paul1966 Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 Bit of a broad subject this one. After some ideas as to what used car to get next, currently I have a Ford cmax so looking for something about the same size, budget is 5K so looking at something about 10 years old with hopefully below average milage as I tend to hang onto my cars for several years. Main things are obviously something reliable but if it does need repair that the spares are reasonable and readily available and also I could do the basics myself. Had lots of Fords in the past with mixed luck regarding reliability. Had a Passat that was bomb proof and nice to drive, never had anything made in Asia. I’m open to any suggestions really so go ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 Susuki swift...........period Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 On 20/03/2024 at 17:38, ditchman said: Susuki swift...........period Expand or even an older vitara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 Can recommend a Honda CRV 2.2 diesel. mine has 145 k on the clock with no repairs other than brakes, with fsh it shouldn't cost a fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 (edited) Find a nice petrol mazda and it will be ulez compliant (coming to your city soon ) and very reliable. Mazda 6 or mazda 5 small mpv Edited March 20, 2024 by Ultrastu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 Notice all recommendations are Japanese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 Honda. If they made toothbrushes id have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 (edited) On 20/03/2024 at 18:21, London Best said: Notice all recommendations are Japanese. Expand i wonder why the 2 greatest joys in my life were buying my 1st landrover in 1977 and selling my last landrover quite recently Edited March 20, 2024 by ditchman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen-H Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 Honda or Toyota - petrol engines only Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 As a Mazda fan - currently on my 4th - I'd advise caution with the Mazda 3 from 2004-2013. Mazda was bullied by Ford into basing it on the Focus which of course means various problems, particularly with the suspension and the 1.6 diesel engine at higher mileages. Following the divorce from Ford, Mazdas built after 2013 are 100% Mazda and consequently back up near the top in the reliability charts. They're also great to drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1966 Posted March 20, 2024 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 On 20/03/2024 at 18:52, Westward said: As a Mazda fan - currently on my 4th - I'd advise caution with the Mazda 3 from 2004-2013. Mazda was bullied by Ford into basing it on the Focus which of course means various problems, particularly with the suspension and the 1.6 diesel engine at higher mileages. Following the divorce from Ford, Mazdas built after 2013 are 100% Mazda and consequently back up near the top in the reliability charts. They're also great to drive. Expand Thanks so is it just the Mazda 3 between those years or all Mazda's at the minute the Mazda is top of the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 On 20/03/2024 at 18:41, ditchman said: i wonder why the 2 greatest joys in my life were buying my 1st landrover in 1977 and selling my last landrover quite recently Expand I bought my first in April 1976 and I still run an old-style Defender. Must have been to the Moon and back a few times in them. Had a few minor problems along the way, of course, but never been stranded with anything I couldn’t fix. (age has put a stop to that now). I can’t imagine life without one really. Just bought the wife a Jap skateboard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 if i had my time again i would have the old original short wheel base toyota landcruiser.....had a pick up landcriser in the early 80;s 6 cylinder straight petrol...loved it..it was a beast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 (edited) On 20/03/2024 at 20:16, ditchman said: if i had my time again i would have the old original short wheel base toyota landcruiser.....had a pick up landcriser in the early 80;s 6 cylinder straight petrol...loved it..it was a beast Expand Yeah, they are nice, driven them quite a bit in Africa. But, during my trips over there, I have always managed to break something on one! edit: not the poshest Land Cruisers on the planet in the first place though! Edited March 20, 2024 by London Best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted March 20, 2024 Report Share Posted March 20, 2024 On 20/03/2024 at 20:23, London Best said: Yeah, they are nice, driven them quite a bit in Africa. But, during my trips over there, I have always managed to break something on one! edit: not the poshest Land Cruisers on the planet in the first place