c. £5k to spend on a car

[Rumble]

Me and the mrs will be looking for a new (used) car at the end of the month, budget around 5 grand.

I'll be keeping my Pajero for bikes, weekends, second car so the new one doesn't need to be big. Will be used for commuting, mainly motorway miles, some scooting about town. Needs to be fairly economical, i'd like it to be at least not too slow and decent on the motorway, ideally not too boring either. Reliability is important too, so the newer and lower mileage the better. Basically the opposite of my 20 year old 3.0 V6 4x4!

Here's the clincher, i'd identified the Fiat Panda 100hp as the perfect choice. Small, nippy, fun and 1.4 so not straining on the motorway and low mileage options are within budget. However, the financial controller is flat out refusing to even test one because she doesn't like the way it looks :roll:

So what else should I be looking at that's pretty enough for the mrs and not too slow/dull for me?

 

[lumos2000]

im just about to list our yaris on ebay but i think its a bit above your budget, the misses loves it though. mabey an older model?

 

[cyfa2809]

Fiesta? Polo? That skoda thing? (cant remember what its called)Looks like suzuki swift?

 

[Rumble]

Yeah, she says she likes the yaris, only really smaller engines within budget though. Problem is she has strong feelings on what she's willing to drive, all based on looks. Last car she bought was a rover :?

 

[cyfa2809]

Id say give up now.

 

[Rumble]

1.4 fiesta is on the list, I fear i'll find it dull though. I'd have a polo, but worry about doing regular motorway miles with a 1.2 engine.

 

[al]

The 100hp Panda has a very choppy ride, so even if you get the missus in it, she'll be very unimpressed.

I'd buy a 70's Skoda and still have a couple of grand left over for replacement bits,but then i'm a little odd i've been told.

al.

 

[TheGreenRabbit]

I drive Yaris its fine, and am happy to do long trips in it as well as pop around town

 

[biggs682]

Fix It Again Tommorrow no way go Yaris or Jazz route

 

[lumos2000]

we took the yaris up to nottingham from bournemouth and back on one tank of fuel, it seemd to do well. but i dont drive so thats all i can say realy. we just got a 0% fineance to trade in for a new one