£2k runaround suggestions pls

[david_h]

Looking to get a runaround to save the miles on my other car.

The criteria:
1.) Reliable as possible
2.) Cheap to insure (less than £500 per year for an over 30 year old)
3.) Medium-sized hatchback (no barges)
4.) Cheap to fix.
5.) Not a penny over £2k
6.) Has to be ok on motorways i.e. would love cruise control and some sound deadening so no 1.4L Polo's pls.
7.) No older than 10 years.

MPG is not an issue, I'm mainly looking for turn-key motoring with as new a car as possible. Diesel makes no sense as I don't do the miles.

So far I've come up with:
Audi A3/A4 1.8T
Mk4 Golf GTI 1.8T
Seat Leon Cupra 1.8T

Can you see a theme here? I know the 1.8T VAG engines are good for mileage as long as cambelt and waterpumps are done.

Am I missing a trick though? Is there anything else I should consider? Concerned about parts prices on Jap cars and the interiors are very low grade plastics. Should I consider an 02 Honda Civic, if so which engine?

thanks in advance.

[smiff1007]

david_h said:

Looking to get a runaround to save the miles on my other car.

The criteria:
1.) Reliable as possible
2.) Cheap to insure (less than £500 per year for an over 30 year old)
3.) Medium-sized hatchback (no barges)
4.) Cheap to fix.
5.) Not a penny over £2k
6.) Has to be ok on motorways i.e. would love cruise control and some sound deadening so no 1.4L Polo's pls.
7.) No older than 10 years.

MPG is not an issue, I'm mainly looking for turn-key motoring with as new a car as possible. Diesel makes no sense as I don't do the miles.

So far I've come up with:
Audi A3/A4 1.8T
Mk4 Golf GTI 1.8T
Seat Leon Cupra 1.8T

Can you see a theme here? I know the 1.8T VAG engines are good for mileage as long as cambelt and waterpumps are done.

Am I missing a trick though? Is there anything else I should consider? Concerned about parts prices on Jap cars and the interiors are very low grade plastics. Should I consider an 02 Honda Civic, if so which engine?

thanks in advance.

Not strictly a mid-sized hatch but hey I'm trying to help, considered a 2003-ish Passat?

The 'rents have one and it is BULLETPROOF, excellent on the motorway in TDI130 form with cruise control. Seem to be about 1800 on the 'Bay at a quick glance.

Can't imagine what the insurance is like but surely not ridiculous.

[mnkiboy]

You've said 'realiable as possible' and 'cheap to fix', then listed 3 turbo'd cars. Surely for simplicity a NA engine is the way to go.

I'm gonna say Focus again. Cos I always do.
2.0 Zetec would me my choice, or the 2.0 Ghia gets cruise control. I think.

[adam85]

Six cylinder E36 ?

[mgmrw]

mnkiboy said:

You've said 'realiable as possible' and 'cheap to fix', then listed 3 turbo'd cars. Surely for simplicity a NA engine is the way to go.

I'm gonna say Focus again. Cos I always do.
2.0 Zetec would me my choice, or the 2.0 Ghia gets cruise control. I think.

I'm in agreement on this.

Have experience of this sort of car choice........ And turbos are just another thing to go wrong. SO dervs are a no-no.

For me 1800zetec focus or 318 bmw would be the way forwards. Simplicity.

Even if the dashboard is lit like a christmas tree, the engine will still plod on for another 10years

[david_h]

mnkiboy said:

You've said 'realiable as possible' and 'cheap to fix', then listed 3 turbo'd cars. Surely for simplicity a NA engine is the way to go.

I'm gonna say Focus again. Cos I always do.
2.0 Zetec would me my choice, or the 2.0 Ghia gets cruise control. I think.

I know the 1.8T cars inside out that's why I've suggested them.

How comfortable is the Focus on long journeys (have issues with lower back in some cars)?

I like the idea of cruise control though, are they as solidly built interior wise as a VW? I get the impression they aren't.

[y2blade]

add the early Octavia VRs 1.8T to your list too

[mgmrw]

Focus seats depend on spec.

2005 Pov spec ones are ste if above 6ft. Mine gave me back-ache as I'm 6ft7.

E36 BMW on the other hand, from 1996 are fine.

Thought of an aging Mercedes? comfy, reliable, and repro parts are a doddle.

