Car recommendations

[hol20x]

Long story short, I've got a 2020 Renault Captur and it's a piece of tit. It's broken down three times in the space of less than a year of having it.

I'm looking to get rid of it and get something else. I just want something reliable. It's only me and my 5yo so it doesn't have to be anything big. At this point I'll take anything as long as it gets me from A to B with no fuss. My only requirements are petrol, manual, 5 doors. Looking for ideas on what to have a look at and what to avoid. I will absolutely not be getting another Renault though.

Please help!

 

[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!

 

[I’mThankyou_]

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

 

[Former_Antelopee]

My dad always does a lot of research before buying anything. He always tells me to go for a Toyota and if you google they are always right up there for reliability (I’ve just looked and they always seem to be right near the top of the list). I had a Toyota that I got rid of when it was 15 years old. The reason I got rid of it I still drove with it broken for 10 months but it would’ve failed the next MOT so got rid of it just before that (it wasn’t a dangerous thing) - I could’ve fixed it but it was worth less than it would’ve cost to fix. I have a Ford now that’s 18 years old.

I’m going to go against the other posters, I don’t know much about minis but I’ve always been told to avoid them as they are expensive to repair?

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[sistersofpercy]

Have you considered leasing? If you're looking for something smaller there were reasonable lease deals around £200pm over 3 years. I've leased for the last ten years or so. I like to know that the amount I pay monthly is it and mechanical failures are someone else's problem.
My current car is a Mini Electric, thats leased through other half's salary sacrifice scheme and that covers everything, even down to my insurance.

 

[G_man]

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

 

[Murphygirl]

Have you considered leasing? If you're looking for something smaller there were reasonable lease deals around £200pm over 3 years. I've leased for the last ten years or so. I like to know that the amount I pay monthly is it and mechanical failures are someone else's problem.
My current car is a Mini Electric, thats leased through other half's salary sacrifice scheme and that covers everything, even down to my insurance.

How are you finding the electric Mini? I’ve also ordered one through my work’s car lease scheme and just waiting to hear on a delivery date.

 

[Skinny]

I had a Mini a few years ago and was very happy with it. So cheap to run and just a good car in general. If you have a pushchair you might struggle, though.

 

[sistersofpercy]

How are you finding the electric Mini? I’ve also ordered one through my work’s car lease scheme and just waiting to hear on a delivery date.

I absolutely love it. It goes like stink
I came from a huge 4x4 manual diesel so bit of a change, but the one pedal driving is so simple and so much fun. Not been through a winter yet, but this time of year I can get 120 on a charge. I don’t go far with it so it suits me for my journeys.

Boot isn’t huge, but again, only really needed for my shopping. I took four adults out the other week and it was surprisingly comfortable in the back.

I’d be surprised if your delivery date was this side of Christmas. It took almost a year for mine. I was climbing the walls with excitement

 

[Murphygirl]

That’s great to hear, delivery is supposed to be between now and October. (It’s some special offer on the lease scheme) I don’t intend having any back seat passengers but will fold the back seats down and get a dog guard behind the front seats which will give my dog loads of room in the back. Getting really excited now as the home charger was fitted today
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[sistersofpercy]

That’s great to hear, delivery is supposed to be between now and October. (It’s some special offer on the lease scheme) I don’t intend having any back seat passengers but will fold the back seats down and get a dog guard behind the front seats which will give my dog loads of room in the back. Getting really excited now as the home charger was fitted today
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Oh thats good news then! Mine kept getting pushed back and back again, I was gutted!

What colour did you go for? I went British Racing Green with a black roof, I am going to get some of the yellow mirror caps at some point though.

 

[Murphygirl]

I would have loved the racing green, unfortunately to get the price I did I could only choose between white or silver so went for silver, which does come with a black roof. Hopefully I don’t have too much longer to wait

 

[sistersofpercy]

I would have loved the racing green, unfortunately to get the price I did I could only choose between white or silver so went for silver, which does come with a black roof. Hopefully I don’t have too much longer to wait

everything crossed for you! I’m sure you’ll love it. Mine came with a little BMW Travel mug as well which was a nice touch. It’s brilliant at night if you have a thing for shiny stuff. Like sitting in a mobile disco

 

[Murphygirl]

I love shiny stuff so that’s right up my street!

 

[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

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

Personally I would go for a Vauxhall, it might not be "prestige" but they are cheap and reliable and very cheap to keep on the road. My favourite car by far was a 2003 Vauxhall Astra Club and I still regret selling it for an upgrade.

 

[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?

 

[sistersofpercy]

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?

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