Which cheap runabout: £500-£1000
Discussion
Hi all,
Waiting on a Cupra to be delivered Dec/Jan but will need to buy a second car to get me 15 miles a day from Sept. I'd love to hear some suggestions of reliable motors suitable for winter that ideally would be easy to shift on, not fussy on any aspects or spec really, just want to simple motoring for a few months.
Budget can flex, but ideally within the parameters in the title.
Cheers!
Waiting on a Cupra to be delivered Dec/Jan but will need to buy a second car to get me 15 miles a day from Sept. I'd love to hear some suggestions of reliable motors suitable for winter that ideally would be easy to shift on, not fussy on any aspects or spec really, just want to simple motoring for a few months.
Budget can flex, but ideally within the parameters in the title.
Cheers!
my last three cars have cost £1000 , £700 and £800. my main criteria are that the car should have a long mot and not need any immediate expenditure.
i generally buy cars that are not the most popular. larger cars , generally with a petrol engine and sometimes automatic.
my last buy was an e39 520 bmw. it wad immaculate inside and out. four nearly new matching premium tyres. it has an oil leak from the rocker cover , but i can live with that. beggars cannot be choosers.
not bad for £800
in fact i like it so much that i have decided that i will get one with a bit more power when this one needs replacing.
i generally buy cars that are not the most popular. larger cars , generally with a petrol engine and sometimes automatic.
my last buy was an e39 520 bmw. it wad immaculate inside and out. four nearly new matching premium tyres. it has an oil leak from the rocker cover , but i can live with that. beggars cannot be choosers.
not bad for £800
in fact i like it so much that i have decided that i will get one with a bit more power when this one needs replacing.
I'd say you don't need to look at anything bar a mk1 Focus.
Like this, but no shortage of choice. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Brilliant to drive, reliable, comfy, and whilst an old car they're such a familiar shape on the roads that I'd imagine few bat an eyelid at them.
Like this, but no shortage of choice. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Brilliant to drive, reliable, comfy, and whilst an old car they're such a familiar shape on the roads that I'd imagine few bat an eyelid at them.
6th gen Honda Accord?
My old man had one from new and ran it for around 10 years. Boring to look at but very nice to drive, reliable and can be had for little money.
This one looks nice - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
My old man had one from new and ran it for around 10 years. Boring to look at but very nice to drive, reliable and can be had for little money.
This one looks nice - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Edited by Chedders on Saturday 26th August 11:45
As has already been said, a Mk I Focus would be a safe bet. There's an endless supply of them about at that price and they tend to be very reliable if looked after.
Having said that, my money would go on a 306. Not quite as easy to come by as the Focus but still plenty of good ones about. They don't seem to rust at all and the ride/handling is amazingly good. Also very reliable, and diesel ones are equally easy to come by.
Having said that, my money would go on a 306. Not quite as easy to come by as the Focus but still plenty of good ones about. They don't seem to rust at all and the ride/handling is amazingly good. Also very reliable, and diesel ones are equally easy to come by.
At that price point I'd go for something like this.
Honda Civic for £1,500
Focus Mk1 is a hoot to drive (and actually pretty reliable for a Ford) so I guess it depends on whether you want fun over reliability.
Honda Civic for £1,500
Focus Mk1 is a hoot to drive (and actually pretty reliable for a Ford) so I guess it depends on whether you want fun over reliability.
If you want a bit of reliable fun can't go far wrong with a mk5 zetec s fiesta. Solid little cars and a great laugh (I've owned several and cannot stay away from them).
Mk1 focus are a safe bet as are pretty much any simple Jap motor.
I pretty much live in sub 1k motoring and I'm never short of choice.
My top tip (common sense); buy on condition at this price not on mileage or car type/spec. Get on gumtree and eBay set a 1k limit and see what takes your fancy then whittle it down to well looked after examples.
Mk1 focus are a safe bet as are pretty much any simple Jap motor.
I pretty much live in sub 1k motoring and I'm never short of choice.
My top tip (common sense); buy on condition at this price not on mileage or car type/spec. Get on gumtree and eBay set a 1k limit and see what takes your fancy then whittle it down to well looked after examples.
Edited by MrAverage on Saturday 26th August 22:10
ambuletz said:
daemon said:
Another vote for a Focus - 1.6 or 1.8 litre petrol, Zetec spec. Years MOT.
out of curiosity why not the 2.0 added to that? or a ST170 if you can find one.Its easy to find a home for a 1.6 or a 1.8
From the O/Ps original post on criteria
James-gbg1e said:
....that ideally would be easy to shift on, not fussy on any aspects or spec really, just want to simple motoring for a few months.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Edited by daemon on Saturday 26th August 22:23
ZX10R NIN said:
"With one issue that the engine management light is currently on"ZX10R NIN said:
That second one has MOT to just next March. If the O/P were buying it to run over the winter, there would be an MOT to put on it for reselling.Not the end of the world, but an old Focus ST could be a money pit.
ZX10R NIN said:
No MOT on it, however the dealer should have to put one on it.ZX10R NIN said:
That one needs a bonnet, short MOT and is described as "OK condition.ZX10R NIN said:
"Head gasket needs likely replacing as there's smoke hence low price as I don't have time to fix."Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff