Recommend your car...

... or a friends.  I passed my driving exam earlier this month, and am now looking for a nice (used) car.  I have a few ideas of what I want, but it mostly falls under the reliable, good petrol mileage.  I loved my US honda, and I know toyotas are quite nice, but I'll be honest, my last car (and first car) was a gift for my 18th birthday from my parents.  I ran it until I left for here, and so am struggling with this whole buying thing.  Please help me figure out what is a good car to look for on the lots!!  Thanks.   

I have a honda civic 

I'm planning on buying a Honda Jazz.  I loved my Hondas in the States and it's small and gets around well in city streets whilst being able to accommodate a good amount in the car. You can get a pretty good used one for a lot less than the new ones.

I've been driving a Peugeot 106, which has been good for mileage, but nothing exciting.  Mine is quite old and has needed some work. 

VW Golf (automatic)!

I had a Nissan Micra for a year before I came over to the US - I would definitely get another one in the future. I also know of family friends who won't drive anything else! They're small, easy to handle and get great mileage (I estimated about 40 mpg when I was driving it). The one I had was an N reg (so about 1996, I think) and only cost me £800 second hand.

I second the VW Golf. We have two (an estate and a hatchback) and I think they're very reliable and solid. The estate is a diesel and it gets particularly good mileage.

We have a Nissan Micra.  I like VWs and Hondas too, but I think that Nissans are a little more affordable - at least they were in the US, I'm not sure how they price compare here.  I used to call Nissan (in the US) - the poor man's Honda.

I've owned all three.  My (US-owned) VW Golf was my favorite car to drive ever, but it cost me sooooo much every time I had to get work done on it - I ended up selling it.

I had an old used Volvo 440 and that thing never broke or needed much of anything.  I wish I still had it. 

It might be bigger than you need, but I absolutely ADORE my Subaru Forester.

I second the VW Golf. We have two (an estate and a hatchback) and I think they're very reliable and solid. The estate is a diesel and it gets particularly good mileage.

Thirded - we have a 5-door N-reg Golf and I love it!

I have a Ford Focus and I love it, its not much of a looker but its reliable as h-e-double hockey sticks. Its nippy, big enough for me to carry all my crap around and seeing as its the most popular car in the entire world, I don't worry about it being stolen or damaged. Its cheap to fix, and touch wood, its been super reliable.

For my next car though, I might get something like a Toyota Corolla.

Vauxhall Corsa SRi (late 2003 reg).  Good compact car.  Quite nippy as its a SRi, quite roomy interior (if you're looking at a Clio they're quite similar, except Corsa's have more even distribution of space - you compromise on boot space, but you can easily fit 4-5 adults comfortably in a Corsa, as opposed to a Clio.  Also, a Corsa won't fall apart soon after buying unlike a Clio.  In stating this I'm referring to interior fixtures, like the seats.).     Mileage is in-between for us because we've got the SRi model, but Corsa's in general are otherwise good for mileage.  Avoid W reg Vauxhalls (all models), as it was a bad year for cars - prone to breakdowns and just cr@p in general. 

We bought ours from a NetworkQ Vauxhall dealer.  It came with a 1 year warranty, which has been really useful.  They also provide you with a year's free breakdown cover. 

Diesel's are probably better on mileage, however with the price of diesel as high as it is, it might work out to about the same as buying and running a petrol, if not possibly more expensive.   

Previously I had a Honda Civic in the states.

Thirded - we have a 5-door N-reg Golf and I love it!

Not quite fourthed.  We have a Golf and I love it too, very reliable.  But I loved my VW Polo more (I had 4 in a row before the Golf).  If it's just a city run-a-round and you don't need too much boot space, I would go for the Polo, it's so nippy and easy to drive but you get all the reliablility that comes with it being a VW.

what's your budget?  i love my prirus, and I think you can get a used one for about £8,000.

I spent six years here driving £200 cars that wouldn't pass an MOT. Now I have purchased a new one, HUZZAH! It was £6,300 brand new, after tax and financing and all that other malarky.



Anyway, it's a Kia Picanto. It's small, extremely economical and congestion charge exempt. It costs £35 a year to tax.

It's basic, and has a small engine, and is perfect for what I use it for. Huzzah again! (I've only had it for three days, so sorry for the excitement!)