Circumstances changed, car required.

[themoog75]

So....my circumstances have changed literally overnight, and within the next 2 weeks I need to find a car. My current motor is going back to the lease company as I have changed my job, which leaves me with, err, a push bike and a 35 mile round trip commute! I am a fit guy...but not that fit. I need a small engined, reliable and economical car for no more than £1k...the plan is to run it for 2 years while I save up for something a bit better. I am currently looking at anything between 1.1 Hyundai Getz's to 1.4 Fiestas, and most engine sizes in between (1.2 Polos and Corsa C's, 1.3 Ford Ka's and Nissan Micras). I guess that's the spec sorted then...1100 to 1400cc, reliable, economical and cheap to run. Petrol or diesel...not fussed at all tbh, don't care about spec or trim levels, and I will be doing mostly B road's town and city driving, with a short A road dual carriageway run.

Any help gratefully received!

[themoog75]

Pica-Pica said:

Reading the tales of woe on here, your best bet is a friend who is getting rid of a car that you know is running well. In those circumstances, the car make and model will not matter.

Shame no-one I know is selling anything even remotely within my price range.

[themoog75]

Jimbo893 said:

Clio mk2 1.5 DCI 86hp or 106hp gets my vote. They’re pretty reliable and will give you decent economy.

Hadn't considered a Clio tbh. Are they within my price range? And what would be the difference between one of these and the Peugeot equivalent?

Edited by themoog75 on Saturday 21st October 18:03

[themoog75]

MorganP104 said:

This thread has Toyota Yaris written all over it.

Failing that, Nissan Micra.

If I needed a small car for a grand, I'd be going Japanese, no question.

That is my thinking tbh. Small + japanese = reliable, efficient and cheap, which ticks all the boxes.

[themoog75]

CAPP0 said:

Just get on eBay, set your price at £900-£1200 and a 5 mile radius, and buy the nearest thing which meets your criteria.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Fusion-1-4TDCi-1398cc-2003-25MY-3-/112603253294?hash=item1a37ad4a2e:g:SVMAAOSw1LNZ44UX

...that's pretty much it tbh!

[themoog75]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

Honestly, walking is nicer than those hateful things.

Are they really that bad? Even for a year, would I get fed up with it in that time?

[themoog75]

ZX10R NIN said:

Nissan Almera

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

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

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

They all look like cracking motors...but I'm not going from Norfolk to Totnes to get one!

[themoog75]

keirik said:

35 mile round trip too far for a bike?

thats a doddle. less than an hour each way.

cheaper, and you'll get fit.


admittedly not as bad as the bloke on another thread yesterday wgo had a car just to drive 1.7miles each way

My wife will be using the car too. Don't think she would be too impressed if she had to bike to work as well!

[themoog75]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

OP - what county are you in? I'm happy to spend 20 minutes pretend shopping on Autotrader for you

Norfolk.

Specifically...the middle of the arse end of god forsaken nowhereville (aka Norwich).

[themoog75]

jmsgld said:

1 owner Honda Civic

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

Edited by jmsgld on Sunday 22 October 13:48

Looks like a belter of a car!

[themoog75]

johnwilliams77 said:

Better off with a cheap lease of a new car like an aygo

Which is exactly what I had. Job change means lease ends, and I want something that I own outright, cheap, years mot, no maintenance and hassle free.

Any helpful suggestions would be gratefully received, and there have been plenty so far so feel free to join the party!

[themoog75]

If i could afford to lease I would. And yes, an mx5 would be lovely but where would I put the kids and the shopping. Maybe I should have added practical to the list!

I'll go see the focus, there is an almera I will look at along with the civic, and will give the fusion a look too. Whichever one I like driving best I will buy, I guess.

[themoog75]

johnwilliams77 said:

What will you do if the car needs maintenance if you can’t afford <£100 /month lease ?

I have £2k.

£1k for car.

