Saturday weekend task - Find me a bangernomics motor!

[Merlot]

I have been in communication with someone about buying a cheap Peugeot 106 for the last 6 weeks and I'm starting to get a bit desperate to buy something - my MX5 is a bit leaky during heavy rain periods and I want something dry for the winter.

I'm still hoping that the seller will come through so this thread may be surplus to requirements. I really need to buy something by the end of the week as I am heading off on holiday for a while and don't want to be looking for something in November/December as that will be a very busy time for me at work.

I'll be using the car for runs to the station and back, picking up my partner from work, shopping and occasional tip runs etc. I only plan to use the car for 4k a year or so.

My criteria is below, please feel free to pick holes in it!

• Cost of car up to £750 but if above £600 I would want some tax on it.
• 9-12 months MOT is essential, I don't want major bills straight away.
• I want something quite economical (+30mpg average) although only doing 4k a year reliability comes first along with general lowish running costs.
• Something small(ish) is preferred as I will be having to park on the street on occasion and the ability to park in smaller spaces would be an advantage
• I intend to teach my girlfriend to drive in it, so no massive barges I’m afraid.
• I would prefer something that doesn’t look like an absolute shed!

I've been searching for a few days and I'm finding searching for a suitable banger quite frustrating. Most cars seem to have intergalactic miles, no or a very short MOT or are being sold by seriously dodgy sellers. I just want a straight, clean basic £600 motor with tax and MOT. I live in central Sussex so would be happy to travel about 100 miles.

Any general suggestions or links to specific adverts would be very much appreciated ...

[Gizmo!]

Why not just get a hardtop?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/120628922248

[Merlot]

Gizmo! said:

Why not just get a hardtop?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/120628922248

No. I want a second car for lots of different practical reasons!

[Gizmo!]

Discussed on here recently: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/190454182984

Offer £500 in crisp shiny folding...

[Gizmo!]

In fact sod it - 12 months' ticket, £300 start.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/250706793404

Edited by Gizmo! on Saturday 9th October 11:14

[S1mon.]

Hi.
I have a 1994 (M reg) 316iSE BMW.
5-6 months tax, 12 months (nearly) mot. Genuine 88,000 miles in excellent condition with full service history.
e/w. c/l. s/roof
Looking for as near to £700 as i can get. really would make a great run around.
In Swindon.
be quick it wont be about long.

[joebongo]

Gizmo! said:

In fact sod it - 12 months' ticket, £300 start.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/250706793404

Edited by Gizmo! on Saturday 9th October 11:14

The wording and the trade sale notice makes me think this is a bag of ste he won't be able to sell on so is ebaying it.

Might be wrong of course.

[CaptainSlow]

Whilst looking for a snotter for a road trip I noticed lots of Astra estates below £500.

[robsco]

Alfa 145/146?

[e12mat]

Get a Mondeo 1.8i,

I bought one when I was in the UK for a month for £250, sold it for the same when I left, small reliable and easy drive. Plus when your partners learning to drive doesn't matter if it gets dented.

P.S. Dull to drive but made my M3 seem like a supercar when I got back

[Hitler Hadrump]

joebongo said:

Gizmo! said:

In fact sod it - 12 months' ticket, £300 start.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/250706793404

Edited by Gizmo! on Saturday 9th October 11:14

The wording and the trade sale notice makes me think this is a bag of ste he won't be able to sell on so is ebaying it.

Might be wrong of course.

Look at his other stock, it's all £4k+. He probably just wants shot of the Primera as quickly as possible with the least effort.

[wooooody]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[Mr2Mike]

joebongo said:

The wording and the trade sale notice makes me think this is a bag of ste he won't be able to sell on so is ebaying it.

Might be wrong of course.

It's a Primera for £300, of course it's a bag of ste. However, it stands a good chance of being a functional and reliable bag of ste compared to many other marques for similar money.

[zeppelin101]

Sounds like my Polo is right up your street. Apart from the tax which runs out next month. Long MOT though...

Up at £795 atm and just had a new centre section fitted for the exhaust as it was leaking.

