All that Jazz

IF you've got £3,000 lying around after Fresher's Week your best bet is to spend it on a Honda Jazz, a survey into reliable student motors has discovered.

Warranty Direct said this week after carrying out a survey of all the cars likely to be bought on a student budget of just £3,000 that the smallest car Honda makes is also the most reliable to take to university.

“Sending a son or daughter off to university can be a worrying experience for a parent, so having the peace of mind that you’ve sent them off in a car that’s less likely to break down is a bonus,” said Warranty Direct managing director, Duncan McClure Fisher.

The Vauxhall Astra is second in the list, and Toyota’s trusty Yaris completes the top three recommendations for students looking to blow their loan on something automotive this semester.

But if the Jazz just won't cut it parked outside the halls of residence, here's the survey's top ten student motors, including their reliability rating:

1) 18.53 Honda Jazz (02-08)
2) 26.90 Vauxhall Astra (04-09)
3) 27.35 Toyota Yaris (99-06)
4) 27.99 Nissan Micra (02-10)
5) 30.11 VW Lupo (99-05)
6) 37.99 Fiat Punto (03-06)
7) 41.24 Ford Fiesta (02-08)
8) 41.49 Smart FourTwo (03-07)
9) 41.75 Daewoo Matiz (98-03)
10) 48.74 Citroen C3 (02-10)