car under £1000/1500 - Thought I would give you a laugh..

[smallzoo]

Thought I would give you a laugh..

My current old estate is on its last legs so will be off the road in 2 weeks( Bought for £300 2 years ago, never let me down so cant complain )

I am a carer so need a reliable cheap car but have a VERY limited budget ideally less than £1000 but if I have to could push to £1500 ( have a very good local mechanic )

I will only do £3k miles a year with car so probably not need a diesel and dont need a big car anymore , not worried about tax really or insurance at my age

I wanted something that just was a bit different thats all and really at least a 1.2 engine...

Got this as my shortlist is no particular order

Hatches/Saloons

---

Mazda3 1.6
Peugeot 206
Mercedes C CLASS
Vauxhall Astra
Renault Clio
Vauxhall Tigra
Lexus IS 200

Sports

---

BMW Z3
MX-5

Small 4x4's

---

Toyota RAV4
Suzuki Jimny

Please not too many hilarious digs...although I do understand I'm going to get a lot of negatives

Thanks

[anonymous-user]

Audi A2? It's different, shouldn't lose value too!

Seat Altea? don't laugh, these are actually alright to drive!

[mintybiscuit]

Volvo V70....
You can thank me in 10 years !!

[stevemcs]

Toyota Corolla

[HustleRussell]

Your short list is really random, how did you get there?

206 and Tigra need taking off

Buy Japanese

[egor110]

Get a ford puma .

1k should get you something half decent and there's not much to go wrong plus there a bit different .

[smallzoo]

I'll try answer some of the great replies at once..

A2/altea - will take a look

Corolla-u mean classic car corolla?

V70-I Once bought an 840..my wife said if I bought another volvo estate she'd throw me out hahaha

206, Tigra- I did wonder what their reliability was like

Puma-Had one but when the rust hits those double skin wings you are talking lots of money...

Thanks so far

[Goldfever4]

Audi A2 a good shout. Cheap, shouldn't die, cheap to run & maintain. General rep for reliability too. Quite unique for a town car.

TBH they don't look (or mostly drive) like much but I would really consider these if you are reliant on a shed.

Toyota Corolla
Toyota Avensis
Kia Ceed
Skoda Octavia
Mk1 Focus
Suzuki Swift


I wouldn't waste my time looking for a Z3 at this money

[aka_kerrly]

Mazda3 1.6 - Yes a good contender
Peugeot 206 - NO, NO and NO.. Awful cars with a disgraceful reliability record
Mercedes C CLASS - At your budget, very likely a early 2000s car, the worst period for Mercedes with rust.
Vauxhall Astra - Mk5 2006-2010 era - better than the older ones, the SRI has a reasonable amount of poke/looks without VXR tax.
Renault Clio - a 172/182 Sport would be the ones to go for- great fun.
Vauxhall Tigra - NO, NO and NO, woeful car, A Ford Puma is MUCH better!!! 1.7 model especially is a proper contender
Lexus IS 200 - Yes , between me, my brother and father we have had 3 IS200s all bought for under £1000 , all have survived >3years owndership with servicing, tyres, brakes. Outstanding cars for the money, a Sport adds a LSD but a good SE is a better buy.

Sports

BMW Z3 - most likely a 1.9 4cylinder for your budget, good fun cars, classic styling - Id love a wide body 2.8
MX-5 - It's an obvious choice but at £ i wonder if it's better to spend £500 on any old MX5 with an mot thats local an when it fails the next mot spectacularly for rot bin it an buy another £500 rinse repeat. or spend £1500 on a later 2003 mk2 2.5 vvt and still spend a good chunk having it all welded up

Small 4x4's

Toyota RAV4 - very reliable yes, my step mother had a 2003 model for 15 years with barely an issue, only 1 non start due to flat battery. Not exactly a fun/interesting or even that practical as the boot isnt as big as you might think and the door being hinged is crap in car parks when someone has parked behind you.
Suzuki Jimny - potentially a bit more fun



Out of your list it would be between the Z3, MX5 , IS200, Renault Clio Sport for me , maybe add the Mini cooper s and Suzuki Swift Sport to your list.

[funkyrobot]

MK1 focus 1.6.

I'm running one. Bought it for £700 in March. MOT done the other day. Bearing in mind it's 14 years old and has done 115000 miles, it only failed on the handbrake. Got it adjusted and it cost £100 all in.

I'll keep running it until it dissolves or the cambelt snaps.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the 206 was a great option ypu'll get a good GTI for your budget:

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

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

[anonymous-user]

funkyrobot said:

MK1 focus 1.6.

I'm running one. Bought it for £700 in March. MOT done the other day. Bearing in mind it's 14 years old and has done 115000 miles, it only failed on the handbrake. Got it adjusted and it cost £100 all in.

I'll keep running it until it dissolves or the cambelt snaps.

Is there no rust? I think that's been the big Mk1 killer, which is a shame.

[Eyersey1234]

Another vote for the Focus, I've a Mk2 1.8tdci that I paid £490 for 13 months ago and think it's great. You might find a decent Mk2 for your £1000.

[Aiminghigh123]

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

Just get this. I took one from 88k to 125k in 18 months. Paid £750 sold it for £750.
Service, brakes and exhaust was all I spent on it.
Most reliable car I ever had.
Bomb proof

Edited by Aiminghigh123 on Saturday 16th November 04:39

[egor110]

smallzoo said:

I'll try answer some of the great replies at once..

A2/altea - will take a look

Corolla-u mean classic car corolla?

V70-I Once bought an 840..my wife said if I bought another volvo estate she'd throw me out hahaha

206, Tigra- I did wonder what their reliability was like

Puma-Had one but when the rust hits those double skin wings you are talking lots of money...

Thanks so far

Which is why you buy cheap , then when it becomes a issue with the mot you bin it and get another .

If your question is what's the best car with the least problems for a grand then there isn't a correct answer.

I've always gone for petrol as there simpler and what's available localish , no point travelling to the other end of the country for a cheap car .

I wouldn't have a list like your using , purely best petrol car available locally regardless of colour .

[smallzoo]

Thanks again.. got a good list to work with so far


Cheapies

---

Focus 1.6
Astra 1.6
Toyota Yaris
Suzuki Jimny

Oldies

---

Nissan Almera
Honda Civic
Honda Accord
Toyota Corolla
Volvo S40
Ford Puma
Avensis

Not cheap

---

MX5
Z3

Rusties/Unreliable ?

---

Merc
Tigra
206
Rav 4 ?


Expensive to run but Reliable

---

Lexus

[T-195]

Daihatsu Copen on Ebay for £1900.

2005 with 75k miles.

[dai1983]

Rover 75 V6 but I may be biased

[OldGermanHeaps]

I have found peugeots to be reliable and easy to maintain, as long as you are good with electrics.

[sideways man]

You want cheap and reliable? Comfy? A premium ish brand?
Honda Jazz.
They’re incredibly reliable, a nation of pensioners can’t be wrong.
You’ll pick up one with low miles easily. Might get away without needing a clutch