£4-5k to spend on a used car....what to buy?

[da.Guvna]

Hey guys! I recently started a new job and I'm looking to get a new car. I currently drive a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting , which was great as a learner car, but to be honest it's just not cutting the mustard any more, lol!

So yeah, ideally I want a hot-hatch or something Golf-esque with a bit of power, that isn't gonna break the bank on insurance or fuel. Gotta be reliable etc, blah blah, the usual stuff. I'm not too fussed about it being particulalry practical...I just want something fun but cheap to run. I know it's a big ask
I'm a bit clueless when it comes to cars, so I'm having trouble working out what my options are.

Problem is that although I've been driving for 3 years now without incident, I was insured on my mum's insurance to save money, so I haven't accrued any no-claims bonuses. I'm 22 now, so insurance is still pretty high for me.

If I'm honest, so far the best option is actually looking like a golf. Can pick up a 1.8 TDi for less than £4k and the insurance is only £800. When you factor in the German engineering etc, it makes sense.....just a damned shame so many people drive them, they're too common.

So yeah, has anyone got any recommendations?

[Fox]

A Golf most certainly does not make sense at this money. They are rather expensive, scratch that, very expensive for what you get and for your budget you will get a pretty old or pretty low spec car. And German engineering is all very well but it's not quite what it is hyped up to be, there are a number of reliability concerns with the Mk4 Golf and they can be expensive to fix.

You would better off with something like a Seat Leon if you particularly wish to buy a VAG car - its based on the Golf but doesnt say VW on the badge so is considerably cheaper. Better still is the Toledo, it's a Leon with a boot and a higher specification - looks pretty much the same but is even cheaper.

Or perhaps consider the Ford Focus - IMHO a better car than the Golf in every way bar the interior, the Golf is a nicer place to be, but the Focus is a nicer car to drive, cheaper to run, more reliable and cheaper to buy.

Of course, if you are willing to consider something a little larger, you'll find even more bargains, and running costs on a par with, perhaps less, than a VW Golf

A Golf TDI for less than £4k screams 'Mk3' at me. This is a car designed in the 80's, I wouldnt pay more than a grand for one let alone 4 grand.

[da.Guvna]

Of course, if you are willing to consider something a little larger, you'll find even more bargains, and running costs on a par with, perhaps less, than a VW Golf

I'm open to any suggestions, big isn't a problem I just thought a hot-hatch would naturally be cheaper to run.

I'm pretty sure the model I found was a Mk4 (the model before the very latest one, right?) but it had hgh mileage (just over 100k).

[herulach]

I'm open to any suggestions, big isn't a problem I just thought a hot-hatch would naturally be cheaper to run.

I'm pretty sure the model I found was a Mk4 (the model before the very latest one, right?) but it had hgh mileage (just over 100k).

Hot hatchs by their nature arent cheap to run, youll get absolutely bent over by the insurance companies.

My advice, get a 944. Fairly reliable, lots of poke, cheap, and also cheap to insure (classic insurance ftw!)

[jonjayal]

I got a 2.0L 2001 Mondeo with 50k on the clock for 4,500. I'm 23 with no no-claims and my insurance is 800 a year with Elephant.

[Howard]

My advice, get a 944. Fairly reliable, lots of poke, cheap, and also cheap to insure (classic insurance ftw!)

Group 18 + No no-claims = LOL

[herulach]

Group 18 + No no-claims = LOL

But Group 18 plus no no claims plus classic car insurance (Which you will be able to get, since early ones are over 20 years old although admittedly limited to 6000 miles/year) = around 200 quid.

[Howard]

Really?
Is this with a specialist insurance company?

[herulach]

Really?
Is this with a specialist insurance company?

Yep, theres quite a few, youd be amazed what you can get on them. I personally have had a quote for a Capri 2.8 special of 250 quid fully comp just ringing round people in the back of classic car magazines and being a bit creative with the truth. That was of course until my summer job, and hence car and watercooling pans went down the toilet.

[Howard]

I want a Porsche 928. Badly. Not old enough for classic insurance though. And expensive to run. And buy. And insure. I need money

[herulach]

I want a Porsche 928. Badly. Not old enough for classic insurance though. And expensive to run. And buy. And insure. I need money

Meh, personally i can take or leave porsches (except boxsters, anyone who buys a boxster deserves a slow and painful death by disembowelment, posing bastards, dont they realise all it says is 'Look at me i cant afford a 911') Nearly every one of them has a competitor thats cheaper and better.

