Hi,

After not driving for a few years I have decided that it's time to get my second car. I live in London and would not be taking it to work and back every day, so I'd only be using it some evenings and weekends. I also go up to Birmingham every few weeks to see family/friends. I will also use it to take to places in the South at weekends, Brighton etc. I don't anticipate doing any more than 10k miles throughout the year.

I have allocated a max budget for buying a car at £2k - and after doing some research, it seems that the Ford Fiesta is the perfect run-around at this price point. Ideally I'd like to get a nice clean 2005-2008 model.

I am however very confused by the sheer amount of available options. What engine would you say is best for my use case? Petrol/diesel and what size? What mileage should I be looking for and where would be a good place to buy for someone with little/no knowledge of what to look for when buying a used car?

Any advice is appreciated - thank you!

Given your limited budget and mileage I would go for a 1.4 petrol.

As for where you source the car a main dealer is your best bet as you will have some (limited) comeback, you are buying a second hand car potentially 10 years old.

The 1.4 petrol has plenty of power for a NA engine. I'd recommend it, lovely to drive. Avoid the quite rare 1.3 like the plague

I had a 1.4 flame 04 plate with a lot of miles on the clock 98k but still went A1.

The only problem i had was the fault light on as the cat was dead but passed m.o.t ok.

Great little car to drive,he it is but it went for another car.

Thanks for all the tips!

What other differences are there between the 1.4 Petrol and 1.4 Diesel, apart from the obvious higher MPG and initial cost of the Diesel?

The diesel seems like the better option right now as it's not too much more to buy and the fuel economy is great on it. I wonder if it will feel more sluggish on the road though? I want something that feels nippy around town and nice and comfortable on the motorway at constant limit speed.

Avoid the 1,4 diesel! With your budget you will be buying a money pit.

Sounds like a 1.4 Petrol is a good bet :) what mileage should I shoot for?

The 1.4 petrol engines are known to do over 150k. My car was running perfectly on 120780 and would have carried on easily. It had had the waterpump and belts changed early and has a strong service history. So if you manage to get a service history then that always helps

I had a 1.4 flame 04 plate with a lot of miles on the clock 98k but still went A1.

The only problem i had was the fault light on as the cat was dead but passed m.o.t ok.

Great little car to drive,he it is but it went for another car.

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I had the same car, was 54 reg and a bit lower mileage. It was my first car and I loved it :). I agree the 1.4 is the one to go for, it has plenty of power for normal driving, I even had 3 adults and lots of luggage in it once, and still it managed ok on motorways with all that weight.

MK5 Zetec S 1.6, actually a pretty decent quick little motor, same engine as a focus 1.6 and parts for it cost pence and it is factually the most reliable lump Ford ever made. better on fuel too supposedly.

Given your limited budget and mileage I would go for a 1.4 petrol.

As for where you source the car a main dealer is your best bet as you will have some (limited) comeback, you are buying a second hand car potentially 10 years old.

Most main dealers won't sell a car that old, I think 4-5 yrs is the maximum in most cases

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Most main dealers won't sell a car that old, I think 4-5 yrs is the maximum in most cases

That's true, but aren't there other dealers which would sell an older car with a warranty, even if it's much shorter than a year?