300th "what to buy" topic - 1k shed edition

[VPXavier]

Hi, soon I will buy my first car in UK..

-1k budget
-Will rarely commute
-Will make short trips in weekends
-Will not have it for more than a year
-need to transport wife and 3yo kid, butt we can live with 2 doors
- Petrol preferably
- ABS + Airbags mandatory
- Nothing too powerful or with big engine. 0 NCB, so have to keep the size of the bullet I'm biting under control.

A lot of things fit in the requirements, but I'd like some opinion...

[anonymous-user]

I went looking for a shed a couple of weeks ago and ended up with a £700 celica 140. Does the job, bit sluggish low down but handles nicely.

Not sure the rear seats would be any good for child seats though, bit of an odd shape.

[ZX10R NIN]

One of these pretty much ticks all the boxes:

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

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

[Shiv_P]

mk1 focus?

[anonymous-user]

ZX10R NIN said:

One of these pretty much ticks all the boxes:

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

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

This is a good suggestion as I'm also on the look out for a cheap runabout and completely forgot these existed. Did spot this on the Honest John website though:

"23-11-2017: What can finally kill off an old Almera is failure of the speed sensor in the transmission, part number 327024U003, which is no longer available from Nissan. Without it the car can refuse to drive above 5mph".

[Benjijames28]

I am biased cause I recently bought one as a shed but a petrol Toyota avensis MK2.

I got lucky, mine was bought private for 1100, same spec and mileage at a dealer may cost around 2k.

Main reason I suggest it is because they are common, parts are cheap, reliable Japanese car, loads of space, comfortable, and most importantly there's air bags everywhere! Very safe car.

[VPXavier]

Have been looking at some Avensis at the classifieds. Edit: £1642 insurance on confused.com £1300 was the top budget.

And ZX10, good one. I also completely forgot about them.

Edited by VPXavier on Sunday 21st January 22:41

[lukasprague]

Shiv_P said:

mk1 focus?

+1

I use one (1.8 petrol) as a daily, never missed a beat. And is fun to drive, also quite practical. Many to choose from.