£2500 to spend on a A3/C4/Polo/Ibiza/Focus/Swift?

photome

ginashamz wrote: »

RX8 is reliable, it's a Mazda. As long as you change the oil regularly and top it off once in a while, these cars are bullet proof

I think its safe to say from reading the OPs post he doesnt want an RX8.


Do you drive one by any chance ? (Rhetorical question) or are you living in the dark

foxy-stoat

ginashamz wrote: »

RX8 is reliable, it's a Mazda. As long as you change the oil regularly and top it off once in a while, these cars are bullet proof

You are recommending a car that returns low 20's mpg and has to be looked after properly or the engine will need £2000+ spending on it, even if they are looked after properly they are far from bullet proof.

Lovely cars though but not too much money saving or reliable for this forum.

facade

Off that list, Suzuki, but check the VIN number starts with a J.

foxy-stoat

Stuart_P wrote: »

thanks for the suggestion foxy. by 8th gen you mean anything from 2006–2011?

YUP, ran a 2.2cdti for a couple of years after coming from MK4 Golf 1.9tdi's and A4 tdi's and the Civic in my view was a far better car for the money.

Your mileage stick with the petrol versions, full history, low owners preferably 1.

Stuart_P

bigisi wrote: »

Yep, 1.8 or 1.4 petrol would be ideal with your mileage, annual service and an interim oil change and they'll go on forever. Avoid the diesel on your mileage.

is the 1.6 worth considering too?

foxy-stoat

Stuart_P wrote: »

is the 1.6 worth considering too?

No, that would be a diesel in the 8th gen.

Stuart_P

ah ok! thanks

foxy-stoat

And over your £2.5K budget as they are 2012/2013 on.

ginashamz

foxy-stoat wrote: »

You are recommending a car that returns low 20's mpg and has to be looked after properly or the engine will need £2000+ spending on it, even if they are looked after properly they are far from bullet proof.

Lovely cars though but not too much money saving or reliable for this forum.

Anecdotal evidence is a poor measure to conclude its far from reliable. It is a reliable engine and if looked after it can go well over 100k miles on its original engine and transmission. As long as the correct grade and type of oil is used and regularly changed every 3-5k miles, topped up on a weekly basis and also use pre-mix oil when fuelling with, preferably V-Power or the like, it is reliable. Not exactly rocket science and easy enough for anyone with no knowledge to do.
I would only say its a poor choice of car if you're doing 25k plus miles a year and it also would struggle in the snow. But simple remedy for this are snow tyres or tyre chains and an LPG conversion!

facade

ginashamz wrote: »

As long as the correct grade and type of oil is used and regularly changed every 3-5k miles, topped up on a weekly basis and also use pre-mix oil when fuelling with, preferably V-Power or the like, it is reliable.

Good advice when buying new, but by the time it has reached sub-£2500, what is the likelihood that this has been followed for its entire life?


Nowadays, people don't expect to lift the bonnet between 12,000 mile services, never mind dip the oil weekly like we did in The Olden Days