I'm likely to be forced into pouring the tiny remains of my worldly wealth into some sort of car that's cheap to run. Is there a good place to ask for suggestions?
Basically, I have a £2k pile of rust to trade in plus a huge, worthless because of Gordon Brown, but only 7 year old pile of unreliable electronics on wheels, but have never bought a new car and am horrified by the prices and year 1 depreciation.
I'm fairly tall, and we have to carry a relative or two in the back more than once every day, and I've sat front and back in a Fiesta (and lots of others) and have bruises on my head to prove it.
The aim is £35 tax, a proper spare wheel and proper wheels with decent pothole proof tyres, 4 doors, decent visibility and headroom. Ideally it shouldn't look stupid outside or in (like the new Fiesta again). I want as few plugs and sockets under the bonnet as poss unless the vehicle comes with proper diagnostics (none seem to). So far only a Nissan Note and Ford Fusion come anywhere close, but new they seem hopelessly overpriced.
I visited 6 showrooms last weekend. Really really depressing.