Cheap reliable car for the girlfriend - Sorry.

[crofty1984]

The answer to the following question is K11 Nissan Micra.
I know it, you know it, but she doesn't like them and it's her money. She also doesn't like the Ford Ka. She thinks they're too girly.

What else would you recommend for a car that's cheap, fairly economical and very reliable. Which at this end of the market I understand will mean "not much on it to go wrong". Also, being in Naarfolk it means that as we have a budget of just under £1000, we need a car that you can get for closer to £500 in the civilised world.

About 40mpg is preferable. She's coming from a 1.5 dci which gives 60mpg+. Though we're aware that with our budget, cars that do that will likely be fked.

It doesn't have to be tiny, but massive cars are out. I've suggested an older shaped 1.4 Civic and a Peugeot 306. Or maybe a 1.2 Punto. I'm trying to talk her into a MK2 Scirocco (she likes them) but I think she's worried it'll be too old to use as a daily.

[rumple]

Mx5

[wombat172a]

rumple said:

Mx5

Sometimes, that really is the right answer.

[dav123a]

205 or 106

[Carfiend]

Anything japanese is always a good bet for shedding. 106/306/Saxo are fairly reliable if a bit spartan. I needed a 500 quid shed prior to moving out the US and just played the ebay game and got a 306 Cab for my money. Yes ok the roof didn't work... neither did the windows... or the stereo but it has 11 months ticket and 5 months tax on it .

[crofty1984]

wombat172a said:

rumple said:

Mx5

Sometimes, that really is the right answer.

Not at 25mpg it's not (which is a shame, because I REEEEEALLY want another one for weekends).

[HustleRussell]

Almera/Corrola/Mazda 323... the Ford KA is getting into major corrosion issues these days anyway.

[OzzyR1]

Was in the same place last year with my OH.

Ended up with an 03 plate Fiesta, 1.25 Zetec. 11 months test, 6 months tax and plenty of history for £900.

Been very good so far (touches wood), and it's actually a cracking little drive on the B-roads - I was surprised.

[Liquid Tuna]

What about a Honda HR-V? I use one as a commuter. Gets 40mpg, Jap reliability, oddball looks, a bit different?

[Oldandslow]

I admire your efforts but IME you need to let her choose which model she wants and then (as long as it's not a ridiculous dog) try to get her the best example available.

At best your input will be ignored, probably found irritating and if by some miracle she buys the one you suggest it will be your fault every time it blows a bulb

[Willy Nilly]

crofty1984 said:

I've suggested an older shaped 1.4 Civic

I have such a car and have had it over a decade. Mine gets meticulously maintained and has been totally reliable. They do like clean oil and the ride is very sensitive to worn tyres and pressure. I would recommend one in a heart beat for anyone looking for a cheap to run reliable car. Mine will do mid 40's driven sensibly.

If you offered me £1000 for it you could have it and I'd get something newer, but you won't and I'm going to continue looking after it and see how many more years I can get out of it. They aren't fashionable, which is probably a good thing.

[edo]

At this bugget it is less about the make/model and more about condition, tax, MOT etc, esp as you arent planning to travel far.

Do a search against your postcode on Autotrader and see what comes up. Also worth speaking to a few main dealers to see what they have coming in as part-x that they dont want.

[ajh38]

1.4 206 should fit the bill. A first generation one won't suffer from com switch issues.

[edo]

ajh38 said:

1.4 206 should fit the bill. A first generation one won't suffer from com switch issues.

But it will suffer from everything else, including but not limited to crap electric (how many have you seen with brake lights stuck on?)

Hideously unreliable cars.

[Takeflight]

Skoda Fabia. A grand will get you a nice one. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/skoda...

Wish I'd got my OH one rather than an MX5 as a daily now. Seriously.

Edited for a better link.

Edited by Takeflight on Monday 7th January 18:19

[vit4]

Takeflight said:

Skoda Fabia. A grand will get you a nice one. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

Wish I'd got my OH one rather than an MX5 as a daily now. Seriously.

This isn't a bad shout - my dad's has been faultless. 1.4 petrols have head gasket issues IIRC?

[hedges88]

vit4 said:

This isn't a bad shout - my dad's has been faultless. 1.4 petrols have head gasket issues IIRC?

Head Gasket Issues on the 1.4 8v MPI and piston ring issues on the 1.4 16v VW motor. Having owned several old Fabia's borkage is quite inevitable

My Honda Civic Shed is faultless, I'd reccomend a Civic

[Kolbenkopp]

vit4 said:

This isn't a bad shout - my dad's has been faultless. 1.4 petrols have head gasket issues IIRC?

Not really sure about head gaskets, not common AFAIK. They had that crank case ice causing oil starvation issue, all that have survived so far should be AOK.

The whole Polo based family from that time is not bad at all (Arosa, Lupo, Fabia, Ibiza). Might be a tad (or more YMMV) less bullet proof than the Japanese, but parts could be cheaper.

Alternative: get her a Liana (Suzuki). She's a star obviously so there's the reasonably priced car to go along, or a Starlet (Toyota) ?

Starlet should be hard to kill. My mother did not manage so nobody can .

[Kolbenkopp]

hedges88 said:

Head Gasket Issues on the 1.4 8v MPI and piston ring issues on the 1.4 16v VW motor. Having owned several old Fabia's borkage is quite inevitable

My Honda Civic Shed is faultless, I'd reccomend a Civic

Forgot about the 8V and did not know there was a common problem, sorry. Good info, thanks!

The piston ring issue I know about the 16v is basically high oil consumption? On the A2 they fixed that for MY 2004 so I assume it's been dealt with VAG wide at that point.

[sc4589]

Another shout out for a Civic, the EJ/EK shape.

Look for a 1.5LSi, uses VTEC-e. Despite being geared for economy, still has 115bhp (compared to the 90bhp D14 motor) and can easily do 40mpg.

My parents run Civics and they just don't break- dad's running an experiment on his. So far, over 80,000 miles without a service and it's still fine... he's actually deliberately trying to kill it, and it won't die.

End of the world- cockroaches and Civics. Wait and see (if you're a cockroach).