Supermini for under £1500?

[Elesmart]

This thread is screaming Nissan Micra.

[Crusoe]

was looking for a family member recently, the smaller stuff keeps its value better so if they didn't mind going slightly larger there were more bargains to be found in focus, civic sized hatches or even larger mondeo, vectra sized especially petrol ones which are better for shorter journeys anyway.

[Crusoe]

jag http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C628721
ford focus http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C651586
saab http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C636836
Suzuki Ignis sport supposed to be fun but probably not a girly car http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C633691
VW beetle might tick the right girly boxes? http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C651717

[willmagrath]

I would go for a skoda fabia, throw away any badge snobbery and you can have a very decent spec, low mileage one with the VAG 1.2 3cyl engine that is hard as nails and very economical. They are also very very good on motorways, shorefooted and little road noise.

Like this one, 66k, 2003, 1.2 (55 rampaging horses)...£999

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[KaraK]

Micra isn't a bad shout, nor is (flame suit on) a Clio II, my 1.2 easily does 40+ mpg at a steady motorway cruise and with the "sports" seats it's surprisingly comfortable on long runs. True it's currently sat on my drive having died a pathetic whimpering death coming down my road last time I tried to use it but it has done 147k miles and I've not exactly given it much in the way of TLC for the last 30k or so!

[nw28840]

ikarl said:

Woman I work with wll be looking to sell her Mini One for about that money in the next week.. Only done c.65k miles and just been put through it's MOT - albeit, probably too far for you to travel for a £1,500 car! (Sctoland!!)

However, goes to show these also fall in budget and sounds like they fit the criteria

Send me the details please when it goes up for sale , I'm looking to buy my sister a car and this sounds like it may fit the bill.
I could use the purchase as an excuse for a roadtrip 😀

Thanks
Nick.

[458bhp]

Ok, managed to get a top 6 that she would be happy with:

In alphabetical order:

Arosa
C2
Jazz
Lupo
Panda
Yaris

A search on autotrader/ebay has revealed a decent looking 1.2 Panda close by so that's my first port of call, a 1.0 Arosa and two C2s; A 1.1 petrol and a 1.4 diesel.

I know of the weaknesses of the panda and arosa, but the C2 I know nothing about. Will have to do some research.

[ikarl]

nw28840 said:

ikarl said:

Woman I work with wll be looking to sell her Mini One for about that money in the next week.. Only done c.65k miles and just been put through it's MOT - albeit, probably too far for you to travel for a £1,500 car! (Sctoland!!)

However, goes to show these also fall in budget and sounds like they fit the criteria

Send me the details please when it goes up for sale , I'm looking to buy my sister a car and this sounds like it may fit the bill.
I could use the purchase as an excuse for a roadtrip ??

Thanks
Nick.

No problem, she should pick up her new car next week...I'll let you know

[IanCress]

Given she's not bothered about having any value in the car once she's finished with it, why not suggested leasing as an alternative? There are lease deals for the Citroen C1 for around £1200 down and £40 per month.
Depends on her annual mileage, but worth suggesting.

[Lester H]

458 BHP mentioned C2 In list of cheap and fairly cheerful It's obviously not as well screwed together as Lupo/Arosa. However it's a bit of a dark horse and rather cute with its belt line. Not produced for long because Citroen targeted new buyers with finance and insurance deals, but then C1 came along, even cheaper but not as nice, given target buyers it hastened end of bigger and better c2. They don't hang about on forecourts and are now MUCH more unusual than C1' 107 and Aygo. Buy on condition, though! Attractive in black. will have much more talk about potential in future.

Edited by Lester H on Friday 4th September 21:58

[Lester H]

458 BHP mentioned C2 In list of cheap and fairly cheerful It's obviously not as well screwed together as Lupo/Arosa. However it's a bit of a dark horse and rather cute with its belt line. Not produced for long because Citroen targeted new buyers with finance and insurance deals, but then C1 came along, even cheaper but not as nice, given target buyers it hastened end of bigger and better c2. They don't hang about on forecourts and are now MUCH more unusual than C1' 107 and Aygo. Buy on condition, though!

[exgtt]

Toyota Yaris all day long. My run around has passed its 5th mot in a row, sister has one and that's just passed its 4th. It's never blown a bloody brake bulb. Front disks and pads take 30 mins each side, Even Yaris air con works not had any air on maintenance in 14 years. Down sides, stereo is crap. Timing chain too so no belt maintenance. Yaris Are the new k11 micra with the local takeaway lads.

Edited by exgtt on Friday 4th September 22:55