Sub £2k Runaround?
Discussion
The lads lease is going back and he's reluctant to go down that route at present, so he's looking for something he can just run for 18 months or so. His plan is to spend under £2k on a car and bank £75 a month for ongoing maintenance. It's an interesting plan I admit, and I'm letting him crack on with that aspect of it.
He's open to suggestion. Doesn't do massive miles so a diesel DPF wouldn't be ideal, but tbh in the bracket he's looking at they are mostly pre DPF anyway.
Suggestions? I put forward Volvo's as the buggers seem to be everywhere
He's open to suggestion. Doesn't do massive miles so a diesel DPF wouldn't be ideal, but tbh in the bracket he's looking at they are mostly pre DPF anyway.
Suggestions? I put forward Volvo's as the buggers seem to be everywhere
We bought a 60 plate 1.6tdci Fiesta for my other half nearly 2 years ago for £1350. We said at the time if it lasted a year we’d be happy …….
It’s passed its MOT twice despite being on 125k miles and we have only changed some bulbs , gave it an oil service and swapped the wiper blades.
Whilst it doesn’t do many miles now it does get a good motorway run once a month which helps keep the DPF happy. We did know it had been regularly serviced in its previous ownership and it was bought from the sister of a friend .
At these prices it’s a case of not being too focussed on a particular make or model and buying on condition , price and local availability .
It’s passed its MOT twice despite being on 125k miles and we have only changed some bulbs , gave it an oil service and swapped the wiper blades.
Whilst it doesn’t do many miles now it does get a good motorway run once a month which helps keep the DPF happy. We did know it had been regularly serviced in its previous ownership and it was bought from the sister of a friend .
At these prices it’s a case of not being too focussed on a particular make or model and buying on condition , price and local availability .
Fiesta worth a look, I'll add it to his list.
Civic is an interesting shout. One of our cars is an 11 Plate Type R, and although the Type R is going to be out of budget I think the earlier Type S might just fall within it. It's a model we know and know the potential issues with and had looked at glancingly, just unsure if there was anything out there that might be a better option.
Honda probably is the way forward then. Back to auto trader
Civic is an interesting shout. One of our cars is an 11 Plate Type R, and although the Type R is going to be out of budget I think the earlier Type S might just fall within it. It's a model we know and know the potential issues with and had looked at glancingly, just unsure if there was anything out there that might be a better option.
Honda probably is the way forward then. Back to auto trader
A500leroy said:
And I bet it was repaired 30 minutes and £12 later!
Can't actually recall what I did with it, possibly traded it in for a Fiat 500. Potential for a frying pan/fire situation there but in fairness the 500 was a great little car. Not something I could see the lad happy with though.SistersofPercy said:
Ahh fond memories. My head gasket went bang at 36k on mine.
As above take a good look at Vauxhall Astras:https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501127...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303034...
How about an R56 Cooper?
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17687381
Or R53
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17615575
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17687381
Or R53
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17615575
jamesbilluk said:
How about an R56 Cooper?
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17687381
Or R53
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17615575
He'd mentioned Mini's actually. I have the Mini E at the moment and he's a fan of the model. I had in the back of my mind that the power steering failed on some but wasn't sure what years. Might be worth a bit more research.https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17687381
Or R53
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17615575
Those Astra's also tick a lot of boxes. Adding everything to his list!
Yeh I'd suggest a petrol Astra too. I'm selling my 11 plate in a month or two (likely for less than £2k) and I'd be very surprised if it couldn't go another 2 years or more (granted I know I've looked after it and had stuff repaired that needed it.).
Should be fairly cheap to maintain assuming nothing catastrophic I'd bet too.
Should be fairly cheap to maintain assuming nothing catastrophic I'd bet too.
My preference, and options you've mentioned, either a Honda Civic Type S 1.8 petrol ideally or either of the following Volvos:
C30
S40 R Design / Sport
V50 R Design / Sport
The R Design gives it the more sporty look although definitely taken with the styling of the C30, depends on his age as he may not be keen to drive round in a Volvo estate....
C30
S40 R Design / Sport
V50 R Design / Sport
The R Design gives it the more sporty look although definitely taken with the styling of the C30, depends on his age as he may not be keen to drive round in a Volvo estate....
Lots to think about thanks.
The Type R is one that is starting to creep up in value now so thats almost certainly out. We bought ours as the workhorse runaround against the impractical cars with the thought it might increase in value and it is. The standard ones are out there though, so will keep an eye out for those too.
