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Advice on the best value hatchback

I am soon going on the market for a hatchback, and I wanted some advice on value for money, based on users experiences.
I will need an automatic, which will do around 450 miles per week.
Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • at what budget? new or second hand? or banger on a budget?

    we run a focus diesel hatch, and at 1.8Turbo its got power, economy and is excellent to run and drive. overall very happy with it after 2 yrs.

    Also run a Honda CRV estate, but is a touch thirsty. fantastic car though. and a volvo s80 T6 but only had that a few weeks, so cannot comment other than its a right good laugh :~)
  • stefano
    stefano Posts: 949 Forumite
    I may consider spending £4,000 to £5,000 on a second hand, or enter in a finance agreement whereas you pay for 42 months and then PX
  • VfM4meplse
    VfM4meplse Posts: 34,269 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    bungle4by4 wrote: »
    we run a focus diesel hatch, and at 1.8Turbo its got power, economy and is excellent to run
    Slight digression - have you seen the advert for the new Ford Focus? The one that brakes automatically, recognises traffic signals and parks itself? Is it deliberately aimed at the crap driver market?
    Value-for-money-for-me-puhleeze!

    "No man is worth, crawling on the earth"- adapted from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio

    Hope is not a strategy :D...A child is for life, not just 18 years....Don't get me started on the NHS, because you won't win...I love chaz-ing!
  • Hotspur
    Hotspur Posts: 528 Forumite
    What size of car do you need? Ka, Fiesta, Focus or Mondeo sized?
  • stefano
    stefano Posts: 949 Forumite
    Hotspur wrote: »
    What size of car do you need? Ka, Fiesta, Focus or Mondeo sized?

    More Focus size, I guess, as family is growing, currently drive a Punto.
    BTW: Car will have many uses:
    1. Family car
    2. Commuting vehicle
    3. Driving school vehicle
  • bms1972
    bms1972 Posts: 37 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    stefano wrote: »
    I may consider spending £4,000 to £5,000 on a second hand, or enter in a finance agreement whereas you pay for 42 months and then PX

    Is the budget different if you choose the finance route?

    Based on your 450 miles a week, that comes to approx 22.5k miles a year and means you will put around 80k miles on the car in 42 months. Given that any car you buy for around £5000 will already have a chunk of miles on it, you are probably going to have something way into a 6 figure mileage after 42 months. So don't bank on a big amount left at the end for PX.

    The usual route for your kind of mileage would be a diesel, but autos are not especially common in small diesels. Be slightly wary of high mileage common rail diesels (most modern ones are) that have been on extended service intervals, i.e. oil changes only every 15-20k miles.

    Most diesels in the price bracket you suggest will probably already be well on their way to a 6 figure mileage.

    You could investigate petrol japanese cars such as the Toyota Corolla/Auris, Mazda 3.

    For a £4-5k diesel, perhaps something from the Volkswagen Audi Group with the older non-common rail 1.9 diesel. Think VW Golf, Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia.
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