Cheap to buy car or cheap to run?
Discussion
Not sure which way to go:
1. Cheap to buy car say 1-1.5k
Naturally aspirated petrol engine
Probably £200+ tax a year and 30-35mpg
Something like a mk5 golf or focus mk2 or seat Ibiza
2. Cheap to run car up to 3k to buy
Small petrol or economical diesel
Tax up to £30 mpg 50-60
Like a c1, 107, Ibiza, golf mk6 tdi, fiesta
Any thoughts on those?
I know some people love the small turbos but I think I prefer the older bigger petrols. I like not having to change gear so much.
1. Cheap to buy car say 1-1.5k
Naturally aspirated petrol engine
Probably £200+ tax a year and 30-35mpg
Something like a mk5 golf or focus mk2 or seat Ibiza
2. Cheap to run car up to 3k to buy
Small petrol or economical diesel
Tax up to £30 mpg 50-60
Like a c1, 107, Ibiza, golf mk6 tdi, fiesta
Any thoughts on those?
I know some people love the small turbos but I think I prefer the older bigger petrols. I like not having to change gear so much.
We have a 2010 107 that we bought a couple of years ago as a cheap run around for my wife. Turns out she prefers to drive my car so it’s covered less than 1k a year and has only cost us a few tanks of fuel, MOT and tax.
On the plus side, as the kids approach 17 will be an ideal car to learn on.
Chris
On the plus side, as the kids approach 17 will be an ideal car to learn on.
Chris
For me, it comes down to.the type of driving you do, and what you can afford. I once sold a perfectly good mk2 cavalier and paid an extra 2k for an AX diesel, and then used it for a long commute. For which it really wasn't a nice drive. I thought my 2k investment was saving me money, but it made every journey miserable.
Do you ever need to take 5 people anywhere? Ever want to put lots of stuff in the boot and still use the back seats?
Do you ever need to take 5 people anywhere? Ever want to put lots of stuff in the boot and still use the back seats?
The gap between petrol and diesel is opening up, but not sure it will stay long term. Multiply this by litres used pa.
The extra road tax is known
The extra purchase cost can be estimated, and insurance quotes obtained.
So, with the knowns out of the way, it comes down to unknowns, or things less able to be quantified.
- likelihood of repairs, and repair costs
(Tyres ,turbos, dmf, fuel pumps - I have personally been caught out by the ridiculous cost of BMW injectors. If you said a car needs £350 spending on injectors, how many would you expect to buy with that etc?)
- driving experience..FIL had a 2002 era S60 and it was epic to trundle motorways in, despite being pretty thirsty.
- resale
- and for me as a diy-er, internet support. My Alfa 156 had websites that would have walk throughs on pretty much taking the whole car apart and putting it back together. Google stuff for my wife's Chevrolet Cruze (or old Hyundai) just had Google results of dealers in America.
All in all, despite this forum obsessing over cars, most cars are pretty drivable these days, proved by all the people who just get on and drive them each day.
The extra road tax is known
The extra purchase cost can be estimated, and insurance quotes obtained.
So, with the knowns out of the way, it comes down to unknowns, or things less able to be quantified.
- likelihood of repairs, and repair costs
(Tyres ,turbos, dmf, fuel pumps - I have personally been caught out by the ridiculous cost of BMW injectors. If you said a car needs £350 spending on injectors, how many would you expect to buy with that etc?)
- driving experience..FIL had a 2002 era S60 and it was epic to trundle motorways in, despite being pretty thirsty.
- resale
- and for me as a diy-er, internet support. My Alfa 156 had websites that would have walk throughs on pretty much taking the whole car apart and putting it back together. Google stuff for my wife's Chevrolet Cruze (or old Hyundai) just had Google results of dealers in America.
All in all, despite this forum obsessing over cars, most cars are pretty drivable these days, proved by all the people who just get on and drive them each day.
Olb1 said:
Not sure which way to go:
1. Cheap to buy car say 1-1.5k
Naturally aspirated petrol engine
Probably £200+ tax a year and 30-35mpg
Something like a mk5 golf or focus mk2 or seat Ibiza
2. Cheap to run car up to 3k to buy
Small petrol or economical diesel
Tax up to £30 mpg 50-60
Like a c1, 107, Ibiza, golf mk6 tdi, fiesta
Any thoughts on those?
I know some people love the small turbos but I think I prefer the older bigger petrols. I like not having to change gear so much.
Take a look at the Hyundai Coupe for option 1:1. Cheap to buy car say 1-1.5k
Naturally aspirated petrol engine
Probably £200+ tax a year and 30-35mpg
Something like a mk5 golf or focus mk2 or seat Ibiza
2. Cheap to run car up to 3k to buy
Small petrol or economical diesel
Tax up to £30 mpg 50-60
Like a c1, 107, Ibiza, golf mk6 tdi, fiesta
Any thoughts on those?