Astra also interesting, had the CDTi version some years ago that dropped it's gearbox halfway up the M6 (common feature IIRC) so the diesel is off the list.
Suzuki I will show him. His wife has an Alto, I'm sure the thing will still be going after the apocalypse. It's an absolute shed but it just keeps going.
Now the Volvo's, I found a C30 but it had sold before he got chance to have a look. Just had a quick look and there are quite a few around us,( including the 960, which is £2,500 so out of budget but I know what he'd say to it anyway
) He's 31, but not overly bothered about looks, more wants something thats going to work for him. My son in law bought himself an old X Type Jag when his car went back, ran it up and down the motorway for work, holidays etc for about 2 years. He loved it! He was about 24 at the time and we did laugh at him, but it did it's job in comfort and when he sold it, it was for £300 less than he'd paid for it so not a bad return. Had added those to the list as well.
Anything we should be avoiding? I'd been told to stay away from the 1 series BMW by a colleague.
SistersofPercy said:
Lots to think about thanks.
The Type R is one that is starting to creep up in value now so thats almost certainly out. We bought ours as the workhorse runaround against the impractical cars with the thought it might increase in value and it is. The standard ones are out there though, so will keep an eye out for those too.
Astra also interesting, had the CDTi version some years ago that dropped it's gearbox halfway up the M6 (common feature IIRC) so the diesel is off the list.
Suzuki I will show him. His wife has an Alto, I'm sure the thing will still be going after the apocalypse. It's an absolute shed but it just keeps going.
Now the Volvo's, I found a C30 but it had sold before he got chance to have a look. Just had a quick look and there are quite a few around us,( including the 960, which is £2,500 so out of budget but I know what he'd say to it anyway ) He's 31, but not overly bothered about looks, more wants something thats going to work for him.
My son in law bought himself an old X Type Jag when his car went back, ran it up and down the motorway for work, holidays etc for about 2 years. He loved it! He was about 24 at the time and we did laugh at him, but it did it's job in comfort and when he sold it, it was for £300 less than he'd paid for it so not a bad return. Had added those to the list as well.
Anything we should be avoiding? I'd been told to stay away from the 1 series BMW by a colleague.
Yes bmws bad, mini pre 2006 stretches timing chain.The Type R is one that is starting to creep up in value now so thats almost certainly out. We bought ours as the workhorse runaround against the impractical cars with the thought it might increase in value and it is. The standard ones are out there though, so will keep an eye out for those too.
Astra also interesting, had the CDTi version some years ago that dropped it's gearbox halfway up the M6 (common feature IIRC) so the diesel is off the list.
Suzuki I will show him. His wife has an Alto, I'm sure the thing will still be going after the apocalypse. It's an absolute shed but it just keeps going.
Now the Volvo's, I found a C30 but it had sold before he got chance to have a look. Just had a quick look and there are quite a few around us,( including the 960, which is £2,500 so out of budget but I know what he'd say to it anyway
) He's 31, but not overly bothered about looks, more wants something thats going to work for him. My son in law bought himself an old X Type Jag when his car went back, ran it up and down the motorway for work, holidays etc for about 2 years. He loved it! He was about 24 at the time and we did laugh at him, but it did it's job in comfort and when he sold it, it was for £300 less than he'd paid for it so not a bad return. Had added those to the list as well.
Anything we should be avoiding? I'd been told to stay away from the 1 series BMW by a colleague.
If you want cheap to run pre 2011 hdi Peugeot.
SistersofPercy said:
Anything we should be avoiding? I'd been told to stay away from the 1 series BMW by a colleague.
Pinch of salt with that one...there is always bad cars about - my BMW 1 series 2008 vintage, was "so bad" it got up to 189,000 miles, just routine oil service and a clutch. My current 2012 3 Series (same diesel engine) is merrily sat at 166,000 miles.Also had a 2009 R56 MINI, sold it now, 1.4 PSA engine (known issues, why they are cheap) - recently been MOT'd and its now on 189,000 miles, proper little troopers. Chains can stretch on them, but they aint hard to replace - sweet little engine took me all over the UK that thing, not bad for £800!
I really would recommend petrol Vauxhall's, pick your flavor (1.4/1.6/1.8 Ecotec's) s
t loads about, anyone can fix them, cheap to fix, cheap to run, they also dont really rust like other cars.Edited by 7 5 7 on Thursday 30th January 13:09
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