Sub £1k motoring...what are your experiences?
Discussion
Bought a stop gap car recently to drive for a couple of months, as my wife's Fiat 500 had to go back to the finance company and we're emigrating to Canada at the end of the month. We are both too busy at the moment to manage with just one car and besides I've already sold the Subaru, so that's going next week!
This is my first foray into sub £1k motoring but so far going well. My criteria were simple: long tax and MOT, fairly practical (4/5 doors preferable), not too dear to run and although I wasn't expecting perfection, no major faults. Initially, I was thinking about something like an Escort, Mondeo or Astra (already owned) but despite the modest budget, I really fancied something interesting and a bit different. I was really looking for something like a Citroen Xantia, Renault Laguna (my uncle used to have a Laguna 1 Sport which was quite a nice car) or Renault Megane. For some reason, I fancied something French, as they tend to be quite cheap and the only French car that I have owned thus far is a Peugeot 205. I also considered an MG ZS or a Rover 75 (although it would probably be a 1.8 in my budget, which wouldn't be so good.
Anyway, the car I bought was a silver Mercedes C-Class Estate (can't upload the picture for some reason). It's a 2.5 turbodiesel, automatic (of course), done 215k on a V-plate with 12 months MOT and 6 months tax. Anyway, I've actually been using it more than the Subaru, as it uses much less fuel (although quite a big fuel tank - £90 top-ups quite painful), it's a better estate car as well (much bigger boot) and it's got a decent turn of speed as well (not the instant power of the Subaru) but a very serene ride.
Bad points: it's unmistakeably dieselly at idle but starts first time every time and unfortunately has a bit of superficial surface corrosion, which I believe is a common malady on Mercedes of this age.
In a way, it's the opposite of my old Peugeot 205 GTi, which was cosmetically brilliant but a bit knackered mechanically. This car is a little bit tatty cosmetically but drives like a car that has done 50k and feels strong for at least 300k. If I was sticking around, I would happily use it every day and run it into the ground!
Anyway, how have your experiences of running sub £1k cars been?
If anyone is interested in buying my Mercedes (it will be available in the last week of March), please PM me for more details. Contrary to my profile, I am now living in the South Wiltshire area!
This is my first foray into sub £1k motoring but so far going well. My criteria were simple: long tax and MOT, fairly practical (4/5 doors preferable), not too dear to run and although I wasn't expecting perfection, no major faults. Initially, I was thinking about something like an Escort, Mondeo or Astra (already owned) but despite the modest budget, I really fancied something interesting and a bit different. I was really looking for something like a Citroen Xantia, Renault Laguna (my uncle used to have a Laguna 1 Sport which was quite a nice car) or Renault Megane. For some reason, I fancied something French, as they tend to be quite cheap and the only French car that I have owned thus far is a Peugeot 205. I also considered an MG ZS or a Rover 75 (although it would probably be a 1.8 in my budget, which wouldn't be so good.
Anyway, the car I bought was a silver Mercedes C-Class Estate (can't upload the picture for some reason). It's a 2.5 turbodiesel, automatic (of course), done 215k on a V-plate with 12 months MOT and 6 months tax. Anyway, I've actually been using it more than the Subaru, as it uses much less fuel (although quite a big fuel tank - £90 top-ups quite painful), it's a better estate car as well (much bigger boot) and it's got a decent turn of speed as well (not the instant power of the Subaru) but a very serene ride.
Bad points: it's unmistakeably dieselly at idle but starts first time every time and unfortunately has a bit of superficial surface corrosion, which I believe is a common malady on Mercedes of this age.
In a way, it's the opposite of my old Peugeot 205 GTi, which was cosmetically brilliant but a bit knackered mechanically. This car is a little bit tatty cosmetically but drives like a car that has done 50k and feels strong for at least 300k. If I was sticking around, I would happily use it every day and run it into the ground!
Anyway, how have your experiences of running sub £1k cars been?
If anyone is interested in buying my Mercedes (it will be available in the last week of March), please PM me for more details. Contrary to my profile, I am now living in the South Wiltshire area!
Utterly brilliant. I purchased a Volvo 850 for £800, expecting to use and abuse as a shed. Instead I've fallen head over heels in love with it. At 150,000 miles it just plods on like a fat, loyal dog. Slow, but always there, and reassuring. Aside from basic, dirt-cheap servicing at local garages, it's cost me sod all, and never really will: not like it can depreciate much more!
Best bet is to buy something nobody really wants: big engine and unfashionable. This puts people off, which makes them cheap. Said big engines are unstressed so just run and run and run, and unfashionable cars are generally owned by boring, vanilla people, hence they live boring, vanilla automotive lives.
Best bet is to buy something nobody really wants: big engine and unfashionable. This puts people off, which makes them cheap. Said big engines are unstressed so just run and run and run, and unfashionable cars are generally owned by boring, vanilla people, hence they live boring, vanilla automotive lives.
