Advice please- which car?

zanesue

I have £4000 max to spend on a car.

I drive approx 15000 miles per year with a 52 mile round trip to and from work.

The cars I have been looking at are -

HONDA Civic 1.7i CDTI

ASTRA 1.7 CDTI

FOCUS 1.6 TDCI LX


I would be grateful for any advice on these or similar cars.

I have a six points for speeding and an accident within the last five years so need a lowish insurance group car.

LandyAndy

For your budget I'd take the Focus.

alx33277

A Golf - added bonus of being worth something once you're finished with it...

Hammyman

I would avoid the Astra. Its not a nice car to do a lot of mileage in and my mates seems to be forever having problems even though its got half the mileage of my Mondeo.

zanesue

I would love a Golf, alx33277 but unfortunately the insurance is just too high for me.

LandyAndy

Hammyman wrote: »

I would avoid the Astra. Its not a nice car to do a lot of mileage in and my mates seems to be forever having problems even though its got half the mileage of my Mondeo.

That's my feeling about Astras as well.

I think you'd get a better example of a Focus than a Civic for the money. The Civic should be a reliable car if you can get past the styling (which I can't).

wba31

I have the 1.7 diesel civic and what you will get is a great car. i have a friend with a diesel focus of the same age, and his has been in the garage a lot more than mine has... mine has only had wear and tear parts replaced (tyres, brake pads...) gives a great mpg, very roomy, very comfortable to drive. is only £115 a year to tax and insurance group 6. The engine is not a Honda engine, but an Isuzu engine, but it still has the reliability you would expect from a honda.

zanesue

Thanks everyone, I think i'll take Astra off the list.

I've seen two nice Honda Civics, although I do prefer the look of the Focus, reliability is more important to me these days.

LandyAndy

zanesue wrote: »

Thanks everyone, I think i'll take Astra off the list.

I've seen two nice Honda Civics, although I do prefer the look of the Focus, reliability is more important to me these days.

You might look at Mazda3's They are very similar to the Focus underneath and reliability should be second to none. Insurance will perhaps be more but I can't see it being more than a Civic.

blue_haddock

alx33277 wrote: »

A Golf - added bonus of being worth something once you're finished with it...

Or alternatively it is overpriced for a base spec, dog slow hatchback.

75bhp in a car of that weight will be woeful to drive

alx33277

Alternative to what? My only observation was that it would be worth something after a few years.

It's far from a great drive, but the criteria was for a lowish insurance car, on a budget, for above average mileage each year, the bulk of which is done on a daily cummute. The Golf ticks these boxes.