£6k family car

[seabod91]

£6k budget.

5 door family car that is reliable, ( I know how to spanner but would like to avoid anything serious) and spacious.

Must be automatic ( wife ), and not diesel ( short trips mainly ).

Bonus if it has some poke and a good spec.

What are you choosing.

Or what would you steer well clear of.

Any advice appreciated.

[Watcher of the skies]

Toyota Avensis?
Boring but reliable and cheap to run.

[InfamousK]

L322, 4.2 s/c

[r1ch]

Honda Accord, Audi A4, or Mondeo.

[ChocolateFrog]

Something like a Lexus RX450h would be what I'd go for with that criteria I think.

[James_33]

Starting to wonder this very same question, I have 3 young girls and we only have a 1 series currently, lost count the amount of times they've had arguments on "who's sitting in the middle" but trying to find something big enough for a family and interesting at the same time with a tight budget and without a massive bork factor isn't easy.

[AmyRichardson]

How old and leggy is the OP willing to go?

£6k won't get much beyond a very tepid hatch-bases estate, unless you're happy to embrace age and big mileage.

[911Spanker]

James_33 said:

Starting to wonder this very same question, I have 3 young girls and we only have a 1 series currently, lost count the amount of times they've had arguments on "who's sitting in the middle" but trying to find something big enough for a family and interesting at the same time with a tight budget and without a massive bork factor isn't easy.

Been there done that and there's very little out there. Stretch the budget to a JDM import?

[seabod91]

I’m thinking something along the lines like this.

But not sure of the bork factor.



Not to bothered about mileage if it’s been looked after and has good history.

[AmyRichardson]

The auto requirement is also a challenge, cheap fun rarely comes with an auto and ten plus years ago the slushers in lower range cars were even rarer and mostly old-tech 4/5 speed affairs.

For example, something like a Focus estate with the 180hp 1.6 (which is a decent size for 4+luggage and dynamically well sorted - even if it's not exactly hot!) is doable for £6k with sensible miles/years, but one with an auto is almost unheard of.

[Watcher of the skies]

seabod91 said:

I’m thinking something along the lines like this.

But not sure of the bork factor.



Not to bothered about mileage if it’s been looked after and has good history.

I'd avoid anything German, it'll just be expense and hassle. If you want something smarter then try a Volvo V70. Petrol may be a bit thirsty though.

[W201_190e]

seabod91 said:

I’m thinking something along the lines like this.

But not sure of the bork factor.



Not to bothered about mileage if it’s been looked after and has good history.

Balance shaft £3k fix

Timing chain £2k fix

Subframe £2k fix

[seabod91]

W201_190e said:

seabod91 said:

I’m thinking something along the lines like this.

But not sure of the bork factor.



Not to bothered about mileage if it’s been looked after and has good history.

Balance shaft £3k fix

Timing chain £2k fix

Subframe £2k fix

Exactly the sort of comments I was after.

How about 530 330 BMW’s. I had a e46 325i years ago as a fun / drift car and no Matter what I did I couldn’t kill it.

[LT1987]

This looks like a good left-field choice, albeit it may not set the world on fire looks/performance wise

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306118...

Mazda 5/Premancy

Looks to be good spec
ULEZ friendly (i believe)
Spacious
Reliable
6-7k

[georgeyboy12345]

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Multiair TCT - may be due a timing belt - budget £400 for one at a specialist
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311284...


Honda Accord 2.0 i-VTEC Tourer
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312064...


Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311133...


Ford Focus 2.0 Titanium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312064...

[ZX10R NIN]

IS250 SE-L:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308221...

1.6T Elite Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312054...

S60 T6:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310283...

T5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310263...

S80 T5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311174...

[FarmerJim]

Octavia VRS

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311234...

[biggbn]

Avensis, Optima, Sonata, all cheap, metronomically reliable and mostly forgettable/invisible. Perfect used family cars!!

[Bobupndown]

Insignia?

[adilkhalifa]

Skoda Superb, can usually find them with really high level of equipment too