Cheap station runner

[Dr Nookie]

Afternoon all,

I'm going to need a replacement station runner shortly and thought I might ask here for some suggestions.

- The station trip is 7 miles each way
- The car must be auto as that's all the other half can drive
- Should have 4 seats as we've got 2 kids and on the off chance the main car in unavailable we might need to move at least 1 kid about
- Cheap to run and reliable obvs
- about 2k limit unfortunately

I've currently got a 2005 1.0 Corsa easycraptastic something or other. It always seems to need somehting every 6 months despite having a very easy life so I'm just about to chuck the towel in and change it.

I suppose a Jazz is a reasonable idea, can't quite stretch to an lease on a leaf or anything ev so stuck with an old motor for now.
I guess the question is, do I get a much old car that was higher calibre when new, say an old 3 series or somehting, or something newer and smaller like a Jazz circa 2005.

All thoughts welcome.

Cheers,

D.

[Jag_NE]

to be fair to the corsa, a bill every 6 months on a 13 year old car isnt bad going assuming the bills arent eye watering, i presume it would have been scrapped if that was the case.

2k is a crap price point to buy a car, you risk inheriting someone elses problems on a car that was worth too much to scrap.

id keep the corsa personally

[Dr Nookie]

Jag_NE said:

to be fair to the corsa, a bill every 6 months on a 13 year old car isnt bad going assuming the bills arent eye watering, i presume it would have been scrapped if that was the case.

2k is a crap price point to buy a car, you risk inheriting someone elses problems on a car that was worth too much to scrap.

id keep the corsa personally

You say that, but the family CR-V which is the same age and has 40k more miles and gets loads more use generally doesn't cost a bean. It's had the same amount spent on it in 5 years that the Corsa has had in the last 18 months. And it s a much nicer place to be.
If the CR-V wasn't so much to tax and fuel I'd use that as my station runner and get a new family car, but fuel/tax/ins is too much for the station run sadly.

[Willy Nilly]

What have you had done to the Corsa?

2 grand may buy you more issues, so you're probably better spending some of the 2 grand keeping you current car running.

[Dr Nookie]

New front spring(wear and tear I know) - 90 quid
Refurb of the notorious auto box solenoid thing - 800 quid
crankshaft sensor - 90 quid
Whatever is wrong with it now as it keeps stalling and engine light on again - ???

[ZX10R NIN]

If you go up a segment size you can bag yourself some very good reliable cars, they may be bigger than you had in mind but they will probably have been looked after more, road tax wise there won't be as big a difference as you think.

Just over budget but you'd be hard pressed to look past this (haggle bring cash & you should be able to buy for a max of £2250) car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

IS200 in budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Focus Ghia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Astra Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Clio Initiale

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Honda Civic

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I have to say if it was a choice out of any of the above a Jazz or the Lexus, I'd be ringing the people selling the Lexus.

[loskie]

with that miles does "cheap to run" really matter?

Subaru Outback?
Volvo S60?
You may be cheaper buying a gas guzzler.Subaru engines warm up quickly too which at those miles is a bonus.
Or buy a bike or e bike.

[Jag_NE]

Dr Nookie said:

You say that, but the family CR-V which is the same age and has 40k more miles and gets loads more use generally doesn't cost a bean. It's had the same amount spent on it in 5 years that the Corsa has had in the last 18 months. And it s a much nicer place to be.
If the CR-V wasn't so much to tax and fuel I'd use that as my station runner and get a new family car, but fuel/tax/ins is too much for the station run sadly.

yeah the crv might not cost a bean but is your corsa going to cost you 2k in repairs in the short to medium term, i doubt it. and the 2k car may bring a whole load of trouble. for a station car id have nice place to be low on the list of priorities, personally. spend your coin on the main family transport.

[steve-5snwi]

You could have our A4 .... I'm in a similar position, my shortlist is Subaru Forester or Honda CR-V, tax is neither here or there, fuel, well we cover even less and anything over that short of a distance isn't going to give great MPG.

Suzuki swift would be another choice

[Turbojuice]

I think it depends what size car you fancy. You could go for a small and reliable jap car like a Swift or Jazz. Or could opt for a big old barge like a Lexus which tend to be bulletproof.

Avoid diesels though.

[Dr Nookie]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you go up a segment size you can bag yourself some very good reliable cars, they may be bigger than you had in mind but they will probably have been looked after more, road tax wise there won't be as big a difference as you think.

Honda Civic

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I have to say that that would be just the ticket. Let's see what the garage has to say about the Corsa today.

Thanks for all the suggests all.

Cheers,

D.