Best buy for £4k

Logie143

Morning all,
I've been debating this in my head, in the pub and with my friends for ages but I need other opinions.

I'm replacing my battered old Almera over Christmas, and I want something slightly more professional, comfortable, reliable and a bit more interesting, at least for 2 years until I get off my grad scheme and into a proper job.

My wonderful parents are giving (not lending!) me £4k towards a car and I would love to not have to get any finance and go over that sum (a result of joining MSE I think), I would have normally done something stupid and got credit and bought a BMW or something.

Anyone got any suggestions?

wba31

Logie143 wrote: »

Morning all,
I've been debating this in my head, in the pub and with my friends for ages but I need other opinions.

I'm replacing my battered old Almera over Christmas, and I want something slightly more professional, comfortable, reliable and a bit more interesting, at least for 2 years until I get off my grad scheme and into a proper job.

My wonderful parents are giving (not lending!) me £4k towards a car and I would love to not have to get any finance and go over that sum (a result of joining MSE I think), I would have normally done something stupid and got credit and bought a BMW or something.

Anyone got any suggestions?

How old are you? what size car you want? you bothered about insurance prices? petrol or diesel?

I'm 25 and have owned a Honda Accord 2.2 diesel (can get 2004 model for £4000 if you shop around) and before that I had a VW Bora 1.9 TDi (until i wrote it off) which you can pick up a similar age for a similar price. That being said look for a Golf, if you're not too flash the older model Honda Civic has a 1.7 diesel engine (group 6 insurance), it won't race away at the lights but it will go forever and do 60mpg at 70mph on a motorway run...

Logie143

Hey thanks for that.
I'm 23, so I'm still 14 months under the insurance drop at 25.

I want low insurance and tax- need to save money!

But as to what age and size- Probably 5/6 years old or newer and any size really (except MPV or something daft) I want it for a few years until I get settled in a better job.

A Golf would be the perfect sort of thing, but am I going to get a newish one for the price?

Gordon_Hose

You'd get a decent Golf TDi for £4k. Have a look on autotrader.

Strider590

Logie143 wrote: »

I'm 23, so I'm still 14 months under the insurance drop at 25.

We all hear about this, but how many have actually experienced it?

Rossy.

Strider590 wrote: »

We all hear about this, but how many have actually experienced it?

Knows!

I think it's an urban myth to be honest.

I'm 29, full clean UK license. Also got my PCV,HGV categories so classed as a proffesional driver, 11 years no claims

I still pay £530 pa on my Laguna diesel!!

Horizon81

Yeah its an urban myth.

Get yourself a Ford Focus. A myriad of options available, I'm sure you'll find one version that suits.

Logie143

Oh is it? Damn it I was looking forward to that.

Aah well, cheers for the ideas. A focus is tempting, but it doesn't have much style about it. I think i may be being a bit picky.

I was looking at the Grande Punto, they're fairly good value at the moment, but not too sure, so thanks!

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

MX-5. Cheap, easy to work on, lots of fun. You're 23, don't be boring and buy a Golf, get something more interesting.

Logie143

I was looking at convertibles but the thing is my job means I have to move around every 6 months for the next two years, so I need to be able to get my stuff in it. Would be much more fun though

Horizon81

Grande Punto might appear good value but they're cheap in the first place.

You need to give us more of a clue of what you're after. You want comfortable, reliable, more professional than an Almera and now something styish. You can't have it all for 4k. The focus is the default car to go for - should meet all of your criteria. You'd probably get an early mark 2 focus for that price. An mx5 isn't much use if you ever want to carry more than one passenger or want to carry stuff (luggage, shopping etc) to your flat or wherever you live.

I'd avoid anything French or Korean. Are you bothered about power?