Any suggestions?

lauroar

Hi everyone

I'm about to start looking for a car - budget circa 3k. I'll be using it to drive 80ish miles 3 times a week (mainly motorway).

Main criteria are reliability and and low-ish running costs (I'm 25 with 7 years exp although only as a named driver so no 'proper' ncb). It's to use whilst I finish my PhD so as long as it sees me through the next 12 months hopefully then I'll have a bit more cash to spend if anything goes wrong or to buy something else. Although obviously if it lasts years longer that's a bonus :beer:. Oh and I'd feel more comfortable driving something 1.6L or less I think.

Any suggestions?

Cheers

tommyjj

For reliability you can't go wrong with a japanese car, however German cars are generally better to drive, more economical and more attractively designed (particularly inside). So you could look at a Honda Civic, VW Golf mk 5 or even an early high-ish mileage BMW 1-series.

However I think it would be hard to go wrong with a Ford Focus 1.6. For £3000 you can get a new-ish, low milage car that's well designed, really good to drive, relatively cheap to insure and very economical to run and maintain. Modern Fords are also much better engineered than their cars of 10 years ago plus.

Loads on Autotrader

fivetide

I'd say 1.6 Civic to keep the Japanese theme going. Potentially a 1.4 to keep insurance down. It won't be fast but if most of the journey is on the motorway it'll sit at 70 no issues.

forgotmyname

Choose the wrong car and your budget will be barely enough to pay the insurance.

Do quotes on some cars 1st and see what you can afford to insure.

lauroar

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Wrt insurance I have budgeted up to 1k, I have looked got quotes for smaller cars which have come in at just sub £500 with my parents as named driver, will have a look at quotes for a civic.

Thanks again

bluesnake

For £3000, three ten year toyota yarris, but make sure they were looked after and have a service history,, but that is the same with any car.