The Cheapest Car
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm looking to get something properly basic to run alongside my Boxster S as a daily. My commuter is 15 miles, very dull and to be honest I don't care what car I'm in.
What do we think is the cheapest car, not to buy, but to run and own? I'm factoring in depreciation, cost of stuff breaking, cost of fuel, tax, insurance, the full works.
Initial thinking is something like a 1.6 Focus from 2008 or so. I would like something that can fit a mountain bike in the back if possible and get decent MPG sat at the speed limit on the motorway.
Cheeeeers!
I'm looking to get something properly basic to run alongside my Boxster S as a daily. My commuter is 15 miles, very dull and to be honest I don't care what car I'm in.
What do we think is the cheapest car, not to buy, but to run and own? I'm factoring in depreciation, cost of stuff breaking, cost of fuel, tax, insurance, the full works.
Initial thinking is something like a 1.6 Focus from 2008 or so. I would like something that can fit a mountain bike in the back if possible and get decent MPG sat at the speed limit on the motorway.
Cheeeeers!
Edited by flatsix.ant on Tuesday 9th August 13:26
Ah mountain bike you say, I am currently running a really unfashionable Vauxhall Vectra SRI 2008 hatchback, can swallow my whole 27.5 full suspension bike without taking wheels off, which is quite impressive.
Bought for £1000 (because the fashion police don't like it) in April (done 4,000 miles since), 1.8VVT NA petrol so nothing really to go wrong, as its so cheap, depreciation is NIL virtually.
Gets 45/50mpg on a motorway run (regularly London from Cheshire trips), and as its crap it's cheap to insure, not for everyone, and I initially hated Vauxhall but it's actually an ok A-B cheap car to run, excellent cruiser.
Bought for £1000 (because the fashion police don't like it) in April (done 4,000 miles since), 1.8VVT NA petrol so nothing really to go wrong, as its so cheap, depreciation is NIL virtually.
Gets 45/50mpg on a motorway run (regularly London from Cheshire trips), and as its crap it's cheap to insure, not for everyone, and I initially hated Vauxhall but it's actually an ok A-B cheap car to run, excellent cruiser.
Edited by 757 on Tuesday 9th August 13:43
I've done this for years, and flirted into not so sheddy economical at times.
205, 405 diesels, V70 2.5D (not D5), XC60 (treated myself), Alhambra Tdi, Toyota Avensis 1.8 non vvti.
Right now it's a bit trickier (for me at least) to sense the correct 'value'
All the above had solid engine toughness/reliability/longevity reputations, and good MPG but with zero street cred and so were cheap.
What you have today is these are all very long in the tooth and there equivalents (diesels particularly) are more complicated/delicate, and then a bit newer you have the £0-30 tax models that appeal to the economics and you are in something generally a bit nicer.
The current avensis would be considered hideous to most, but I got it locally ad cheap, so sub 100K miles and sub £800, it does 30's mpg and has a very simple engine that's non interference so cambelt not a life ending issue, it's as simple as a car comes, but then it is 1999/2000 styling and tech ie none!. Near £300 tax is a bit annoying too but not sure I'd save anything and I 'think' repair costs will be minimal, I can spanner a bit and a serious issue and my initial investment can be written off and like you I'm looking again (to be fair I'm always looking!)
I should probably be in a V70 D5 (Pre dpf) they seem cheap to me, you get creatures comforts at shed money (£2K ish tough but age/high mile worries?)
Auris 1.4d / Kia Ceed/fiat Tipo very frugal and very low tax but higher initial price and diesel bork worries? (£3-8K)
I'd look at these as the youngsters probably don't here for insurance reasons, C1/107/Aygo's are fine but possibly higher just because of this, also crap for load carrying which you'd prefer.
Not easy to project forwards, I'd be shifting towards a newer, low tax pre 2017 car as the most likely to be cheapest over a number of years.
205, 405 diesels, V70 2.5D (not D5), XC60 (treated myself), Alhambra Tdi, Toyota Avensis 1.8 non vvti.
Right now it's a bit trickier (for me at least) to sense the correct 'value'
All the above had solid engine toughness/reliability/longevity reputations, and good MPG but with zero street cred and so were cheap.
What you have today is these are all very long in the tooth and there equivalents (diesels particularly) are more complicated/delicate, and then a bit newer you have the £0-30 tax models that appeal to the economics and you are in something generally a bit nicer.
