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Original poster

Help me pick a car?

80 replies

300years · 14/05/2021 06:54

Post separation from a 12 year relationship and trying to get on my on two feet. A car will really help with this.

My budget is £6,000.

I’m undecided. Do I go for something small, new, low mileage like the first option?

Or something larger older but still not lots of miles like the second option?

I have two children 5,10 year old.

www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105122508913?advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2018&maximum-mileage=35000&price-to=6000&postcode=G71%206TQ&page=1&price-from=5000&quantity-of-doors=5&radius=80&include-delivery-option=on&sort=relevance

Or

www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103310825927?advertising-location=at_cars&price-to=6000&postcode=G720JH&model=JUKE&sort=price-desc&page=1&radius=80&make=NISSAN&include-delivery-option=on

Personally I prefer the second option, I feel like it’s more spacious and family friendly but I’d appreciate an outsider perspective and struggle for someone to ask.

OP posts:
murbblurb · 14/05/2021 09:04

The ford engine to avoid is the Ecoboost, especially in the 1 litre version - known as 'ecoboom' due to a design foulup which has caused a lot of car fires. Don't buy a 1 litre eco boost focus.

Otherwise the focus is a great car - as always, the older models are better. Newer car models concentrate on useless gadgets, the ghastly SUV style which means less interior room, have reduced boot space and very poor sightlines. I now have an 11 year old focus and it is probably going to be my last decent car.

SpiesRUs · 14/05/2021 09:08

May I suggest a Nissan Leaf - they cost pennies to run and have placed top in some reliability survey - due to the lack of moving parts they just keep going and going and fuel economy is phenomenal - mine does the equivalent of 150+mpg

Sinner10 · 14/05/2021 09:09

I have a Juke, not sure if they all do by my boot has hidden boot space under a shelf. It’s plenty big enough for kids bikes etc. I love it, it’s cheap on fuel and runs great. The back isn’t as big as it looks but you’d fit three kids in easily unless you’ve got bulky car seats.

tuttifuckinfruity · 14/05/2021 09:10

I think a Juke is a smaller version of a Qashqui? I have never driven a Qashqui but I have heard a lot of bad reviews due to having very small cabin space for the size of car.

I agree with pp about Skoda. Very reliable. That's why so many taxis are Skodas. I think the Octavia would be a good bet? Maybe an estate?

AnotherEmma · 14/05/2021 09:13

I have a Skoda Octavia and love it, but I don't think it's the best option for the OP. It's bigger and more expensive than the Fabia. I have it because I have 2 young kids and need space in the back for ERF seats and in the boot for pushchair, travel cot etc. But with older kids and a £6k budget a Fabia is better IMO.

SharpLily · 14/05/2021 09:15

You cannot go wrong with a Skoda.

Shmithecat2 · 14/05/2021 09:16

Try not to focus too much on the age - as long as the service history is commensurate with the mileage and scheduled replacements have been carried out in a timely manner, higher mileage shouldn't be an issue. Also check MOT history and see if any advisories have been lingering (that puts me off...). My current car was 6yo when I bought it with 60k on the clock and is IMMACULATE, inside, engine and out. It had full dealer service history (verified by MB and all held on their database so it can never be lost) and perfect MOT record.

thereinmadnesslies · 14/05/2021 09:16

Jukes are on the same wheelbase as a Nissan micra, so not huge inside but ok. I had one until a couple of months ago with DC 14 and 12. It was definitely starting to get tight in the back for the 14 year old. I found the boot fine though, I could easily get two large cricket bags plus school bags in the boot.

trevthecat · 14/05/2021 09:19

Go mid size. I have a Hyundai i30 it's more spacious than my last car which was a ford Kuga! Although the boot space is much less. Zero road tax, good on fuel, has all the extras. I paid £5k (3 months ago) it's a 16 plate low mileage

KM38 · 14/05/2021 09:20

Another vote for Skoda Fabia @300years 😊 loads of space and really decent sized boot for a small car. MIL has one and it comfortably seats 4 adults 😊

Imtoooldforallthis · 14/05/2021 09:22

I've recently bought a mini clubman after years of big family cars, admittedly my DCs are grown up suprisingly spacious and fabulous build quality.

tuttifuckinfruity · 14/05/2021 09:26

@AnotherEmma

I have a Skoda Octavia and love it, but I don't think it's the best option for the OP. It's bigger and more expensive than the Fabia. I have it because I have 2 young kids and need space in the back for ERF seats and in the boot for pushchair, travel cot etc. But with older kids and a £6k budget a Fabia is better IMO.
Sounds like a good option then. I have heard a lot of good things about Skoda and have driven one a few times, but I'm not that familiar with the different models.

