£1000 budget, reliable run around?

[T3CH]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 03 November 2018 at 11:34

[Djtemeka]

Decent and reliable for £1000 isn't going to be a great start. I'd start looking at the basic spec cars first. Cross/polo etc. The less tech, the better. Buy a £500 car and spend another £500 for borkage.

My corsa (1.0 3cyl) cost me £300 4 years ago. Had it 2 years and spent around £500 in shocks, exhaust and bearings.
Gave it away to my sister in law who's just passed her test. It's still running about today and nothing's gone wrong. Only maintenance in my time apart from the bearings going pop

[johnwilliams77]

Micra

[200Plus Club]

We've got a corolla 1.8 petrol auto that's perfect in traffic like that. 400 quid. Had it 2 yrs nearly, has cost 91 quid in discs and pads up front. Oil needs a top up every 500m. Comfy not great on petrol but so what, 30mpg.

[DSLiverpool]

Anything small and Nissan

[Stickyfinger]

Citroen AX.....you will get a great car for £500

[BRR]

You can get a decent Alfa 147 for that, they have a reasonable number of minor niggles but are decent enough, couldn't think of anything I'd rather have for that budget/criteria

[Stickyfinger]

BRR said:

You can get a decent Alfa 147 for that, they have a reasonable number of minor niggles but are decent enough, couldn't think of anything I'd rather have for that budget/criteria

Maybe a car that will not cost as much as you paid for it the first time it goes wrong ?

[TheVole]

Small, automatic, Japanese and petrol would be my criteria here.

Micra
Starlet
Corolla
Almera
Civic
Yaris

[GreatGranny]

Loads of choice at this price and you can get a decent reliable small car for £1000 contrary to what some posters say.

IMO any of the following will be ok

Fiesta
Polo
Micra
206/207
Yaris
Corsa
etc....

Make sure it has plenty of MOT and check it's MOT history.
Bonus if it's has service history but you can generally tell if it's been looked after, eg. matching tyres, scratches touched up, cleaned inside....

[mikey P 500]

At this budget I wouldn't get hung up on make or model, take what you can get that's the youngest, lowest miles, longest MOT and most service history least rust, that's decent condition and local. Being flexible as to what make and model will help find something in better condition than only looking at a narrow range of cars.