Best car for £5,000

[F_mck01]

Afternoon guys,

I'm currently looking at getting a new car thats going to last me the next 3/4 years.

I have 5k and want something thats 2L and under as I'm 21 and have been driving for 4 years, road tax under £200 a year, practical enough for a weekend away (pretty much mini hatch Boot would be smallest), reliable and if its quick and fun to drive thats a bonus!

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[MattyD803]

Good Afternoon.

My recommendation based on the limited info available would be a Suzuki Swift.

Reasons Reliable. Low Insurance and Tax. Economical. Cheap / easy to service and on tyres. Sensible sized proportions with a decent boot. Good handling for the category.

Not sure on your insurance constraints due to your age.....but the 1.6 Sport would be the sweet spot. Failing that. get a 1.2 with a decent spec.

I would personally buy private to get a bit more for your money, ideally a low owner car, without any modifications etc. with full history.

If you want to go a bit bigger, I'd probably start looking at the 2005-2012 era of Honda Civic, Toyota Auris or maybe Mazda 3 at this price point.....petrols only if you want to avoid headaches.

Furthermore, in my option, don't be tempted into the world of French or Italian cars as this price point, nor indeed diesels, if you want to avoid future bills and niggles. Ford might be a decent shout if something catches your eye, but again, they won't offer Japanese reliability.

Edited by MattyD803 on Tuesday 1st February 12:19

[mickyh7]

Don't look for a 5k car!
Look for a good car.
There may be better ones much cheaper.
Dealers love to know your limit.
Then that's exactly what they take off you!
Good Luck.

[F_mck01]

Thanks for that, is it easy to source parts for the swift?

Also what age/mileage should I be looking at?

Finally are they any good on A/B roads and motorways - comfort, noise, etc?

[MattyD803]

mickyh7 said:

Don't look for a 5k car!
Look for a good car.
There may be better ones much cheaper.
Dealers love to know your limit.
Then that's exactly what they take off you!
Good Luck.

Unless it's a main dealer (which I would doubt at this price), the warranty they offer isn't worth the paper it's written on, so I wouldn't bother with a dealer personally.

Instead, if you want to get more from your money, do your home work, use your common sense, keep your wits about you and buy privately.

You shouldn't have any major issues with something like a Swift, assuming you HPI it, check through the paper work, give it a solid test drive and get a 'good feeling' from the seller.....

[nobrakes]

Don’t be afraid to travel for the right car. Buying the not quite what you wants car cos it is nearer won’t be good.

[MattyD803]

F_mck01 said:

Thanks for that, is it easy to source parts for the swift?

Also what age/mileage should I be looking at?

Finally are they any good on A/B roads and motorways - comfort, noise, etc?

As easy as anything else out there really.....it's a very common car - with good reason.

Go as new as possible with as low miles as possible for your money. As a starting point, 70-80k miles would be a good top limit really, considering you'll be looking at 5-10 year old cars.

They are city car first and foremost......A/B roads are no problem, especially for the 1.6 VVT.......motorways too, but if that is going to be a higher proportion of your use, then perhaps it would better to look at things in the next size up as mentioned.

[F_mck01]

People have been telling me to look at the generic ones like:

- seat ibiza
- skoda fabia
- volkswagen polo
- vauxhall corsa
- ford fiesta
- fiat punto

Would you say the swift is a better option than those?

[MattyD803]

F_mck01 said:

People have been telling me to look at the generic ones like:

- seat ibiza
- skoda fabia
- volkswagen polo
- vauxhall corsa
- ford fiesta
- fiat punto

Would you say the swift is a better option than those?

Personally. at the price point, yes. I'm a big advocate of Japanese cars, having had some real poor experiences with european rubbish when I was younger.

To be honest, it really does depend on your appetite for future repair bills IMO.....on that basis, looking at your list, I would certainly rule out the Vauxhall Corsa and the Fiat Punto. With a budget of £5k, and a young driver behind the wheel, my main concern would be safety and reliability, way ahead of "image".

