Help in choosing a second-hand car

Tea_Pea_Dee

Posting for my daughter. Copied the text below verbatim:

" We are looking for a reliable family car: five doors, petrol, manual. Ideally it would have less than 50,000 miles and no older than 2010 (the newer the better). We have a budget of around £5,000 but we could go up to £6,000 if it was really reliable with a good warranty.

We are open to any models and makes but from research we have come to like the Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris and Ford Fiesta. We have looked at a Fiat Panda but don't know how reliable it would be.

What cars would you suggest? We have young children so it needs to fit two car seats in the back with ISOFIX points.

We viewed some Honda Jazz cars today and could get:
£5,000 tax and 12 month warranty included from an approved Honda dealer for a 2009 Honda Jazz (top spec.) that has done 60,000 miles. (2 lady owners from new)

We also saw a Fiat Panda:
£4,995, 3 month warranty from an independent dealer for a 2014 and 33,000 miles (one owner from new).

Would you choose either of these or keep looking?

Thanks. "
Thank you for any help or advice you can give.

ETA: car is replacing an 09 Ford KA, manual transmission

Typhoon2000

For an older small reliable car I would look at a Jazz, Yaris and Micra.

Davesnave

Pandas are better than Fiats used to be, but the Jazz is probably the safer choice for reliability and holding it's value longer term.

They could also look at Skoda Fabias and maybe the Citroen C3.

Me, I'd want a slightly larger car for a family, like versions of the ubiquitous Ford Focus, a Golf or maybe something Japanese, if they don't mind it being a tad boring e.g. Toyota Auris / Corolla, Honda Civic etc.

loskie

yes I think they may be too small for her needs, an Octavia, Avensis(both hatch) or if smaller is required a Fabia Estate. Buy a petrol unless doing mega miles.
Used Honda Civic may be a good buy too.

DUTR

Tea_Pea_Dee wrote: »

Posting for my daughter. Copied the text below verbatim:

" We are looking for a reliable family car: five doors, petrol, manual. Ideally it would have less than 50,000 miles and no older than 2010 (the newer the better). We have a budget of around £5,000 but we could go up to £6,000 if it was really reliable with a good warranty.

We are open to any models and makes but from research we have come to like the Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris and Ford Fiesta. We have looked at a Fiat Panda but don't know how reliable it would be.

What cars would you suggest? We have young children so it needs to fit two car seats in the back with ISOFIX points.

We viewed some Honda Jazz cars today and could get:
£5,000 tax and 12 month warranty included from an approved Honda dealer for a 2009 Honda Jazz (top spec.) that has done 60,000 miles. (2 lady owners from new)

We also saw a Fiat Panda:
£4,995, 3 month warranty from an independent dealer for a 2014 and 33,000 miles (one owner from new).

Would you choose either of these or keep looking?

Thanks. "
Thank you for any help or advice you can give.

ETA: car is replacing an 09 Ford KA, manual transmission

At that age car I would be looking private sale from a 1 private owner from new.
There is no harm in say looking at AT.
Probably be prepared to travel .

Svein_Forkbeard

The Panda is bomb proof especially with the 1.2 Fire engine easy and cheap to repair (especially the older shape) we had 3 of them.

I would also add the new shape Nissan Note with the 1.2 DiG-S (supercharged) they suffer from fairly hefty depreciation so are relatively cheap on the second hand market I have just bought one to replace the Panda which met with an unfortunate end (accident) . I think it is a great wee car and very nippy.

When buying this car I found most places were looking for far too much money so take your time.

daveyjp

As reliability is key any of the Japanese models or a Fiesta with a 1.25 engine, not an Ecoboost.

You could add the Suzuki Swift.

With two children Jazz would be top of my list.

System

Ford Focus. Cheap to buy, cheap to run, cheap as chips to repair and service, piles of them around for sale.

Ford Fiestas and those mentioned are OK but they've sod all room in the back and no boot to speak of which you'll definitely find an issue on days out and holidays with the kids - good luck fitting a weeks worth of suitcases for a family and kids toys in the back of any suggested so far.

Tea_Pea_Dee

Thanks for all your help and advice. I will pass this thread on to my daughter to take the reins, as being a non-driver, this is going way, way (think the moon and stars) over my head

The next post under this name will be from her.

Thanks again, back soonest, dear readers.

Tea_Pea_Dee

Apologies for coming back to this thread so late.

Firstly, thanks again for all your help and advice. Secondly, a used 12 plate Honda Jazz (1 owner, 33k miles) has been purchased for £5,600 from a local Honda dealership. Included in this price is a full tank of petrol, 1 year's MOT, 1 year's tax, and AA all singing and dancing roadside and homestart assistance.

Has she paid over the odds? Probably. Is she happier than Larry? Definitely.

TPD xxx

weeowens

Hi,Tea Pea Dee
I would have to say the Jazz is a good choice. I'm on my 6th in 16 years. Three brand new & three nearly new.
No big issues on any, other than one that we kept for 4yrs+ & put nearly 100,000 miles on. That had niggles with the door locks & a radio fault. All the others had just service items. I generally traded them in at about 2.5yrs with about 45,000 on the clock. My current one is 2.5 yrs old but I will keep it for a few years more as I no longer have a 70mile commute.
Good luck & good to see you posting.