What would you consider to be the absolute cheapest car?

[bigfatnick]

Do you think you could run a car for less than 2 grand a year including tax/fuel/insurance considering average mileage is driven?

I once had a mk3 astra estate i paid £300 for it, it was a 1.7 none turbo diesel and was good on fuel, and i ran it on tescos rapeseed oil, which is now expensive, it nearly got me out of debt. But i'm sure theres a more tight arsed way of motoring and i want your suggestions! (cars that can be sold for what you paid for them are cool too) Whats your record for being rediculously tight arsed/even profiting from a car?

Edited by bigfatnick on Monday 2nd August 21:16

[morgrp]

Audi 80 TDI, bought for £100, 250k on the clock owner claimed head gasket was shot, I fitted a new oil cooler for £100 and serviced it, cured the problem, piled another 20k on it, spent nothing on it, ran the bugger on oil and sold it to a mate for £650 - He stuck another 30k on it - So all in, cost me approx minus£400 even the oil was free from my local chippy - Loved that car - The previous owner had spent £600 on MOT-ing it and replacing the cambelt about 2 weeks before the oil cooler went!

[Cotty]

I do run a car for less then 2K a year but I don't do "average" milage

What would it cost in fuel to do, say 12k a year? on average

[nottyash]

A few years ago I paid £350 for a Cavalier TD from our local VX dealer as a PX, I ran it on biodiesel for a few months as a runaround, spent absoloutly nothing on it then sold it for £850 to the first person that came to see it!

[wrighty78]

Cotty said:

What would it cost in fuel to do, say 12k a year? on average

About £1,700 assuming approx 40mpg.

[Emsman]

I've got an 11 year old skoda, 126,000 on the clock.
It's in great Nick generally, reliable, reasonably comfortable, and, being an estate, practical for the dog, general shifting stuff around etc.
Generally get between 50 and 60 mpg.
Was going to change it, but really can't see the point.
Love it really, does exactly what it was bought for

[8400rpm]

Mate of mine had a '98 Saxo 1.5D.

Cost him £500 to buy, and used to do about 130-140miles to a tenner.

Top quality shedding and cost so little to run. He really regrets getting rid of it.

[Cotty]

wrighty78 said:

Cotty said:

What would it cost in fuel to do, say 12k a year? on average

About £1,700 assuming approx 40mpg.

Mine does 27mpg approx.

Train to work, >3k a year, old git (cheap insurance) MOT and service, pretty cheap for me

[RB26DETT]

My Dad has a Ford Puma 1.7 bought for €180.
Yes its driving with very very little rust on the rear arch lip.

[busta]

I had a 106 1.5D I paid £1500 for, put 18,000 miles on it in 18 months at 50mpg and sold it for £1400.

£50 for one MOT,
£200 for 18 months tax,
£600 on insurance,
£140 for a set of tyres
£1,500 on fuel
£60 on 3 oil+filter changes

£2650 over 18 months, so £1766 a year. It can be done!

[Matt UK]

I reckon you could buy an MX5 for £1k and sell it again 12 months later for the same amount. Leaves £2k for fuel, tax insurnace.

If you buy cheaper than you sell, your cutting costs down even further. It can be done.