What £3k reliable small car
Discussion
My mother’s car was stolen from her driveway a few weeks back and she is on the lookout for a new (to her) car.
The car was a 2008 Mazda 2 (1.5 sport). She’d had it for almost 9 years (she’d only covered approx 40k), and it was 100% reliable in that time.
She is happy to have another Mazda 2 but just wondering if there is anything else similar that is worth looking at? Appreciate that £3k doesn’t really buy a lot these days!
Requirements:
-Up to £3k
-Probably needs to be a hatchback, not ugly
-Petrol (only covers approx 5k/year - mainly short journeys)
-Reliable - chain driven & n/a engine a bonus
-decent economy
-not (much) older than her previous car
-5 doors & no smaller than Mazda 2 size as she does take her grandkids (child seats) in it at times. Would probably go up to focus/mazda 3 size at a push
-cheap to insure & tax (under £200/year)
-not huge mileage (previous car was at 85k).
Cars I have briefly looked at:
-Toyota Yaris - she’s not sold on the looks
-Ford fiesta - not sure on best engine here (1.0T, 1.4 & 1.6 all seem to be available in budget)
-Hyundai i20 (bit ugly)
Not sure on the bigger options such as Focus, Astra, Auris etc
The car was a 2008 Mazda 2 (1.5 sport). She’d had it for almost 9 years (she’d only covered approx 40k), and it was 100% reliable in that time.
She is happy to have another Mazda 2 but just wondering if there is anything else similar that is worth looking at? Appreciate that £3k doesn’t really buy a lot these days!
Requirements:
-Up to £3k
-Probably needs to be a hatchback, not ugly
-Petrol (only covers approx 5k/year - mainly short journeys)
-Reliable - chain driven & n/a engine a bonus
-decent economy
-not (much) older than her previous car
-5 doors & no smaller than Mazda 2 size as she does take her grandkids (child seats) in it at times. Would probably go up to focus/mazda 3 size at a push
-cheap to insure & tax (under £200/year)
-not huge mileage (previous car was at 85k).
Cars I have briefly looked at:
-Toyota Yaris - she’s not sold on the looks
-Ford fiesta - not sure on best engine here (1.0T, 1.4 & 1.6 all seem to be available in budget)
-Hyundai i20 (bit ugly)
Not sure on the bigger options such as Focus, Astra, Auris etc
I'd say if she was happy with the Mazda, just get another.
Toyotas tend to carry the "they're all reliable" stereotype, and Fiestas carry the "they're all fun to drive" stereotype, so shonkier examples will be more expensive. The Mazda flies more under the radar, despite being a very good little car, so it'll probably mean a better example can be found in budget.
Toyotas tend to carry the "they're all reliable" stereotype, and Fiestas carry the "they're all fun to drive" stereotype, so shonkier examples will be more expensive. The Mazda flies more under the radar, despite being a very good little car, so it'll probably mean a better example can be found in budget.
Thanks for the replies/suggestions, really insightful.
As I said she is happy to have another Mazda 2, and I can’t really fault her previous one reliability wise.
The Honda jazz may be a good shout, not a car I have looked into or know a lot about. The Swift has already been rejected, she just doesn’t like them.
The Ford 1.0T is good to know, think I will be ruling that out as an option now!
As I said she is happy to have another Mazda 2, and I can’t really fault her previous one reliability wise.
The Honda jazz may be a good shout, not a car I have looked into or know a lot about. The Swift has already been rejected, she just doesn’t like them.
The Ford 1.0T is good to know, think I will be ruling that out as an option now!
I've been running a 2013 Jazz for the last 7 years for commuting, got it at 27k and its now on 140k.
Only had routine servicing, brakes and tyres in that time. Great little car, huge inside for the size, 100bhp so enough power for motorways and averages 45-50mpg. Great gearbox. Only thing I don't like is the small fuel tank.
They really don't deserve the OAP stigma tbh.
Only had routine servicing, brakes and tyres in that time. Great little car, huge inside for the size, 100bhp so enough power for motorways and averages 45-50mpg. Great gearbox. Only thing I don't like is the small fuel tank.
They really don't deserve the OAP stigma tbh.
lufbramatt said:
I've been running a 2013 Jazz for the last 7 years for commuting, got it at 27k and its now on 140k.
Only had routine servicing, brakes and tyres in that time. Great little car, huge inside for the size, 100bhp so enough power for motorways and averages 45-50mpg. Great gearbox. Only thing I don't like is the small fuel tank.
They really don't deserve the OAP stigma tbh.
Which engine is this please?Only had routine servicing, brakes and tyres in that time. Great little car, huge inside for the size, 100bhp so enough power for motorways and averages 45-50mpg. Great gearbox. Only thing I don't like is the small fuel tank.
They really don't deserve the OAP stigma tbh.
Tony_T said:
lufbramatt said:
I've been running a 2013 Jazz for the last 7 years for commuting, got it at 27k and its now on 140k.
Only had routine servicing, brakes and tyres in that time. Great little car, huge inside for the size, 100bhp so enough power for motorways and averages 45-50mpg. Great gearbox. Only thing I don't like is the small fuel tank.
They really don't deserve the OAP stigma tbh.
Which engine is this please?Only had routine servicing, brakes and tyres in that time. Great little car, huge inside for the size, 100bhp so enough power for motorways and averages 45-50mpg. Great gearbox. Only thing I don't like is the small fuel tank.
They really don't deserve the OAP stigma tbh.
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