400 quid P10 Primera 2.0SLX.
Not the most economical banger, but it did 20k miles in 6 months and I sold it for 300 quid. Could possibly have got more for it, but I needed it gone as I had a company car on its way.
There was also the 700 quid Alfa 155 which ran a total loss lubrication system (lost 5 litres of oil between service intervals) and lost a reservoir of PAS fluid every month... but it never broke down, even at 170k miles.
Way back in time, the banger was a painful experience - I'm sure many 40-ish year olds grew up on cheap Fiestas and Escorts, so learned all about rust and poor cold starting.
These days, under a grand gets you something with years of life left in it.
Not the most economical banger, but it did 20k miles in 6 months and I sold it for 300 quid. Could possibly have got more for it, but I needed it gone as I had a company car on its way.
There was also the 700 quid Alfa 155 which ran a total loss lubrication system (lost 5 litres of oil between service intervals) and lost a reservoir of PAS fluid every month... but it never broke down, even at 170k miles.
Way back in time, the banger was a painful experience - I'm sure many 40-ish year olds grew up on cheap Fiestas and Escorts, so learned all about rust and poor cold starting.
These days, under a grand gets you something with years of life left in it.
Most of the cars I've had recently have been a grand or thereabouts. Not because I can't afford a newer one but I resent losing a couple of grand a year on depreciation and I prefer how older cars drive and how they tend to be easier to fix.
They're also easier to appraise as secondhand purchases than a five year old motor I find. If a car is 15 years old it's fair to say it's either been well cared for or it's a total bin, and it's quite easy to spot the difference.
In the last few years since I gave up new-ish cars my annual motoring bills have plummeted, despite having things like Saab turbos, big Volvos and currently an E320 Merc to drive, bought a year ago for £900 and just flown through an MOT.
They're also easier to appraise as secondhand purchases than a five year old motor I find. If a car is 15 years old it's fair to say it's either been well cared for or it's a total bin, and it's quite easy to spot the difference.
In the last few years since I gave up new-ish cars my annual motoring bills have plummeted, despite having things like Saab turbos, big Volvos and currently an E320 Merc to drive, bought a year ago for £900 and just flown through an MOT.
It's quite a different brand of motoring. There was a time when I would happily pay £1000 for a service then I started to get a bit fed up with it. Complete cars for sub £1000 are quite brilliant and you can run them for a while, burn them, keep them and generally not worry about the odd scratch, ding or leaving it overnight in town when you get trashed. Guilt free motoring but you need to choose wisely. Tomorrow I will hopefully be picking up my next shed. We need a car for three weeks and to rent one is £600 or so. That's my budget and that's what my other half is putting up as I am giving her my car to use in the meantime 
I am confident I have a car that is half decent and that will have something about it. Cant reveal it as its still for sale 
Watch this space.
edit. I also test drove a £2500 A4 and it was f
ked. Knackerd bodywork and a clutch about to fail.
I am confident I have a car that is half decent and that will have something about it. Cant reveal it as its still for sale Watch this space.
edit. I also test drove a £2500 A4 and it was f
ked. Knackerd bodywork and a clutch about to fail. Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 13th March 23:10
I bought a ~96k 1998 Mondeo Estate in 2007 for £950, I'm finally getting rid of it at just short of 174k and the only reason is because I got a new job with a car allowance. I kept thinking it would die or there would be something really expensive go wrong but the most expensive thing (apart from some vandals putting the screen and a window through) was a stone through the power steering rad.
Fabulous car (if somewhat unexciting).
Currently on ebay and its at £160 already with umpteen offers of £300 (no links but easy to find if anyone cares), so if it goes for £300 that's best part of 80k for all of £0.008 depreciation per mile. Don't think the replacement will cost as little. 
Shame about the ~15k in fuel though.
Fabulous car (if somewhat unexciting).
Currently on ebay and its at £160 already with umpteen offers of £300 (no links but easy to find if anyone cares), so if it goes for £300 that's best part of 80k for all of £0.008 depreciation per mile.
Don't think the replacement will cost as little. Shame about the ~15k in fuel though.
Personally, I like cheap cars and I don't begrudge spending the cash to keep them good.
The whole "run it into the ground!" thing strikes me as silly when just a little light care and attention and most cars from the late '90s will last forever. There's a point to cut and run of course, but I don't understand why you'd do that when you just need some new shocks or something.
