Next car suggestions please

alexalexalex

I'm looking to replace my current car in the next month or so and would like some opinions on what you guys would choose in my situation

My budget will be around about £1500
My wife and I are expecting our first child in February so it will need to comfortably seat 2 adults and 1 child at least
Main concerns at the moment are safety (especially with a new baby on board) and reliability (especially with a new baby eating up my money) and reasonable insurance would be a bonus as i've just spent £500 renewing the insurance on my current car which is probably worth about half of that amount! :mad:

My current annual mileage is pretty low and would probably be increasing over the coming year but will hardly be astronomical so petrol or diesel wouldnt make too much difference

I'm fairly open to any make and model but at the moment I'm leaning towards a Mazda 6 and also thinking about Ford Focus/Mondeos or Vauxhall Astra/Vectras (with Skoda Octavia popping into my thoughts from time to time)

I know at this end of the market the best car for me will probably be the one with the most service history and fewest owners and most essential work done already (i.e cambelt or clutch changing depending on mileage) but all of those things being equal, what would you go for (or avoid) and why?

Cheers

apesxx

I loved my focus, its the most reliable car i have had, only minor things have needed doing to it. It had only done 40,000 when i got it and had only had one lady owner and full main dealer service history so had been very well looked.

great family car with enough space for the 2 kids, pram and shopping. apparently it was the most popular car at the time so parts are easy to get for them. mine got wrote off at the weekend by a hit and run overnight devastated doesnt even come close to how i feel right now. I think i am definately going to be looking for another focus tho.

mine was a 1.6, although i would be tempted to go for a 1.8 next time as could be a bit sluggish. my fiesta 1.8TDI was a bit faster but i hated that car with a passion. only had it 12 months and couldnt wait to get rid!

s_b

at this end of the market and your chosen models only the focus can be recommended but only petrol and only larger than 1600cc for reasons of reliability

mikey72

They're all much of the same at that age, if it's lasted that long, it'll either be on it's last legs, or it'll keep going another ten years, with hopefully just consumables, or maybe a bit of wear and tear to keep on top of.

I'd avoid the Mazda, but the only reason to avoid the mazda is the price of the spares, fords and vauxhalls are easy, even if you get a really good mazda it's be around 10 years old, and 100,000 miles, so it could be pricey if you need any parts, and it's dealer only.

alexalexalex

s_b wrote: »

at this end of the market and your chosen models only the focus can be recommended

Why do you say that? I hear plenty of good things about the Focus and have driven and enjoyed them myself but there are also a lot of recommendations and high mileage examples of the other cars too?

On that note, seeing cars listed with 100,000+ miles creates something of a mental block with me. Is this unfounded? There are so many cars with such high mileages out there that, with proper maintenance, 100k shouldn't be an issue should it?

iainscomputer

Buy Japanese & avoid anything French! Any car can be a money pit, my last 2 Jap cars have been great, very reliable. At this price German cars can have problems. If it has a expensive repair, ebay it for spares & someone will buy it!

poppasmurf_bewdley

Go for a Mk 3 Mondeo 2 litre diesel estate. Plenty of room for all the kiddy equipment and there's a lot of metal around you in case of an accident.

I sold my 2001 Mk 3 estate in September for a grand and it still had plenty of life left in it. Upwards of 40 to the gallon and a very reliable car.

alexalexalex

Thanks for the comment guys - very helpful

What would your opinions be on something like this BMW?
Granted, a BMW will be older and have a higher mileage than similarly priced Fords or whatnot but by all accounts the Beamer is a great car and, when properly looked after, will go on for ever

worth taking a punt on an older "ulimate driving machine"?

poppasmurf_bewdley

alexalexalex wrote: »

Thanks for the comment guys - very helpful

What would your opinions be on something like this BMW?
Granted, a BMW will be older and have a higher mileage than similarly priced Fords or whatnot but by all accounts the Beamer is a great car and, when properly looked after, will go on for ever

worth taking a punt on an older "ulimate driving machine"?

But BMW's aren't fitted with indicators, hands-free phone kits, switches to turn fog lights off, etc, etc. Granted you can park on double yellow lines or in disabled bays with them, and even take up two parkings bays at once, but is it worth paying sky-high prices for something that comes from a factory that used to make bubble cars?

[Deleted User]

More to the point how much is the insurance going to be on that Beemer plus the mpg ain`t gonna leave you smiling :eek:

atrixblue.-MFR-.

i dont rate BMW's unless you have the 2.5l and above, more reliable engines.

dont think of insurance now in regards to vehicle group, a group 1-2 car could cost more than a group 12 volvo. make and model is what you need to look at and security.

i can insure obscure high powered vehicles for less than i could a 1.3 fiesta.

so looking at a 5 series BMW compared to the norm pug citreons and ford vauxhaulls is a good example get quotes on things you wouldnt normally look at for fear of high premiums.

all cars have pitfalls many opinions will vary on an open forum. with a budget like yours, i'd be looking in the region of a 1.4-1.6 astra G, ford focus1.6-1.8 or the 1.6 deisel honda civic or accord 1.6-18-2.0l saloon toyota avensis.