help me choose a car!

CreditCrunchie

I've always had old bangers but now I'm in the market for something a little better. I have a budget of £3,500. Can you help me choose from these 3 very different cars?

2007 Ford Fiesta (or as new as possible)
2002 Mazda MX5 Sport
2003 Toyota Rav4

I am an occasional driver only as I work from home, but I do make 2 or 3 trips a week over a farm track so car must be able to handle this. Other than that
Must be fairly fuel efficient as I do a couple of long drives a year down motorway and windy roads of Yorkshire
Must look good
I don't have kids yet but may have in the next couple of years

I know the Fiesta is the sensible option but I've always wanted a Rav4 and this would be good for winters and over the farm track etc. The Mazda though is just gorgeous, and as I've never had a head turning car I am quite taken by the idea!

Obviously I'd prefer something that won't cost the earth every service/ MOT

I need help!

CreditCrunchie

Would it be a crazy idea to try and get two, say a cheap 4x4 for winter and the Mazda as well? Or perhaps there is a car that's tough enough for country roads, good economy, that I can just buy winter tyres for?

worried_jim

MX5 will give you the most smiles per mile, will probably retain more of it's value (as long as you sell at the peak of summer) and you can of course get winter tyres.

You only live once....

InsideInsurance

If you are hoping for kids in the next couple of years does that mean you have a partner already? What sort of vehicle do they have/ their use?

Herzlos

How will the MX-5 be on the farm track? It might be a great car on the tarmac but if you spend most of your journey crawling along a farm track it might take the excitement out of it. I don't know having never driven one.

CreditCrunchie

Yes my fianc! has a Hyundai coupe, not really practical either haha! Have been reading lots of bad reviews of the MX5 in winter so I'm leaning more towards the fiesta and rav4 now

InsideInsurance

CreditCrunchie wrote: »

Yes my fianc! has a Hyundai coupe, not really practical either haha! Have been reading lots of bad reviews of the MX5 in winter so I'm leaning more towards the fiesta and rav4 now

When are they considering changing that?

We are in a similar situation in that I have an impractical 2 seater and the Mrs wants a car but wants an even more impractical 2 seater. Whilst we dont have kids yet having two similar cars with one just being the smaller version of the other doesnt seem sensible to me (but then I am the one with a toy).

A Rav4 would be the most practical of your options and then possibly steer your partner for going for the slightly more fun impractical car when thats up for change?

CreditCrunchie

That does seem like a good option. He's actually in the market for a new car as well. Might prompt him to get the Mazda lol

muckybutt

Go for a Subaru Forester, mid range 4x4 copes with just about everything that's thrown at it, sticks to the road in the wet and snow and never misses a beat on motorway or country road driving.

Yes I have one and live in rural East Yorkshire and I love my Scoob

getmore4less

how many miles a year?

trip mix, length.

If only doing a couple of long trips is economy really that important


Budget for tax and insurance these may well be quite different depending on vehicle.

CreditCrunchie

Well I decided on the RAV4 and did a quick insurance estimate and it is HUGE!! For my fiesta I pay £120 a year tax and £175 insurance. The Rav will more than double those figures plus mpg is lower.

I had a quick look into smaller cars with 4x4 capability and spotted the panda, the sedici and there's a mazda as well but I can't remember the name. only problem is I can't find any for sale near me.

I only do about 3,000 miles per year. Mainly just 10 mins down the road to the shops, 4 trips a week down to the stables over very bumpy, potholed old farm track, and then a couple of long journeys a year to yorkshire (3 hours on mostly motorway then some lanes).

Do you think it'd be worth getting a normal small car with good fuel economy, then sticking winter tyres on for winter and just being very careful over the farm tracks. Say like the Fiesta?