Finding a reliable family saloon for under £3000 isn't that easy and so you need to buy for condition, not age. At this budget, you are looking at cars from roughly 2008 to 2014. The biggest challenge is your requirement for short town journeys. To avoid expensive repair bills (specifically DPF and EGR issues), avoid diesel models and stick with a petrol engine.

The gold standard is the Toyota Avensis (2009-2015). It is the quintessential boring but brilliant choice and the 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol engine is bulletproof. It handles town driving without complaint and is a quiet, comfortable cruiser on the motorway £2500 to £3000 will get you a well-looked-after 2010/2011 model with around 80k – 100k miles. Check the electronic parking brake works smoothly, as they can be pricey to fix if they seize.

We'd also suggest a Ford Mondeo Mk4 (2007–2014). This was the king of the motorway for a decade for a reason and is arguably the best-handling car in this class. Parts are cheap and every mechanic in the UK knows how to fix them. The 2.0-litre Duratec petrol engine is robust and simple plus you can find very high-spec Titanium models for £2500, giving you heated seats and cruise control for those long trips. Watch for rear suspension bushings that can wear out leading to a knocking sound over bumps.