Car recommendations

[yeoooo]

I had one in the late nineties so things have changed a bit since, but it was ok. Reliable. The only real issues I have had with it were electrical gremlins that seemed to plague that particular model.
it was quite the step up from the 1970 morris minor I’d driven for years before it though so I might have been easily impressed

Same issue with it for me too - husband had a Megane and battery used to go flat if we didn’t drive it for a few weeks (holidays etc). Apparently electrics is a common fault with Renault - i was told this.

after having car issues last month I would recommend a breakdown service provision for sure. One of those ones you grumble about paying it but when you need it and don’t have it then it’s a mare!!!!

 

[StephenTJackson]

Same issue with it for me too - husband had a Megane and battery used to go flat if we didn’t drive it for a few weeks (holidays etc). Apparently electrics is a common fault with Renault - i was told this.

after having car issues last month I would recommend a breakdown service provision for sure. One of those ones you grumble about paying it but when you need it and don’t have it then it’s a mare!!!!

Might have to do a bit more Renault based research before I commit then. Thank you.

 

[sistersofpercy]

I have an Alto, and I'm kind of loathed to change it because it's given me no real bother. But it owes me nothing, and it's gonna start costing me money fairly soon based on the ever growing list of advisories I get at MOT. And even those it's not engine/gearbox related, it's wear and tear, it's just starting to get to that point where there is getting close to being a lot of it.

And I really want a car with Aircon and to be able to connect my phone and play Spotify.

hers is pretty good, advisories this year were for a minor leak on the exhaust.
Basic though like you say, she’s got an old parrot in hers and listens to heart fm but it only really goes two miles up the road to her work now anyway. It’s a second car and I think the plan is to run it until it dies now.

 

[sistersofpercy]

Tbh you can’t go wrong with Japanese for small and reliable. The giveaway is usually to look what the takeaway delivery guys are driving, they do a lot of miles and are almost always in Micras, Suzuki Alto, Honda Jazz etc.
My daughter in law has an Alto, I’ll swear to god that thing will still be happily running round in the next century

 

[allthingschocolate]

I have a Nissan qashqai and I have to say I still love driving it even 5 years after I brought it, the spec is really good on the model I have and touch wood it has been a good reliable car would highly recommended

 

[G_man]

Anything japanese for reliability, german for innovative. Toyota are absolutely bomb proof

 

[chickhicks86]

Why is it SO hard to buy a used car? I didn't think I had a tiny budget (£5k) but I just can't find anything. I want a Nissan Juke or similar sized, but all the ones in budget are rough - either high miles or terrible condition. Am I being really unreasonable expecting to be able to buy something newer than 11/12 years old with 100,000 or more miles on for this amount?

 

[Clickbait]

Hyundai, Honda and Toyota are all reliable cars at reasonable prices. I’d recommend looking for reviews of cars for the year you’d be interested in as there seems to be variation between the same make but different models and years (common faults etc.)

The mistake I made when I got my car was not clocking the boot space was way too small. Things like that are worth taking into account.

 

[geegeex]

I’ve had two minis, absolutely loved them. Now have a hyundai and love that too.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

Why is it SO hard to buy a used car? I didn't think I had a tiny budget (£5k) but I just can't find anything. I want a Nissan Juke or similar sized, but all the ones in budget are rough - either high miles or terrible condition. Am I being really unreasonable expecting to be able to buy something newer than 11/12 years old with 100,000 or more miles on for this amount?

Have a look at the Vauxhall Mokke

 

[Gidget00_]

I have a mini countryman and I love it. The running cost is cheap and I’ve had zero problems with it. Mine is automatic but if I was to recommend a car to anyone it would definitely be a mini countryman, and it’s really comfortable, not too big and not too small either, but I know they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea!

 

[chickhicks86]

My current car just isn't worth the expense of repairing if it's gonna breakdown soon. And I want a new car anyway because I want Aircon and phone connection to play Spotify.

So I'm just having to bite the bullet and do it.

Are you me??

 

[I’mThankyou_]

Mini or a Polo every time.
Cheap to run, fix, source parts & reliable little motors.

 

[Adelie penguin]

Have you considered a Skoda? A Kamiq is a good size, not too big, not too small. We've had a couple of Skodas over the years and have found them to be reliable and not too expensive.

 

[StephenTJackson]

Anybody got any experience of Renault Clio's? I'm looking at a couple at a really good price I'm considering between for my next car.

I learnt in a Clio, and I know my driving instructor uncle has had no bother with his. But the one I'm looking at is the latest generation of the car - my uncles is an older generation. I'd imagine it's still a decent small car to run around in?

 

[chickhicks86]

Unfortunately, I think it is quite unreasonable these days.

Second hand car prices have gone through the roof. Massive productions issues through COVID dropped production so less new car sales, company/fleet cars being dumped into the second hand market reduced during COVID as companies reduced spending on replacing etc. People not selling their cars because they don't want to change to electric etc. 5/6 years ago I payed £3300 for an 8 year old Suzuki Alto, just over 30000 miles on the clock. A good price then. I can't find anything similar to that car for less than £5k now. So a Juke being that bit bigger etc. Can't see you would get a decent one for 5k these days

So I've settled into accepting the need to spend more like £10k and get a proper step up in my new car.

Which I'm being pushed into buying sooner than planned because my car knows I'm planning to betray it, and is starting to do something funny that I'm pretty sure is gonna be serious when it goes wrong.

Same! This is what's annoying me. It's money I'd rather not spend because I really like my car, but I think the money spent fixing it would be better invested into something newer. I've had my current car for 10 years, and cost me £5k for a top of the range 5 year old family hatch, so maybe I'm just living in dreamland.

 

[StephenTJackson]

Are you me??

Maybe.

I've just lined up my finance, got my bank loan arranged because the interest was lower than car finance.

I know which car I wanna buy, gonna be all modern and buy from Cinch (I'm trusting you Rylan).

Just need to wait for the money to come into my account, then I can buy it. Gonna get a Nissan Micra.

 

[Saddlesoap]

I've got a Seat. Very very popular local to me, but possibly because the garage has a fantastic reputation. Basically cheaper VWs. Had a Polo and Hyundai previously and would have again.
I pay £287 a month for my Arona.

Don't get the appeal of Minis at all.

My dad always told me never get a French car

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Currently waiting for my cars MOT to finish. I know it’s failed already as they called to say they can abandon the test so I could still drive it as still have a month left on the current one. Told them to just carry on as if there is a lot that needs fixing I’ll probably get a new car. My current cars 18 years old but I really needed it to last me one more year so hoping it’s just this one thing that needs doing

 

[Luce0331]

Anyone had any experiences of a Citroen DS3? Or even Citroens in general?