Damage limitation on a snotter

Damage limitation on a snotter

Author
Discussion

Chateauneufdupape

Original Poster:

390 posts

100 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
For a few reasons I've decided to find a cheap sub grand snotter for general commuting and running about. I'd rather spend £500 or as little as possible, not through necessity (inb4 people telling me I can't afford a car or some such typical PH nonsense!)

Obviously any old shed can need money spending, but how likely that will be obviously depends on the sort of old heap I go for.

I have a list to choose from so far, the plan is to buy the first one of these I see with decent tyres, brakes and possibly some recent history, as cheaply as possible.

Please feel free to add to, or help me eliminate any from the list:

K11 Micra (would prefer something larger but have always had a strange hankering for one of these! I know to look out for rusty cross members and sills)
Honda Jazz
Honda Civic
Toyota Yaris
Corolla
Avensis
MK1 Focus (rust!)
MK3 Mondeo (again rust, and if I remember correctly rear subframe bushes)

The only diesels im thinking about:

106/Saxo 1.5D
Polo/Ibiza/golf/fabia 1.9 SDI

Something I would quite like is an auto or CVT, so any info about how good/bad/unreliable any of the above options are with auto box's would be great!

Thanks for reading!

Valgar

850 posts

134 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
At that price range you never know how long it'll last so shop around for something that appears to be well cared for.

The K11 Micra is worth looking at for their sheer value for money, at your price range you there are plenty of examples so you can afford to turn one down if it doesn't look right.

Judging by the other thread the k11 Auto is strong and reliable.

CX53

2,964 posts

109 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
I'm in the market for a snotter soon when my little Suzuki sells.

Out of your list I'd personally discount the smaller cars like the micra and yaris but that's probably because after driving a small jap hatch as a daily for a while I wouldn't mind a bit more comfort. My neighbour has had an auto yaris for years though, cosmetically it's battered but they reckon it's indestructible mechanically!

I would choose either the Focus, Mondeo or Avensis, although the Mrs has a corolla and it's excellent, great for £950!

On my list is also a Lexus GS300 & Honda Accord

If you don't mind a small car then the pandas are pretty good, cost peanuts to repair. I had a 100hp and the belt change was 70 quid, so I'd imagine the smaller engined cheaper ones would be cheap to look after as well.

Also something like this might do http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/187595/mazd...

Bailey93

524 posts

105 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
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have you considered a 125cc bike, can be picked up stupid cheap and will sip on fuel. 250 miles out of £17

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Bailey93 said:
have you considered a 125cc bike, can be picked up stupid cheap and will sip on fuel. 250 miles out of £17
and then some, my CBR125R gives me 220 miles to £10 - commuting in and out of the city every day!

bearman68

4,642 posts

131 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Personally, I would dump the Mondeo diesel, as there are known faults on the injectors. As with most diesels you then have DMF issues to worry about - £500 worth of work on a car the same value.
I personally would consider the B5 A4 / passat. I don't normally go for VW, but these have proven reliable over a long period of time.
The outstanding buy at this price range though is a Peugeot 406 2.0 Hdi. Troublesome electric window electrics, but after that, you should get 300k or more out of a decently looked after one. I've always fancied a Xsara with this engine in to, and I can imagine they would be good value / reliable. C5 is cheap to, and apparently very comfy.
We have also had very good service from a Alfa 147 JTD. Still quite nice cars in my eyes, though the front end bangs for fun.
It's worth having a think about safety on some of the older 106 / Saxo ideas you have put forward. Some of the Ncap vids are a bit worrying.

Chateauneufdupape

Original Poster:

390 posts

100 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Valgar said:
At that price range you never know how long it'll last so shop around for something that appears to be well cared for.

The K11 Micra is worth looking at for their sheer value for money, at your price range you there are plenty of examples so you can afford to turn one down if it doesn't look right.

Judging by the other thread the k11 Auto is strong and reliable.
It was that thread that inspired me to add it to the list smile

Sounds like the auto is amusingly nippy at low speeds too which could be a laugh!

Chateauneufdupape

Original Poster:

390 posts

100 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
CX53 said:
I'm in the market for a snotter soon when my little Suzuki sells.

Out of your list I'd personally discount the smaller cars like the micra and yaris but that's probably because after driving a small jap hatch as a daily for a while I wouldn't mind a bit more comfort. My neighbour has had an auto yaris for years though, cosmetically it's battered but they reckon it's indestructible mechanically!

I would choose either the Focus, Mondeo or Avensis, although the Mrs has a corolla and it's excellent, great for £950!

On my list is also a Lexus GS300 & Honda Accord

If you don't mind a small car then the pandas are pretty good, cost peanuts to repair. I had a 100hp and the belt change was 70 quid, so I'd imagine the smaller engined cheaper ones would be cheap to look after as well.

Also something like this might do http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/187595/mazd...
I don't mind the small ones so much, all helps with economy, although a sensibly driven 1.8 or 2.0 mondeo would probably be perfectly acceptable and a lot better for the commjte too! The GS is probably a bit too thirsty for me at the minute (seeing as this is a money saving exercise!) but I do like them a lot.

