Circumstances changed, car required.

[themoog75]

So....my circumstances have changed literally overnight, and within the next 2 weeks I need to find a car. My current motor is going back to the lease company as I have changed my job, which leaves me with, err, a push bike and a 35 mile round trip commute! I am a fit guy...but not that fit. I need a small engined, reliable and economical car for no more than £1k...the plan is to run it for 2 years while I save up for something a bit better. I am currently looking at anything between 1.1 Hyundai Getz's to 1.4 Fiestas, and most engine sizes in between (1.2 Polos and Corsa C's, 1.3 Ford Ka's and Nissan Micras). I guess that's the spec sorted then...1100 to 1400cc, reliable, economical and cheap to run. Petrol or diesel...not fussed at all tbh, don't care about spec or trim levels, and I will be doing mostly B road's town and city driving, with a short A road dual carriageway run.

Any help gratefully received!

[Pica-Pica]

Reading the tales of woe on here, your best bet is a friend who is getting rid of a car that you know is running well. In those circumstances, the car make and model will not matter.

[Jimbo893]

Clio mk2 1.5 DCI 86hp or 106hp gets my vote. They’re pretty reliable and will give you decent economy.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

a 1999-2004 Focus hatch. Get a well looked after one and you'll have cheapo reliable fun motoring. Plus endless choice out there.

[themoog75]

Pica-Pica said:

Reading the tales of woe on here, your best bet is a friend who is getting rid of a car that you know is running well. In those circumstances, the car make and model will not matter.

Shame no-one I know is selling anything even remotely within my price range.

[themoog75]

Jimbo893 said:

Clio mk2 1.5 DCI 86hp or 106hp gets my vote. They’re pretty reliable and will give you decent economy.

Hadn't considered a Clio tbh. Are they within my price range? And what would be the difference between one of these and the Peugeot equivalent?

Edited by themoog75 on Saturday 21st October 18:03

[kurt535]

toyota. french will break down!

[CAPP0]

Just get on eBay, set your price at £900-£1200 and a 5 mile radius, and buy the nearest thing which meets your criteria.

[MorganP104]

This thread has Toyota Yaris written all over it.

Failing that, Nissan Micra.

If I needed a small car for a grand, I'd be going Japanese, no question.

[steve-5snwi]

Avoid the Clio in diesel form. A set of injectors will cost you the best part of £900. Go for a Honda Jazz, Ford Fiesta or Focus. KA's rust so avoid them.

[themoog75]

MorganP104 said:

This thread has Toyota Yaris written all over it.

Failing that, Nissan Micra.

If I needed a small car for a grand, I'd be going Japanese, no question.

That is my thinking tbh. Small + japanese = reliable, efficient and cheap, which ticks all the boxes.

[themoog75]

CAPP0 said:

Just get on eBay, set your price at £900-£1200 and a 5 mile radius, and buy the nearest thing which meets your criteria.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Fusion-1-4TDCi-1398cc-2003-25MY-3-/112603253294?hash=item1a37ad4a2e:g:SVMAAOSw1LNZ44UX

...that's pretty much it tbh!

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

themoog75 said:

CAPP0 said:

Just get on eBay, set your price at £900-£1200 and a 5 mile radius, and buy the nearest thing which meets your criteria.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Fusion-1-4TDCi-1398cc-2003-25MY-3-/112603253294?hash=item1a37ad4a2e:g:SVMAAOSw1LNZ44UX

...that's pretty much it tbh!

Honestly, walking is nicer than those hateful things.

[ZX10R NIN]

Nissan Almera

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

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

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

[themoog75]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

Honestly, walking is nicer than those hateful things.

Are they really that bad? Even for a year, would I get fed up with it in that time?

[themoog75]

ZX10R NIN said:

Nissan Almera

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

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

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

They all look like cracking motors...but I'm not going from Norfolk to Totnes to get one!

[anonymous-user]

35 mile round trip too far for a bike?

thats a doddle. less than an hour each way.

cheaper, and you'll get fit.


admittedly not as bad as the bloke on another thread yesterday wgo had a car just to drive 1.7miles each way

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

themoog75 said:

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

Honestly, walking is nicer than those hateful things.

Are they really that bad? Even for a year, would I get fed up with it in that time?

I've only driven one for a short distance, but the gearbox was the worst I've ever experienced. Maybe it was just a personal thing, but I would say you could get a much nicer car for your budget.

[johnwilliams77]

keirik said:

35 mile round trip too far for a bike?

thats a doddle. less than an hour each way.

cheaper, and you'll get fit.


admittedly not as bad as the bloke on another thread yesterday wgo had a car just to drive 1.7miles each way

Depends on lights

[themoog75]

keirik said:

35 mile round trip too far for a bike?

thats a doddle. less than an hour each way.

cheaper, and you'll get fit.


admittedly not as bad as the bloke on another thread yesterday wgo had a car just to drive 1.7miles each way

My wife will be using the car too. Don't think she would be too impressed if she had to bike to work as well!