£2000 to Spend on an Small Car . Help

rodenal

Focus - 1.6, 1.8. 2.0 all decent engines - tdci is also a cracker in all power outputs in the 1st gen focus, td-di very reliable but also a very old feeling engine.

Pegeot 206 , 307 - avoid, avoid avoid - if you have to buy one get a 206 with a 1.9 diesel

Seat Leons - 1.8 20v is a good mix between reasonable performance and economy, - 1.8t decent to drive but 35mpg tops. Avoid the 1.4 and 1.6 both are adequate but you will be strangling them going everywhere and so the mpg will take a hit. The 1.9 pd-tdi is a good engine too, go on forever and givees perfectly respectable performance even in 90bhp guise

Honda Civics - 1.6 is a decent engine not sure it's particularly economical though, wouldn't bother with the 1.4 as it needs a kicking to go anywhere and the 1.7 diesel it's a rough unit that I would also avoid.

Focus and leon are the cheapest to fix, civic parts are expensive but if looked after they're exceptionally reliable. Peugeots just don't buy one unless you drive it and really, really like it. The only good thing about either the 206 or 307 is the diesel engine

mikey72

rodenal wrote: »

............... Peugeots just don't buy one unless you drive it and really, really like it. The only good thing about either the 206 or 307 is the diesel engine

Well, the op's had a decent peugeot already, and ours has always been reliable.
So another diesel peugeot could be top of the list.

rodenal

mikey72 wrote: »

Well, the op's had a decent peugeot already, and ours has always been reliable.
So another diesel peugeot could be top of the list.

I'm not saying it will break, after but every 307 i've ever come across has been absolutely falling to bits & the 206 has possibly the worst driving position i've ever experienced.

At the end of the day, it's a gamble no matter what you buy

getmore4less

If you go a bit older and cheaper there are a few good 306 around,

boot migh be a bit smal,l another option is a clio 1.5dci cheap to run 60mpg and £30 tax.

avantra

getmore4less wrote: »

If you go a bit older and cheaper there are a few good 306 around, cheap to run 60mpg and £30 tax.

A disk for £30 on a 306?? never heard of these. did you mean 206?

In 2001 when they stop making the car it was a EUROII standards vehicle and the later common rail diesel were 141g/km, I think you need to add a £100 to the £30 before gov will hand over the disk.

getmore4less

avantra wrote: »

A disk for £30 on a 306?? never heard of these. did you mean 206?

In 2001 when they stop making the car it was a EUROII standards vehicle and the later common rail diesel were 141g/km, I think you need to add a £100 to the £30 before gov will hand over the disk.

woops a bit got missed off the post fixed it,

it's a clio that does 60mpg, £30 tax

our 306 is 50mpg and £215 tax

rev_henry

I'll probably get flamed for this but what about an Rover 25? I have an 1.4, and its surprisingly competent on the motorway as its a bit bigger than an supermini, has quite long gear ratios and the engine outputs an lot of power for its size (103bhp). See what I did there?

Very cheap to buy too, you'd probably be able to get one of the very last ones for your money. Just MAKE SURE its had its head gasket replaced with the superior MLS one - otherwise budget £300 - £350 at some point.

Only thing I find lets it down is fuel economy isn't great imo - I get 39-40mpg and would consider myself quite aware of fuel efficient driving.

avantra

rev_henry wrote: »

I'll probably get flamed for this but what about an Rover 25? I have an 1.4, and its surprisingly competent on the motorway as its a bit bigger than an supermini, has quite long gear ratios and the engine outputs an lot of power for its size (103bhp). See what I did there?

Very cheap to buy too, you'd probably be able to get one of the very last ones for your money. Just MAKE SURE its had its head gasket replaced with the superior MLS one - otherwise budget £300 - £350 at some point.

Only thing I find lets it down is fuel economy isn't great imo - I get 39-40mpg and would consider myself quite aware of fuel efficient driving.

I wouldn't flame, the modified HG on the K lump should be a good choice for shoestring motoring.

What I found is that if things goes wrong it's hard to find a competent mechanic to work on them (at list in my area) so you end up doing a lot by yourself with the help of the Hynes manual and the excellent MGRover forum. Not that this is a problem but I think the poster is not the type.:rotfl:

rev_henry

avantra wrote: »

I wouldn't flame, the modified HG on the K lump should be a good choice for shoestring motoring.

What I found is that if things goes wrong it's hard to find a competent mechanic to work on them (at list in my area) so you end up doing a lot by yourself with the help of the Hynes manual and the excellent MGRover forum. Not that this is a problem but I think the poster is not the type.:rotfl:

That forum also has a good list of mechanics area by area if the OP is interested, otherwise I would hasten to agree!

rodenal

The 25 or even 45 (diesels are decent enough) would be a good car to buy at auction - you'd pick up one of the very last well under budget - nobody wants them which is a problem if you want to sell it on anytime soon but if happy to run it into the ground then it makes alot of sense.