A cheap winter car
Discussion
It's days like this I know I need another car 
. The Chimaera stays warm and dry in the garage (It will get used in the winter but probably not much in the wet or snow!). The girlfriend has a golf cabriolet so we need something a bit more useable BUT it needs to be cheap. I have been toying with the idea of getting an estate e.g. Mondeo / Escort 
but thought I'd ask if anyone has any good ideas. The plan will be to keep it till the spring and not loose or spend much on it either to buy or maintain. Any ideas or cars you have that you'd recommend as a 3rd car? Cheers, Nick
. The Chimaera stays warm and dry in the garage (It will get used in the winter but probably not much in the wet or snow!). The girlfriend has a golf cabriolet so we need something a bit more useable BUT it needs to be cheap. I have been toying with the idea of getting an estate e.g. Mondeo / Escort but thought I'd ask if anyone has any good ideas. The plan will be to keep it till the spring and not loose or spend much on it either to buy or maintain. Any ideas or cars you have that you'd recommend as a 3rd car? Cheers, Nick 
Nick, what is your budget?
I have just done the same thing. I brought an N reg Cavalier over the weekend to run about in over the winter months. Just over a grand, one private owner, Fully Vauxhall service history, and it is mechanically sound. I can stick 15-20 thousand miles on it, and probably sell it for what I paid for it next spring.
I have had a couple of people take the piss, but at the end of the day, they don't have a TIV in the garage. I know what I would rather have.
I have just done the same thing. I brought an N reg Cavalier over the weekend to run about in over the winter months. Just over a grand, one private owner, Fully Vauxhall service history, and it is mechanically sound. I can stick 15-20 thousand miles on it, and probably sell it for what I paid for it next spring.
I have had a couple of people take the piss, but at the end of the day, they don't have a TIV in the garage. I know what I would rather have.
Ford Escort Ghia X Estate.
Cheap to run, peanuts to insure and the "Ghia X" tag means that it has electric everything, heated front screen, air con and a 1.8 in the front.
Escorts are common, so not too difficult to find... estate gives you a bit more practicality and cheap "family" motors sell quite easily if you want to get shot of it in the summer.
Parts and servicing are cheap too, fairly economical and reliable. Should be able to find a 97 or 98 car with sensible mileage (40-50k) for around £3000 - maybe less if private, or more if from a dealer.
>> Edited by Podie on Tuesday 15th October 12:10
Cheap to run, peanuts to insure and the "Ghia X" tag means that it has electric everything, heated front screen, air con and a 1.8 in the front.
Escorts are common, so not too difficult to find... estate gives you a bit more practicality and cheap "family" motors sell quite easily if you want to get shot of it in the summer.
Parts and servicing are cheap too, fairly economical and reliable. Should be able to find a 97 or 98 car with sensible mileage (40-50k) for around £3000 - maybe less if private, or more if from a dealer.
>> Edited by Podie on Tuesday 15th October 12:10
Could go up to £4K but would rather spend along the lines of £1000 - £2000 so as not to worry about depreciation. Like the idea of a BMW estate - had a 328 before the Tiv but could be too pricey to buy. I was thinking Vaux/Ford despite the street cred going down....cheap and cheerful, ok cheap.
Whilst the thought of an old BMW might be appealing, you need to bear in mind costs of insurance and maintenance/spares.
With a second car it is difficult to get insurance companies to use your no claims on a two cars at once - so you may end up starting from scratch on the run about.
On spares, which is cheaper - a new widget for a BMW 320 or for a Ford Fiesta/Escort.
I'd go with something cheap and cheerful with a low insurance group and cheap spares. If there are lots of them about then scrap yards will be full of them so 2nd hand parts are much easier to obtain.
Whatever you get make sure its in good nick and has been well looked after.
Good luck
Andy
1999 Griff 500 tucked up in the garage most (but not all) weekdays
1994 Peugeot 106 1.4 for all the dull driving
With a second car it is difficult to get insurance companies to use your no claims on a two cars at once - so you may end up starting from scratch on the run about.
On spares, which is cheaper - a new widget for a BMW 320 or for a Ford Fiesta/Escort.
I'd go with something cheap and cheerful with a low insurance group and cheap spares. If there are lots of them about then scrap yards will be full of them so 2nd hand parts are much easier to obtain.
Whatever you get make sure its in good nick and has been well looked after.
Good luck
Andy
1999 Griff 500 tucked up in the garage most (but not all) weekdays
1994 Peugeot 106 1.4 for all the dull driving
I have a bmw 525i se touring. A 94 with 60K on it. I reckon it is worth about 3 grand or so. Fab car. I dont care about it getting supermarket dents. I use a local gaarage to service (always less than £100). It drives well. 110% reliable. Not cost me a penny in the 3 yrs I have had it (over and above tyres and servicing). I think its a great car (and it drives well and isnt that slow).
The 5's are often cheaper than the 3's (certainly the older you go).
