Reliable second hand cars for under £3k

jase1

Yes, Colt and Panda are excellent ideas -- I recommend both regularly myself.

Also, keep your eyes peeled on ebay -- just occasionally you see some silly deals on there.

For example, just recently there was a Cat-D Picanto, 18 months old and with only around 7000 miles, which sold for £2900. If I'd been in the market for a small car around that figure I'd have stuffed £50 in fivers into my mechanic's pocket and asked him to look it over straight away.

Evilbadger

My advicee: after having my Head Gasket, and two friends with Rover's head gaskets go - avoid!!

Jonesya

If you want a Rover 25 then I'd go for a diesel, they don't suffer the head gasket problems that affect the K series petrol engines. I had a 2000 reg diesel, it's now got to 170k miles and counting without any engine problems - just needed the glow plugs replacing recently.

mustrum_ridcully

@OP I suggest you watch, especially the challenge where they all end-up buying the same model of BMW.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ymwfn/Top_Gear_Series_16_Episode_4/

It shows that how good a 2nd hand car is depends very much on how it's been looked after.

bengalknights

Toyota, Honda, Skoda or Seat would be my recommendations for cars that are generally reliable and under £3k

advice_please_2

Acceleration up hill you'll want a tdi
But if not ford ka are great cars

jase1

...but don't buy an older Ka with its clattery (and probably sludged-up) Kent engine and rusted sills

Kilty_2

jase1 wrote: »

...but don't buy an older Ka with its clattery (and probably sludged-up) Kent engine and rusted sills

Check for rusted sills......... and the 1.3 engine is a reliable old smoker is it not?

You can get a 3/4 year old Fiat Panda for under £3k quite easily.

fadetogrey

Evilbadger wrote: »

My advicee: after having my Head Gasket, and two friends with Rover's head gaskets go - avoid!!

totally agree only rover to have around has 4 legs and barks.;)

jase1

Kilty wrote: »

Check for rusted sills......... and the 1.3 engine is a reliable old smoker is it not?

Not especially no IMO. Generally worn out by 80K miles, prone to sludging, the spark plugs get jammed in the head and difficult to get past MOTs as they get older due to emissions.

They are, to all intents and purposes the same engine as was failing to get people around in the old Fords of the 1970s. Why on earth would you have one in preference to a more modern design? Old Lada engines were rugged -- I'd still not have one.

The parts are cheap -- that's about as much as can be said about them.

I should stress that the post-2003 engine was a lot better.