cheaper to run cars

jellybean87_2

Can ayone help me? I am clueless about cars

we are after a 2nd car, for me while hubby has our current car for work. I want to spend under 3k on it, but it needs to be cheap on tax and to run.

Any suggestions?

worried_jim

How many miles will it be doing and what type of journeys. How old are you as I am 38 with full ncb and car type makes little difference to the price of my insurance?

jellybean87_2

I will be 25 by time I get a car. Prob 7k miles at the most. Mainly short journeys, 30 mins max I think.

Pont

I recently traded in an old Audi convertible (£245 road tax/25mpg - servicing eye watering!) for a totally uncool Ford Fusion Diesel (£30 road tax/60+ mpg). Brilliant!

I'm now totally addicted to watching the fuel gauge not going down - well of course it does but at a more 'sedate' rate.

jaydeeuk1

£3k.... Buys you a 5 year old Kia picanto, which isn't a bad car, but considering you could have got one for £4000 brand new with the scrappage scheme just 3 years ago and you might agree that there isn't much value in small economical cars.

Think outside the box.

If its just you, what about a toyota MR2 roadster? Incredibly reliable, can be had for well under £3k. Although a 1.8 its pretty good on fuel as its so light, and tax isn't bad, £215-£220 depending on year. When wife bought hers at 25, her insurance was around the £500 mark with just a couple of years no claims. It was only £50 more than her old knackered 1.4l clio!

Plus you'll have a lot more fun than driving around in some plasticky korean or malaysian outfit 1.0 or a clackety diesel.

funkycoldribena

Skoda Fabia or Ford Fiesta.

getmore4less

There are plenty around in the £20-£30 tax and 60+mpg even on short trips

our clio 1.5DCi has been cheap to run.

worried_jim

MR-2 What a great idea. Think outside the box OP.

knightstyle

Short journeys? Get a small popular petrol car, avoid diesels.

mattyprice4004

I'm in this situation, or was - I just picked up a cheap Rover 420 diesel for £400.

The Jeremy Clarkson fans among you will call me stupid - but the mechanics will know the 2 litre diesel engine Rover used in the 400 was a total gem, they run forever.

Probably a bit cheap for what you want though - the thing doesn't look much on the outside and certainly won't impress the neighbours.

Currently getting 55.4mpg (brim to brim, 50/50 driving) and insurance is cheap as only oldies tend to have them.