Cheap car suggestions!

nej

Ok, here's the thing: My wife is set to lose her overtime, which has been pretty much keeping us afloat. With that gone, we're going to lose over £200 per month.

Now, I've got a 2004 Seat Toledo (1.8SE) that is costing me just over £200 per month. I reckon if I sold it I could pay off the finance and be even (well, I'd pay off the finance first on a card, then sell it and pay off the card).

What I'm thinking of doing therefore is selling it and buying something cheap. Problem is I don't have a clue what to think about buying, as I've only really ever bought new or nearly-new cars.

All the car will be used for is going to and from work, as we've got a people carrier for the "family" stuff. Work is only a few miles away but there is no easy way to bus/train it unfortunately.

Pre-requistes are:
-Cheap!! Around £1000, though could go to £1500 if really really pushed.
-Reliable. And easy to self-fix. I don't intend on garage-servicing it.
-Economical. Possibly a diesel is in order here.
-Air-con. I would really really struggle without this!
-Not a Vauxhall (never had a good one).

So, any suggestions on makes/models here? Or wild-goose chase?

mcfisco

If work is only a few miles, how about a push bike?

Throbbe

Mondeo? Plenty of scrap parts available at least.

nej

Push bike not acceptable, as I need to drop my daughter off at school as well in the mornings. Plus I'm far to unfit and it'd be hell in winter (and summer I suppose!).

Mondeo did cross my mind, but I think it's too big. The Toledo is really a bit too long as it is to fit onto the drive (it sticks out quite a lot onto the pavement). A Mondeo is longer than Toledo.

Keep 'em coming!

rrockettman

A Nissan Micra is the usual recommendation on here for that sort of money. Good mpg and reliable if you choose a regularly serviced one. You will be lucky to find one with air con though.

Fiat Punto might have all the bells and whistles, but Fix It Again Tomorrow reputation.

Ford Fiesta? Plenty of them about.

Japanese cars are generally regarded as a good bet all round.

ArsenalFC

Nissan micra too, but you will struggle to find one with air con. a pug 206 usually have air con but can be around the £2k mark, not as reliable as the micra but usually have all the mod cons.

Look into https://www.parkers.co.uk and there is a small car section review which you can look into.

Chris_VRS

nice lil...toyota starlet..completely bulletproof, surprisingly nippy, economical and all for £800-£1500

pianeet

i would personally recomend a 5 door honda civic,the v-tec engines are virtually unbustable and honda reliabilty is legend,also favoured by the older generation so some good low mileage well maintained examples around,i sold mine about four years ago with 100,000 miles on the clock and the lad that bought it has done another 60,000 in it and it is still going strong.

highguyuk

306 Diesel, 1.9TD Phase 1.

Would be within budget, economical, good engines, some come with air con, lots of parts available and plenty of help around to self fix.

More information can be found at https://www.pug306.net. Lots of helpful people, ask as many questions as you like!

ollyshaw

I would say a VW golf TDI. So economical yet powerful. Solid as tank too!

stumpjumper

Hows about a Citroen Xantia 2.0Turbo Diesel? Engines are good for 200k at least, mega cheap to buy and run, most models come with air con. Downside being the dodgy electrics, but most niggles would have been dealt with by previous owners by now.