Best family car that doesn't cost a fortune to run?

Chris2685

That's all well and good... But I can't find a single Civic within 10 miles of my post code for less than £10k and done less than 80k! I think that is mainly because they are too new though.
Lots of 02/03 Skodas going for around £3000 though

TiTheRev

Chris2685 wrote: »

That's all well and good... But I can't find a single Civic within 10 miles of my post code for less than £10k and done less than 80k! I think that is mainly because they are too new though.
Lots of 02/03 Skodas going for around £3000 though

That must make it 1-1

David_Aston

Fabia Estate must be as capacious as a Honda Civic Chris, surely!

Road_Hog

Chris2685 wrote: »

That's all well and good... But I can't find a single Civic within 10 miles of my post code for less than £10k and done less than 80k!

Well if you're only going to limit yourself to a 10 mile radius then you will struggle.

Chris2685 wrote:

I think that is mainly because they are too new though.

Yes if you're looking for a sub £5K car you won't find one.

Chris2685 wrote:

Lots of 02/03 Skodas going for around £3000 though

Yep, they do devalue quickly, wait until Xmas and you'll probably get one for a grand.

Chris2685

Well there are quite a few cars within 10 miles of here... Autotrader says 35 thousand at the moment.

We have decided it is probably sensible to go for a Ford Focus Zetec, around 2003/2002 and spend no more than £3000. Seem to be a few available.

We reached a compromise, because my girlfriend won't drive something big like the Octavia or Passat.

Any comments on whether the Focus is a wise idea?

Skint_Catt

Focus is a great idea but then I'm biased. (Two in the family) You can always get biased advice at https://www.ffoc.co.uk They're a good bunch and with a Ford you can fix pretty much everything yourself so low maintenance costs. If you think you can't speak to the ffoc forum and tghey'll tell you a way to do it. I never thought I'd be a car maintenance type woman but I've changed the IB5 spring in the gearbox and the coil pack in the engine - sooo easy and parts are very cheap. OH is changing my clutch in the next few weeks too.

Your girlfriend would soon get used to a bigger car though - I've had a Focus for 5 years but regularly drove my OH's passat estate. Driving position is VERY low and hard to judge at first, but his new Citroen C4 Picasso is equally hard for me at the mo even though its higher!

minimoneysaver

How about the Honda Jazz? I've got a little one and there is plenty of room. In fact, last weekend I had two adults, two car seatss and two pushchairs in mine and there was still loads of room!
Best of all it is cheap to insure, tax and run. It was recommended by quite a few people on here, I took it on a test drive and loved it. Thanks again everyone. x

Chris2685

Interesting you should mention that, a lady I was working with tonight has one and I was tempted to ask her if I could take a look at it. I think we are set on buying a Focus now though, but I won't rule out other cars.
Probably won't be buying for at least another month though, so plenty of time to mull it over...

ameratsu

For something totally practical and very economical, we have a 52 reg. VW Sharan, they are a joy to drive, very comfy, with a brilliant turning circle and you can take all the back seats out and have a huge space, we've fitted a double divan in the back of ours. You wouldn't even have to fold down the pushchair to get it in the back!
We get 45 - 50 mpg from our 1.9 TDI. They are practically giving them away at the moment and you would have bags of room for any more family "additions".
Hubby's buying a Pug 306 diesel for going to work in but I'm hanging on to the Sharan, it's just too practical to get rid of - my daughter is having my Corsa as I now hate driving it because I love the Sharan.

banger9365

pre 1971 land rover SWB with a v8 engine on gas cheap has chips and green
no VED and vintage insurance