Some banger-nomics help please

[ManaghGB]

Basically I own a Fiesta Zetec-S which I know isn't exactly exotic but it's my pride and joy. Now being only 17 I could only insure it TPF&T and this will be my first time driving in winter(snow) and I don't really want to smash up my Fiesta, mainly because I may cry but also because I'd get sod all for it.

So I'm after a VERY cheap car just to get through winter which I won't be bothered about if it gets smashed up a bit. Not bothered if it's got a dent here or a rattle there aslong as it's mechanically ok.

Main criteria:
Cheap to run
Cheap to insure(bearing in mind I'm only 17, 18 in January)
MOT and Tax until February at least
Reliable, I don't want to be left stranded in the snow or have to repair a car which will be scraped in a few months anyway.
Budget of £200 max unfortunately.

My first thoughts were a Volvo S40 until I found out the insurance was nearly £5000 on a base spec 1.8! I know this sounds like a wanted thread but I really can't find anything and just after a bit of help.

So, best places to look? And does anybody know of anything matching my criteria?

Thanks in advance.

[littlebasher]

Nissan Micra

Indestructible

Edited by littlebasher on Thursday 25th November 22:59

[Fittster]

Only a tiny percentage of cars come to grief in the winter. Get a train to work if the roads are covered in snow, otherwise drive sensibly and you'll be fine.

PH seems to make a complete mountain about winter.

[MondeoMan1981]

Ford Ka.

Ideal for winter driving ;

- narrow tyres
- PAS
- No ABS

You will get a rusty one for 200 bangers. If you are really lucky you might get a cheapo set of wheels with part worn winter tyres somewhere as well.

[R60EST]

something French , AX , early 106 etc

[ManaghGB]

Fittster said:

Only a tiny percentage of cars come to grief in the winter. Get a train to work if the roads are covered in snow, otherwise drive sensibly and you'll be fine.

PH seems to make a complete mountain about winter.

No train links to work or college and the bus takes an hour and a half on a good day. Yeah I'm probably just being over cautious but I really don't want to damage my car as I've done a lot of work to it in the last few months getting tidy.

[thunderbelmont]

One of the hurdles you're going to find with the cheap cars will be the exorbitant insurance quotes.

As an example, my Nephew (who's only a boy of 20!) runs a 54-plate Corsa 1.4, it costs him a fair chunk over a grand to insure (though he does benefit from taking "Pass Plus" and the extra discount that most insurers offer for that). Where he works, the apprentice has just passed his test. His bangernomics special - and old 1.3 Fiesta £350 special - was just quoted at £3000 to insure. If he had a 57-plate 1.4 Fiesta, it would have been less than half that. It's a no-brainer. Scrap the banger, get a new car on the strap, and the finance is covered by the insurance saving.

When I insured my first car, I was advised to have something over 3 years old because insurers at that time made you pay a premium for new/nearly new cars. It seems it's turned full circle.

[Fittster]

ManaghGB said:

Fittster said:

Only a tiny percentage of cars come to grief in the winter. Get a train to work if the roads are covered in snow, otherwise drive sensibly and you'll be fine.

PH seems to make a complete mountain about winter.

No train links to work or college and the bus takes an hour and a half on a good day. Yeah I'm probably just being over cautious but I really don't want to damage my car as I've done a lot of work to it in the last few months getting tidy.

Bangernomics says get out of bed earlier and the bus. The logic of buying and running a cars for a couple of snowy days doesn't stack up.

If there is any significant snowfall do you think your college will actually be open?

What does a taxi to college cost?

Edited by Fittster on Thursday 25th November 23:07

[ManaghGB]

Fittster said:

ManaghGB said:

Fittster said:

Only a tiny percentage of cars come to grief in the winter. Get a train to work if the roads are covered in snow, otherwise drive sensibly and you'll be fine.

PH seems to make a complete mountain about winter.

No train links to work or college and the bus takes an hour and a half on a good day. Yeah I'm probably just being over cautious but I really don't want to damage my car as I've done a lot of work to it in the last few months getting tidy.

Bangernomics says get out of bed earlier and the bus. The logic of buying and running a cars for a couple of snowy days doesn't stack up.

If there is any significant snowfall do you think your college will actually be open?

It won't be a few days, more a few months. The buses round here usually stop when there's a bit of drizzle in the air aswell. My college is open every day of term, even if there's 3 foot of snow, plus my A-level exams are in January and February which will determine whether or not I get into University so I'd rather not miss them.

Thanks for your input.

[Fittster]

ManaghGB said:

Fittster said:

ManaghGB said:

Fittster said:

Only a tiny percentage of cars come to grief in the winter. Get a train to work if the roads are covered in snow, otherwise drive sensibly and you'll be fine.

PH seems to make a complete mountain about winter.

