Buying a Small, Reliable, Inexpensive Car - Any Recommendations?

[sundial]

s/h VW Fox … 'cheapest to run' and most reliable car I've owned … and a friend calls mine 'the Tardis' because it's so roomy and comfortable … more interior room than a Polo. Performance is good … fuel consumption is 'average' but OK on long journeys if not flogged … I've learnt to keep below 70mph. Apart from tyres, the only parts the car has needed in 9 years are 4 suspension bushes and a window winder … no electric windows … it's a good basic utilitarian car with few mod cons … but it has a proper spare wheel.

dunk

[JeremyO]

Vw up!
My mate has one and absolutely loves it.
Got another mate with a Honda jazz and he is not so enamoured.

We have one of these and both love it.

They are great little cars.

[Fschwep]

I don't know if they sell them in the UK, but my wife has a Dacia Sandero Stepway 1.5 turbodiesel. Very economic, looks fun and as a small SUV style car not easily bullied. 90 hp, great torque, if you turn off the eco mode it takes off like a missile. Uphill it leaves many larger cars in the dust (we live in the hills and need uphill power). Basically a lot of reliable Renault tech, has a good reputation for low maintenance cost. 4 doors. Useable boot space and it takes a trailer hitch (ours has one).