That's a cheap little mazda seems to have had some work done recently too... A little far away from me but a bargain for someone

bearman68

4,642 posts

131 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Ah sorry, I see you are not considering the Mondeo diesel at all. read

Don't be too put off by a turbo. They will last if it's been looked after - and of course you won't want to buy a car that hasn't anyway.


Chateauneufdupape

Original Poster:

390 posts

100 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
I like the thinking outside the box on the bike suggestion, but i do need a car im afraid, I do 25 miles each way commuting and don't fancy it on a bike

Chateauneufdupape

Original Poster:

390 posts

100 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
bearman68 said:
Personally, I would dump the Mondeo diesel, as there are known faults on the injectors. As with most diesels you then have DMF issues to worry about - £500 worth of work on a car the same value.
I personally would consider the B5 A4 / passat. I don't normally go for VW, but these have proven reliable over a long period of time.
The outstanding buy at this price range though is a Peugeot 406 2.0 Hdi. Troublesome electric window electrics, but after that, you should get 300k or more out of a decently looked after one. I've always fancied a Xsara with this engine in to, and I can imagine they would be good value / reliable. C5 is cheap to, and apparently very comfy.
We have also had very good service from a Alfa 147 JTD. Still quite nice cars in my eyes, though the front end bangs for fun.
It's worth having a think about safety on some of the older 106 / Saxo ideas you have put forward. Some of the Ncap vids are a bit worrying.
You make a good point about the mondeo diesels, I wouldn't look to get a diesel in any of the cars I posted apart from the smaller non turbo ones to be honest. I'm not a diesel fan, but the tirbo diesels I have had are very drivable and easy to live with day to day. I had an octavia TDI which was great for the £1500 I paid for it. Ive heard good things about the 406 HDI and it would certainly make a comfy commuter - however I do worry about any larger diesel car at this end of the market. I'm not sure I would be able to find something that isn't on its last legs at my budget, but I don't know.. Worth a look and I won't discount it.

Indeed the safety rating on some of these older tin cans aren't great, I do try my best not to think about it laugh in this case a petrol mondeo or the like might be a good compromise!

Edited by Chateauneufdupape on Monday 23 May 08:20

Bill

52,472 posts

254 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
For some reason I can't fathom petrol Mazda6s are incredibly cheap, and apart from potential rust round the rear arches seem utterly dependable.

RedAndy

1,207 posts

153 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all

Primera. same qualities as the K111 micra, but in a car that's actually big enough to get in. Similar to Mondeo in handling/drive, but has a nicer ride I think.

I'm talking about the P11 or facelift 144. AVOID the cheese wedge later cars. too much Renault in them and the reliability average suffered.

Avoid diesel as they arent much more economical than petrols. 1.8 is the engine of choice. almost as economical as the 1.6, almost as powerful as the 2.0.

accept some rust on panels and pay no more than £400. Want a beautiful one? double the price.

832ark

1,224 posts

155 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
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I've recently bought a £700 2002 Accord 1.8. 125k miles with an unworn leather interior and a/c. Done nearly 3k miles in it now with no issues. Just about to change the rear discs and pads, discs are £22 for the pair and the new pads came in the boot when I bought it. Averaging 31mpg on a crap 45 mile round trip commute. High 30s on a clear run.

Kitchski

6,514 posts

230 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Bill said:
For some reason I can't fathom petrol Mazda6s are incredibly cheap, and apart from potential rust round the rear arches seem utterly dependable.
I was also going to suggest Mazda 6, or even a 3.

lostkiwi

4,584 posts

123 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Small cars are often more likely to be trouble than large ones. Simple fact is the smaller cars need to be worked harder.
For example if a car needs 30hp to do 50 mph (for arguments sake) then a 60hp car is running at 50% of its design maximum. A 100hp car will only be using 1/3 of its design maximum so under less strain relative to its capability.
Also small cars tend to be used for round town running and thats hard on a car. Larger engined cars tend to be used more on motorways so will often get up to speed then just cruise.

For that reason I would tend to the largest engined car I can find for the money as they will have in general had an easier life.

Very simplistic I know and very generalised but my experience backs this up.

stedale

1,124 posts

264 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Kitchski said:
Bill said:
For some reason I can't fathom petrol Mazda6s are incredibly cheap, and apart from potential rust round the rear arches seem utterly dependable.
I was also going to suggest Mazda 6, or even a 3.
I have a 6, do the 3s have any rust issues? Might be a better bet if not.

boyse7en

6,671 posts

164 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Bailey93 said:
have you considered a 125cc bike, can be picked up stupid cheap and will sip on fuel. 250 miles out of £17
I get that out of my 800cc! Should do better than that with a 125

Rangeroverover

1,522 posts

110 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
up the budget a bit still easily sub £1k and get a saab 9-3, I have just bought a 1.9td and its brilliant, uses no fuel, aircon blows cold, comfy and thus far no probs with it

designforlife

3,734 posts

162 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Toyota Carina E.

indestructible, cheap.