Discussion
So yeah.. Currently driving a Mk5b 1.3L 1994 Escort.
Its a heap, but it runs. And it's a first car
Pretty sure it's either going to die soon or fail the MOT Badly next month.
Hoping i can bodge it through the MOT And drive it for a few months, save some cash. I was debating rebuilding the engine, but i'd get next to no gain if i did and it's a gutless 1.3L Fiesta engine so why waste my time
What i'm making this thread for is i would like some input into what i buy next.
I'm looking to save and spend anywhere between £400-800 On The car itself. Cant be much bigger than a 1.6 Really, being my second car and not having a years NCB yet i dont want to be shelling out of the ass on insurance! 1.4 Would be best, Dont really want to downsize to a 1.1 since the escort is slow as s
t as it is.
I will be working on/adding things to the car as im driving it, i'm fairly competant with most things mechanical so a lot can be done myself.
So far i've been looking at :
Older style Civics, 1.4L - 1994 Ish era, not sure what MK They are.
Mk2/3 Golf. - Problem being they're expensive if you want one semi decent
Another Escort! Thinking 1.4 or 1.6Si, Another Mk5b or maybe a Mk6 - Wouldnt want a 5 door though, cant stand em' I do like 3 door escorts like mine though.
Maybe a 106, i kind of like them buy they're fairly common and i preffer slightly bigger cars.
Maybe a Mk3 Fiesta, Again too small for my main liking but i would definatley consider one.
I'm thinking my main two options are another Escort or a Civic, both of which i'd imagine are hard to find that haven't been beat into the ground by some kiddy in a cap?
Anyone else in the same situation/have been before? Whats a nice cheap tidy runner thats fun to work on
Its a heap, but it runs. And it's a first car
Pretty sure it's either going to die soon or fail the MOT Badly next month.
Hoping i can bodge it through the MOT And drive it for a few months, save some cash. I was debating rebuilding the engine, but i'd get next to no gain if i did and it's a gutless 1.3L Fiesta engine so why waste my time
What i'm making this thread for is i would like some input into what i buy next.
I'm looking to save and spend anywhere between £400-800 On The car itself. Cant be much bigger than a 1.6 Really, being my second car and not having a years NCB yet i dont want to be shelling out of the ass on insurance! 1.4 Would be best, Dont really want to downsize to a 1.1 since the escort is slow as s
t as it is.I will be working on/adding things to the car as im driving it, i'm fairly competant with most things mechanical so a lot can be done myself.
So far i've been looking at :
Older style Civics, 1.4L - 1994 Ish era, not sure what MK They are.
Mk2/3 Golf. - Problem being they're expensive if you want one semi decent
Another Escort! Thinking 1.4 or 1.6Si, Another Mk5b or maybe a Mk6 - Wouldnt want a 5 door though, cant stand em' I do like 3 door escorts like mine though.
Maybe a 106, i kind of like them buy they're fairly common and i preffer slightly bigger cars.
Maybe a Mk3 Fiesta, Again too small for my main liking but i would definatley consider one.
I'm thinking my main two options are another Escort or a Civic, both of which i'd imagine are hard to find that haven't been beat into the ground by some kiddy in a cap?
Anyone else in the same situation/have been before? Whats a nice cheap tidy runner thats fun to work on
TVR Sagaris said:
Pug 205/405? And you've missed the obvious choice, the 306, off your list. 309 could be an option too.
Or Volvo 340? (RWD!)
Yeah didnt consider a 306, I could get either a 1.4 Petrol or a 1.9TD For roughly the same insurance.Or Volvo 340? (RWD!)
And i hadn't thought about a 205/405 but will definatley look into them.
Volvo 340 maybe i guess.
Depends what i find at the time for £500-700 Ish.
But thanks for the input. will definatley consider theese!
Harding91 said:
I'm looking to save and spend anywhere between £400-800 On The car itself. Cant be much bigger than a 1.6 Really, being my second car and not having a years NCB yet i dont want to be shelling out of the ass on insurance!