And dont get me started on how the 911 looks.

Anyway, back on topic.

What kind of thing are you looking to do in it? If youre not doing a lot of motorway driving then a defender is a cool car, assuming you can deal with the spartanness.

You might find a previous model hyundai coupe for that money, but you wont insure it easily i dont think.

[da.Guvna]

When you say a 944, do you mean a Porsche?

Just checked autotrader and anything under £5k has done about 150,000 miles! :S
Isn't that quite high for a car that old?

My driving habits are a bit varied really. At the moment I'm doing about 44 miles a day travelling to work and back, but that could get much longer or much shorter in the future when I change jobs....I really don't know.

As for older cars.....I gotta say, I like my creature comforts. Although I've lived without air-con so far, there have been times in the summer when I've really wished for it.
I'm also not into tinkering around with cars in my spare time or anything like that. PCs, yes, cars....no.
So, I don't really want a car that is gonna require a lot of maintenance. I'm not one of those people that sees character in a car or has any sort of attachment to inanimate objects. I know it sounds awful to say this, but I don't get the deal with classic cars. They look crap and out dated to me...I like shiny new things with lights and gadgets and stuff (not ground-effects though....I'll leave that to the chavs).

Having said that, I would be quite happy driving around in a Porsche 944, just cos they look so damned good, haha!

Also, everything about that Mondeo sounded good, apart from the fact it's a mondeo, lol! My dad had the first model when they came out when I was a kid, and I hated it from day one. I know the new ones are a little better, but everything Ford makes is just so bland. The only Ford I'd consider owning would be an RS2000 or a GT40, hahahaha

Seriously, I'm so shallow when it comes to cars.

Think I'm swinging to miss with all these demands?

[herulach]

You cant have cool looking and cheap insurance thats the only problem. Probably the only kind of hatchback youre gonna not ge tbent over on is a 1.6 focus or something of that ilk.

If you want something that wont need maintaining then go grab a 2nd owner Getz whatever, they are so close to 5k new you could pick one up thats like 12 months old with 2 years warranty left. Only thing is itll be a getz. Although the GSi spec is pretty nice on the inside.

[Fox]

Also, everything about that Mondeo sounded good, apart from the fact it's a mondeo, lol! My dad had the first model when they came out when I was a kid, and I hated it from day one.

Obviously though, given the fact you were 10 at the time, the things like the sharp, precise decent handling, good interior for the time, reliability, and reasonable pace from a range of decent petrol engines wouldn't have crossed your mind - you were probably like me aged 10, the ONLY judge of a car was how cool it looked

You'd get a pretty damn decent Mondy for £4k, either an early higher mileage Mk3, or a mint condition, top of the range 2 or 2.5 litre Mk2 with leather/climate/cruise/computer etc etc etc. Look quite sporty with the right kit on, and the best thing is despite costing the best part of £20k when new, they now cost up to £1k less than a Focus of the same age. Your older than me, and as a student my 2 litre isn't exactly expensive to run or insure.

But hey - looks are important, and if you think it looks bland you won't get on with it, so a Focus or something is a good alternative. Although, the Golf isn't exactly a triumph of adventerous styling - Mk4 was just an evolution of the Mk3, whereas the Focus was a completely new, rather radical design for its time. Imagine seeing the first one after all you'd seen before was Escorts. It was far from bland. The only reason it now seems so familier is becuase most other manufacturers have copied the style and there are so many around

[Howard]

I don't get the deal with classic cars. They look crap and out dated to me...I like shiny new things with lights and gadgets and stuff (not ground-effects though....I'll leave that to the chavs).

I agree with you. I'd rather have something modern. They're usually better in virtually every way. And there few "classic" cars that I like the style of


And Getzs are good cars... They were one of Hyundai's better cars. They won't set the world on fire but the 1.6 Sport is pretty quick for what it is

[da.Guvna]

Haha, ok, I had a quick look at the Getz....it's a bit.....single-mum-ish, lol.

What do you reckon my options are in terms of Vauxhall/Renault/Peugeot? I quite like all their cars.

I quite like the previous model 3 door Astras. My mate had one, was a nice drive and as far as I know he never had any probs with it. Not sure what it was like for him to insure though :\

As for Fox's comments about the Mondeo: I know you're right, they are good cars.....it's just they make me want to fall asleep.