Gary
The 5's are often cheaper than the 3's (certainly the older you go).
Gary
Just selling my dads 1988 BMW 320i for him, FSH etc with 140k it still drives great that is going for £650 hopefully tomorrow, something similar would be a good buy, I’d keep it but the insurance was nearly as much as the Griff!
Must say I’d go for a BMW if the insurance were reasonable.
Must say I’d go for a BMW if the insurance were reasonable.
P7ULG suggests a 3 series estate, and I'd concur, *BUT* they're like rocking horse poo....
What about a (don't laugh) 2.8 Capri? £400 for a decent one, RWD, a hatch and I got an insurance quote for £350 TPFT with no no-claims the other day (I fancied one as a fourth car...)
>> Edited by zumbruk on Tuesday 15th October 14:40
What about a (don't laugh) 2.8 Capri? £400 for a decent one, RWD, a hatch and I got an insurance quote for £350 TPFT with no no-claims the other day (I fancied one as a fourth car...)
>> Edited by zumbruk on Tuesday 15th October 14:40
P7ULG said: I had a 1987 BMW 325i until recently bought it for £3250 and sold it £1250 ( probably could have hung out and got more) after two and a half years,very reliable and actually fun to own.How about a 3 series estate.A bit more credibility than a Mondeo!
I can second that. I just picked up an 89 325i Touring (estate) for two grand. Has loads of history, done 96,000 and is in mint condition.
For insurance I spoke with A Mannings Uk and they mirrored my no claims on TVR and BMW. Insured both full comp for less than £900.
As for parts, I've had BMWs for over 4 years and if they are services regularly they don't break. I've never had to change anything more than tyres on any of mine.
If you do go for an E30 BMW look out to erratic electrics and make sure the rear supension bushes are in good order.
>> Edited by RAW-SEWedge on Tuesday 15th October 14:54
Depends really on how long you want to keep it but any of the following are good cheap buys.
Plus they all have the benefits of not being classified "Numptymobiles"
BMW - 320/325 or 5 series 1985-1990
Lancia Delta (cheap hatch, good with a turbo)
Scooby Legacy.....go one you know it makes sense.
Or if you can put up with some more Aryian pig iron you could look at:-
Audi 100's
VW Passat's
Plus they all have the benefits of not being classified "Numptymobiles"
BMW - 320/325 or 5 series 1985-1990
Lancia Delta (cheap hatch, good with a turbo)
Scooby Legacy.....go one you know it makes sense.
Or if you can put up with some more Aryian pig iron you could look at:-
Audi 100's
VW Passat's
My run about is a 1988 Carlton, only cost £550 with loads of history, and has (touch wood) been reliable and VERY cheap to run over the last 10 months and 14,000(!) miles (probably blow up on the way home!). All so my Chim 450 has an easier life.
I'd def recommend getting a 'daily hack'. I reckon the Carlton paid for itself in about 5 months with less wear n tear, fuel, insurance premium on the Chim.
I'd def recommend getting a 'daily hack'. I reckon the Carlton paid for itself in about 5 months with less wear n tear, fuel, insurance premium on the Chim.
Thanks all so far. On a slight tangent as it is not an estate, cheap, etc. what are the old (90-94) XJ6's like? Nice bit of luxury for very little dosh (£2K). Anyone know if these are real dogs or good value?
Having said that, the girlfriend says I am the wrong side of 30 to drive one!
Having said that, the girlfriend says I am the wrong side of 30 to drive one!
It all depends on what you want, and how much image matters.
For a laugh I bought a Skoda Felicia 1.3 as my winter car. I bought it for £600 under list as I bought it from my dad and that's what he'd been offered as a trade-in. So far it has cost me 4 tyres (£35 each), 2 services (10K apart and only averaged £100 each), road tax (minimum due to small engine) and insurance. I also get between 35 and 50 mpg.
I needed something small and cheap to insure as I didn't have a second policy. This was £290 fully comp with no no-claims bonus.
Cheapest motoring I've ever had
.
For a laugh I bought a Skoda Felicia 1.3 as my winter car. I bought it for £600 under list as I bought it from my dad and that's what he'd been offered as a trade-in. So far it has cost me 4 tyres (£35 each), 2 services (10K apart and only averaged £100 each), road tax (minimum due to small engine) and insurance. I also get between 35 and 50 mpg.
I needed something small and cheap to insure as I didn't have a second policy. This was £290 fully comp with no no-claims bonus.
Cheapest motoring I've ever had
.
hantstvr said: Thanks all so far. On a slight tangent as it is not an estate, cheap, etc. what are the old (90-94) XJ6's like? Nice bit of luxury for very little dosh (£2K). Anyone know if these are real dogs or good value?
Having said that, the girlfriend says I am the wrong side of 30 to drive one!
If you want trouble free motoring forget an XJ6, also you probably wouldn't be able to give it away when your finished with it
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