[OdramaSwimLaden]

mnkiboy said:

You've said 'realiable as possible' and 'cheap to fix', then listed 3 turbo'd cars. Surely for simplicity a NA engine is the way to go.

Not wrong there!!....I've just had a Turbo replaced under warranty on my A8 4.2tdi; many £1000's!!

OP......as suggested, if you can bring yourself to avoid trubocharged cars, it's one less thing to worry about! (......and diesels) (.....and cars with lots of electrics) (.....and French cars)

Get a normally aspirated petrol....maybe something like a 1999 - 2001 3-series (e46).

ETA......doh!! Saloon!! Get a compact!!

[mnkiboy]

I've had a Zetec and a Ghia, and strangely I preferred the harder Zetec seats to the softer Ghia ones. Though neither are as good as the Recaro's in the ST170.

Build quality wise I don't have a problem with the Focus. It may not look as solid as the Golf, or have the bits of soft touch material dotted about, but it won't fall apart in my experience.

[mgmrw]

got to agree.

My 2005 estate was 136k miles fresh and was just as it left the factory when I swapped it for the comfier SAAB last year

[V88Dicky]

A Ford with the Duratec petrol engine, Mondeo maybe?

Or a Toyota with the VVT-i engine, Avensis maybe?

Both have plenty of space, are comfortable, reliable, and good on fuel for their engine size. No timing belts either

Examples below;


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Fuel consumption (urban) 25.2 mpg
Fuel consumption (extra urban) 48.7 mpg
Fuel consumption (combined) 36.2 mpg
0 - 62 mph 9.8 seconds
Top speed 134 mph
Cylinders 4
Valves 16 v
Engine power 145 bhp







http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Fuel consumption (urban) 26.9 mpg
Fuel consumption (extra urban) 47.1 mpg
Fuel consumption (combined) 37.2 mpg
0 - 62 mph 9.1 seconds
Top speed 130 mph
Cylinders 4
Valves 16 v
Engine power 149 bhp
Engine torque 148 lbs/ft

[tomsugden]

VW Bora. A little bit different as you don't see too many around.

[Matt_N]

My experience of the VAG 1.8T is that it's anything but reliable and cheap to fix.

Coilpacks at £30 each.
MAFs at £140
Crank sensor £100
Expensive vacuum and boost hoses

I spent over £800 in the last year of ownership on sensors, hoses and coilpacks for my 80k 2001 Y Golf Gti that had a FVWSH and I still sold it with a misfire that I couldn't fix. Never again.

[david_h]

All good points.

The avensis and mondeo are just a big big really, I would say the same about a Passat.

What about the Focus ST170, is a leggy one of these a no-go? Do they have any week points e.g. gearbox/water pump etc.

Merc/BMW I have dismissed due to part costs, although there are some leggy BMW E46 saloons e.g. 325i SE's just about within budget.

[mgmrw]

E36 parts costs are cheap.

Re-con brake caliper £40

Discs and pads for front end sub-£140

Replacement 2nd hand alternator £20

2x front brake hoses £37 each

service parts are cheap too

[falkster]

You can get loads of car for £2k at the moment but anything VAG with be at a premium compared to other marques unless you want a bora?
Something like a mondeo tdci ghia 04/54 plate should be within your budget.
What about a Saab 93 Vector Sport diesel? Great cars and you can get a 54/05 plate for that money if you trawl eBay and be patient!

[mgmrw]

falkster said:

You can get loads of car for £2k at the moment but anything VAG with be at a premium compared to other marques unless you want a bora?
Something like a mondeo tdci ghia 04/54 plate should be within your budget.
What about a Saab 93 Vector Sport diesel? Great cars and you can get a 54/05 plate for that money if you trawl eBay and be patient!

Really?

mine's 2006, average miles, and 12months ago gave £6500. Even now simillar around here are booking at £5k, trade in offered a month ago was £5,000.

Post-100k mile examples are more likely to have DMF and EGR issues mind.

[Codswallop]

Reliable chain-cam 5 cylinder engine, loads of kit, and cheap as you like;

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[mnkiboy]

david_h said:

What about the Focus ST170, is a leggy one of these a no-go? Do they have any week points e.g. gearbox/water pump etc.

£2K is really scraping the bottom of the barrel for ST170's. They're generally reliable other than the motor for the variable length inlet manifold tends to give up, leaving the car with little low down torque.
Mine was utterly realiable over the 2 years I owned it.

They don't offer a great deal of extra performance over the more common 2.0 Zetec though.