What would you buy?

[9244billy]

Looking to replace my current car I use for work

Daily commute 30 miles round trip mostly dual carriage ways however there are occasions where I'll do 1000 miles in a week and I found my s2000 uncomfortable on long journeys

Car will need to be
ulez compliant
Fun
Reliable
Under 4k maybe stretch to 5

I pay fuel rates per miles listed below

Petrol
Anything under 1400cc is 10p.
1401cc to 2000cc 11p
Over 2000cc 17p

Diesel
1600cc or less 8p
1601cc to 2000cc 10p
Over 2000cc 12p

Pref convertibles / short wheel base.

[J1990]

Maybe I'm a pessimist but I feel like you can only choose two out of the three options:

- Fun
- Reliable
- Cheap

Here's my default PistonHeads suggestion:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012247...

[stevekoz]

Yeah the adage you can only normally get two of your three is often true.

That said.

The Honda Civic Type R GT - FN2 actually fits the brief quite well in my opinion.

I owned one for about 18 months a couple of years ago and it was reliable, cheap to maintain, relatively cheap to run fuel wise and when you wanted to have some fun it was enjoyable.

They are ULEZ compliant.
£5k would get you one quite easily with medium mileage.
2.0 engine, 197bhp.

There are lots of posts about them not being as fun or as good as the ep3 but having had both. To the everyday driver, the FN2 was probably a little less composed at lower speeds, but when you were pushing on it got better and better if that makes sense. Around a track there was not much in it between the two, many tests and videos to that point if you wish to search them online.

Maintenance wise, i had to have the brakes done - wear and tear. And as part of regular servicing i got the valve clearances checked and adjusted (worth doing on one you buy) and that cost me £100.

Mine would easily do 33mpg all day long and more on a run.

It came well equipped with Sat Nav, heated and electric mirrors. Cruise control and a bunch of other stuff. It had the smaller 18" wheels which were much better than the bigger, heavier "rage" 19" alloys. So if you look at one don't get one with those.

Performance wise, it was fun as stated. Not the quickest or sharpest tool in the box but it was more than capable.

Plus right now i think its a good time to buy, prices are steadily creeping slowly upwards. Given it was last n/a Civic Type R. So something a little rare about them i guess. At least in the long term.

Build quality - mine had a few trim rattles but nothing serious, just stuff over time and its a Jap car - its not a Lexus but it did just fine.

Rear space was great for two kids. Plenty of leg room and the seats were plenty comfortable. Perhaps not so much on an extended trip of say 4--6 hours but anything else was ok.

It was a good car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011216...

[Jasandjules]

Mr2 T-Bar? (left field shout!)

[Mr Tidy]

When you say you pay fuel rates I assume that's what your employer pays you for business miles?

In which case maybe a 6 cylinder BMW Z4 might work.

[ZX10R NIN]

My three picks are:

1.6T Astra GTC SRI 180 this ticks all the boxes whilst not hot hatch fun they're still a good steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101288...

208 GTI ticks all the boxes:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012096...

DS3 DSport Plus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101147...

Or the Civic Type R but the ride can be tiresome on a long run.

[lorenburton]

What are your thoughts about Mustang GT, my heart blows up when listening about it.

[9244billy]

Some great suggestions there

The company I work for pay me a car allowance each month which is taxed

I then have to pay the hmrc per mile driven for commuting to and from work.

[ZX10R NIN]

Forgot to add that you'll get a good Giuiletta Veloce for that budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101168...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101298...

[maz8062]

Slk350 R171 model

[J1990]

9244billy said:

Some great suggestions there

The company I work for pay me a car allowance each month which is taxed

I then have to pay the hmrc per mile driven for commuting to and from work.

I assume you're saying that your work provide you with a fuel card and you pay those rates for your personal mileage? A car allowance is for purchasing/insuring/maintaining a car and doesn't include anything to do with mileage.
If not and you're paying foryour work mileage then I think something has gone astray as your company should be paying you for your mileage and any difference between their payment and the government rates you can claim tax relief against from HMRC.

Edited by J1990 on Saturday 13th February 18:58

[9244billy]

J1990 said:

9244billy said:

Some great suggestions there

The company I work for pay me a car allowance each month which is taxed

I then have to pay the hmrc per mile driven for commuting to and from work.

I assume you're saying that your work provide you with a fuel card and you pay those rates for your personal mileage? A car allowance is for purchasing/insuring/maintaining a car and doesn't include anything to do with mileage.
If not and you're paying foryour work mileage then I think something has gone astray as your company should be paying you for your mileage and any difference between their payment and the government rates you can claim tax relief against from HMRC.

Edited by J1990 on Saturday 13th February 18:58

Sorry maybe I should confirm

I was initially employed to go to various locations every day, I then was required to travel to a single place of work every day.

I have been informed that I now pay for the fuel I use as it is private miles due to it being commuting to a single place of work.
The rates are dependant on the engine size and fuel type

I am paid a car allowance to maintain the car and cover costs involved

[J1990]

9244billy said:

Sorry maybe I should confirm

I was initially employed to go to various locations every day, I then was required to travel to a single place of work every day.

I have been informed that I now pay for the fuel I use as it is private miles due to it being commuting to a single place of work.
The rates are dependant on the engine size and fuel type

I am paid a car allowance to maintain the car and cover costs involved

So... you do or don't have a fuel card?

If you have a fuel card and you are using it but you are ONLY going to your place of work, stop using the fuel card and pay for the fuel yourself. This incurs no tax liability and should be the cheapest option for you.

If you have a fuel card and you are mainly going to your office but occasionally going to other sites, use the fuel card only when going to those alternative places. There is no tax liability using the fuel card to cover business mileage (Standard commute to a single place of work is not business mileage)

If you were to use a fuel card for your personal mileage I think you should read up on the tax implications - This isn't my area of expertise but your statement sounds incorrect and like you're being charged for something you shouldn't be.


If you do NOT have a fuel card, when you are driving for work to any location that isn't your main place of work (i.e. the office) your employer should be paying you at least those fuel rates you mentioend (tax free), up to a maximum of 45 pence per mile for the first 10k miles - Yes, them paying you not you paying them. The car allowance has absolutely no impact on your rights to reclaim mileage charges from your employer.