though! Expand used to run my landcruiser on crossply at 15lbs/inch....very rarely had a puncher...also had very good quality shocks on it...used to spend less time in the workshop than the landies....but had to let it go as the MOD wouldnt cough up for Toyota parts...only British made stuff.......if i had my time again i would make the springs softer and dip them in hot liquid grease and wrap them (put boots on them)...... these rebuilt FJ40's are going for stoopid money now...........they are pretty tho' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted March 21, 2024 Report Share Posted March 21, 2024 On 20/03/2024 at 21:14, ditchman said: these rebuilt FJ40's are going for stoopid money now...........they are pretty tho' Expand They’re ruddy gorgeous! Wish I could find one I could afford. But have you seen the prices for good Land Rovers lately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 21, 2024 Report Share Posted March 21, 2024 On 20/03/2024 at 18:21, London Best said: Notice all recommendations are Japanese. Expand Their reliability is without question. Of all the vehicles I've had, the three Jap's have been faultless. Far more than can be said for the two LR Freeloader's, one petrol, one diesel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted March 21, 2024 Report Share Posted March 21, 2024 (edited) On 20/03/2024 at 19:44, paul1966 said: Thanks so is it just the Mazda 3 between those years or all Mazda's at the minute the Mazda is top of the list. Expand Just the 3 from 2004-2013 not sure about the 5 and 6 though. Every Mazda from 2013 on is 100% Mazda and all the UK spec ones are built in Japan. My current petrol 3 is coming up to 77K, still looks good and drives like a new car. The only non service replacement ever needed was a battery last month when the start/stop system was complaining. Edited March 21, 2024 by Westward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charliedog Posted March 21, 2024 Report Share Posted March 21, 2024 Toyota, customer service is exceptional Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted March 21, 2024 Report Share Posted March 21, 2024 As others have said, go Japanese. I have just gone Japanese again (replacing BMW with Toyota). Had 3 Honda in the past, Accord (USA built, excellent), Civic (USA built, excellent), and finally Civic (Swindon built, poor). Toyota I have recently acquired (used) was built in Japan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowvanman Posted March 21, 2024 Report Share Posted March 21, 2024 I'm sure I've mentioned before I was a AA Patrol for 40 years. If everyone drove Jap or Korean cars the AA would not need to exist. My first choice would be Subaru then Suzuki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted March 21, 2024 Report Share Posted March 21, 2024 On 20/03/2024 at 20:16, ditchman said: if i had my time again i would have the old original short wheel base toyota landcruiser.....had a pick up landcriser in the early 80;s 6 cylinder straight petrol...loved it..it was a beast Expand SWB Landcruiser would be my first choice On 21/03/2024 at 13:00, Yellowvanman said: I'm sure I've mentioned before I was a AA Patrol for 40 years. If everyone drove Jap or Korean cars the AA would not need to exist. My first choice would be Subaru then Suzuki Expand Interesting, often looked at Subaru, which would be your choice ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted March 21, 2024 Report Share Posted March 21, 2024 On 21/03/2024 at 13:00, Yellowvanman said: I'm sure I've mentioned before I was a AA Patrol for 40 years. If everyone drove Jap or Korean cars the AA would not need to exist. My first choice would be Subaru then Suzuki Expand i remember when i was in the car with my dad....when we used to drive by an AA box with a motorbike and side car outside and the AA "officer" was there...he used to stand to attention and salute us as he saw the bright chrome and yellow badge on the front of dads rover.. On 21/03/2024 at 13:49, islandgun said: SWB Landcruiser would be my first choice Interesting, often looked at Subaru, which would be your choice ? Expand google FJ40 ..some georgeous examples there....that will make you salivate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1966 Posted March 21, 2024 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2024 Having always had manual gears is there any reason not to go for an auto box. providing they have been serviced on a ten year old car they should be just as reliable as a manual shouldn't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted March 21, 2024 Report Share Posted March 21, 2024 On 21/03/2024 at 13:55, ditchman said: google FJ40 ..some georgeous examples there....that will make you salivate Expand And your ring piece twitch when you see the prices! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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