£1200 to spend on a reliable motor

[mikenesbitt]

Taking part in a rally to asia from london...looking to buy a a motor that has to be no more than 10 yrs old... And not exheeding 1200cc... Any pointers folks?

[Camberwell]

If you can stretch it a little you might want to consider a Saab - i've always found them to be reliable, comfortable and a little different from the norm

This one looks like it would do the job but there are plenty others out there, good luck it sounds like a great adventure!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3658571.htm

[Johnboy Mac]

max £1200 & max 1200cc? Heading east, so I'd be looking at Jap box if possible.

[tom felty]

Camberwell said:

If you can stretch it a little you might want to consider a Saab - i've always found them to be reliable, comfortable and a little different from the norm

This one looks like it would do the job but there are plenty others out there, good luck it sounds like a great adventure!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3658571.htm

most of the panels are different colurs

[Camberwell]

lol now you mention it!

Oh and i've just seen the last pic of the dash, not a fan of fake wood #facepalm

maybe not this one eh

tom felty said:

most of the panels are different colurs

[mikenesbitt]

Thanks for the advise. .a saab would be awesome... Unfortunatly it cant be over 1.2L engine......any further thoughts folks

[james_gt3rs]

If it doesn't need to be fast, then a Nissan Micra is the way to go.

[mikenesbitt]

Thanks for the advise. .a saab would be awesome... Unfortunatly it cant be over 1.2L engine......any further thoughts folks

[jds32]

Fiat panda. Seat arosa.

[mikenesbitt]

Thats really interesting you say that as the micra has been the number one motor on the previous rally.... Good call!

[CDP]

Fiat Panda. What capacity is the 4X4?

[r1ch]

If it were me, i'd be using a Nissan Micra.

[mikenesbitt]

Was looking into a fiat... Was alittle concerned with reliability..... Your thoughts r we'llcomed though!

[CDP]

I've not had a Panda. Friends have had Puntos and they've been OK past 100K.

The point with a Panda is that it's simple enough to fix if it breaks.

You could get a VW Polo but it will be agonisingly slow with the 1.0 engine.

[Johnboy Mac]

mikenesbitt said:

Thats really interesting you say that as the micra has been the number one motor on the previous rally.... Good call!

If you go with a Micra (K11) it will only be a 1.0lt, shame you couldn't go to a 1.3. Also, the spare part I'd carry is a new AFM.

[Camberwell]

Shame about the engine size constraint i missed that in your op. It's going to be dull in a micra.....but a good reliable choice, best fill the ipod up

[davepoth]

My thought is a Daewoo Matiz. Giugiaro body, Tickford engine, and it was upgunned to a 995cc engine in 2002, gaining 12hp, 13lbft of torque, and a fourth cylinder.

It was built in Korea, Uzbekistan, Poland, Romania, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Taiwan and Iran, so if you break down en route, parts should be available.

[Xenocide]

A little Toyota Starlet 1.0

[Johnboy Mac]

davepoth said:

It was built in Korea, Uzbekistan, Poland, Romania, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Taiwan and Iran, so if you break down en route, parts should be available.

Brilliant.

[mosc7pc2]

1.2 litre Honda Jazz?

no questions about the reliability.
Happy to sit at 80-90 mph on a run.

Abit... souless but gets the job done