Fabia sounds like it would suit.

BarbaraofSeville · 14/05/2021 09:28

Another vote for a Skoda Fabia either hatchback or estate, small petrol engine. They're great cars.

Check road tax costs, at the age you're buying, up to around 2017 many were £30 a year or less, so a good saving if you keep the car a few years.

YY to checking MOT history. As well as the history of the vehicle (lots of failures/advisories suggests people who haven't thought about maintenance until MOT time but some fails aren't particularly concerning, eg a knackered tyre 5 years ago will have no affect on how the car behaves for you) you can also see that the mileage is accurate and how it's increased over the years. DP got caught out because when they started to make this info available, it turned out that his car had been clocked and had over 50k miles knocked off the total before he bought it.

BarbaraofSeville · 14/05/2021 09:31

@Imtoooldforallthis

I've recently bought a mini clubman after years of big family cars, admittedly my DCs are grown up suprisingly spacious and fabulous build quality.
I've also got a Mini at the moment, agree that it's great but no good as a family car, although I think a 5 door Clubman is a lot more practical for rear passenger space and access? You have to be a contortionist to get in the back of my 3 door, but then there is just about zero leg room unless the front seats are pushed so far forward that it could only be driven by a very short person.

I was a company car driver for around 20 years and have had about half a dozen Skoda's of various varieties and they've all been great.

AnotherEmma · 14/05/2021 09:34

@tuttifuckinfruity
For my next car I'd like a Skoda Scala (slightly smaller than the Octavia) but it's above the OP's budget because it only came out in 2019 so even the oldest ones are pretty new.
The Octavia's boot is absolutely huge which is very handy indeed but in future I'd like something a bit smaller for easier parking!

Killahangilion · 14/05/2021 09:34

My Honda CR-V is 15 years old now and never failed it’s MOT/NCT. In your shoes I’d be looking at a Civic or similar.

Personally wouldn’t touch Ford with a barge pole as in my experience, they quickly become unreliable after they’re about 4yrs plus. Moved to Japanese brand cars and stuck with them.

tuttifuckinfruity · 14/05/2021 09:38

[quote AnotherEmma]@tuttifuckinfruity
For my next car I'd like a Skoda Scala (slightly smaller than the Octavia) but it's above the OP's budget because it only came out in 2019 so even the oldest ones are pretty new.
The Octavia's boot is absolutely huge which is very handy indeed but in future I'd like something a bit smaller for easier parking![/quote]
Think I will need to take a look at a Skoda for my next car 🚗

Lonelycrab · 14/05/2021 09:38

Cr-v is good, absolutely huge inside compared to say a Quasqi (or however you spell it) and the older ones just keep going and going. Parents have one with 250k on the clock.

But the economy is poor (mid 20s mpg) and the tax is also high on the old ones.

AnotherEmma · 14/05/2021 09:39

@tuttifuckinfruity
I post on a lot of car threads telling people to buy a Skoda Grin

BikeRunSki · 14/05/2021 11:10

[quote AnotherEmma]@tuttifuckinfruity
For my next car I'd like a Skoda Scala (slightly smaller than the Octavia) but it's above the OP's budget because it only came out in 2019 so even the oldest ones are pretty new.
The Octavia's boot is absolutely huge which is very handy indeed but in future I'd like something a bit smaller for easier parking![/quote]
That’s exactly why I have a Golf Estate - like an Octavia, but smaller. I am fortunate that I get a car with my job, so I don’t have to pay full costs, as VW are pricier than Skoda for v similar cars.

OP posts:
Lonelycrab · 14/05/2021 12:18

Yes that’s the model I have, but I’d try and stretch to the 1.8litre. It depends how you like to drive

tywysoges · 14/05/2021 12:22

Oh can I follow this thread? I have a similar predicament - though my budget is slightly smaller and I only have one DC. Can't decide if I want a fun or a grown-up car. Grin

Oldraver · 14/05/2021 13:02

The Juke is ugly, I prefer the first one but o only have one child to ferry around