Car advice - best reliable small used car around £5/6K?

[Fedupwitheveryone]

Please advice on next shitty car purchase. My old car has finally died and i'm stuck as to what to replace it with - I know nothing about cars and can't afford to get it wrong.

Need something small - medium for short distance London school run driving a few times/week. Only needs to fit one adult, one child, but ideally four doors as I child will need to be in back seat for a few years yet. Automatic only. Needs to feel safe enough for occasional motorway driving.

Any suggestions as to reliable cars that are good value in that price range - I don't want to buy something cheap that's going to cost more in repairs.

2007 + Golf? Renault Clio? Ford Focus? Any advice welcome.

sorry, i don't know if they're in the price range, as i've got a bigger car now due to kids, but i always found nissan micras brilliant and reliable (Have a qashqai now and also love it). Never had any issues with Nissan

I’ve only had 2 cars in my life, a Nissan Micra and a Mazda 2.

Both cars never EVER broke down on me and I had each for 10+ years.

I have a Hyundai i10 that is very very reliable.

I second this.

My Hyundai i10 is excellent. It's a 2016 model and I've never had a single issue with it. It needed a new battery in October but otherwise it sails through its MOT's every single year, drives really well and it's cheap to run too.

Yaris. Super reliable.

Honda Jazz or Ford Fiesta?

I'm looking at a Honda Jazz, they have some go in them and Honda are renowned for their reliability.

Toyota Yaris or Hyundai i10/20/30.

Small is fine - you don’t need medium.
And why can’t your child take the necessary 5 seconds to tip a seat forward for a 3 door?
Maybe you wouldn’t need a “shitty” car if you didn’t add unnecessary requirements.
£6K is not a “shitty” car.

A i10, Firsta, Mazda2, Micra, Aygo, Corsa - any of those will fit the bill.

Small Toyota, Honda jazz if you can stretch to either of those. Skoda fabia is generally a good bet too, and generally cheaper for the age/mileage.

Ford focus sprang to my mind

Actually Skoda fabia - yes!

A shitty car, at 5k!!!!!

A Nissan Note or Nissan Micra, not shitty, within price range and wont let you down. The Note has fantastic features, although a rubbish drinks holder in the front.

I bought a 4 year old dacia sandero last year. It only had 16k miles on it and full service history for £6k from a Renault dealership.
I have been so pleased with it.
It only has a 0.9l engine so very cheap to run, but there is more seat space and boot space than a lot of small cars...it's 5 door too.
I live in a fairly urban area and my insurance is under £400 per year.

I would definitely have a look.

Dacias are made by Renault, I believe all rhe mechanical parts are the same as a clio, but it's just cheaper finish on thr appearance/trim etc.

Would definitely recommend.

I just got a 14 renault captur. Great run around and MPG.

Honda Jazz or Civic

Seconded. I bought a 17 plate sandero. Very reasonably priced. 5 doors, plenty of boot space. Had it less than a year but very happy with it so far.

I have a Toyota Aygo that was 5.5k two years ago - it’s an 18 plate and had v low mileage then (not now tho).

It’s a great car that I would buy again. I do 15,000 a year and it’s excellent on motorways, nippy and so easy to park. Mine is the base model but it’s fine. Five fours too tho not a lot if room for long legs in the back. We also have a Yaris (bit bigger) which is also great. Not sure on automatic tho.

Had a Hyundai i10 before that and I know they are rated on MN but mine was a dog of a car and I wouldn’t drive one again.

Toyota Yaris or Honda Jazz. Both very reliable, practical design (four doors plus hatchback) and if you are lucky you might get a hybrid one.

Toyota Yaris, Nissan Micra or Nissan Note. Honda Jazz. Hyundai i10.

Lots of options. Automatic will raise the price and lower your options though

Another vote for a Yaris. I had mine 13 years and all it needed, other than new batteries was a (maybe 2?) exhausts. Great little car, never let me down.

Ford Fiesta - every garage has experience of fixing them and parts are easy to come by. They are reliable and easy to drive. Mine is nearly 19 years old and just passed MOT with no issues.

Thanks for all these responses so quickly! Am looking into these all now to compare.

For those offended at my 'shitty car' comment I only really meant my own current 20 year old car and to imply I wasn't looking for advice on my next new SUV purchase or anything. l have literally never even spent as much as £5K on a car so i'm not saying they are all shit at this price.

4 door preferable to flipping seats down for the times I offer short lifts to other kids + parents and can't stop for long to let ppl out. And automatic is non-negotiable as I can't drive a manual. I gave my spec so as not to dripfeed and so that people could offer useful suggestions within my pricerange - not quite sure why anyone would bother to be annoyed at my requirements, as they are the ones i have?? ;-)

Citroen C3 or Toyota Yaris? I tend to think Toyota are pretty indestructible and good value....

Dacia Sandero would suit you. Dacia have great reviews for reliability.
Ive got a Duster as I need a large boot for very large dog.
2013 44k miles £6k. 1.5L Not fancy but phone connects via Bluetooth, comfortable to drive and for passengers and cheap to run both fuel wise and insurance.
DH is going to buy one as he’s so impressed with mine.