Help me choose a car

racing_blue

Hi, I'm looking a small car for to drive to and at work:

RELIABLE
smart and tidy
no excitement - not unusual- not attract attention
4 doors
up to 3 years old
less than 20000 miles
good fuel economy
low road tax
cheap to insure
cheap parts if need replacing
to run it until it stops looking smart and tidy
won't cry if it breaks... just get another

What is the best (most economical) approach to finding a car like this?

I currently, stupidly, drive a big flash tank which does 23 mpg & costs a lot to tax and service. Bought it before I became financially aware. I do about 6000 miles per year. Most journeys are 3-10 miles. 95% of the time it's just me in the car, but occasionally I need to carry up to 3 passengers. I don't need to carry much stuff.

Cheers for any advice

mikey72

Citroen C3 1.4 diesel.

daveyjp

Ford Fiesta every time.

Stooby2

No French cars. Absurdly difficult and expensive to fix.

As above, Ford Fiesta or Focus. Vauxhall Corsa or Astra if you don't like Fords

fatbelly

Nissan Micra
Skoda Fabia

arrowsmith

Japanese or South Korean. Avoid diesel, French or anything from VW group.

racing_blue

arrowsmith wrote: »

Japanese or South Korean. Avoid diesel, French or anything from VW group.

I'm not clever about cars: is there a reason why it is best to avoid diesel?

Say I pay £9k for a nearly new small car, keep it 5 years, drive 30000 miles, and sell it for £2k- how low can I get the total cost including depreciation? My maths say £7k depreciation, £5k on fuel, £1k on insurance, £2k on servicing / tyres etc, minimal road tax for something small.... £15k, so £3k per year? That seem about right for a small efficient car? Are there cheaper ways without invoking bangernomics?

Thanks for all the tips so far by the way, I'm liking the look of a Fiesta or possibly a Focus at the moment but have not checked out Japanese Korean yet

rev_henry

You're just not doing enough miles to justify the extra expense of a diesel. Also modern diesels do not like short journeys.

What you driving at the moment? How much is that worth? Personally I could never justify spending £9k on a silly little car. Why not get something for 3k or so?

fatbelly

racing_blue wrote: »

I'm not clever about cars: is there a reason why it is best to avoid diesel?

Say I pay £9k for a nearly new small car, keep it 5 years, drive 30000 miles, and sell it for £2k- how low can I get the total cost including depreciation? My maths say £7k depreciation, £5k on fuel, £1k on insurance, £2k on servicing / tyres etc, minimal road tax for something small.... £15k, so £3k per year? That seem about right for a small efficient car? Are there cheaper ways without invoking bangernomics?

Thanks for all the tips so far by the way, I'm liking the look of a Fiesta or possibly a Focus at the moment but have not checked out Japanese Korean yet

It's the DPFs on the modern diesels that cause the problems. I used to have a Fabia diesel without one and it handled anything you threw at it. Short journeys, long journeys, bulletproof engine, galvanised body.

I think you can get something that fits your spec for less than 9k. And from an mse viewpoint, depreciation (as you pointed out) is the big money loser.

If you fancy a Fiesta, maybe something like this

Ford Fiesta 1.25 Style 5 door [82] 2009

atrixblue.-MFR-.

petrol in your circumstances.

depreciation is something we all have to take in a car one way or another whether its astronimical miles, trolly dents here and there and that extra keeper on the v5c not serviced on the dot, playes an important part aswell in owning any vehicle.

what about a suzuki swift?

or a kia yeti, c'eed (not diesel)?

mitsibishi lancer hatchback?

forgotmyname

Mondeo, Boring BUT fun to drive. Handles very well. PLenty of engine specs to keep you happy. Too big?

zzz boring... Fiesta..