What car for £3-5k?

DD265

Grumpy_chap said:

Does the company have any policies that require a maximum age or anything similar?

No, and there definitely won't be a company car scheme or allowance in the future. My car allowance is capped at 10 years, so at the end of 2024 we'll be needing to change one of the cars.

Originally we were going to lease, but we plan to start a family within the 3 years and we'll struggle to maintain the repayments whilst I'm on maternity leave because I will be taking a massive drop in income. Same reason for not having a larger budget; we could take £10k off the credit card interest free, but paying that off before a baby arrives would be challenging. £5k is manageable and there's no reason why it can't get us what we need if we're willing to compromise on age, mileage and small details like automatic vs manual.

macman

I'd think carefully about buying any used diesel that isn't Euro 6 compliant (i.e. 2015 onwards). ULEZ has just been expanded 1800% in London, and other cities in the UK will probably follow within the next 3 years. Unless you are way out in the sticks and never need to drive in a city. Although used car prices are up steeply, older used diesels are relatively behind.
As a second car, will you be doing the kind of mileage (north of 10K pa) that typically makes diesel more economic?

fimacdoodle

I understand Bristol has reversed this closed to diesel decision. Who knows?
Reference the 2.0TDI VW engine, I have had one for a while and am impressed (2012). nearly 60mpg on a good run and loads of poke!
Best to look for the best car for the money, not for specific models. Even better a car you know or from a friend you know, and can trust.
Many cars since 2010 are pretty reliable if serviced properly, and never accept a car from a seller who says, I have the service docs, I will send them on to you !

DD265

macman said:

I'd think carefully about buying any used diesel that isn't Euro 6 compliant (i.e. 2015 onwards). ULEZ has just been expanded 1800% in London, and other cities in the UK will probably follow within the next 3 years. Unless you are way out in the sticks and never need to drive in a city. Although used car prices are up steeply, older used diesels are relatively behind.
As a second car, will you be doing the kind of mileage (north of 10K pa) that typically makes diesel more economic?

The Tiguan is 2015 but I believe it's Euro 5. Filtering on ULEZ massively limits our options; almost exclusively BMW 3 Series (petrol) at that price. We drive in 5 cities, maybe one city visit a month, and none of them have confirmed clear air zones yet.

We don't know what my husband's mileage will be; he won't find out where he's based until late spring which is also when the shifts start. Worst case would be 60 miles each way (25k pa) in which case we'd probably look to move house, but the place he'd prefer to be based would work out around 7000 miles a year on the commute. We can be fairly flexible with sharing cars, so if one of us has a longer journey or a bigger load or whatever we could use the Tiguan.

I keep thinking I should just buy a bloody push bike instead (my commute is 5 miles each way), but the thought of cycling on the roads terrifies me. It may however reduce the pressure to get a second car until we have more information.

BOWFER

DD265 said:

I keep thinking I should just buy a bloody push bike instead (my commute is 5 miles each way), but the thought of cycling on the roads terrifies me. It may however reduce the pressure to get a second car until we have more information.

Moped, or electric moped?
At least you're keeping up with the flow of traffic and not in the gutter.
If you passed your car test before Feb 2001 you will probably have the moped entitlement on your license already.

DD265

BOWFER said:

Moped, or electric moped?
At least you're keeping up with the flow of traffic and not in the gutter.
If you passed your car test before Feb 2001 you will probably have the moped entitlement on your license already.

Hadn't thought of a moped. I'd need to do a CBT (passed 2007) or husband will no doubt suggest getting himself a motorbike - he'd need to get his license. I'm not sure a moped is more than a short term solution, the motorbike could be but I'm not hugely keen on the idea from a safety stand point. That said, if the roads were icy or what have you, I wouldn't be taking the Tiguan out so he'd use that.

timbotambo

At that price, I'd avoid the Volvo V50 - very dated by modern standards. I'd stretch to a V60, the engines are very reliable so well maintained high miles motorway cars are nothing to worry about, and your budget should get an SE spec with the 1.6D engine so low insurance.  

Herzlos

DD265 said:

I keep thinking I should just buy a bloody push bike instead (my commute is 5 miles each way), but the thought of cycling on the roads terrifies me. It may however reduce the pressure to get a second car until we have more information.

An electric bike would make a 5 mile commute pretty effortless. It may be daunting at first but you'd likely enjoy it once you get confident with it.

Though at 5 miles I'd also be just looking at getting a bus/train rather than buying another car.

leonj

I would get a good smaller car rather than a clapped out luxury car

BOWFER

Herzlos said:

DD265 said:

I keep thinking I should just buy a bloody push bike instead (my commute is 5 miles each way), but the thought of cycling on the roads terrifies me. It may however reduce the pressure to get a second car until we have more information.

An electric bike would make a 5 mile commute pretty effortless. It may be daunting at first but you'd likely enjoy it once you get confident with it.

Though at 5 miles I'd also be just looking at getting a bus/train rather than buying another car.

Having seen and heard how widespread a lack of masks are on public transport in England, i'd be avoiding public transport like the....er.....plague.
"Masks are mandatory on TFL"
Londoners clearly don't know what mandatory means.
Friends in Newcastle report the same complete apathy toward mask wearing.
Very weird when it's very closely observed in Scotland.