I know some people love the small turbos but I think I prefer the older bigger petrols. I like not having to change gear so much.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204024...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202242...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203314...
It's not just the known costs, but also the risk of unpredicted costs.
You can buy a bad example of any make and model, it will be expensive.
If you need to be pretty sure of keeping costs low for the next 12 months, that's different from being able to take a punt of a cheap car which might turn out expensive to keep on the road.
You can buy a cheap high mileage nice car like a BMW and you might get a couple of very cheap years out of it, or it might go to rats in no time.
I don't spend a lot on cars. I've had two bad years out of 30, I can afford that. One of my bad years might break someone who's properly skint.
( then again, like a lot of experienced people, a lot of my experience could well be a tiny bit out of date now!)
In reality, the MPG isn't that big a thing, for my kind of driving I might get 35mpg from a 2 litre petrol or 55 from a small frugal car, instead of 45 from my diesel.
If you start choosing between 25mpg for a 3 litre and 65mpg for a motorbike, it becomes real.
I've done OK by being open minded about makes and models and buying a car I trust from a seller I trust
But i'd never advise anyone to buy X, Y or Z, because there is always a risk.
I've seen too many people get lots of grief and bills from 'sensible' 'cheap to run' cars.
You can buy a bad example of any make and model, it will be expensive.
If you need to be pretty sure of keeping costs low for the next 12 months, that's different from being able to take a punt of a cheap car which might turn out expensive to keep on the road.
You can buy a cheap high mileage nice car like a BMW and you might get a couple of very cheap years out of it, or it might go to rats in no time.
I don't spend a lot on cars. I've had two bad years out of 30, I can afford that. One of my bad years might break someone who's properly skint.
( then again, like a lot of experienced people, a lot of my experience could well be a tiny bit out of date now!)
In reality, the MPG isn't that big a thing, for my kind of driving I might get 35mpg from a 2 litre petrol or 55 from a small frugal car, instead of 45 from my diesel.
If you start choosing between 25mpg for a 3 litre and 65mpg for a motorbike, it becomes real.
I've done OK by being open minded about makes and models and buying a car I trust from a seller I trust
But i'd never advise anyone to buy X, Y or Z, because there is always a risk.
I've seen too many people get lots of grief and bills from 'sensible' 'cheap to run' cars.
I'd go with option 1. I'd rather get something that costs a little more to run with a lesser chance of things going wrong if you buy on condition
This will get you 35 to 40mpg. Not much goes wrong with a well sorted one just check for rust.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022033141...
This will get you 35 to 40mpg. Not much goes wrong with a well sorted one just check for rust.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022033141...
Edited by eleveneleven on Monday 4th April 10:21
. But dependent on your typical journey, it might be pants! 
You can pick up an early C1/107/Aygo for about a grand. Almost as cheap to run as a bicycle and tough as old boots. Excellent cars.
A Civic 1.8 is worth a look too. Higher mileage ones are available for around a grand, and while not quite as cheap, they are surprisingly economical for what they are, despite the close gearing. The 2.2 diesel version is excellent too, and very reliable for a modern diesel.
There's a chap who contributes to another thread who has a huge fleet of cheap cars that he rents out and maintains. He often says the most reliable and cheap-to-run cars are Renaults.
A Civic 1.8 is worth a look too. Higher mileage ones are available for around a grand, and while not quite as cheap, they are surprisingly economical for what they are, despite the close gearing. The 2.2 diesel version is excellent too, and very reliable for a modern diesel.
There's a chap who contributes to another thread who has a huge fleet of cheap cars that he rents out and maintains. He often says the most reliable and cheap-to-run cars are Renaults.
Olb1 said:
Most common journey is work and back about 5 miles a each way
Buy a £1k car as it sounds like you need one (most people do). Reliability and lack of complexity being the primary drivers so you aren't hit with too many bills.Then buy an e-bike for £1k ish. On the cycle scheme it works out even cheaper, dependent on your tax bracket. Cycle in dry weather only and save 50% off your fuel bills and other associated running costs for your car. Other benefits are increased fitness and depending on your commute you may get there quicker than driving.
<I appreciate this is the classic PH answer of ignoring the OP, but
>Run a mk6 fiesta derv for work, £30/Year tax, minimal insurance costs and 60mpg, for the work commute, it is perfect.
I'm fortunate enough to have access to a variety of other cars for weekend use though (6 Cylinder BMWS) , if I had to have one car and one car only ? I'd go for the ones that made me smile more.
Depends what your use is.
I'm fortunate enough to have access to a variety of other cars for weekend use though (6 Cylinder BMWS) , if I had to have one car and one car only ? I'd go for the ones that made me smile more.
Depends what your use is.
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