Car suggestions with £8000 budget

duk3nuk3m

I'm looking to upgrade my slightly tired 53 plate Focus to something newer and more economical.

I'm a 26 year old male, my annual mileage is approx. 12,000 miles per year and currently getting 30mpg from my Focus. My budget is £6000 - £8000, less than 5 years old and must be a 5 door hatchback.

I've been looking at a few petrol Honda Civic's, but that seems to be the only car that I'm being drawn to.

Any suggestions?

tykesi

I'm quite biased as I have a Civic so would definitely recommend one. Sounds like you're on the border line mileage for choosing between petrol and diesel but if you're happy with petrol both the 1.4 and 1.8 Civics get very good press. I've a 1.4 and while it's not fast (at all) it does me for between 6-8k mostly stop start commuting and easily does 34mpg in winter and 40ish in summer (actual figures, not going off the car's computer). They're well made and known for reliability and in my experience this is true.

Before I bought this I was seriously looking at a 1.2 or 1.4 turbo Seat Leon but decided on the Civic as I don't trust the tiny turbos on those engines.

I suppose other obvious options would be Golf, (newer) Focus, Astra, Mazda 3 or one of the Korean makes (Kia/Hyundai etc).

Are you bothered about image?

duk3nuk3m

I have considered a newer Focus, but after speaking to a Ford salesman even he said he'd go for a Civic rather than a Focus within my budget.

Not keen on the styling of the Golf to be honest. I think it looks quite bland but that's just my personal taste! I test drove an Astra a couple of years ago and hated it so that's a no-go. Personally, I like the look of the Mazda 3, especially this one, but I'm unsure about the 'real world' fuel economy I'll be getting and I've read reviews saying it's quite sluggish for a 2L.

Image is a factor, but I suppose it boils down to my own personal taste more importantly.

darkmatter101

Go for a Civic 1.8 i-VTEC manual. Excellent cars and easily found for under £8k.

BeenThroughItAll

darkmatter101 wrote: »

Go for a Civic 1.8 i-VTEC manual. Excellent cars and easily found for under £8k.

But, I can tell you for a FACT, based on my extensive experience of never owning, driving, or wanting to own or drive a Civic, that it will NOT do 46MPG. Never. It's impossible.

darkmatter101

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

But, I can tell you for a FACT, based on my extensive experience of never owning, driving, or wanting to own or drive a Civic, that it will NOT do 46MPG. Never. It's impossible.

Unless you do 50 mph on sixth gear on a summers day with no breaking would it be possible to achieve near 50 with the 1.8 litre civic. Realistically we are looking at around 40 mpg with 70/30 motorway city driving

BeenThroughItAll

darkmatter101 wrote: »

Unless you do 50 mph on sixth gear on a summers day with no breaking would it be possible to achieve near 50 with the 1.8 litre civic. Realistically we are looking at around 40 mpg with 70/30 motorway city driving

Yep, that's what you said the other day too. You were guessing then, and you're guessing now.


Never responded to my point that actually Honda quote extra-urban as over 52MPG, so it's entirely possible that a careful driver could get 46MPG if they majority of their driving is out of town, and that doesn't necessarily mean 50 in 6th.

Mr_Mink

duk3nuk3m wrote: »

I have considered a newer Focus, but after speaking to a Ford salesman even he said he'd go for a Civic rather than a Focus within my budget.

Not keen on the styling of the Golf to be honest. I think it looks quite bland but that's just my personal taste! I test drove an Astra a couple of years ago and hated it so that's a no-go. Personally, I like the look of the Mazda 3, especially this one, but I'm unsure about the 'real world' fuel economy I'll be getting and I've read reviews saying it's quite sluggish for a 2L.

Image is a factor, but I suppose it boils down to my own personal taste more importantly.

I had the Mazda 3 with the 1.6 petrol engine. It got about 38 mpg whilst I had it, certainly not fast though. Really wish I never got rid of it, was an excellent car.

darkmatter101

OP you may also want to consider the Subaru Impreza 1.5R or 2.0R. The 1.5R can be picked up for peanuts. Quite an exclusive, rare car, four wheel drive and reliable

OddballJamie

darkmatter101 wrote: »

OP you may also want to consider the Subaru Impreza 1.5R or 2.0R. The 1.5R can be picked up for peanuts. Quite an exclusive, rare car, four wheel drive and reliable

Exclusive and rare to some. Poor seller to others.

Thirsty too.

JustinR1979

VAG tsi engine would be worth a shout if in budget, bit of performance and economy.


4x4? Hit the economy a bit.