Which cheap car?

benjus

Since I moved to London I've stopped running a car, as I've found it very easy to get around by bicycle and public transport. However, I've recently started to miss being able to get out of the city at weekends (to places not covered by the rail network), so was thinking of getting something very cheap just for that purpose. I'm not too concerned about what kind of car it is - I just want something cheap and functional that will get me around without breaking down.

I have a few options, all of which are in good condition and would cost me about £500 to buy:

• My Brother-in-law has an R-reg Peugeot 406 that he's going to replace soon to get a bigger car. Mileage is about 115k. It's a well-specified car and everything seems to work OK, but it will need a new cam belt soon.
• My Mum has an S-reg Toyota Starlet that she's going to get rid of soon as my parents have decided to stop running two cars. Mileage is about 115k. It's a basic car but I've driven it many times and seems pretty reliable.
• Someone at work (I don't know them) is advertising a T-reg Ford Ka with 35k on the clock. It's a basic spec but looks in good condition on the photo.

All of them seem like good offers, with comparable cars on Auto Trader advertised at higher prices. Not having owned a car from any of these manufacturers before, can anyone offer some advice about which one would be best - or should I forget all of them and consider something else?

I'm most tempted by the Peugeot as it's a better-equipped car and the larger size would give more flexibility - although I'm wondering how long it will be before bits start falling off it.

Hintza

Option B ..... the Toyota

Lemonade_Pockets

Gonna be you echo again. Option B.

Or maybe the pug if you need something bigger and it has the HDI engine. -But iirc they need servicing a lot

Sidmon

Another vote for the Starlet

anewman

My GF has a starlet and it's quite a good little car. Guzzles the oil a bit but otherwise is great.

benjus

Looks pretty unanimous... all cars are petrol btw. Thanks for the advice!

roswell

A is expensive for parts and C will probably turn into a chunck of rust if it hasnt already so b is the best option :-)

pogofish

I learned to drive in a Starlet - Great little car!

On a similar note, what do people think of the Aygo? I'm needing to replace my old car soon and this looks very tempting. Although space might be an issue?

roswell

pogofish wrote: »

I learned to drive in a Starlet - Great little car!

On a similar note, what do people think of the Aygo? I'm needing to replace my old car soon and this looks very tempting. Although space might be an issue?

I wouldnt like to be in a crash in one not that i know the safety rating etc but i always feel safer in a larger car i have a mental image in my head the more metal between me and any other vechile the better.

pogofish

The Peugeot/Citroen version of the car had a 4-star safety rating, so I presume the Toyota wound be similar - There are only minor cosmetic differences but it seems that the Toyota has the better internal finish/equipment etc.

Yes, I'm used to a bigger car as well but my work has changed, so I no longer need to haul a load of equipment everywhere and although I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel debt wise, it would be no end of help if I could get my major expenditures down further and £35 road tax, group one insurance and one of the lowest petrol consumptions anywhere is very, very tempting TBH. I also have all the money saved, so could afford a reasonably new one, esp now this scrappage thing has gone through.

I'm no great need for a fast vehicle either, I have a motorbike for that.

nomoneytoday

Living in London, I would hire instead. By the time you have paid insurance, road tax, MOTs, servicing and parking permits it may work out cheaper and more reliable