The whole "run it into the ground!" thing strikes me as silly when just a little light care and attention and most cars from the late '90s will last forever. There's a point to cut and run of course, but I don't understand why you'd do that when you just need some new shocks or something.
jaik said:
The danger is that you end up with several sub-1k cars and have loads of MOTs, servicing, tax and insurance to deal with 
One is never enough - weve got one sub 1 grand car in the family already (along with a couple of newer "better - thats debatable" vehicles.Man maths is currently in full swing to justify another banger
.After all - you can have 3 full cars - perfectly okay cars too
- for the cost of sorting out injectors and other little bits on a modern diesel.Surely the chances of 3 cars all failing to work at the exact same time is slim
.Old Toyotas (old as in from a time when the "best built cars in the world" claim actually had some accuacy to it lol) make great bangers - they normally don't go wrong
.I don't want to hear any more mention of Laguna 1s though - i need to avoid some very dangerous territory - dangerous temptations must be avoided -
.Sir Fergie
Having run two sub-1k Fiat Seicentos, I can say that you can expect a massive amount of difference between anything in this category - from snotter to solid gold. Admittedly neither was quite the latter, but one thing you do have is a great deal more confidence in driving a car like that. The worries about dings and scratches in car parks fade away a little, and there's a great deal of more 'mechanical' feel than a lot of modern cars.
But it's a headache and I had to give up my sheds (one ended up in a field, the other I consigned to the great scrapheap in the sky voluntarily) because of long hours at work, no garage to work on them and a tight budget. Went with something less exciting until I'm flush enough to begin playing around again. Or at least learn how to buy good cars. XD
But it's a headache and I had to give up my sheds (one ended up in a field, the other I consigned to the great scrapheap in the sky voluntarily) because of long hours at work, no garage to work on them and a tight budget. Went with something less exciting until I'm flush enough to begin playing around again. Or at least learn how to buy good cars. XD
Ive had 3 of varying ages and makes. I generally keep them for a while as well so first thing is oils and filters, then anything else obvious just so you know where you're starting from. After that they dont need too much, only bother with cambelts and the like if you want to keep them. Just done the cambelt on my £500 306 - yes Ive spent over 2/3rds of the cars value on it in one go, but it should do another 50/60K miles now and will always be worth £200 for scrap at the end.
Also they are usually easy and cheap to fix. Its by far the best form of motoring unless you get a company car. The business mileage allowance covers most of my running costs depending on how many meetings I have in a month.
Also they are usually easy and cheap to fix. Its by far the best form of motoring unless you get a company car. The business mileage allowance covers most of my running costs depending on how many meetings I have in a month.
I bought my 1998 Grand Cherokee for £500 form eBay. Spent £600 on new handbrake everything and front ball joints, then a set of tyres too. Oh yes, new tailgate struts (after it hit me on the head), fixed the aircon, got a new MOT, tax and insurance of course. A few new bulbs, cleaning it up and so on, and it's now reliable and takes me a few hundred miles a week. Great in the snow. However, I've put more into it than it's worth, and now need to sell it as I my needs have changed. Despite the somewhat noisy rear axle (which I could get done for £380 by Southern Axles) someone will get a great deal when I out it in a week or two.
I do rather like the old thing though, it's stupidly comfy, the heater/aircon is ace, nothing stops it and it has a certain "don't give a stuff"-ness about it.
I do rather like the old thing though, it's stupidly comfy, the heater/aircon is ace, nothing stops it and it has a certain "don't give a stuff"-ness about it.
Paid £820 for a 1999 406 estate, 176,000 miles when I bought it, i am the third owner since new, (first lady cooked the engine after 40,000 miles when a coolant hose split, and sold it as a non runner, the second owner was a Peugeot mechanic and completely rebuilt the engine and ran it for 10 years). Im in my third year of ownership and have only spent £400 on her since purchase (4x discs and pads & 2 recently snapped front road springs)need to put 4x new tires on her for the MOT in September and my mechanic recons she is good for another 150,000 miles at least. No electrical gremlins, everything works as it should. I have been fancying a new car recently, but as she returns 45 plus mpg around town, and well above 60 on a motorway, I cannot justify selling or scrapping her just yet
Edited by JVaughan on Thursday 14th March 09:56
Bought my snotter approx 3 years ago now for just over a grand, an 03 plate Mondeo 1.8.
Used it for 12 months doing a 125 mile a day commute and then for the last 2 years it has ferried me backwards and forwards to the train station (10 mile round trip).
Other than a dodgy coil pack and battery it's been pretty much faultless. It's done 120,000 miles now and the steering, clutch, gearbox, brakes etc still feel as tight as a drum and it really is a nice car to drive.
Consumables are cheap as chips, readily available and most jobs can be done at home by any half competent mechanic.
I'm going to be getting rid shortly as now I'm not doing big miles I don't mind spending more and getting something fun for the weekends etc., but I will be sad to see it go.
Used it for 12 months doing a 125 mile a day commute and then for the last 2 years it has ferried me backwards and forwards to the train station (10 mile round trip).
Other than a dodgy coil pack and battery it's been pretty much faultless. It's done 120,000 miles now and the steering, clutch, gearbox, brakes etc still feel as tight as a drum and it really is a nice car to drive.
Consumables are cheap as chips, readily available and most jobs can be done at home by any half competent mechanic.
I'm going to be getting rid shortly as now I'm not doing big miles I don't mind spending more and getting something fun for the weekends etc., but I will be sad to see it go.
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