Bangernomics - which car?

ZootHornRollo

theres enough cars about to find a good 'un. i'm not looking for perfwct - so long as the body is structurally sound i'll be happy - but no point in taking on a pile of issues. i am in no hurry.

when the owner is trying to tell you it drives like new and it knocks on a speed bump i walk away. what else are they trying to hide?

catflea

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

next target....

1996 Mazda 323 LXi 1.5 with 101,000 on the clock.

Being a Mazda it should be fairly bullet proof if looked after previously but how bad are they for rust? How do they fair for parts availability and pricing?

Am I correct hin thinking that thats the one thats basically a fiesta?

IME for cheap motoring you cannot beat a mk3 Fiesta (g-n reg) I had 1.3 95N fester for three years, and clocked up over 80k on it in that time, it needed a few minor bits and bobs for the MOT (the most expensive one ever was a smidge over £100) and it only ever let me down when I was stupid enough to leave the lights on for the whole day :rotfl:

That said, for banger money Rovers are superb value too....

Hintza

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

but no point in taking on a pile of issues. i am in no hurry.

If you are in no hurry it begs the question why do you want a car in the first place? You must be getting along OK without it.

A point though short COLD town driving will absolutely hammer fuel consumption.

Asking for a service history on a banger is showing a lot of optimism...:)

Crikey my 56 plate won't be having a formal service history from now on in. But I have just done what is recommended at 37,500 miles.

nullogik

It was the Mazda 121 that was a Fiesta clone.

Ford Fiesta, Nissan Micra. Thousands of them about, plenty of cheap parts available (patern and secondhand), cheap to service.

Agree with Catflea that Rovers can be good value. But watch out as the K series petrol engines are prone to head gasket failure.

catflea

Thanked you for the info re the Mazda

I do however wish to point out that whilst rovers are known for Head Gasket Failure (HGF) its not half as prolific as people make out and a whole heap of faults (which are quick and cheap to rectify) can produce similar symptoms so there are a lot of expensive mis-diagnoses. (i.e people go, oh its a rover with problems, must be HGF)

Incidentally, for the OP, if you are handy with the spanners HG replacement isn't hard to do, just a little time consuming.

Regardless of what I said there, I stand by my reccomendation for a mk3 fester

ZootHornRollo

Hintza wrote: »

If you are in no hurry it begs the question why do you want a car in the first place? You must be getting along OK without it.

I have a van that i am using just now hence no hurry - i am not without wheels. I'd prefer to put the miles on a banger as the van is my dog transporter - we do agility.

Maybe my expectation is high but i have in past bought cars for less than £100 that have been in better mechanical condition. You don't have to settle for a lump of scrap just because you are only spending £500.

When i am refering to rust i am concerned with structure - not cosmetics.

THe 121 is the Mazda Fiesta. Fiesta's etc tend to keep their value a bit longer than some mid sized cars due to them being bought for first time drivers and teenagers. So i am trying to look more toward cars that are in less demand and least likely to have been in the hands of a boy racer - the polo was a saloon, not a the hot hatch the teenagers want. There are a few Fiesta's, Corsa's etc advertised about here but most are over 120k and have 'loud exaust' or 'faster than my mates' in the advert.

If a mondeo can realistically achieve 35-40mpg and parts are cheap enough i will add them to my list. I was avoiding large cars as the parts tend to be that bit more expensive.

nullogik

catflea wrote: »

I do however wish to point out that whilst rovers are known for Head Gasket Failure (HGF) its not half as prolific as people make out and a whole heap of faults (which are quick and cheap to rectify) can produce similar symptoms so there are a lot of expensive mis-diagnoses. (i.e people go, oh its a rover with problems, must be HGF)

Good point about mis-diagnosis.

Spotted a Rover 25 (don't laugh) through the auctions the other day. A top of the range IXL with leather and air con. Only 40k miles, 5 doors, alloys, metallic paint, tax and MOT and service history. Absolutely immaculate. Went through for £800.

If I'd needed a small car to hack around in I would have bought it. You can't go wrong at that price!

LandyAndy

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

next target....

1996 Mazda 323 LXi 1.5 with 101,000 on the clock.

Being a Mazda it should be fairly bullet proof if looked after previously but how bad are they for rust? How do they fair for parts availability and pricing?

323s of this era (like most Mazdas then) should be reliable and rust resistant (but at 14 years old there could be some). They are, however, not likely to be very exciting to drive or particularly fuel efficient (40mpg). The rear seats may be uncomfortable (hard and flat) but only an issue if you regularly carry 4 people long distances. Mazda parts aren't the cheapest but you should need fewer of them;).

Probably a reasonable bangernomics motor.

marking_bad

I'm no expert but wouldn't spending 1k on say, a ford ka be a better idea?

Flearoy

If a mondeo can realistically achieve 35-40mpg and parts are cheap enough i will add them to my list. I was avoiding large cars as the parts tend to be that bit more expensive.[/QUOTE]

33mpg was about my average fuel consumption in my Mk2 Ford Mondeo petrol 1.8 Estate. I did mixed town/country driving in it, pretty slowly too to be honest. 40mpg was not realistic.