just run and run.

Have to disagree with this they're no worse than any turbo car.

OP with your friends budget in mind I'd also consider the 1.6 N/A unit as well:

1.6 Limited Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406060...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405199...

1.4T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406251...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406110...


1.6 Elite:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406190...

That's how I was thinking too, niggles but nothing worse than others. I was hoping she could get the newer model, the reviews are really good.

[Jimjimhim]

CubanShirtEnthusiast said:

My vote would be for a 2010-2017 Suzuki Swift. I used to have one and it was almost entirely trouble free, cheap to run and a lot more practical than its small boot might suggest. It was really well-equipped as well with air con, reversing sensors, cruise control and sat nav.

I say "almost entirely trouble free" because my ownership ended in a fairly spectacular manner. Turns out the dealership falsified the service history and the previous owner, who had it from new, never serviced the thing. I changed the oil several times in my ~1 year of ownership but couldn't save it - the engine started using loads of oil before completely letting go.

Long story short, buy one with full service history - £4.5k should get you a good 2014/2015 car.

The swift is a cool little car, but possibly a bit too small maybe.

[ZX10R NIN]

Jimjimhim said:

That's how I was thinking too, niggles but nothing worse than others. I was hoping she could get the newer model, the reviews are really good.

I think you'll be closer to 5k to get a good version of the newer model, although you will get one with partial history:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404178...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406050...

[Jimjimhim]

I think the newer one is worth stretching the budget for, it's a lot of car for the money, or thats how it seems to me.

[bearman68]

Yaris, Yaris, Auris, or a Yaris.

Honda Jazz, or a Yaris.


Toyota have always been streets ahead in reliability stakes, and still are. Never know a bad petrol engine in one.

[ZX10R NIN]

I agree it's a big step forward.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406100...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406030...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406050...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Wednesday 3rd July 21:11

[Jimjimhim]

bearman68 said:

Yaris, Yaris, Auris, or a Yaris.

Honda Jazz, or a Yaris.


Toyota have always been streets ahead in reliability stakes, and still are. Never know a bad petrol engine in one.

I know I said small to medium, but I think the Yaris and Jazz are probably a bit too small for her. The Auris is quite an old car at her budget so I'm not too sure about that either tbh

[Wheel Turned Out]

Mazda 3? Often overlooked.

[georgeyboy12345]

Jimjimhim said:

I'm looking for a car for a friend, she has up to £4500 to spend and needs a 5 door small to medium sized hatch that's cheap to run and reliable. The car will mostly be used for shortish journeys for her and her young daughter.

I'm thinking a 2016> Vauxhall Astra with either the 1.0turbo petrol or the 1.4turbo petrol. Any thoughts on these cars?

Any other options?

Thanks

Avoid these 1.4 turbo Vauxhall units, they suffer from low speed pre ignition, misfires and turbo failure.

Ideas

Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406281...


Seat Leon 1.2 TSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407021...


VW Golf 1.2 TSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405159...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405099...