What Cheap Car - £1000 - £2500

[BeirutTaxi]

Afternoon all. I have to replace my 04 plate Ibiza for a daily car and need something ultra reliable and also conforms to the following criteria:

• Cheap parts
• Cheap insurance (23 years old, 0 NCB, 15000 miles per year)
• Great fuel economy
• Reasonable luggage space (need to fit a road bike in the back minus the front wheel)
• Ultra reliable (I state this again for emphasis, I can not stand unrealiable cars and need one that works well
• Price range of £0 - 2500

I thought the Toyota Corolla 1.4 VVTI (2002 plate) would be a reasonable choice but a few internet posts I've read suggest the gearbox bearings can fail? Whether this is due to owners servicing them poorly I don't know though, I thought that Toyotas were meant to have great quality and reliability!

Many thanks,

Matt

P.S Before anyone starts going "MX5!", I don't find the insurance cost on them reasonable and from what I hear, the fuel economy isn't great either. Plus the luggage space doesn't conform to my needs.

P.P.S If anyone has any well serviced, good condition 2003/2004/2005 plate Ibiza's going (and not a million miles away from Southampton) then I would be interested! At the moment another Ibiza is my only real candidate for my next car.

Edited by BeirutTaxi on Sunday 22 April 13:59

[dontfollowme]

Mark 1 Focus 1.6?

[crocodile tears]

might get a bottom of the market honda jazz? ...or you could get a kia picanto

[andy-xr]

I don't want to suggest one and you go buy it on the basis of being ultra reliable. Each car I've had has had some recall, failure or other broken part. Even brand new ones, or actually, especially brand new ones

Best car that never broke down on me was a Mk3 Mondeo petrol. The diesel one I had put the service managers kids through college. The price point you're looking at means you might run into a few teething troubles with whatever you get

[dowahdiddyman]

Vectra 150bhp diesel estate. Few on fleabay for under 2k including an `07` plate.

[Jezz172]

dontfollowme said:

Mark 1 Focus 1.6?

My old man has one of these.
He's had it 5 years now, never had an oil change. He only washes it once a year for the MOT.
It's nearly at 160k but passes the MOT everytime
Only thing it's needed is a new set of leads and a battery

[Rickyy]

Another vote for a MK1 Focus. I've had 2 (still got the 2nd one).

First one was my Dad's before mine, he took it from 42 to 84k and I took it to 110k. It only ever wanted for consumables, mainly wheel bearings and anti-roll bar links. Never once broke down. Largest bill was for £200 to get it through an MOT. That was a 1.8.

Current one is a different story, bought a lemon, think it had a bump on the rear o/s wheel as I've had spend a bit putting it right. But again has never failed to start or leave me stranded in 25k (currently on 121k)

[Golaboots]

dowahdiddyman said:

Vectra 150bhp diesel estate. Few on fleabay for under 2k including an `07` plate.

The ones with egr, swirl flap, alternator and water pump problems?

[MondeoMan1981]

Citroen C5 HDi
Rover 75 diesel
Octavia Tdi
Xsara Hdi

[Scuderia2112]

W124 Mercedes.

[HeatonNorris]

MondeoMan1981 said:

Citroen C5 HDi
Rover 75 diesel
Octavia Tdi
Xsara Hdi

I can see an Octavia being a good idea - but 2 Citroens and a Rover? - you're joking, aren't you?

Nissan P11 Primera - you'll be able to buy the highest spec., lowest mileage and cleanest example in the world with not a lot more than the lower end of your budget.

They are one of the most reliable cars ever built - and require very little maintenance. The twin-cam petrol lumps have chain driven cams and seem to go on forever. You're not going to get diesel rivalling fuel economy, but you will see high 30s most of the time.

[Bonefish Blues]

Agree in principle, but OP's budget won't quite stretch to a better W124.

With a heavyish heart, Japanese, dull, petrol = your criteria http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Great everyday cars if you want to get where you need to go as cheaply as possible.

[SuperHangOn]

I reckon you should be able to pick up a good W124 diesel "Beirut taxi" for under 2k with a bit of luck on ebay. Mine was mega reliable although needed a fair few bushes etc due to the age.

Otherwise, Primera or Accord.

Edited by SuperHangOn on Sunday 22 April 15:47

[nxh66]

Octavia TDI mkI, Fabia 1.9 TDI is nippier. SDI 1.9 of either slow as hell but amazingly long lived and cheap on ins.