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.

If you're swaying towards a VW Polo definitely consider a Seat Ibiza - another VW group car but less expensive. We are on our second and sister has also had one.

I loved my Honda Jazz but the catalytic converters are easy to steal and it cost me over £700 then the MOT was over £300 so I sold it. Fab little car though and no big issues despite it being 15 years old.

I have a Fiat Panda now which I love but there is nowhere near the same amount of space and it doesn't feel very safe if in a crash. It's a bit like driving a big tin can!

I had a nearly new (1 year old when I bought it i think) automatic skoda Fabia and it was lovely to drive but it did break down several times.

Maybe I was just unlucky!