£5K to spend on a car - what would you buy?

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£5K to spend on a car - what would you buy?

80 posts & 52 voices | Started 2 years ago by IHN | Latest reply from b r

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IHN - Member

Depending on the outcome of it's next service, I may be replacing the trusty Golf that I've had for 6 years. Now, I'm not one to spend much on cars, they are essentially just transport, but I do want a reasonable level of comfort/quality/reliability.

The Golf cost me £5k with 50k miles on the clock, I've put another 65k on it with no (well, very few) problems. It's comfy, reliable and well, Golfs have that ability to never really look out of place anywhere. If I were to do the same again, what should I spend it on?

Obviously, if it comes through the service with flying colours, then we can pick this up again in another 10k miles...

Posted 2 years ago #
uplink - Member

If you're happy with Golfs - why not simply get another one?

Posted 2 years ago #
IHN - Member

That is obviously the default answer, I thought I might cast the net a bit wider though (before probably buying another Golf)

Posted 2 years ago #
Baldysquirt - Member

I've recently bought a 53 plate, low mileage Toyota Corolla for a smidge over £4K. They get good reviews and are meant to be ultra reliable. I'm happy with mine so far.

Posted 2 years ago #
idontlikechips - Member

Celica GT4 of a Honda Integra DC2, those tegs will go for 100's of 1000's of miles without even a whimper

although haveing reread the original post, comfort in these to may not be the best, however both will fit a bike in them.

Posted 2 years ago #
DickBarton - Member

Anything Japanese would probably do the trick...something from Honda is very reliable and comfy - ideally don't get something that was part built with Rover as the Rover parts tend to fail and rust quickly...but the Japanese stuff goes on and on...

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

Personally for 5k I'd buy a Subaru Impreza WRX sportwagon.

If it has to be a Ford- Focus 1.8 petrol.

Posted 2 years ago #
monkeychild - Member

MK1 Skoda Octavia vRS. Better equipped (better built too imho and that of a VW mechanic that fitted cruise on mine)than a Golf out of the box v comfy on long trips, the boot is 'kin mahoosive and bloody hell they shift.

Posted 2 years ago #
IHN - Member

Cheers for the ideas so far. I should have added, fair bit of motorway mileage is involved, so reasonable (or better!) economy is also important (the Golf averages about 40mpg on the motorway)

Posted 2 years ago #
samuri - Member

what about the skoda fabia? A lot of it will be exactly the same bits as you'd find on your golf and a whole lot cheaper too.

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

If its a Octavia- double check with your local authority first before purchase (taxi licensing office) armed with the reg plate to double-check. If you are nice they can confirm either way if its been mini-cabbed in the area and then....wound back..

Posted 2 years ago #
justme - Member

a van!!

Posted 2 years ago #
bigsi - Member

as per monkeychild I would get a mk1 Octavia vRS.

Very happy with mine and when i do eventually need to change it I'll be getting another. The boot is big enough that with the 1/3 - 2/3 split back seat partly down you can get 3 bikes in it and still have room for all the kit and the riders themselves can still travel in comfort.

Best car I've owned in the past 20 years

Posted 2 years ago #
CaptainMainwaring - Member

Golf every time. I'm on my 4th. Practical, comfortable, well built, reliable, reasonable to service/fix and hold their value well. For that sort of money you will be able to get a Mark V where they got back to previous form after a bit of a fail with the Mark IV

Posted 2 years ago #
Olly - Member

my 206 was 5k with 28k miles on it (2.0L HDI)

not as "nice a place to be" inside as a golf, but an equivelent golf is a hell of a lot more expensive, and i dont reeeeally care that the back is full of pine needles from the weekend

super mini!

Posted 2 years ago #
PeterPoddy - Member

For £5k you'll get a lot more in a Focus than you will in a Golf, and it will be newer and have less miles on it.

We had £6k to spend this year and I'd have loved a Golf, but they are simply stupid prices. We bought a 55reg Focus Zetec estate, with 16,000 miles on it, and in truly immaculate condition, like new.
A comparable Golf was £2-4k more expensive.
I worked out the figures based on depreciation hoping to justify it that way, and whicever way you work it out, VWs as still more expensive in the long run. And they are no more reliable than anything else.

