Cheap to run, reliable and 'cute' car for under £1k?

pixie_girl_3

I can thoroughly recommend the Ford Ka - I have a 97 one (thankfully was treated with anti rust coating by a past owner before I brought it).

It was the 2nd cheapest of the modern cars to insure (the 1st was a cinqicento) I think it has really good handling, it gets 40mpg (city/motorway driving) parts are cheap to come by and relatively easy to fix. I prefer the fact that its a 1.3L it never struggles on motorways and gives you the option to accelerate out of danger.

Do watch out for suspension issues and rust around the petrol cap though.

Kilty_2

blizeH wrote: »

@ Kilty, what kind of KIA is that? Looks like it'd cost a lot more than £1k though unfortunately, and doubt I could convince my girlfriend to spend a few thousand (or more) on 'just a car'... definitely fits the criteria though I think :P

It's a Picanto.

Obviously you'll not get a brand new one for £1k but they have been making them since ~2003 - I don't know how much the early ones cost now . The one in the photo was £5,550 brand new.

jase1

I don't think I've seen a Picanto for under a grand (although I'm happy to be proven wrong) -- so much for depreciation.

mikeamycalso

Rather than the usual corsa, clio, corsa's and fiesta's here's 5 others that should tempt you.

1. seat ibiza mk3 99-02
1000 pound will get you a very tidy 2000 model 1.4 chill. Great little cars and super vw reliability.

2. skoda fabia mk1 00-07
a grand will buy you an immaculate 1.4 8 valve petrol 2000 model or a same year sdi. for 60 plus mpg

3. fiat seicento sporting
without a doubt the cutest of my choices a 1000 pound will get you a 2000 on phase 2 these are the best and give 55 mpg however and wherever you drive.

4. seat arosa mk1 1.0/1.44
another vw group car, same as the lupo for a fraction of the cost
1000 pound would get you a very tidy early example 97 on.

5. peugeot 306 1.4
arguably the oldest looking of the choices but a late phase 3 2001 2002 1.4 can be had for a 1000 pounds

Kilty_2

jase1 wrote: »

I don't think I've seen a Picanto for under a grand (although I'm happy to be proven wrong) -- so much for depreciation.

Possibly bought mostly by people who keep their cars forever, I don't know.

I'd imagine that they'll be very cheap to buy when the 7 year warranty ones are just over 7 years old (not helpful to the OP, just an observation)

atrixblue.-MFR-.

mikeamycalso wrote: »

Rather than the usual corsa, clio, corsa's and fiesta's here's 5 others that should tempt you.

1. seat ibiza mk3 99-02
1000 pound will get you a very tidy 2000 model 1.4 chill. Great little cars and super vw reliability.

2. skoda fabia mk1 00-07
a grand will buy you an immaculate 1.4 8 valve petrol 2000 model or a same year sdi. for 60 plus mpg

3. fiat seicento sporting
without a doubt the cutest of my choices a 1000 pound will get you a 2000 on phase 2 these are the best and give 55 mpg however and wherever you drive.

4. seat arosa mk1 1.0/1.44
another vw group car, same as the lupo for a fraction of the cost
1000 pound would get you a very tidy early example 97 on.

5. peugeot 306 1.4
arguably the oldest looking of the choices but a late phase 3 2001 2002 1.4 can be had for a 1000 pounds

the seicento would arguably be the killer on insurance, eventhough a low bracket, its a nice little car for a twoc'r to take in seconds without a key, a mate sold one on 24k miles with FFSH £1200 because it was more expensive on the insurance than his 1.8 escort van.

the arosa would be my choice here, but a well looked after example. too many chavs making them look like go carts ruin the arches and stress the suspension componants, can be slightly more expensive to maintain, but reliability i'd say you would end up spending less than a KA to maintain in the long run, invest in a stainless exhaust for it (not a fart can) will return a higher MPG value if you intend on keeping it for longer than 2-3 years to accrue a NCB and get money in return for that purchase they are not expensive to have done really small car not much meterial to use on it.

for the 306, phase 3 was in my opinion a good looking french car, but in a diesel for reliability.

i wouldnt touch any pug after 2001 too many problems with electricals (they had that pre 2001 just made them worse)and gearboxes.

jase1

I have mentioned this before, but my personal preference when looking for a "cheapie" is to spend a couple more hundred and pick up a five or six year old Korean (model not important). IME this is usually a safe bet, as it's easy to pick out something that's been looked after and you typically get a car that's in no worse condition than a lot of motors costing three or four thousand.

The cars themselves are perfectly adequate for pootling around, as well built as almost all the mainstream competition, but much newer, and typically very well maintained for the first three years of their lives due to the package deals that came with Korean cars of this vintage (and still do).

Yeah they're not going to win any style awards, but as reliable transport that'll last for a good few years without the fear of many bills, they're a low-risk proposition.

Not for everyone I agree but as a second car purchase I rate them. I've picked out a few Hyundai Getz/Daewoo Kalos/Accent type things for family members etc and they've all been pleased enough with the cars. But if you want to impress others, they're no good for that.