Im 21, and have just started work after graduating. Im looking at spending around £5000-5500 on a second hand car.
I’ll probably do around 10,000 miles a year but I haven’t driven since i was 18 so don’t have any no claims bonus. The car doesn’t need to be big, as it’ll mostly only be me in it. However, i do need something that will be fine on the motorway, and generally a reasonably good all round car. Also want 5 star NCAP safety score. And also needs to be cheap to run.
I was considering either a Ford Focus 1.6 tdci (110) or renault clio 1.5dci 86. Roughly 3-4 years old. The focus is the better car, but the clio would be a bit cheaper to run as the tax and insurance r less and it does a bit more mpg. Although it seems,strangely,that the clio would cost a bit more to buy, having looked on autotrader. I’m also not sure which would hold its value better when i come to sell it, probably in around 3 years time.
I imagine the focus would probably be around £250 a year more in insurance, tax and fuel, but im not sure about the difference in retained value or purchase price so if someone could shed some light there that would be useful. Im also a little unsure of the clio’s reliability, having read mixed reviews.
If theyre similar, would you go for the focus or have the extra £250 a year?
Also, are there any other similar cars that would be better?
thanks!