Posted 2 years ago #
MrNutt - Member

I'd buy a another volvo estate, I paid a bargain £400.00 for my very tidy 850, M reg, non turbo, 2.5ltr GLT and had the dry solder joints fixed (a common fault, car cuts out, people suddenly think, oh no its the electrics thats expensive, it cost £30.00!) now I've a motor that is safe, that can easily fit bikes without taking them apart, very comfortable and quick. The downside? fuel consumption, I get about 33mpg but fxxk it, it only cost me £400! think of the fun you could have with £4500.00 MrNettles!!!!

Posted 2 years ago #
willard - Member

How about going for something by Saab? I keep seeing ex-lease 9-3 estates with about 80k on the clock (usually about four years old) on Autotrader for about that money.

The bulk of them are diesel and are normally specced to the max. My dad had one and it was pokey as hell, comfortable and managed over 50 on a run with a lightish foot. They also have a good-sized boot.

Posted 2 years ago #
MartynS - Member

I'd have a good poke round Mondeo Estates as well, the 130tdci is quite good fun.

Or what about a softtop Bedford Rascal?

Posted 2 years ago #
mrmichaelwright - Member

Newer Volkswagens are not as well made IMO

i'm disappointed by the build quality of our 55 plate Golf in comparison to our Y plate Passat

I'd go Japanese

Posted 2 years ago #
b r - Member

Big engined 5 series Beemers, cheap as chips and usually well looked after (as you need a FSH to sell them).

Feel very, very solid - especially the E39's.

Go diesel if you are bothered about fuel.

Posted 2 years ago #
CaptainMainwaring - Member

I'd agree with PeterPoddy that the Focus is good as well but not sure I would agree about them being cheaper in the long run. The most expensive part about car ownership is the depreciation and that is where the Golf wins hands down, although more expensive to buy initially.

For £5k anything Japanese will be expensive to maintain and anything French will fall to bits

Posted 2 years ago #
binners - Member

Another vote for an Octavia vRS. I've had mine for a few years and its great. Never missed a beat. I've got the estate so it swallows a few bikes with a weekends camping gear no worries. And allows you to drive like 'kin maniac at the same time

Whats not to like

Oh.... as a refraim I'd say: Don't let your wife drive it if she drives like a 'kin maniac as well. Not unless you want it back with the front end hanging off it. They're very very low at the front

Posted 2 years ago #
colin@rush - Member

For £5k anything Japanese will be expensive to maintain and anything French will fall to bits

Not sure i agree with that to much from the japanese side, i bought a Toyota Corolla T-Sport new 5yrs ago, its as quick as a Civic type R, is better on fuel i average about 32-35mpg, its comfy comes with all the gizmo's, and in 5yrs i've done nothing other than service it, just had an MOT done on it, no probs i've done 72,000 miles obviously had tyres changed and brake pads but not even had to replace a light bulb yet...
It goes pretty well when you want it and is comfy all day long, i also have a Yaris SR thats 8 1/2yrs old and thats been amazing, ain't done anything to that either, so i can't rate japanese cars highly enough, i know they are expensive when it comes to parts but they are very very reliable.

When i picked my car up i asked when can i start expecting issue's with the car his quote "about 10-12yrs time" he then said come have a look at this they had a T reg yaris (10yrs old ish) on the workstand have a look under there its like new, and a 4yr old Ford KA that was rotten underneath, i know what i will buy again...

Posted 2 years ago #
mboy - Member

How about a VW Passat TDi Estate?

Bigger and more luxurious than a Golf, so you can get youself and more bikes in easier... But no more expensive to run!

Also, they're cheaper to buy, cos people see anything that's "big" as being more expensive to run, even if that isn't necessarily the case...

Though for £5k, you could get a hell of a lot of Mondeo for the money, and the last shape Mondeo's, with a TDCi engine, are pretty damned good cars actually, and will easily get a fair bit more than the 40mpg you're getting from your Golf (what engine? I'm guessing it's a petrol?) right now...