The rest are certainly options for you....but from my experience, won't be as reliable as Japanese marques, especially as the years and mileage adds up.

There is no right or wrong answer to this really....perhaps you need to go and sit in a few of the cars we have discussed and then make a decision.......what I would say is that the Fabia, Polo and Ibiza are effectively the same car/engine/running gear. You'd need to do your research into common faults with those, and I think there are a few, especially on the 3 cylinder engines.

[nobrakes]

Is a focus or dare I say it a mondeo not on your radar?

[eleveneleven]

Suzuki Swift Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112150...

Honda Civic
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201271...

Mazda 3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201281...

Toyota Auris
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201091...

Astra
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201251...

Volvo C30
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112130...

The swift is a fun drive, and they look great, it would be my pick of the bunch, same goes for the Mazda 3 which would be my second choice, The rest really aren't that involving to drive but wont give you much if any trouble over 3 years. The civic doesn't look great IMO BUT will be the most comfortable of the bunch with the Astra being another good all rounder.

Edited by eleveneleven on Tuesday 1st February 13:13

[F_mck01]

I am open to bigger cars, I mean no estates but it something bigger is there then sure.

I mean really all I need is reliability, air conditioning, an aux and electric front windows 😂!

I've had really rubbish cars and awful experiences in my 4 years driving so far so want to play it safe this time hence needing some help!

[MattyD803]

F_mck01 said:

I am open to bigger cars, I mean no estates but it something bigger is there then sure.

I mean really all I need is reliability, air conditioning, an aux and electric front windows ??!

I've had really rubbish cars and awful experiences in my 4 years driving so far so want to play it safe this time hence needing some help!

Those autotrader links posted above are spot on the money really. That gives you a solid starter for ten.

What car's have been rubbish for you previously and why?

[F_mck01]

I am open to bigger cars, I mean no estates but it something bigger is there then sure.

I mean really all I need is reliability, air conditioning, an aux and electric front windows 😂!

I've had really rubbish cars and awful experiences in my 4 years driving so far so want to play it safe this time hence needing some help!

[F_mck01]

I started with a skoda fabia 2007 and ran that till death at 120,000 miles then got a Renault clio where the clutch and geaebox went so it went.i then tried a 2016 mini cooper on pcp but that bankrupt me due to insurance and running costs. So I got a ford fiesta but the garage didn't tell me it had been in a front end crash so things went majorly wrong with it so I had to scrap it. Then I got a honda civic thinking it would be indestructible but the guy I brought it off sold me a write off without me knowing as drove fine and looked fine upon purchase. So now looking to get something that will be good and do me well

[nobrakes]

F_mck01 said:

I started with a skoda fabia 2007 and ran that till death at 120,000 miles then got a Renault clio where the clutch and geaebox went so it went.i then tried a 2016 mini cooper on pcp but that bankrupt me due to insurance and running costs. So I got a ford fiesta but the garage didn't tell me it had been in a front end crash so things went majorly wrong with it so I had to scrap it. Then I got a honda civic thinking it would be indestructible but the guy I brought it off sold me a write off without me knowing as drove fine and looked fine upon purchase. So now looking to get something that will be good and do me well

Sounds like you need to get a full RAC or AA check done whatever car you are about to buy,

[ilikejam]

I'm looking in the same price bracket for a stop-gap car while waiting for the next lease to arrive.

Based on nothing but pictures I've narrowed it down to a 2012-ish Swift Sport or a 2008-ish Mini Cooper S. Probably coming down on the side of the Mini for the refinement over the Swift, but the Swift Sport is pretty unanimously celebrated as a great car.

[MattyD803]

nobrakes said:

Sounds like you need to get a full RAC or AA check done whatever car you are about to buy,

In light of your car buying history, I think this would be a very sensible step for you.

[F_mck01]

I shall do that, what mileage is best to look at being a maximum and the same for owners?

[F_mck01]

I shall do that, what mileage is best to look at being a maximum and the same for owners?