Edited by zeppelin101 on Saturday 9th October 15:15

[Merlot]

Thank you so far for the suggestions

Primera - A bit too big really, plus I had one (the newer version) last year and it was possibly the most boring car I have ever owned, I suppose that's a good thing in a way but been there done that.

316 - No thanks, not really into older BMWs. No specific reason.

Astra - I am allergic to Vauxhalls.

Mercedes 300 - Haha. Nice try but I know would end up being a complete and utter money pit.

Micra - Good suggestion, I'll have a bit more of a look. I'm sure they are the sensible choice. I'd expect them to be very reliable and it seems entirely possible to get a good lowish mileage example with loads of MOT well within my budget. I'm sure I can overcome the 'noddy car' image and just tell everyone it is my girlfriend's car!

Polo - Any more details? I've looked at a few so far but the general advice on the Interweb seems a bit against them. Do you have a linky to the advert?

[eltax91]

Merlot said:

Thank you so far for the suggestions

Primera - A bit too big really, plus I had one (the newer version) last year and it was possibly the most boring car I have ever owned, I suppose that's a good thing in a way but been there done that.

316 - No thanks, not really into older BMWs. No specific reason.

Astra - I am allergic to Vauxhalls.

Mercedes 300 - Haha. Nice try but I know would end up being a complete and utter money pit.

Micra - Good suggestion, I'll have a bit more of a look. I'm sure they are the sensible choice. I'd expect them to be very reliable and it seems entirely possible to get a good lowish mileage example with loads of MOT well within my budget. I'm sure I can overcome the 'noddy car' image and just tell everyone it is my girlfriend's car!

Polo - Any more details? I've looked at a few so far but the general advice on the Interweb seems a bit against them. Do you have a linky to the advert?

Jesus, you are picky. It's bangernomics! Buy on condition, length of MOT, reputation of reliability and history. Style and size simply can't figure in the equation.

[Ben Hughes]

Ford Ka sounds right on the money?

[Merlot]

eltax91 said:

Jesus, you are picky. It's bangernomics! Buy on condition, length of MOT, reputation of reliability and history. Style and size simply can't figure in the equation.

Yes, I know I am. This is my first foray into bangernomics so bear with me. The car does however need to be smallish and the Merc, Primera, Mondeo etc don't fall into that category, it will need to be parked on the high street on occasion and a bigger car will be a PITA, plus my girlfriend doesn't want a big car to learn in.

I'm not worried about style in the slightest.

My short list so far are:

Peugeot 106 - Cheap and cheerful, the Mk2 ones even look nice.
Ford Fiesta 1.25 - Not many in my budget but great reviews if I can find a decent one.
Nissan Micra K11 1.0 - With 12 months ticket, history and sensible miles this seems perfect.
Ford Ka - Bit worried about rust issues with the bottom end of the market with these.

[lance1a]

Here.....my 1999 V reg Nissan Almera 1400. Aircon, P/S, E/Windows, R-C- locking, 12 month MOT and 6 Tax. 105K miles, FSH. Has real fake wood trim and cheap tax/ins. all yours for £750.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Edited by lance1a on Saturday 9th October 21:58

[zeppelin101]

Merlot said:

Polo - Any more details? I've looked at a few so far but the general advice on the Interweb seems a bit against them. Do you have a linky to the advert?

Ad is here: http://www.trade-it.co.uk/cars-volkswagen-polo/reg...

Was going to put it up elsewhere but decided to get the exhaust sorted and also have a wing mirror to go on to replace the slightly buggered one.

I'm at university, so my dad is handling the sale of the car. Not sure if the mirror has arrived yet, I know the exhaust section arrived Friday afternoon but I haven't talked to anyone at home since Thursday.

What's against it? It's not exactly inspiring to drive, or quick, but it never really went wrong in the 6000 miles or so I put on it apart from the exhaust centre section giving up the ghost. It's been great in every other sense and has new front discs and pads. Plus it was getting me 44mpg on my commute over summer, which is pretty spot on. For a cheap car to tool about in, with pretty cheap parts to boot I couldn't really fault it. Which is why I bought it while I reshelled my Nissan.

Edited by zeppelin101 on Saturday 9th October 22:39