To ask what car you would buy if you had 8k to do so?

[Greatly]

I've inherited 10k and desperately need a new car as mine has done 165k and is knackered. I drive a lot, probably 12k a year easily. So economical would be good.

I wish Mnet still had the Car topic!

Look at Kia diesels, look at size you need. Most are ULEZ compliant. Many cities are bringing forward their own proposals. Bristol for instance. We had one and now have a nearly new Skoda because of handy for Dealer.
We are not convinced we did right.

I’ve had all sorts over the years.

I would go for a Ford now with low mileage and a cmax or smax or something

Just noticed the post about 'boring' cars, Kia have the Ce'ed. Our 7 year old one was on original battery and exhaust system. I am told.
He wants a Sportage next.

I used to have a Fiat 500L, they are super ugly but that thing lasted. All of the seats in the car (including front passenger) went completely flat so it was like a van and I had the dogs in there, a sheep that needed a trip to the vet once, hay bales, feed etc… equally it fit three in the back. It never had a thing go wrong despite being driven off road down our farm track. I bought mine about 6 years ago for £6,000 with 8,000 miles. Car prices are more now but you can definitely get one with decent mileage for around £5,000

Nissan Note. Great car in that size range.

I quite like the panda 4 x 4!

Paid £9000 so a bit more than your budget but I love my quashquai diesel. Its zero tax, economical and more importantly has enough space for my rapidly growing boys not to feel cramped with the boot being big enough for all my fitness equipment.

Oh and its actually gone up in value over the last 18months.

I have horses so get to cart 20kg sacks of feed around regularly.
If you want to tow, does that budget stretch to a Kia sorrento? They're supposed to be very good.

I have a 5 door old 54 reg Toyota Yaris auto low mileage which I inherited when my dad died, it's actually a lot more versatile with the back seats down that my classic Land Rover defender is which I hardly use these days. I can get 8 sacks of garden waste to the tip easily in it, it's ultra reliable, cheap to insure, no electronics to go wrong and just gets annual service when it goes in for its MOT. It copes far better with the hard life it gets from me driving on gravel tracks and generally quite dirty lifestyle than I ever expected it too! I will keep it running until it's uneconomic to repair. I paid £1700 for it in august 2021 (after someone crashed into his previous one just like it and that was written off)
Depends what you want really.

Something that will do that (it doesn't need to tow) and also be fun and economical to drive up and down the motorway a few times a month!!

My Toyota yaris is 14 years old and is great! Low maintenance, economical and nippy

Excellent cars and have quite the following.

Not sure of the model, but definitely a Honda.
Have had four, different models, all second hand and cheap but all trouble free.
In what must have been a moment of madness I bought a Skoda last year, ‘its a pile of shite in comparison.
Will never drive anything but Honda in the future.

(I must add I have zero interest in cars and don’t particularly like driving, I just want a car to get me from A to B reliably without causing me bother).

Sounds like a Friday afternoon car. I didn’t do suspension so I’m not responsible for that bit

we had one avensis come out of factory with one side chrome handles, one design wheel one side and the other colour coded and different wheels the other. Two specs one car! It was a head scratch that one.

believe it or not, even though your experience doesn’t reflect it, they are the better ones and the better one for support - which is more of a reflection of how poorly dealers and manufacturers treat customers.

I've just bought a Sportage. Absolutely adore it.

Also made me feel like a 'proper' adult though, because the main reason we got it was the warranty.

I have emailed @mumnet to ask for the car topic back as noticed lots of threads recently.
Please contact them too as it might help.

It just got taken away not sure on the reason.
I have emailed mumsnet recently to ask for it back they did say they would look into it.

I urge everyone that wants it back to do the same 🙂

Although I do agree i always buy VAG stuff. The main dealers are terrible but the product good

I love the fiesta.had one as a work car and in the heavy snow and ice it would still go up all the hills leaving other cars stranded,handled well and could really move when we had a job on!amazing car .
As dh so tall we have a Hyundai now but I'd always go for a fiesta first choice.

A fiesta! I love mine. Cheap to run, easy to drive, can fit a surprising amount in it! I would say don’t get a three door one - it’s not so practical

I like the fiesta but it's too low

I have a volvo s40. There is over 200k on it and I drive the crap out of the thing. It has never let me down, and I can fill the boot with several bags of feed and shove two bales of shavings in the back seat. If you have a diesel, as a other poster has mentioned, there is still plenty of life left in it. I have also had an Audi Q5. Loved it too. I don't envy you trying to go car shopping. Good luck OP.

165km is not high mileage at all

We've got a Focus ST. 21 years old and still fab. Bloody love it and has even been called 'probably the best condition 02 plate ST still on the road in this county' by some magazine for Fordwankers! So yeah, I'd recommend a Fiesta or a Focus if you can stretch to it, simple and reliable. I hope you can find something you really like.

A Dascia Duster.

I've heard terrific things about these from numerous people and now covet one.

What about the focus? I've had 3 fiestas and 1 focus and I much preferred the focus as it seemed a little bit higher to get in and out of.

When I was looking last year I went on autotrader, put in my main requirements eg price, distance, ulez, 5 door, trade only and looked at what there was. Took me over a month of looking but ended up with a car with higher spec so worth the wait. I ended up with a 2016 fiesta with sat nav, heated front windscreen and mirrors, privacy windows, and pretty footwell lights (I know, I know).

My DD did the same and got a mazda2 for 3k just as prices started going up. Its a great car and she's confidently driven all over the country on motorways in it, 2 weeks after passing her test. Smaller body but oomph in the engine.

I see your price is lower now but you might find a gem on that site.