No train links to work or college and the bus takes an hour and a half on a good day. Yeah I'm probably just being over cautious but I really don't want to damage my car as I've done a lot of work to it in the last few months getting tidy.

Bangernomics says get out of bed earlier and the bus. The logic of buying and running a cars for a couple of snowy days doesn't stack up.

If there is any significant snowfall do you think your college will actually be open?

It won't be a few days, more a few months. The buses round here usually stop when there's a bit of drizzle in the air aswell. My college is open every day of term, even if there's 3 foot of snow, plus my A-level exams are in January and February which will determine whether or not I get into University so I'd rather not miss them.

Thanks for your input.

Clearly your mind is made up to buy a second car.

I'll certainly be surprised if we have months of snow (I'm assuming your in the UK) and if the snow reaches 3 foot I doubt any lectures will turn up.

[NHK244V]

Stick some steels on it with skinny tyres and learn, tis what most of us "old timers" did, at least those of us who don't run screaming for the winter tyres as soon as the heating goes on indoors, i drive a RWD pickup truck all year and all i carry extra in the winter is a 12V pump for the tyres
A lot of it is down to common sense and learning TBH, there's just some things you have to learn for your self, i suggest a big empty carpark coverd in snow for some "practice".
99% of main roads are cleared and gritted anyway and if it's icey i simply don't go out, you have to weigh the pros and cons, too many cons stay indoors/get the bus, some things just aint worth crashing/dieing for

[PedantLosesGrip]

I've driven in winter for 17yrs in North Yorkshire winters and never had so much of ding. Take it easy, plenty of space in front and cautious, you will be fine.

[Negative Creep]

It must be bad enough insuring one car at 17, let alone 2. Surely any savings you make would be instantly wiped out when you insure it?

[Tallbut Buxomly]

Fiat cinquecento

Great fun to drive. Will be really good in winter due to skinny tyres.



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[Tunku]

A one litre Ka or Micra has to be the answer.

[ManaghGB]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Guess I was being a bit over cautious just worried about crashing. Had a few tips from people so I'll just take it easy and tip toe everywhere.

Sorry if I was a bit short with you as well 'Fittster', it's been a long day.

[Incorrigible]

ManaghGB said:

Fittster said:

ManaghGB said:

Fittster said:

Only a tiny percentage of cars come to grief in the winter. Get a train to work if the roads are covered in snow, otherwise drive sensibly and you'll be fine.

PH seems to make a complete mountain about winter.

No train links to work or college and the bus takes an hour and a half on a good day. Yeah I'm probably just being over cautious but I really don't want to damage my car as I've done a lot of work to it in the last few months getting tidy.

Bangernomics says get out of bed earlier and the bus. The logic of buying and running a cars for a couple of snowy days doesn't stack up.

If there is any significant snowfall do you think your college will actually be open?

It won't be a few days, more a few months. The buses round here usually stop when there's a bit of drizzle in the air aswell. My college is open every day of term, even if there's 3 foot of snow, plus my A-level exams are in January and February which will determine whether or not I get into University so I'd rather not miss them.

Thanks for your input.

He's right though, your car is the ideal cheap second car as it is. Another cheaper car doesn't stack up. How much is it to insure 2 cars? Or are you planning on leaving the first car uninsured?

Also, bearing in mind it's the winter, any older car is likely to be less reliable.

I had to do a spate of bangernomics last year
Fiesta 1.8 non turbo diesel (sold all my cars and needed a quick stop gap £300, sold 3 months later £300)
Pug 406 19 TD (£300, only 4 gears, £10 gearbox off a mate, a day later reliable car for 3,000 miles. blew heater matrix, scrapped)
Citroen Xantia 1.9TD (£250, replaced ~£100 of parts, 5,000 miles, sold for £200)

My point; Unless you've got a few spanners you're unlikely to make it work. And really it's not worth it. Just treat the Fiasco to a good Valet in the spring

[ManaghGB]

Yeah I can see where your coming from, wouldn't really make financial sense, especially at my age.

[mattley]

Nice profile pic, I can see why you're concerned about dinging it but as said above take it easy you'll probably be fine.

Also as mentioned some thinner steel wheels if you can find some very cheap might be worth the money and effort but even if you do dink an alloy a refurb next spring will still cost less.

Good luck with your first winter of driving, it looks like it might be a harsh one which is always unlucky but it really isn't as bad as the BBC would suggest.

Also as a very young driver I'd like to congratulate you for your basic premise. OK just buying another car for the job probably won't work for you but it's totally the PH way and that is to be commended.

[twazzock]

If you want any more ideas, I've got a thread running on a similar premise (i.e. cheap to buy and run, but with a £400 budget). I'm struggling to find anything decent and local in that budget, I think you'll be very lucky finding something for £200! And the insurance will hurt, as has been said.

Hope you find a solution.