used car on a budget, is diesel still an option

Sherlyta

Hi,
I am having a complete turn around about buying a car, I now want an economical but still reliable car I can use on a daily basis and mixed traveling but not motorway. I would not lke to spend more than £3000 now
I am a single mum of a 5 year old child and I was told that an small car would do for me even if it is to travel to bumpy tiny roads towards a village.
I have seen adverts about diesel cars that just before 2010 that it would not have dpf filter, so i thought if still it would make sense to buy a old diesel even though regulations are harder for diesel cars. or should i just stick to petrol?
Which car engine is good to go on small roads and city rides.
my worry to buy a car that is old is that it might get a lot of problems and be then by costly.
Can I get a fairly economical and relialble car for that money?
by any chance is there any car like suv that could do with that budget that is not too expensive to run?
thank you very much for your comments.

GunJack

spend £500 or under and pick up a cheapie, ford fusion 1.4 diesel would be a good bet for you, it's mini-SUV style, plenty of room inside, £30 a year tax and 60+ to the glallon (prob 55ish for your stated driving style). Keep the rest of the dosh in the bank to allow for the odd repair, and buy breakdown cover inc. homestart for under £50 a year. Sorted. Find a good one and it'll go for many years.

Norman_Castle

Annual mileage?

Inner_Zone

My 2007 diesel had a DPF.

Sherlyta

Thanks ! I haven't thought about the recovery breakdown cover.
well, my mileage may vary a lot, from 5000 to 10000 as I may need to travel to a village for school.
It is been hard for me to think in an small car, as I was driving a big car 4x4 that was costing me a lot of petro and lpg and in repairs until it did not pass mot, but was really great to drive. I do not know what to do with that car now...
I want a car with a safe feeling and reliable to carrying my daughter with me and a bit roomy.

motorguy

Sherlyta wrote: »

Thanks ! I haven't thought about the recovery breakdown cover.
well, my mileage may vary a lot, from 5000 to 10000 as I may need to travel to a village for school.
It is been hard for me to think in an small car, as I was driving a big car 4x4 that was costing me a lot of petro and lpg and in repairs until it did not pass mot, but was really great to drive. I do not know what to do with that car now...
I want a car with a safe feeling and reliable to carrying my daughter with me and a bit roomy.

Diesels at your budget and below are going to be like playing russian roulette - at some point you're going to be hit with a large bill and end up blowing your brains out.

Personally - for £3,000 i'd look for as fresh a Ford Focus 1.6 petrol Zetec as you can find with lowish miles on it. They're reliable, comfy and as cheap as chips to repair.

If you prefer a more upright driving position, i''d go for a Ford CMAX - essentially a people carrier version of the Focus.

Dont rule out the 1.8 engine either - although it gets a name for being a little harder on fuel (but more powerful)

Something like this....

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201712071903136?maximum-badge-engine-size=1.8&radius=1500&year-from=2009&transmission=Manual&postcode=bt622hb&sort=sponsored&maximum-mileage=60000&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&price-to=3000&make=FORD&minimum-badge-engine-size=1.6&fuel-type=Petrol&aggregatedTrim=Zetec&model=FOCUS&body-type=Hatchback&page=1

Or this....

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201708017918230?onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&radius=1500&make=FORD&price-to=3000&postcode=bt622hb&sort=sponsored&maximum-mileage=60000&minimum-badge-engine-size=1.6&model=C-MAX&advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2009&maximum-badge-engine-size=1.8&fuel-type=Petrol&transmission=Manual&page=1

[Deleted User]

GunJack wrote: »

spend £500 or under and pick up a cheapie, ford fusion 1.4 diesel would be a good bet for you, it's mini-SUV style, plenty of room inside, £30 a year tax and 60+ to the glallon (prob 55ish for your stated driving style). Keep the rest of the dosh in the bank to allow for the odd repair, and buy breakdown cover inc. homestart for under £50 a year. Sorted. Find a good one and it'll go for many years.

Easier sAid than done.

GunJack

Deleted_User wrote: »

Easier sAid than done.

but certainly can be

motorguy

GunJack wrote: »

but certainly can be

It can yes, however you're relying on not being sold something that is someone elses problems and even when you buy one it can be a horror story - which at the £500 price point rates as "very likely"

GunJack

motorguy wrote: »

It can yes, however you're relying on not being sold something that is someone elses problems and even when you buy one it can be a horror story - which at the £500 price point rates as "very likely"

Yes, that can happen....you've often got to go look at several before finding the gems. But I've often found putting that effort in to be worth it

motorguy

GunJack wrote: »

Yes, that can happen....you've often got to go look at several before finding the gems. But I've often found putting that effort in to be worth it

Yes, it can be indeed. You need to know what you're looking for and theres an awful lot of driveway traders selling dressed up tat and masquerading as private sellers to avoid their legal responsibilities which makes it all a bit of a minefield. Not really for the faint hearted.

Ultimately for the O/P its down to either putting their budget in to something relatively fresh and less likely to be problematic, or take a punt on something cheap though older / higher miles, but potentially higher risk.

I suspect the former.