To ask whether you think I can by a "decent" used car for 5k?

[Nighthogs]

I'm about to buy my first ever car aged 31 - exciting! I'm reluctant to spend more than £5,000, and I'm hoping for that money I'll be able to buy something that isn't amazing but is a decent runner that will see me through at least a few years before the issues start to creep up. Not fussed with cameras and the like, but like the idea of a beeping parking sensor. Just something solid, not too many miles, reliable... Maybe a Honda Jazz or a VW Polo?

Am I being unreasonable to think that I can achieve this with my budget?

@floofycroissant

Suzuki Swift is another good shout. With that budget, if you're willing to travel you should be able to buy direct from a main dealer, which helps avoid dubious second hand sellers

I was going to suggest a swift too. I got one for £2500 around 3 years ago and it sails through its Mot every year. Lovely little car.

Easily, VW's go for years. My golf was around £5k.

I ditched my old car for a newer Fiat (one of those trendy ones). It was more than £5000 and I had trouble from the off. It simply would not start, it had a problem with the ignition. The garage took it in to repair and it came back worse. They then wanted to send it to the dealership but I refused. I told them from the off I was a grandparent carer who lived rurally and needed a car I could rely on. I wanted them to take it back. They would not even give me a courtesy car.

In the end they conceded but were absolutely vile to me. I think they simply bought from auction put it through the garage and did not even check it over. They even wanted me to accept £500 less for less than a week's ownership. I refused.

Fortunately I had kept my banger and I simply went back to the joys of banger ownership. Salutary lesson for all. I liked it better as well. My family laugh at me but I don't care. Don't pay too much op, it is often a question of luck as well.

The Dacia Sandero can be good value

until my old one costs more to repair than it’s worth!
I never understand this "logic". I have often spent more on repairs than the negligible value of the old banger I was driving. It can make sense if you know the car and know the other work it has had. Its faulty logic to assume that if a repair cost is greater than the sale value you should take a chance on getting a different car (which unless brand new may come with other problems).