Recommend a cheap run-around for the wife

PeteW

Hiya, the wife's 1994 Punto is pretty much classifiable as a death trap nowadays, and I'm not entirely happy about her ferrying the little one about in it, so I think time has come for a replacement.

Don't want to spend too much given the ever-looming fear of redundancy! Probably £3k or so at most.

She wants something with 5 doors and a big enough boot to fit all the paraphernalia required for a couple of babies along with 43 handbags and a couple dozen pairs of shoes.

And after living with a Fiat, something reliable is a must!

My initial thought is a Ford Focus, but just wondering if anyone had any other suggestions?

This one seems quite reasonable to me.

Cheers

flang

Its a true fact that the most reliable cars are always german and japs.
You should be able to get a fairly decent car for the money.

hewhoisnotintheknow

jap yes, german no

**woody123**

PeteW wrote: »

Hiya, the wife's 1994 Punto is pretty much classifiable as a death trap nowadays, and I'm not entirely happy about her ferrying the little one about in it, so I think time has come for a replacement.

Don't want to spend too much given the ever-looming fear of redundancy! Probably £3k or so at most.

She wants something with 5 doors and a big enough boot to fit all the paraphernalia required for a couple of babies along with 43 handbags and a couple dozen pairs of shoes.

And after living with a Fiat, something reliable is a must!

My initial thought is a Ford Focus, but just wondering if anyone had any other suggestions?

This one seems quite reasonable to me.

Cheers

The Ford Focus you gave the link to is at a very good price considering the age and mileage the car has done pete.

I suppose the reason the price is so cheap is because it is the older model but be wary when viewing the car for any other reasons why it could be cheap.

freakybacon

With all that lot to cart about what about one of the dull-but-worthy japanese/korean people carriers?

Chevrolet Tacuma/Lacetti
Kia Carens
Hyundai Matrix
Mitsubishi Space star
Nissan Almera Tino
Mazda Premacy

AdrianHi

Japanese (and Skoda) seem to occupy the top of reliability charts, Gemrans the middle, the rest (especially French) the bottom.
The Fiat Panda has bucked the trend and fares very well on reliability. May be you just need a change from Fiat anyway? Sister in law has a Fiat Panda which they love and 2 kids plus stuff fits OK, they use a bigger car for weekends.

Skoda Fabia / Octavia probably as good as it gets for reliability and you can get something decent for £3K

big_gay_kirk

cheap run around for the wife.. well, you could send her to the hardware shop for a tub of elbow grease.... or to B+Q for a long standing-weight.....

slummymummyof3

freakybacon wrote: »

With all that lot to cart about what about one of the dull-but-worthy japanese/korean people carriers?

Chevrolet Tacuma/Lacetti
Kia Carens
Hyundai Matrix
Mitsubishi Space star
Nissan Almera Tino
Mazda Premacy

Can whole heartedly recommend the Nissan Almera Tino - had mine for 6 years and it is fabulous! It has masses of room in the boot, loads of little hidey holes for all your junk and is great for reliability. It was (6 years ago) voted in the Sunday Times and Which guides as the most reliable, safest etc in its class (2.2 TD) - would definately buy a Japanese car again for reliability and also they have everything you could wish for included with them - mine even has a holder for my sun glasses!

PeteW

OK, well in the end I was waiting to hear about the government scrappage deal, but I don't that's going to help us much, so I've started looking again.

I've found this 05 Focus 1.6 Zetec for £2950 which looks good to me, anyone any comments - fair price?

Is there anything special I should be looking out for with one of these? Could I get much off the listed price..?

Cheers

harveybobbles

05 old model...?!
Make sure it has aircon as there are lots that don't...

Be more careful when posting links on here cos you left yer postcode on that one...

MX5huggy

Seems a bit cheep maybe? as said 05 Mk1 Focus? Do a HPI check on it.

Oh can you can only 41 handbags in the boot