The current avensis would be considered hideous to most, but I got it locally ad cheap, so sub 100K miles and sub £800, it does 30's mpg and has a very simple engine that's non interference so cambelt not a life ending issue, it's as simple as a car comes, but then it is 1999/2000 styling and tech ie none!. Near £300 tax is a bit annoying too but not sure I'd save anything and I 'think' repair costs will be minimal, I can spanner a bit and a serious issue and my initial investment can be written off and like you I'm looking again (to be fair I'm always looking!)
I should probably be in a V70 D5 (Pre dpf) they seem cheap to me, you get creatures comforts at shed money (£2K ish tough but age/high mile worries?)
Auris 1.4d / Kia Ceed/fiat Tipo very frugal and very low tax but higher initial price and diesel bork worries? (£3-8K)
I'd look at these as the youngsters probably don't here for insurance reasons, C1/107/Aygo's are fine but possibly higher just because of this, also crap for load carrying which you'd prefer.
Not easy to project forwards, I'd be shifting towards a newer, low tax pre 2017 car as the most likely to be cheapest over a number of years.
Thanks for the recommendations.
Sadly the i10 / 107 etc will just be too small.
Vauxhalls noted on the list. There can't be a lot cheaper all in. I would be worth avoiding diesel as apparently Sadiq is turning the area I work in into ULEZ next year.
Is there a poverty spec petrol engine cheap car renowned for reliability like a PD130 VW? Japanese, perhaps?
Sadly the i10 / 107 etc will just be too small.
Vauxhalls noted on the list. There can't be a lot cheaper all in. I would be worth avoiding diesel as apparently Sadiq is turning the area I work in into ULEZ next year.
Is there a poverty spec petrol engine cheap car renowned for reliability like a PD130 VW? Japanese, perhaps?
RazerSauber said:
Astra Estate
This is what I thought if getting an MTB in the back without disassembling it first is an important consideration. While I can get my road bike in my mk2 Yaris with boths wheels on (albeit with the front seat right forward), modern MTBs are big. The last hardtail I hired from the local bike barn only just - like by a matter of mm - got in my old Subaru Outback, so I really would check that it will fit in whatever you go for OP. If you're happy to whip the wheel off then an Astra hatch would be good too. I have to agree with the poster above something like a Vectra is the pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207288...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203959942736?hash=item2...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225103427818?hash=item3...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207288...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203959942736?hash=item2...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225103427818?hash=item3...
Is a second car really the cheapest option here?
My Boxster was very economical on the motorway - is an extra 30 miles a day of depreciation/wear and tear going to offset tax, insurance, servicing, MOT, repairs, depreciation etc. of a second car?
You can get a mountain bike in various pieces in a Boxster if you try hard enough
My Boxster was very economical on the motorway - is an extra 30 miles a day of depreciation/wear and tear going to offset tax, insurance, servicing, MOT, repairs, depreciation etc. of a second car?
You can get a mountain bike in various pieces in a Boxster if you try hard enough
Dacia Logan MCV, you won't need to drop seats for the bike, will be newer and better equipped than similar priced rivals. They are reliable as its based on tried and tested gear and they are cheap to run. They can be bought at a point where the don't depreciate much at all. I have a late logan Stepway with the 0.9 turbo. Its genuinely one of the most satisfying cars I've owned and is now worth 1500 quid more than what I paid for it 12 months ago.
What's your budget OP?
Seems to be a few very good examples above, not sure on the smaller cars some are pointing too, remember the OP needs to get a "modern" MTB in the back easily.
One other suggestion is a 2006+ Honda Civic (1.4 or 1.8) looked at these before got the Vectra, again great cars for cheap'ness and reliability - also have those magic rear seats.
Seems to be a few very good examples above, not sure on the smaller cars some are pointing too, remember the OP needs to get a "modern" MTB in the back easily.
One other suggestion is a 2006+ Honda Civic (1.4 or 1.8) looked at these before got the Vectra, again great cars for cheap'ness and reliability - also have those magic rear seats.
ZX10R NIN said:
I have to agree with the poster above something like a Vectra is the pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207288...
Avoid the 2.2 "Direct" petrol. Not only does it have a tendency to eat high pressure fuel pumps, it isn't cleared to run on E10 fuel.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207288...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208078...
Yes it’s leggy but they’re very reliable. 15 miles each way plus the odd longer trip will give c50mpg and the DPF shouldn’t be an issue
Yes it’s leggy but they’re very reliable. 15 miles each way plus the odd longer trip will give c50mpg and the DPF shouldn’t be an issue
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