Buying old car only really bothered about reliability
Buying old car only really bothered about reliability
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Discussion

Matt11

Original Poster:

177 posts

186 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Hey I am in the market for an old used car one that has lost most of it value. I'm not bothered about looks etc I just want a reliable hatch back and small litreage. Any suggestions? I have been looking at the old model Suzuki swift 2000 plate are these reliable? Thanks for any help?

Geekman

2,907 posts

175 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
I'd imagine a K11 Micra 1.0 has to be the answer to this.

Petrol Only

1,611 posts

204 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Geekman said:
I'd imagine a K11 Micra 1.0 has to be the answer to this.
Seconded. My mums took know end of abuse from a very unsympathetic teenager. Never ever wanted for anything.

James_N

3,302 posts

263 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
A K11 Micra for sure. Can pick them up for buttons as well.

Matt11

Original Poster:

177 posts

186 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
the swift not as reliable?

oilslick

971 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Matt11 said:
the swift not as reliable?
Nothing's as reliable as the K11 Micra, eleventy-million takeaway drivers can't be wrong.

Matt11

Original Poster:

177 posts

186 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Any other small hatch back that are reliable? Or any one selling a 5 door k11 micra in west Yorkshire?

oilslick

971 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Matt11 said:
Any other small hatch back that are reliable? Or any one selling a 5 door k11 micra in west Yorkshire?
Lots of people

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/nissa...

Pat H

8,058 posts

285 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Yep, K11 Micra.

Millions to choose from. Popular with grannies and unpopular with youths, so lots of pampered low milers around.

Check the sills in front of the rear wheels, particularly on the driver's side. They often rot through.

The front cross member also is a favourite for rot, but is no longer an MOT failure, so less of a concern.

Listen out for a noisy timing chain on cold starts. The tensioners have a habit of failing and it is not a cheap job. That said, they can clatter away for years until the chain eventually breaks.

Heater fan relays and air mass meter sensors fail, but are dead easy and cheap to fix.

Apart from what I have mentioned, they are totally bombproof.

I have owned five of them.

Two were bought when they were 12 months old and the other three have been snotters.

They actually steer, handle and stop really well. In fact, they are a pleasure to own.

If they have a fault, it is that fuel economy looks poor next to something like a diesel Citroen C1. But the Micra will have cost you buttons to buy and they are ridiculously cheap to keep on the road.

smile

Vince70

1,944 posts

223 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Just check for rot on the front crossmember of a Micra

Matt11

Original Poster:

177 posts

186 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
An old swift not as reliable?

Jasandjules

72,588 posts

258 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
oilslick said:
Nothing's as reliable as the K11 Micra, eleventy-million takeaway drivers can't be wrong.
And the abuse thrown at them by the old biddies who own them too, those clutches must be stronger than anything in an F1 car..

eltax91

10,757 posts

235 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
If you are ok going bigger. Accord.

Petrol Only

1,611 posts

204 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Pat H said:
Yep, K11 Micra.


They actually steer, handle and stop really well.

smile
You are joking right? As much as I loved being 18 and "hooning" around in a bright yellow 1.3 it really did none of those things well at all!

Matt11 said:
An old swift not as reliable?
Just buy the fking swift then!

Matt11

Original Poster:

177 posts

186 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Petrol Only said:
Just buy the fking swift then!
I don't no a great deal about there reliability this is why I am asking?

tr7v8

7,620 posts

257 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Having run a variety of Suzukis including a 2000 1 litre Swift they have all been fine. My concern would be the same as the Micra which is rust. But there are quite a few cherished cars around so plenty of choice.
The little Swift is a good drive & the 1.3 GTI is well regarded in weekend club motorsport.

sideways man

1,669 posts

166 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Skoda fabia with the 1.9 pd diesel engine. These will go to the moon and back,with occasional maf changes, and don't rust as they are galvanised.


55+ mpg seals the deal.

Matt11

Original Poster:

177 posts

186 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
is the power steering on a k11 micra a weak point had the power steering go on my old 2004 plate micra big repair bill?

t400ble

1,804 posts

150 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
Rust killed a good few K11 Micra's

Check sills and rear end

Matt11

Original Poster:

177 posts

186 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
quotequote all
t400ble said:
Rust killed a good few K11 Micra's

Check sills and rear end
Thanks how do you check the sills? do you open the door and feel underneath?