Need help choosing a £7000 small car

Maxine111

Hi, I'm new here.

I had a messy divorce but managed to walk away with the kids - lost my job as a director of my own company and my company car had to go too as part of the divorce deal - but I got the kids and dog:j

So I am going from driving a brand new rental car every 6 months to having to buy a used one for £7000 (ex has to pay that exact amount) and I haven't got a clue.

All I know is that I need a small car that will fit the Belgian Shepherd dog and two kids (he's German Shepherd/Alsatian sized)

Previously I have driven a Golf GTI - had plenty of oomph was ok but they are too expensive
A Corsa - not much go in it but was ok
A Scirrocco - looked great but couldn't see out the back window, dog was squashed a bit and was too wide down the narrow streets where I live where cars are parked both sides. Hard parking area. Can't afford a Scirrocco anyway.

And my last car was great - a Honda Jazz - maybe a tiny bit too big - but I could live with it - just can't found any at £7000 . I gave it back after 6 months without a scratch on it .

I can only drive automatics. I need a small, thinnish car with a boot that can fit a largish dog. For £7000.

Any suggestions? I would be very grateful. Thanks.

I've only been driving 2 and a half years - I didn't need to drive before kids came along now they need to go everywhere...;)

Just walked home with a sick child from school so reality has set in - I need to choose a car fast.

xyz123

Maxine111 wrote: »

Hi, I'm new here.

I had a messy divorce but managed to walk away with the kids - lost my job as a director of my own company and my company car had to go too as part of the divorce deal - but I got the kids and dog:j

So I am going from driving a brand new rental car every 6 months to having to buy a used one for £7000 (ex has to pay that exact amount) and I haven't got a clue.

All I know is that I need a small car that will fit the Belgian Shepherd dog and two kids (he's German Shepherd/Alsatian sized)

Previously I have driven a Golf GTI - had plenty of oomph was ok but they are too expensive
A Corsa - not much go in it but was ok
A Scirrocco - looked great but couldn't see out the back window, dog was squashed a bit and was too wide down the narrow streets where I live where cars are parked both sides. Hard parking area. Can't afford a Scirrocco anyway.

And my last car was great - a Honda Jazz - maybe a tiny bit too big - but I could live with it - just can't found any at £7000 . I gave it back after 6 months without a scratch on it .

I can only drive automatics. I need a small, thinnish car with a boot that can fit a largish dog. For £7000.

Any suggestions? I would be very grateful. Thanks.

I've only been driving 2 and a half years - I didn't need to drive before kids came along now they need to go everywhere...;)

Just walked home with a sick child from school so reality has set in - I need to choose a car fast.

there are quite few used honda jazz around for £7000. search on autotrader.

if you are expecting a new or nearly new honda for £7000 then ................

MrCrimeFiction

Used ford mondeo or vauxhall insignia. Or a vw passat . Loads to choose from

forgotmyname

Ford Focus hatch or estate, Ford Mondeo, Skoda Octavia.

Wh05apk

MrCrimeFiction wrote: »

Used ford mondeo or vauxhall insignia. Or a vw passat . Loads to choose from

OP is looking for a small car, not a barge!


Jazz, Nissan note, or Yaris, are all quite small but roomy inside, and relatively slim, but should all be pretty reliable/cheap to run.

Hintza

The OP found a Jazz big so this will be tricky.

From the list above a Nissan Note would be a good choice, if you want something a bit smaller the Fiat Panda or the usual Ford Focus' etc.

darkmatter101

Lexus IS250 automatic

Ebe_Scrooge

Check on Autotrader, £7000 will get you a very tidy second-hand small car. Probably 3 - 4 years old, lowish mileage, full service history.

If you're not sure what you want, spend an afternoon wandering around forecourts of dealerships near you. You'll be able to see the size of different cars, get an idea of what would suit, and get a very rough ball-park figure of the going rate for them.

OddballJamie

darkmatter101 wrote: »

Lexus IS250 automatic

Bet you could send her the link to one for sale too.

xyz123

Hintza wrote: »

The OP found a Jazz big so this will be tricky.

and OP also said he could live with it!

Maxine111

Thanks for the info everyone.
Yes I can manage with a jazz but since I will probably have it a long time am trying to find one with low mileage and not too old. I expect I'll have to give up looking for under 2 years on cars.
Lots of ideas of small cars here I will look up.

I did go around a dealer after looking up a Mitsubushi Colt hatchback online and found that the boot was too small for the dog.
He tried to sell me an Astra hatchback but it was too pricey.

I find myself staring at every small car that drives past now to see if it has a large boot lol.
I was watching a car yesterday as I was crossing a road and it smashed into another one right in front of me. The airbags on the Fiat Panda worked the other cars airbag didn't work and was so smashed up I couldn't see what car it was - but they both got out and started swearing at each other so I figured they were ok - think I'm safer as a driver than a pedestrian I was inches from being splattered