Need help finding a car for under 2.9k

[upindra]

Hi y’all, I need your expertises in helping me find a car for under 3k. I know that I could just do the usual search and find one but I lack the knowledge to spot a bad car from the bunch. So if it’s not too much of a hassle for you, please help me suggest some possible contenders with the links to it if possible.

I know I can’t be choosing with a budge like that but kinda tight on money.

So here are my condition:
3k budget (excluding insurance)
Need a reliable and fun daily car
Petrol (Euro 4 and above) (as I don’t think I can get a diesel car that’s euro 6 compliant ??) (do let me know if I’m wrong)

Thank you in advance y’all

Edited by upindra on Wednesday 3rd April 15:14

[eth2190]

A decent 2005 onwards Civic should meet that criteria:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386887239145

[DM8000]

Hmm - Although the engine is probably a bit better in the civic (no cambelt to worry about and a reliable chain) I would say a mk2.5 or possibly early mk3 focus is a better overall car than the mk8 civic, certainly more fun to drive and slightly less rust prone I think. Maybe you could scrape an early mk9 civic 1.8 though which although a bit of an ugly looker is likely better car overall than mk8.

[thepeoplespal]

eth2190 said:

A decent 2005 onwards Civic should meet that criteria:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386887239145

My sister happily had one of these in red for many years, paint faded a bit , but if you are motoring in what is in effect banger territory, Honda and Toyota are where it is at for motoring. Still get the odd Ford Focus 1.6l 16v that might do your job as cheap to fix, but choose carefully.

[upindra]

Dk if this context helps or not. I usually would be drive down to Portsmouth (60miles from where I live) (first job after graduation). They have CAZ in place. Might look in to that Civic suggestion. I know this might be a long stretch but is a saloon body types an option for my budget?

Edited by upindra on Wednesday 3rd April 15:13

[upindra]

DM8000 said:

Hmm - Although the engine is probably a bit better in the civic (no cambelt to worry about and a reliable chain) I would say a mk2.5 or possibly early mk3 focus is a better overall car than the mk8 civic, certainly more fun to drive and slightly less rust prone I think. Maybe you could scrape an early mk9 civic 1.8 though which although a bit of an ugly looker is likely better car overall than mk8.

I’ll try to look ard and see if I can find one

[eth2190]

upindra said:

Dk if this context helps or not. I usually would be drive down to Portsmouth (60miles from where I live) (first job after graduation). They have CAZ in place. Might look in to that Civic suggestion. I know this might be a long stretch but is a saloon body types an option for my budget?

Edited by upindra on Wednesday 3rd April 15:13

You could consider a Lexus IS250, an auto or a pre-March 2006 manual to avoid the £700 tax bracket.

I daily drive one, the v6 sounds lovely and it steers really well on the twisty stuff.

[GreatGranny]

eth2190 said:

You could consider a Lexus IS250, an auto or a pre-March 2006 manual to avoid the £700 tax bracket.

I daily drive one, the v6 sounds lovely and it steers really well on the twisty stuff.

Hmmm, maybe a Lexus V6 that will barely do 30 mpg and is £395 a year tax isn't the car for a grad commuting to his first job

OP, Focus 1.6 TDCi
Not fast but drive well and engine, if anything like my Fiesta's 1.4TDCi, will go on forever.
£20 tax, 55+ MPG and decent kit.
Low insurance as well.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308301...

[eth2190]

GreatGranny said:

Hmmm, maybe a Lexus V6 that will barely do 30 mpg and is £395 a year tax isn't the car for a grad commuting to his first job

OP, Focus 1.6 TDCi
Not fast but drive well and engine, if anything like my Fiesta's 1.4TDCi, will go on forever.
£20 tax, 55+ MPG and decent kit.
Low insurance as well.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308301...

Perhaps poor judgement by myself, but as a fresh graduate a few years ago I was daily driving a full size Nissan Patrol .

[trevalvole]

upindra said:

I usually would be drive down to Portsmouth (60miles from where I live) (first job after graduation). They have CAZ in place.

Portsmouth CAZ doesn't appear to affect private cars: https://cleanerairportsmouth.co.uk/clean-air-zone-...

[carinaman]

GreatGranny said:

Hmmm, maybe a Lexus V6 that will barely do 30 mpg and is £395 a year tax isn't the car for a grad commuting to his first job

OP, Focus 1.6 TDCi
Not fast but drive well and engine, if anything like my Fiesta's 1.4TDCi, will go on forever.
£20 tax, 55+ MPG and decent kit.
Low insurance as well.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308301...

The paint on the OS doesn't match but if it's tooling up and down the M-way does it matter?

I am not sure I noticed the side creases on them before as I considered the earlier gen. Focii much better looking.

[ZX10R NIN]

upindra said:

Hi y’all, I need your expertises in helping me find a car for under 3k. I know that I could just do the usual search and find one but I lack the knowledge to spot a bad car from the bunch. So if it’s not too much of a hassle for you, please help me suggest some possible contenders with the links to it if possible.

I know I can’t be choosing with a budge like that but kinda tight on money.

So here are my condition:
3k budget (excluding insurance)
Need a reliable and fun daily car
Petrol (Euro 4 and above) (as I don’t think I can get a diesel car that’s euro 6 compliant ??) (do let me know if I’m wrong)

Thank you in advance y’all

Edited by upindra on Wednesday 3rd April 15:14

1.6T Astra GTC, they use the same setup as the (not the same suspension) as the VXR, they're hard to find but well worth seeking out:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403227...

Insignia 2.0T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402196...

Megane Coupe 2.0T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403117...

Scirocco 2.0T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401285...

RCZ 200:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312184...