Help with car recommendations

Buy mine ? I've just put my Golf on e Bay. Half that price and low miles.

Still trying to get rid of it???? What's wrong with it this time ?

I love my VW though, so would have to recommend them!

I've just bought a 1.6 Ford Focus and I love it! It was £5k but it's a 2005 one with less than 30k on the clock, you could probably get an older, higher mileage one for within your budget. I looked on autotrader and found one within my price range at a local dealer and went & bought it! We'd looked at several other cars too - I test drove 2 Fiestas, a Honda Jazz and a Kia Rio, as well as a 1.4 Focus, but this was by far the best!

I had it fixed and kept it and have put another 20,000 miles on the clock since I was last selling it ? I've got a job down the road now so don't drive it any more. It's just sat there depreciating and using road tax and insurance ?

With your budget, probably a VW Polo or Golf depending on how key size vs economy was. My H is in the motor trade and he and his colleagues all only drive German or Japanese cars due to reliability, quality and depreciation.

Buying via private is OK if someone who sees the car knows what they're looking for re: bodywork, engine, interior wear. You can get a text response on the registration/VIN plates and history like crashes, stolen & outstanding finance - google HPI check and pay for AA or RAC inspection if no one is car wise. Buying privately will get a better car for the same price but is a bit riskier than garages who may also provide a small 1-3 month warranty.

For info my H and I bought cars at the same time for £8k. My Focus 2.0 litre Zetec was worth £5 2 years & 18k miles later, H's Golf GTi sold for £6.5k with an extra 12k miles on it.

Thanks everyone for your help and recommendations.

Also, thanks for the offer of the golf, will take it into consideration!!!!