Reliable shed required

[200Plus Club]

So the free golf tdi looks to have died a death tonight after 8 months almost free motoring. Looking for a reliable shed for wifey to use 2 days a week ferrying her mum around town. 50miles a week tops so mpg /petrol not an issue really . Auto is fine as are battle scars.
Main requirement - cheap to maintain, not something with engine timing belt issues or head gaskets woes !
Budget is £1k max.
Point us at something you've seen, or something you are selling by all means! :-)

[Jag_NE]

I’d be using taxis for that. A ratty 1k car that could blow up at any moment plus fuel, tax, insurance, MOT and maintenance for 2 days a week at the shops...,

[ZX10R NIN]

Ford Focus

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

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

[RSTurboPaul]

Yaris.

[stevemcs]

Honda Civic, but realistically at that price point anything with 12 months mot and 4 legal tyres

[aka_kerrly]

There are times when it is better to just get on Autotrader/Gumtree/ebay and see what is about for around £1k rather than look for a specific make/model as there could be a right gem of a well looked after car with good history that you hadn't considered.

There are still plenty of the mk4 Golf/Seat Leon/Audi A3s around for under a grand if you like something similar to what you have. That said for your intended use a super basic supermini like a Jazz, Yaris, Micra ought to be spot on but because you are competing with learner/first time drivers these don't always represent great value at the bottom end of the market.

Sometimes it can pay to go up a class, the Ford Focus mk1 , Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla are all cracking options or go wild and dangerous and buy a Luxo Barge like a Lexus GS300

[GreatGranny]

stevemcs said:

Honda Civic, but realistically at that price point anything with 12 months mot and 4 legal tyres

Honda Civic is always my suggestion or a Corolla.

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

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

[Aiminghigh123]

https://www.gumtree.com/p/honda/honda-civic-2.0i-v...

I reckon you would get 2 years use out of this easy.

[nobrakes]

ZX10R NIN said:

Ford Focus

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

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

For A to B town cars for cheap these look excellent.

[RazerSauber]

No mention of a Mk3 Mondeo yet? They're always bullet proof. Even mine that looks like the previous owner took it through an active war zone is puttering along without issue doing 35+ to the gallon. The 1.8 Petrol is "enough" to get around and has a colossal boot space. AC and cruise as standard too, which is nice.

Prices range from 0.125 sheds up.

[200Plus Club]

Some great ideas and finds already ta. The focus with low miles looks interesting especially with all the stamped history.

[Marlin45]

Nissan Almera.

Not a popular car and favoured by those of later years/zero maintenance vehicle for the social club bar. A solid car until then rust out which takes a while.

[nobrakes]

200Plus Club said:

Some great ideas and finds already ta. The focus with low miles looks interesting especially with all the stamped history.

Worth travelling for too.

[ElectricSoup]

How about an Avensis - with nice comfy leather???

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

[daqinggegg]

Audi R8 V10

[Down and out]

Marlin45 said:

Nissan Almera.

Not a popular car and favoured by those of later years/zero maintenance vehicle for the social club bar. A solid car until then rust out which takes a while.

You just can't, it's hideous. Reliable but it looks like one of those big eyed goldfish.

[stevemcs]

RazerSauber said:

No mention of a Mk3 Mondeo yet? They're always bullet proof. Even mine that looks like the previous owner took it through an active war zone is puttering along without issue doing 35+ to the gallon. The 1.8 Petrol is "enough" to get around and has a colossal boot space. AC and cruise as standard too, which is nice.

Prices range from 0.125 sheds up.

I've got one has my tip car, its comfy and has a massive boot being an estate, i only chose it because i couldn't find a tidy avensis or accord estate for £700

[200Plus Club]

stevemcs said:

I've got one has my tip car, its comfy and has a massive boot being an estate, i only chose it because i couldn't find a tidy avensis or accord estate for £700

Dmf issues with Mondeo tho?

[stevemcs]

Its possible, mines on 149k and believe its still on the original clutch. Mines a 2.2 TDCi ... injectors and EGR valves are also issues.

Mine does get abused though

[aka_kerrly]

200Plus Club said:

Dmf issues with Mondeo tho?

A DMF is a potential problem on every car fitted with one and not specifically Mondeos. I could make a list of relatively expensive components that could go wrong and you'd end up terrified of buying any car outside of warranty.

You need to remember that when looking at 10 -15 year old cars that there are no guarantees at all, sometimes you get lucky and find a car that will last years with barely anything more than a oil change. Another identical car at the same stage in life may suffer 2 or 3 component failures in quick succession which potentially makes it uneconomical to repair.

Whilst some cars do have problems I generally believe the internet makes things worse because people enjoy complaining and telling tales of woe where as those who have cars that just work don't feel the need to broadcast regular updates.

Best thing to do when running cheap cars is get a tool set, a Haynes manual, join the owners club & have a very helpful mechanic friend.