cheapest car to run

straggler

Hi all,

I'm looking for the cheapest car to run - I want a post 2002 (or whenever the new road tax bands came in) car, something cheap and cheerful. I like diesels but know that sometimes these attract a premium on the purchase price eg the Seat Arosa 1.4td is very, very good on fuel but I'd struggle to get one for under 2K.

The Daihatsu Charade is much cheaper and only slightly worse on fuel but not sure whether the extra servicing cost of a petrol will negate the purchase cost savings.

I know I could just get a 200 quid banger and run it into the ground but I'm getting old now so like a bit of comfort!

Any suggestions?

Inactive

straggler wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm looking for the cheapest car to run - I want a post 2002 (or whenever the new road tax bands came in)

Why, most of them cost more to tax on a like for like basis than the old tax bands do.

computershack

Don't get hung up on the road tax cost. It is a very inconsequential part of running a vehicle.

As you're finding out, the ones on the low tax bands are quite expensive and you'll get more for your money by going with something thats in a higher band however the extra cost of the road tax still makes the savings worthwhile.

casper_g

How many miles will you be doing in a year, and on what sort of roads? This will make a massive difference in working out which will have the cheapest running costs. Example: my GF drives short distances in town, rarely and so fuel economy matters comparatively little compared to having a car that's cheap to buy and to repair; I drive long distances on motorways so extra-urban fuel economy matters to me. When I used her car for a week once, it cost me an extra £50 in fuel!

mark5

My wifes 2008 Fiesta TDCi is £35 per year to tax, the pre 2001 1500cc and under cars are not that cheap.

goldspanners

mark5 wrote: »

My wifes 2008 Fiesta TDCi is £35 per year to tax, the pre 2001 1500cc and under cars are not that cheap.

so they cost the same as your wifes car to buy?

eh, naw!

a 2001 fiesta will cost about £800 to buy. you will loose more in depreciation.

hewhoisnotintheknow

goldspanners wrote: »

so they cost the same as your wifes car to buy?

eh, naw!

a 2001 fiesta will cost about £800 to buy. you will loose more in depreciation.

have you got any examples of a decent 2001 diesel fiesta for 800 quid

missile

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

have you got any examples of a decent 2001 diesel fiesta for 800 quid

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/200951348543215/sort/priceasc/usedcars/make/ford/model/fiesta/fuel-type/diesel/maximum-age/up_to_10_years_old/price-to/1000/radius/1501/page/1/postcode/ab253qz?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fusedcars%2Fpostcode%2Fab253qz%2Fradius%2F1501%2Fmake%2Fford%2Fmodel%2Ffiesta%2Ffuel-type%2Fdiesel%2Fmaximum-age%2Fup_to_10_years_old%2Fprice-to%2F1000%2Fpage%2F1%2Fsort%2Fpriceasc&logcode=p :A

jaydeeuk1

Get an old 1960's porsche. No road tax, classic car insurance and if you keep it permanently in a garage, very cheap on petrol too

All_eBayed_Out

1.9 W reg peugeot 206 I owned use to be driven 250 miles up the motorway only needed feeding £20 of diesel for that journey. Driving economically (60/70mph). Tax was £180ish tho

avantra

a post 2002 Diesel Rover 45 or 25 can be yours for less than £1500, road tax about
£ 125. If you do go for one, make sure you check the air mass sensor (diy joby for £40)
and the clutch and you should be ok for many years.

No rust like Fords, 50 mpg and lots of creature comfort (AC as standard and 5 air bugs). But only the Rover diesels not the petrols as these have problems. As people don't appreciate how cheap they are to run you can pick them up very cheaply.

A Mondeo III 2.0 petrol also come to mind as a cheap and reliable long term comfort.