Safe Stop Gap Car

[tony wright]

Daughters coming back to the UK on the 14th Dec (teachers living and working in India) to have her second child. She and my grandson will remain with us till April as well as Son in law for the first three weeks. They will then be back in July for the 6 week school summer holidays. Rather than hire a car or use trains to visit son in laws side of family they want me to buy a cheap used car. Aim is to use it whilst their in the UK and sell when they finally return to India in Sep.

So I’m now on the case but not too sure where to start. I want it to be safe, hopefully reliable, enough space for a family of four and finally be able to sell it on in 8 months. Presently I’m looking at Saab’s of a 2006/2007 era for around £1,300, but happy to take any advice or suggestions.

[A500leroy]

yaris/corolla/jazz/civic

[tony wright]

Think size may be an issue with a couple of them as it needs to be big enough for two adults, a three year old boy and a new born baby. Civics a good call though.

[InitialDave]

I usually suggest an Avensis in these situations.

[ElectricSoup]

CRZ/Juke for £1300? Hmm.

Ford Focus 1.6 petrol.

[designforlife]

I would avoid a Jazz purely for the reason that they are a massive target for catalytic converter theft these days (4 got done in 30 mins in my local car park a couple weeks ago, and i live in a decent area)... shame as they are great little cars.

[Scrump]

Are they going to be able to get UK insurance for the car?

[greenarrow]

Another vote for Focus 1.6 petrol.

I was in the same position myself a month ago after my car was written off and picked up a cheap MK1 for £575. I've done 1,000 miles in it and its doing ok so far. With an old Ford if anything DOES fail, it should be cheaper than your Japanese alternatives.

[greenarrow]

designforlife said:

I would avoid a Jazz purely for the reason that they are a massive target for catalytic converter theft these days (4 got done in 30 mins in my local car park a couple weeks ago, and i live in a decent area)... shame as they are great little cars.

Honest John also suggests the Jazz can run up expensive bills when it gets older. Not quite the bullet-proof choice everyone thinks it is, apparently.

[designforlife]

I would go with an early 2000s yaris personally, the 1NZFE is a great engine.

[juice]

designforlife said:

I would avoid a Jazz purely for the reason that they are a massive target for catalytic converter theft these days (4 got done in 30 mins in my local car park a couple weeks ago, and i live in a decent area)... shame as they are great little cars.

Only the Hybrid versions I believe ?

[designforlife]

juice said:

designforlife said:

I would avoid a Jazz purely for the reason that they are a massive target for catalytic converter theft these days (4 got done in 30 mins in my local car park a couple weeks ago, and i live in a decent area)... shame as they are great little cars.

Only the Hybrid versions I believe ?

Nope, early to mid 2000s standard boggo petrol Jazz are at risk... my colleague's was one of the cars that got done, 3 guys in balaclavas, and around 2 minutes under the car in broad daylight.

[Chris32345]

Fiat Panda

[juice]

designforlife said:

Nope, early to mid 2000s standard boggo petrol Jazz are at risk... my colleague's was one of the cars that got done, 3 guys in balaclavas, and around 2 minutes under the car in broad daylight.

Oh.......





Bugger

[tony wright]

Thanks for the suggestions. Nobody have anything to say on the 1.8 Saab, good, bad idea?

[tony wright]

Scrump said:

Are they going to be able to get UK insurance for the car?

This has me worried... Would there be an issue here, they both have full UK licence and car would be registered at my house. Son in law has done on line quotes using my address for a couple of the cars he’s seen without problems.

[Roboticarm]

Cant see insurance being an issue if they still have UK licenses, only challenge might be lack of NCB pushing the price up

[Tophatron]

How about a Volvo S60? Nice and safe with decent space inside.

[Scrump]

tony wright said:

Scrump said:

Are they going to be able to get UK insurance for the car?

This has me worried... Would there be an issue here, they both have full UK licence and car would be registered at my house. Son in law has done on line quotes using my address for a couple of the cars he’s seen without problems.

Sorry, didn’t mean to worry you. Sounds like you have it all thought through.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say a Vectra SRI is a very good shout at this price point.

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