£1k for any problems that occur.

I can save for the next year and have £3k, which will be £2k for car and £1k for any problems that occur.

Contingency plan...always have a little something put aside.

Leading is NOT going to happen...ever.

[themoog75]

CAPP0 said:

Save yourself time and a world of pain & mental scarring and cross the Almera and the Fusion off that list.

I was once given a new Almera as a hire car, after half a day I took it back and begged for something, anything, else.

My sister wouldn't know the difference between a car and a pot of paint, she bought a Fusion and even she said it was crap!

Advice duly noted.

An 04 reg 1.8 tdci Focus Ghia has come up. 118k, 9 months mot, three previous owners, fsh, loads of receipts...gonna go have a look tomorrow afternoon as it's fairly close.

[themoog75]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

Put its reg in here - https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

Just used that to check the history of the focus diesel. It has failed it's mot twice, once in 2009 for a dodgy headlight bulb and wiper blades, and again in 2012 for parking brake inefficiency and worn brake pads.

If that's all it has failed on, I'll snap the guys hand off!

[themoog75]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

Little things like that are routine, of little consequence. It's when biggies appear, and then the same things reoccur, showing an inattentive owner.

If you buy a Focus that'll be the second time someone here has bought a model based on my recommendations, getting good at this

Any link to it? I promise to not go and buy it!

I'll put the pics up when it is in my drive

[themoog75]

Pica-Pica said:

Reading the tales of woe on here, your best bet is a friend who is getting rid of a car that you know is running well. In those circumstances, the car make and model will not matter.

Well guess what? I take the wife away to Cornwall for the week, and upon our return her father informs us he knows of a 52 plate 206 1.4 lx that's up for sale due to the owner being told he can no longer drive. Silvery blue, 5 door, 75000 miles, fsh, wedge of bills (new clutch and new exhaust system in 2016, new tyres in 2015 and loads of receipts for other stuff), 4 months m.o.t, mechanically spot on but keyed down the drivers side. £250 changes hands and I have wheels until Feb! Gave it a jetwash and it looks ok, needs wheel trims and wiper blades and then it will be perfectly servicable as a means of transport.

Bangernomics...awesome! Pics to follow later in the week.

[themoog75]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

I'm no fan of the 206, but a well maintained low mileage car for £250 is a no brainer.

It drives ok...pedals a bit close together, gear change a touch slack and brakes a bit spongy, but it's been really well maintained so yeah, was a total no brainer tbh.

Gonna get the brakes seen to, give it a service, change the wiper blades and ditch the god awful aftermarket wheel trims and see what the state of play is after that.

I assume it's cambelted? If so, I'll get that done too.

[themoog75]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

I'd say so 90% sure. The 1.6, which a girl mate had in her CC was, and I insisted to her that she got it done (she's clueless RE cars) cost about £240. I know that's nearly as much as the car, but better that than writing it off IMO, especially as it sounds like a good one, which would be hard to replace for the same £
Do the brakes yourself if able, no need to burn cash for an easy job like that.

After putting almost 100 miles on it today, the brakes have become noticeably better...maybe they just needed use. It isn't a quick car, but it's nippy around town and pulls quite well from low revs, like an old school 8valver!

Cambelt will be done before the end of the week...I can do the oil, filters and plugs myself. I have 4000 miles until the next service is due anyway...was planning on an oil and filter change every 4k anyway, and it's budgeted for.

Will see how long I can keep it going for...if I can double the mileage on it, that will take me to around seven years into the future!

[themoog75]

Booked in for a timing belt replacement tomorrow...£191 which I thought was reasonable. I am going to do all the servicing myself and I assume that 10w40 oil will suffice? Bosch super 4 are the recommended plugs as most others tend to screw up the coil packs, and I will invest in a k and n panel filter, purely for longevity.

Also, if anyone knows of a set of 14" standard lx trim wheel trims going cheap, please let me know!