Advice / opinion on which car to get

cale1

I am looking to buy a small economical reliable car.

I have narrowed it down to the ones below but would like some opinions on what you think would be the best choice. I have a budget of only £2000 so I'm not expecting to get anything close to new but Id rather not go older than a 51 plate and under 100k miles. I would like it to be at least a 1.3 as i find 1.1 & 1.2 too sluggish.

The cars i like are:

Citroen Saxo
Peugeot 206
Rover 25 or MG ZR (are they the same car really?)
Renult Clio

Good and bad points of these?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I appreciate any advice.

custardy

well i know you said 1.2's are sluggish but it depends on the car surely?
i know someone with a 1.2 panda and they dont have any problems with it

£2.3k on an 04 plate

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/54REG-Fiat-Panda-1-2-Dynamic-5-Doors-F-S-History_W0QQitemZ160408645829QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item255919b0c5

cale1

Thanks for your reply. My maximum budget is only £2k though. I do like the idea of an 04 plate though :-)

custardy

offer them £2K then,can only say no
thats the 1st one i found TBH as i thought there maybe Pandas around that price now

theres a CAT D here which would be one to haggle down if you were prepared to take it

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-04-FIAT-PANDA-1-1-ACTIVE-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ120550982346QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item1c116602ca

edit,theres actually a few on autotrader around the £2k mark
so that means theres haggle space but obviously you need to check distance/condition

cale1

What's a Cat D? Is that one that has been in a crash?

What do you think of this car? Are this make any good?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201009353513936

custardy

the autorader link doesnt work,what car is it?


cat D means it has been involved in a crash but is/was fixeable

Category D - Repairable salvage. Minimal damage, probably not structural, but insurer does not want to repair, even though it might be economic to do so. Often stolen and recovered after claim has been paid. Or for unusual models or grey imports where the difficulty of obtaining new parts hinders a quick repair. Does not need VIC inspection to return to road.

Cat C is repairable but needs a VIC inspection, ( csots about £40 to establish that the vehicle is what it claims to be ( Not a ringer)

Cat B and A are not repairable and must be crushed .

Cat D can be fairly minor damage

vansboy

Clik on http://www.honestjohn.co.uk & look in the REVIEWS section, of all the makes you're interested in, then choose the model you fancy. There's lots sensible good AND bad facts, in plain terms, there.

You'll best avoid the Rovers, as everyone will mention head gasket problems. The others are typical French cheap enough models.

Did you think of Corsas, though? They're quite a popular budget choice - lots reasonable trim levels, too.

Or if you can move up a bit 1.4 Astras - but they'll have a few miles on them. Guess you're looking lower insurance costs.

Better still but a 1.6 Astra club would be affordable, 5 doors, cheap to look after & reliable, too.

I bought a 68000mile 03 example 1 owner full main dealer history, for a shade over £2000, for a customer, not long ago.

VB

cale1

I can't get the link to work either, sorry.
Its a 2005 Kia Rio 1.3 LE with 67000 miles on the clock for £1995.

cale1

Thanks VB :-)
That sounds like exactly the kind of website I am looking for.

I did have a look at some corsa's and astra's and have driven both in the past so was looking for something different this time around.

slummymummyof3

Have you thought about a Nissan Micra?

I have got a 1.5dci Micra SE and I average 68mpg and it is a fairly comfortable ride - I have had the car for 11 months and have done 12,000 miles, bought it as a 54 plate with 70,000 miles on the clock and paid £2,100 from a garage.

cale1

A few people have mentioned Micra's. I will have a proper look at them as they do sound like a good buy.