want to buy a banger but don't know where to start

yorkshirepudding_4

Hi guys, have post on the motoring board but thought more people may see it on here.

My husband has just come back fom the garage and said his engine has gone. It's going to cost to much to replace it so we've just about decided to get rid and get a new one. It's no use getting one with a warrenty from a showroom cos he wants to put biodiesil in it which would invalidate the warranty anyway, so you've no piece of mind that nothing's going to go wrong, so my idea, was to spend hardly anything on a car, saying around £500 then if it does only last 6 months you don't feel as bad.

Can anyone give me any advice about looking for a car in this pricerange and any tips of good models or things to look out for, we know next to nothing about cars.

Thanks, yp

nearlyrich

I bought a car for £250 for my daughter when she passed her test and it's still going strong after almost 2 years. If you can buy a car that someone you know has finished with you are more likely to get a good one becazuse they would be reluctant to sell you a dodgy motor (hopefully).

mdbs

Citreon Xantia turbo diesel. They are cheap, like biodiesel, quiet, parts are OK, suspension is NOT the problem most think it is.

yas247

Try Ebay, sure to find cheap run around.

motorguy

There are still some decent Peugeot 205 diesels around, cheap and cheerful and go on forever. My dad bought one two years ago for £500, sold it six months ago for £375. It had over 170,000 miles on it and was still going strong. OR, if you can get one for that budget, a peugeot 306 diesel, or turbodiesel, all the benefits of the Xantia, but without the known suspension risk

motorguy

Another one would be the Rover 218 diesel, or turbodiesel. Uses the same peugeot / citroen engine..

Bigfathoss

Get yersel a Fiat Marea for the price. Should get you an S or T reg.

stamfordblue

Go for a VW.
You've only got to look on the roads to see how many old ones are still running

Katgoddess

Ford Fiestas are great and cheap to insure and repair.

dazed

stamfordblue wrote:

Go for a VW.
You've only got to look on the roads to see how many old ones are still running

idd just bought a g reg golf gti 16v to 'do up ' and nothing major is wrong with it engines will go to 250,000 and dont really break in till 110,000 :d well happy as always wanted a nice example and for that price was a bargain

martindow

I've just bought a car for £250 with a years MoT. I got this by ringing up small local garages. They had received my car traded in and used it as the garage run about for a while. ancient and battered but is starts and stops when it is supposed to!