Best buy for £4k

Horizon81

Logie143 wrote: »

I don't think I'd buy Hyundai or Kia or any other Korean brands.

I am becoming less of a brand B*tch, but I still have a bit.

Ford, VW even french I could cope with for a while.

But not Kia :eek:

I know they aren't that bad anymore....but still

Exactly. you're 23 and don't want a reputation as being cheap. I know Hyundais and Kias aren't necessarily cheap but that's what (some) people will think you are if you drive one.

I'm surprised at all the love for the Golf. Just like Mercedes their reliability has taken a nosedive in recent years. May as well go for a Skoda, at least they're cheaper and everyone sees them as VW's so much more kudos than something Korean.

A wildcard could be a Toyota Auris (if budget stretches that far). Boring to drive but look quite modern and stylish if you go for a 3 door variant. Still, I do think the Focus is your best bet.

Inactive

Horizon81 wrote: »

Exactly. you're 23 and don't want a reputation as being cheap. I know Hyundais and Kias aren't necessarily cheap but that's what (some) people will think you are if you drive one.

.

That is where we differ, I could not give a fart what other people think about my choice/s.

Horizon81

You would if you were 23! Plenty time for the OP to drive old mans cars when he's errrr, an old man!

Don't forget the younger generation has been weaned on Top Gear, who regularly deride such cheap brands.

Inactive

Horizon81 wrote: »

You would if you were 23! Plenty time for the OP to drive old mans cars when he's errrr, an old man!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::D

alipops1986

I must defend Kia's!

I have a kia picanto [55 plate] have had it for 4.5 yrs, bought it 6mnths old for just over 4k and i've NEVER had a problem! {Hope i don't jinx it!]

It's passed every MOT without a problem with engine or anything massive. It's very economical and has all the mod cons - air con etc.

Only point i agree with is street cred - as a 23yr old lass i can get away with it just about !

But, as i'm looking for a new/different car just out of choice, i'm finding the more i look the more i can't match my wee Kia!

PS: don't get me wrong, i'm not suggesting that OP get's one, just defending Kia in general!

Logie143

I have actually driven a Kia Cee'd- I had it as a hire car a couple of years ago, I was actually impressed with it. It isn't a bad machine.

But you're right, I'm 23, single and newly professional- I'm not sure a Kia is going to be a great reputation maker. The others may not be either, but they won't have a negative effect!

Plus...my grandfather has a Kia...so it puts it firmly in the old man category for me I'm afraid.

Focus is a good idea, and defiantely in the running.


Thanks for all your help guys!

Indout96

Toyota Celica VVTi 140 (or VVTLi 190 if you want more power)
Brilliant to drive
Ultra reliable and cheap parts "if" they go wrong. I say if as I had mine for 7 years and nothing ever did, my daughter has had hers for 3 years and nothing there either.
Can fit 2 people + 2 children or small adults and has a large usable boot or with seats down its almost as big as an estate
Cheapish insurance - very nippy rather than fast. 0-60 is around 8 seconds
30 mpg around town - 40 mpg on motorway

bengalknights

skoda fabia rs,very sporty and should be able to pick one up for £4k

Lithian

Kind of lol at the people recommending diesels but okay.

I did some quick sums and figure the op is maybe doing 10-12k/year, fine going from something like a 36 MPG petrol to a 46MPG diesel will save him about £350/year... but for that he'd have to factor in high pressure injectors, diesel particulate filters and turbos which the petrol car probably wont have. With something like a mondeo (worth a look btw OP, they handle better than you'd think) any of those problems on the diesel car will ruin the savings you made for a few years. Actually in the mondeos case the diesels tend to lunch their Dual Mass Flywheels as well due to the higher torque.

Also of note, a diesel probably wouldn't have had a chance to warm up on your 5miles into work which would worry me with regards to the DPF (on any modern diesel) and means you wont see great fuel economy then anyway

Even without the extra risk, i'd probably still pay the £350/year not to hear DAGDAGDAGDAGDAG all the time

@OP If you see a car that you like, run some numbers on the petrol versions as well, you may even find that you get a newer/lower milage petrol for your 4K in the first place

Rossy.

Lithian wrote: »

Kind of lol at the people recommending diesels but okay.

I did some quick sums and figure the op is maybe doing 10-12k/year, fine going from something like a 36 MPG petrol to a 46MPG diesel will save him about £350/year... but for that he'd have to factor in high pressure injectors, diesel particulate filters and turbos which the petrol car probably wont have. With something like a mondeo (worth a look btw OP, they handle better than you'd think) any of those problems on the diesel car will ruin the savings you made for a few years. Actually in the mondeos case the diesels tend to lunch their Dual Mass Flywheels as well due to the higher torque.

Also of note, a diesel probably wouldn't have had a chance to warm up on your 5miles into work which would worry me with regards to the DPF (on any modern diesel) and means you wont see great fuel economy then anyway

Even without the extra risk, i'd probably still pay the £350/year not to hear DAGDAGDAGDAGDAG all the time

@OP If you see a car that you like, run some numbers on the petrol versions as well, you may even find that you get a newer/lower milage petrol for your 4K in the first place

erm okay.

Diesels are the way forward in my opinion.

Vans sound rattly. Car's however don't. My diesel doesn't thats for sure. Ok when i first start it you can tell it's a diesel but 5 minutes down the road you can't hear the engine at all bar the turbo whistling away.

Car's arent cheap to run and any saving is a good saving. I'd rather a car that fits 5 comfortably, drives nice, and is cheap to run. than spend 4k than realise i can't afford the squirt to put in it.