Ir if you want something sportier, those Mk1 Skoda Octavia VRs's are brilliant cars. Basically it's a Golf GTi mechanically, but with a bigger boot, more luxuries, and a chunk of money knocked off the price!

Posted 2 years ago #
r6ymy - Member

Another vote for the Focus, agree residuals aren't as good as VW but if you're buying something 4 years old then it'll be past the worst in terms of depreciation. Good solid cars, nice to drive and cheap widely available parts.

Posted 2 years ago #
phildowling - Member

How about a T4 transporter and still have some change in your pocket? ill be selling mine shortly.

20k on new engine, clutch and suspension
R plate
Pearl white repsray
Lowered
S-line kit
19in Audi alloys,
Leather electric seats
CD player, DVD player in the back
Leather recliner seats in rear and convert into bed
Van is carpeted and linned throughout.
Great bike and board carrier.
New MOT last month

No longer has silly bra thingy

£4500

Only reason im selling is Mrs Phil getting company car and i can then use my Splitscreen as a daily

Posted 2 years ago #
monkeychild - Member

Basically it's a Golf GTi mechanically

Different turbo vRS =180bhp GTI =150bhp unless Anniversary which is 180bhp they may have gone 180bhpm in the latter mivs too. Anyhoo I chose a vRS (on my 2nd one after foolishly getting rid of my first) over a GTI as I felt the gti was errr how should I put it.... crap

Posted 2 years ago #
MikeG - Member

What about an Octavia Tdi then? I've recently bought an 03 elegance (climate, 16" alloys etc) with 74k for under £4k, happily sits on a private road at 90 and has averaged 52mpg over the 6000 miles I've done in it. Overtakes nicely being a TDi and is easily chippable to 150ish bhp.

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

Righthand drive German Transporter?

binners- drive carefully please. That VRS will fall into my hands one day.

Agree on the newer Golfs. My MKV TDI was appalling paintwise. Older Golfs are average IMO- I'd still go for a Focus 1.8 petrol (binners, you had a AustinPowers Goldmember one??)

Posted 2 years ago #
MTT - Member

You people, call yourselves men, bah...

5k

330ci
S3
Saab 95 Aero Hot

I'd add a few more and buy a 147 GTA, but i don't drive very far.

Posted 2 years ago #
IHN - Member

Skills Guiding - what engine's in that van?

As for Focus's, I know they're a good buy, but I just don't like 'em.

Posted 2 years ago #
zaskar - Inactive

Decent BMW with LPG conversion?

I think my next car will be an estate from travelling on the motorway to visit folks and with my bike and gear for sportives etc.

Thing is -it's not the image I want to convey!

Posted 2 years ago #
llamafarmer - Member

If you fancy something Golf sized, how about a Seat Leon FR TDI?

Posted 2 years ago #
PeterPoddy - Member

I'd agree with PeterPoddy that the Focus is good as well but not sure I would agree about them being cheaper in the long run. The most expensive part about car ownership is the depreciation and that is where the Golf wins hands down, although more expensive to buy initially.

It doesn't work like that. Loosing 30% on a £8k car is more money than 35% on a £6k car, for instance.
I can't remember the actual figures, but I sat and worked it out from Parkers and the like, using real figures, and you loose more on the more expensive car simply because there's more to loose!

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

An S3 for 5k? Err shed springs to mind

Posted 2 years ago #
oxnop - Member

What about this: http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/audi-a4-avant-s-line

it does 35mpg on a run & includes Thule aero roof bars & 2 x Thule bike carriers.

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

oxnop great car- pros very similar. cons sameish mileage/age as his current though?

Posted 2 years ago #
Mister P - Member

I am with mboy on this, in fact I did buy a Passat TDi estate and have been very pleased with it.

Posted 2 years ago #
FunkyDunc - Member

I recently got a Ford 2.0 130bhp diesel mondeo 54 plate, full service history, 36k miles for £4,000.

One of the best cars I've owned in years, and thats having just had a sports car and driven newer Audi A4's etc recently

Posted 2 years ago #