Cheap car suggestions!

mr_accountant

stumpjumper wrote:

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.

Ill second the xantia. They don’t make a 2.0 diesel, but a 1.9td or the rare 2.1 td. Also hdi but unless they have silly miles 150k+, these are out of your budget. You should get a 1998 1.9td model for around £1250 with around 100k miles, but the cars take the miles with ease.

On a downside cheak all electrics, and also the suspension- this is no problem at all (i know i own one) only those without a clue think its a problem- it is not. But just check the suspension is soft and smooth.

Throbbe

pianeet wrote:

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.

*smacks head*

I should have thought of that. That's exactly what I drive! It's an auto, so not the most economic, but hasn't missed a beat in the last two years.

tryituwilllikeit

try g r vehicle contracts on 01274 832525 great prices and vey nice people

Jorgan_2

Had a Rover 420SDi a few years ago very reliable & only paid £1200 for it. Make sure you look at the SDI not the DI, big difference in overall performance, DI is so slow. I'd also give a thumbs up to the Peugeot 306/405 diesels & the Xantia, as has been said, check everything works.

nej

Some good thoughts here guys, thanks.

Xantia... I had one once before (a diesel of some description), albeit briefly. Not a bad car, but anything French always has a question mark over it for reliability in my mind, although that may be a little unfair. The suspension on Xantia worries me though.

Rover 420Sdi... again I had a Rover 416GSi (J plate) once and it went up to 180,000 miles without major work (Changed clutch at 140,000 and alternator at some point as well but that's about it I think). But then my brother has a 420Gsi (L Plate) that struggles through the emissions on the MOT a bit. The company I worked for at the time had a 200-series diesel, not sure which type exactly. The turbo blew on that... not too encouraging. Is the SDi a Honda engine or a Rover one?

Golf - would like it but out of budget I think.

Civic - liking this one actually. Often driven by old folks, so could be some lower mileage examples, plus not thrashed (left-indicator non-withstanding!) and likely to be well serviced. Honda reliability too.

From flicking through some ad's an Escort seems a fair bet. My wife said "No!" as soon as I mentioned it, but seems quite a good buy. I presume parts are cheap, and that it's fairly reliable. Anyone with any experiences?

deepseadiver

There are some small but adequate run arounds to be had on lease for around £150 per month (inc VAT)on 24 month deals. Works for me. Brand new car every 2 years, no road tax and if the mileage is low then probably no servicing during the term. No depreciation to worry about either.

nej

£150 per month only saves me £50 or so, so not worth it really.

I'm quite favouring a Rover 400 at the moment though. Seems to be some very well priced examples about, and the 414 is quite frugal.

LizD_2

would recommend a 5-door Fiesta. Currently own an M-plate MKIII 1.3 petrol model. cost me £895 (76,000 on the clock). 18 months ago. Very reliable (touch wood) and easy to get parts. bit prone to rust though!

Jorgan_2

nej wrote:

I'm quite favouring a Rover 400 at the moment though. Seems to be some very well priced examples about, and the 414 is quite frugal.

Watch the head gasket on the 414. If looking for a 1.4, I've found the 16v a lot better drive than the 8v, I had both as company cars. When I left the car scheme I bought the 420SDI, similar performance to the 16v, both about 105bhp, but it went a lot further on a tank full.

Spendless

nej wrote:

From flicking through some ad's an Escort seems a fair bet. My wife said "No!" as soon as I mentioned it, but seems quite a good buy. I presume parts are cheap, and that it's fairly reliable. Anyone with any experiences?

How old? Mine is 94 and no power steering. Can be quite heavy too handle and god help you if you need to park in a tight spot or some ******* block you in:mad:
No central locking, which I now find hard with the kids but wouldn't bother me if just me. No warning light to tell you petrol is low, only a minor point but I do miss it:D
No air con-very very hot in summer, almost to the point where the steering wheel is too hot to touch. Unless you can get round this by always parking in the shade at work:p

On the plus side. It has cost us less than £100 in repairs since I got it 3 years ago. I do about 2500 miles p.a. Sailed thru it's MOT 1st time.

I've also had micras that have been wonderful and one that was carp;)