Buying a Car...No idea!

clearingout

would be grateful for some help as I have no idea where to start. I have a Vauxhall Mervia I inherited which, at almost 10 years old, is beginning to cost me money. Prior to that, I always had whatever car my now ex husband thought appropriate!

I have about £6k to spend on a 'new' car. My needs:
- 4 doors.
- boot size not particularly important as no buggy anymore although we tend to holiday in the UK so an average size would be better than small.
- work journey will be short from September. I will do less than 10 miles a day (return) in suburban conditions (it's a bit stop start stop start). Unlikely to make very long journeys other than a holiday a couple of times a year. I have no need to be able to do 90 miles an hour with ease on the motorway!
- cheap to run and cheap to repair (there is an intention to keep the car as long as possible - up to 10 years, I guess).
- 3 children and a grand-parent are transported around in it regularly - a wider backseat than the Meriva would be really helpful.
- I am not the best at parking and live in an area where there is a lot of parked cars to work round so am not keen on a wide car (I know that contradicts the last statement!).

I have a mechanic I trust who is happy to look at any cars prior to buying them. I have no idea, however, where to start and what might suit my needs best. Any suggestions? And any advice on where to buy from (or better said, where to avoid)?

FreddieFrugal

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/honda/jazz/radius/1501/price-to/6000/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/maximum-age/up_to_5_years_old/sort/pricedesc/longitude/-0.40809097706188296/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/latitude/53.841442993717806

Honda Jazz sounds like it might suit your needs. Also possibly Nissan note, just you mentioned you'd like bit more width on rear seats and note is very narrow even for children.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/honda/jazz/hatchback-2008/

It's good for round town, got those fancy flip and fold rear seats, relatively frugal petrol engine for age of car and well rated for reliability.

Iceweasel

This is a very subjective thing to give advice on.

Definitely NOT anything diesel as your short journeys will serve only to create problems with the DPF - I shan't waste time explaining - (google DPF) - suffice to say that diesels are mile-eaters and thrive on long journeys.

Have you had a good look round a big car park - say Tesco or Asda and imagined changing to one of the vehicles that take your fancy? If so, which?

It's often easier to find reasons NOT to get a particular model than to suggest one for you.

Happy hunting.

GAZ237

Ask your mechanic his opinion.