Can anyone recommend a small 'runaround' type car? Budget £3k?

Yaris? Anyone I know who has one thinks they're fab, we have a Toyota and I love them. Not sure what you'd get for that price though.

If you really just want a little run around car then I was going to suggest a Fiesta or similar. You have the Clio, Corsa, Ibiza, Polo.

Or if you like the look of the Fiat 500 (which I do) I also like the look of the Suzuki Swift. Not sure on prices though. Actually let me ask MrKB if he knows of any little cars for sale. What year you looking for?

I was going to say Yaris as well. Ours is great, and deceptively spacious for baby seats etc in the back.

H and I both have fiat puntos, they are quite roomy for a small car, I sooo want a 500 next almost bought one when I had mine serviced

Ideally I would like a car which is at least a year newer than mine, Mine is X reg, so Y or above. No ida what year that is ?

Not thought about the Yaris, or Suzuki, I will take a look, thanks.

I really would rather not go for a Fiesta. I know I can't afford to be fussy, but they are just so dull. Not that a KA is super cool, but Fiestas just scream middle age to me ? ?

I think a Clio will be too expensive, but will take a look.

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I have a clio which I love (it's my second one). The boot is really spacious (I can fit my weekly shop in it) and both my kids fit in the back even thought it's only a 3 door. I also had a toddler with my first clio and the pram fitted nicely in the boot as well. It's quite nippy, cheap to run and insure and not too bad petrol wise either

Ahem, I had a fiesta as my first car! It was a cool little runaround but yes they are a bit dull. What engine size you looking at? I'll ask him now and drop you a PM.

My first car was a Nissan Sunny ?

Engine size, erm............ small. Which is cheap on tax & insurance. A car is an evil neccesity to me, rather than a luxury.

Thanks lovely.

And thanks to everyone else. Some good ideas for me to look at ?

I'd say look at a Clio, i've had the old shape before with the bubble back and i now have the new shape, have had no problems with either. You should be able to get a Y reg for about £3k.

Other than that how about a Skoda Felicia, they're supposed to be mega cheap to run, tax and insure etc. Not sure on prices though.

I really really want a fiat stillo i love them,

i havent driven one mind i have a fiesta at the minute, and it is ok,

i would have thought for 3K you will get a pretty decent car what about a focus.

I'd be tempted to see if i could get a honda jazz. i paid £4700 for mine - 53 reg with 20,000 miles on it, perfect condition from a honda dealer. presumably with a higher mileage you could get a cheaper one, especially privately. my h has a honda accord with over 100,000 miles on it and going very strong so far, so would definitely recommend hondas as reliable.

Ou could get a pretty good skoda fabia for £3k, I've had mine for 3 years and I love it, nothings gone wrong with it (touch wood) and I had one previous to my current one too.

Everyone that's borrowed it has said what a surprisingly nice drive it is and it's cheap on fuel and insurance...plus it's big inside yet still small!

My car is in the exact same position as yours atm. My choice of follow-up car verges on the *ahem* less practical side of things.

I REALLY want an old Mini Clubman like this! http://modculture.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/05/mini_clubman_1972.jpg

I'd also be happy with a MK1 Golf convertible ?

I'd recommend a Polo though. My old car is an N-reg polo and has done 120,000 miles, including 100 miles daily for the past 3 years. Not a bad day it had until it reached the 120,000 mile mark this year, sniff!

Skoda's are actually very good cars these days. IIRC the engines are the same as VW and Audi.

I'd look at a Skoda Fabia, they are very reliable and spacious for a small car.

If you're TTC, then I'd avoid a 3 door car, it's a nightmare trying to get the car seat in, especially in the early days. I'm on my second Fabia and they're great. There's enough room in the boot for a pram and all baby equipment and has Isofix fittings. My old Fabia, which my friend now drives, is 6 years old and there have never been any issues with it. They are nice little cars.

Another vote for Toyota Yaris, we had a 56 plate and it cost us about £6800 a year and a half ago, but you should be able to get a slightly older model for about 3k (53 or 54 plate).

We've just upgraded to a Seat Leon which is proving to be a fab car. Aparantly Seat use volkswagen engines, so it might be worth looking at an older model Leon or Ibiza?

I love my Micra. Admittedly with two carseats in the back it is a bit of a squeeze. and there isn't enough boot space for any more than buggy plus minimal shopping, but it's lovely to drive, easy to park & does me just fine as a day to day runabout.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. There really isn't anything decent around for £3K which is better than what I've got.

I really am loathe to spend the £700 on my car, but I have seen a couple of other KA's around for £3,400 which aren't far from where I live.

Aaaaargh this is so frustrating. I will need to get a loan for about £3K, so will phone round tonight and see what deals I can get.

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Mr B says Micra's are great, their cheap to run and don't fall apart.

I like Citerons I've had 2 an AX and a Saxo and they both did me proud my Saxo has only just died and it was 11 years old with no real major problems until last year.

If it's literally a small city type car you're after, then I'd def recommend the one I have at the moment.

It's a Hyundai Amica. I've had it since 2000 and it's passed every MOT, costs virtually nothing to run and have never had a problem with it since I got it. It's cheap tax and insurance, and I have a bright yellow one which I adore! ?. It's suprisingly roomy inside too. Although if you're using for longer journeys, I wouldn't recommend as I can get cramps if driving for longer than an hour at a time. This isn't my actual car (snap I found on internet) but it's identical...

https://www.gumtree.com/posting_images/10/34601510__1234360569__1__1-e477e4b556e604e9b30ea29eb5e7a38d.__big__.jpg

I honestly don't have a bad word to say about it. It cost about £3.5k in 2000, so I'm guessing it'll be around the same price now, if not cheaper.

I love fiesta and I'm not middle aged! I'm on my 4th one, I think I've had most of the shapes through the 80s,90s and 00s.

I got a good deal with AA loans recently - 8.5%

I would recommend something like a Citroen C1. So cheap to run 68 mpg and £25 a year road tax and we manage to get the baby stuff in the car. I think the road tax drops to £0 next year.

I'm another who'd recommend a Clio. I had one for a few years, only changing it due to increase in family! It never gave us a days trouble. Reliable, cheap to run, low insuyrance group and spacious for a small car.

Best of luck wiith the car hunting!