Insurance is a funny thing, and bigger engine doesn't always mean more money. You need to check.Only think really to note is a pre 2001 car with a 1.6 will cost more to tax than a 1.4 of the same year.
But if you are after something interesting on a budget maybe have a look at some of the ideas in this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
306 1.9 TD - I had one a few years ago. The engine is great (nice big turbo whoooosh) and the handling is fantastic. If I remember rightly the turbo and wastegate can be fettled with using just a screwdriver to release a few more horses too. There's not a great deal of feedback through the wheel but it's not hugely important as the car has so much grip!
At that money you'd have to tread very carefully though as there will be plenty of total dogs out there!
At that money you'd have to tread very carefully though as there will be plenty of total dogs out there!
Insurance isn't just engine size, it's the cost of replacement parts. So a small engined Fiat for instance may well cost more than the same size engine Vauxhall.
If you're going for a 306, make sure the electrics work. Every single one of my mates that's owned one of these cars (and there's been a few as it's got a reputation for being a cheap to run load lugger) has had major problems with them at times - wipers / windows / stereos / ignition you name it.
Fiat Brava / Bravo if you want something slightly different - nice interior, quirky styling. Plenty parts for the things that you're likely to need.
You might find a high mileage focus down that sort of price range which is a hell of a lot more fun to drive than the escort.
Seat Ibiza - polo in a better body and reasonable good fun to drive.
Clio - if you can find one that works...
If you're going for a 306, make sure the electrics work. Every single one of my mates that's owned one of these cars (and there's been a few as it's got a reputation for being a cheap to run load lugger) has had major problems with them at times - wipers / windows / stereos / ignition you name it.
Fiat Brava / Bravo if you want something slightly different - nice interior, quirky styling. Plenty parts for the things that you're likely to need.
You might find a high mileage focus down that sort of price range which is a hell of a lot more fun to drive than the escort.
Seat Ibiza - polo in a better body and reasonable good fun to drive.
Clio - if you can find one that works...
I like the older ('95ish) 1.4 Civics. Nice low driving position, good gear change, fun and responsive but safe handling and a willing engine. Even though it's much slower then the cars I'm used to my little brothers was a right laugh. They are also cheap and (I assume) reliable. Interior is a bit plasticky (what mid 90's cheapish car isn't though?) and they even aren't the worst looking hatch ever made.
300bhp/ton said:
HellDiver said:
Get a Mk4 Astra. Lightyears better than the Scrots. My folks had Escorts for years, from Mk3 to Mk6, I had two Mk4 Astras and they were both brilliant cars.
Astra a brilliant car?? 
now you are talking total rubbish 
king in a biscuit tin...Parts for the Astras are silly cheap, and they can be fixed with nothing but a hammer and some cable ties.
Got lucky i think, Friend at work mentioned his step dads Astra
It's a 1993 Mk3 Astra, 5 Door 1.4L Merit. 90K Miles on the clock, partial service history.
6 Months tax, MOT Till next feb.
He wants £250 for it as he doesnt need it, I got a quick look at it outside work, it has a few bits of easially fixable rust but he claims there's no other problems, I will go around and take a good look over it soon.
But for 250 thats a steal right? Perfect little second car for the price and it's pretty tidy. And has potential to play with it :P
What should i look for in particular with the older Astra? Thanks.
It's a 1993 Mk3 Astra, 5 Door 1.4L Merit. 90K Miles on the clock, partial service history.
6 Months tax, MOT Till next feb.
He wants £250 for it as he doesnt need it, I got a quick look at it outside work, it has a few bits of easially fixable rust but he claims there's no other problems, I will go around and take a good look over it soon.
But for 250 thats a steal right? Perfect little second car for the price and it's pretty tidy. And has potential to play with it :P
What should i look for in particular with the older Astra?
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