3k - What cheap/basic/reliable/utilitarian car?
Discussion
hora said:
Key for me is basic. I never use A/C, never will. To be honest I don't really appreciate electrician windows either.
I do like the main bits to be bombproof IF of course preventative maintenance is carried out rather neglect or not keeping an eye on things.
Not bothered too much about mpg but then again I'm not bothered too much about bhp.
No it can't be a MX5 as we have a hora junior
So cheap (sub 3k), reliable etc etc etc?
I have a 5 door Skoda Fabia that I am very happy with. Fits this description perfectly.I do like the main bits to be bombproof IF of course preventative maintenance is carried out rather neglect or not keeping an eye on things.
Not bothered too much about mpg but then again I'm not bothered too much about bhp.
No it can't be a MX5 as we have a hora junior
So cheap (sub 3k), reliable etc etc etc?
This thread may help
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Unless you found something that goes 'orribly wrong with them, in which case please tell me before I buy one.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Unless you found something that goes 'orribly wrong with them, in which case please tell me before I buy one.
Good thread.
I reckon there is a market for an austerity car, no abs, no air bags, no air con, no pas, skinny steel wheels, no levelling head lights, no fancy blue tooth stereo, no central locking, no electric windows, no outside temperature gauge, no metallic paint, no boot light, no light in the glove box, in fact, no glove box, no silicon damped switches and knobs, no electric self dipping mirrors, no big HP and torque numbers, no pollen filters.
I know a lot of this stuff is driven by legislation, but I reckon there is a market, mid sized, 4 door saloon and estate.
Build it for minimum cost, max reliability, low weight, fuel efficient.
I reckon there is a market for an austerity car, no abs, no air bags, no air con, no pas, skinny steel wheels, no levelling head lights, no fancy blue tooth stereo, no central locking, no electric windows, no outside temperature gauge, no metallic paint, no boot light, no light in the glove box, in fact, no glove box, no silicon damped switches and knobs, no electric self dipping mirrors, no big HP and torque numbers, no pollen filters.
I know a lot of this stuff is driven by legislation, but I reckon there is a market, mid sized, 4 door saloon and estate.
Build it for minimum cost, max reliability, low weight, fuel efficient.
Huntsman said:
Good thread.
I reckon there is a market for an austerity car, no abs, no air bags, no air con, no pas, skinny steel wheels, no levelling head lights, no fancy blue tooth stereo, no central locking, no electric windows, no outside temperature gauge, no metallic paint, no boot light, no light in the glove box, in fact, no glove box, no silicon damped switches and knobs, no electric self dipping mirrors, no big HP and torque numbers, no pollen filters.
I know a lot of this stuff is driven by legislation, but I reckon there is a market, mid sized, 4 door saloon and estate.
Build it for minimum cost, max reliability, low weight, fuel efficient.
No there isn't! Not new anyway. Just get a car made before 1990 and you will (not) get any of the above.I reckon there is a market for an austerity car, no abs, no air bags, no air con, no pas, skinny steel wheels, no levelling head lights, no fancy blue tooth stereo, no central locking, no electric windows, no outside temperature gauge, no metallic paint, no boot light, no light in the glove box, in fact, no glove box, no silicon damped switches and knobs, no electric self dipping mirrors, no big HP and torque numbers, no pollen filters.
I know a lot of this stuff is driven by legislation, but I reckon there is a market, mid sized, 4 door saloon and estate.
Build it for minimum cost, max reliability, low weight, fuel efficient.
Personally I think A/C is a must. I know its only hot for 15 minutes every few years but even on a warm-ish day I stll like to have cold air circulating around my hot bits!
I also like to press a button to work the windows.
However blue tooth, outside temp gauge etc.. I can do without.
Hora for £3k you can't beat a 3 series especially in estate form.
Nice condition 320i with leather
http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I know its got those new fangled elctrician windows and doesn't run on steam but its a lot of car for the money.
Hugo a Gogo said:
market for it, but airbags and safety etc is enforced
Dacia Logan is the European vehicle that most fits the bill
electric windows etc though, they are surely just as cheap to make as keep-fit windows
There's a used market for it, but I'm not convinced about new. Even the latest Berlingo has gone all "luxury" (For a Citroen van at least...), and just try finding a used one.Dacia Logan is the European vehicle that most fits the bill
electric windows etc though, they are surely just as cheap to make as keep-fit windows
We've just bought a base spec petrol Mazda 6 estate, it does have aircon and electric windows but it's got a camchain and no known issues apart from an apparent tendency to rust around the arches (Ours is rust free atm). FSH, 2 owners, 9 years old and on 80k for £1800. It even drives quite well.
Skoda Felicia Mpi as simple as a simple thing, a mk3 golf underneath. I bought one for my neighbour with 23k miles from new last year for £300, he's learnt how to service & maintain it with a bit of help from me. He loves it & it does 40mpg too.
You can find mint granny spec ones for peanuts
eg:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Felicia-/260950702...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-SKODA-FELICIA-GLXI-...
You can find mint granny spec ones for peanuts
eg:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Felicia-/260950702...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-SKODA-FELICIA-GLXI-...
Just a word of warning re the Fabia. There is a known issue where water gets into the wiring loom. I only found out when my Mother in Laws immaculate 03 Auto Fabia kept going into shutdown with the engine warning light coming on.
Took it to a local garage and he informed us the whole loom needed replacing, £600 just for the loom + fitting and there's a 6-8 week wait. Even then moisture may have got into switches etc.. and the problem will persist.
I did a search and it is a known fault but Skoda will not contribute to the repair.
No doubt the latest version doesn't suffer the same problem.
Took it to a local garage and he informed us the whole loom needed replacing, £600 just for the loom + fitting and there's a 6-8 week wait. Even then moisture may have got into switches etc.. and the problem will persist.
I did a search and it is a known fault but Skoda will not contribute to the repair.
No doubt the latest version doesn't suffer the same problem.
We bought a 53 Plate Mondeo LX TDCi 130 brand new from a car supermarket and ran it for 125k miles without any issues/repair. It was good to drive with crisp steering and a smooth 6 speed box, and would do 50mpg all day long. The service intervals were long and it had a chain cambelt so never needed replacing. It had cloth seats and arm operated windows in the back but a huge boot and loads of space. With the rear bench folded flat you can fit a single mattress in the car.
We sold it for £2000 2 years ago, someone got a bargain.
We sold it for £2000 2 years ago, someone got a bargain.
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