Second hand reliable small cars

candykisses

cut a long story short, I bought a 2001 VW Polo in April this year (thinking that VW was about the most reliable make you could buy) and it's been a real nightmare.

Emissions warning light was in within a month of buying it -despite numerous people looking at it, they don't know what the problem is, might be catalytic convertor but they can't say for definete as car drives ok. Within two weeks of light being switched off it comes back on.

Then yesterday I drove it (cold morning) got down road and there was a horrible grinding sound coming from engine. Then the noisr stopped and it still drove ok but now the engine management light is on too, so now looking for someone to look what's wrong with it.

Have priced up on we buy any car and would get around £750 for it, thats if I put OK condition, not good condition. Bodywork is almost immaculate but I don't trust it anymore.

So, my thinking is to get shut of it (mot'd until July 2012) but what to get instead. Could possibly put another £500 - £700 on it - so really looking for a car under £1500.

Previously had peugeots, again with engine management lights on where nobody seemed to be able to accurately diagnose - such as possible ECU etc.

A lot of people have said get a Ford Focus.

Also looking at:

Vauxhall Corsas (must be at least 1.3 engine)
Toyota Yaris (ditto)

Obviously by budget is rather small, are there any cars that are not so prone to problems that can't be diagnosed? ie. if something goes, I'd like someone to say eg "the brakes need renewing" - not "it might be this that costs £700 or if that doesnt sort it, it could be this".

thank you

agrinnall

You're not going to be able to sell it as OK condition while the engine management light is on and the engine is sometimes making a grinding noise. To be honest I doubt of you'be be able to sell it as a runner at all, maybe for spares. You need to decide whether it's worth spending money on getting a diagnosis and fixing the problem or simply getting rid of it for whatever you can get.

candykisses

:oI meant selling it as soon as I've got the current problem rectified, assuming that it's not beyond repair - sounded like a loud grinding sound.

seems to match the symptoms of a starter motor sticking when ive looked for info.
not sure if a starter motor problem would cause EPC light to come on though.

jaydeeuk1

candykisses wrote: »

Obviously by budget is rather small, are there any cars that are not so prone to problems that can't be diagnosed? ie. if something goes, I'd like someone to say eg "the brakes need renewing" - not "it might be this that costs £700 or if that doesnt sort it, it could be this".

thank you

For £1500 all cars could have potential niggly engine management problems, its just the way modern cars are now, they're all run by computers. So no, no one can guarantee you'll have a car that won't have expensive problems in 6 months. You can limit the risk by looking at something with genuine service history/receipts, whether garage or at that price, more likely the owner changing plugs, oil and filters himself, or take a mechanic mate with you to give it the once over (or better take to a nearby garage to put on ramps for a bit)

gord115

Go for a yaris (very reliable)or anything japanese. I'd avoid a corsa,Vauxhalls are very unreliable.

jaydeeuk1

We have a 2002 corsa as a work share car, and I would honestly rather walk.

You'll get best value from something korean too like a hyundai getz, kia rio, daihatus sirion, suzukia wagon r/ignis daewoo kalos (not the matix, its sh*te).

almillar

I think you pay for the reliability of Toyotas and Hondas, but not Nissans. Old shape Micras are very reliable and cheap as chips.

AlexisV

Presumably you've had the VW diagnosed with VAG-COM? (garage plugs a laptop in).

Have you seen the actual readout with your own eyes? Most of the time you can join a VW internet forum and post up the fault codes for a diagnosis.

candykisses

thank you all for your replies, haven't got the polo into a garage until weds - think everyones winding down for christmas, have been phoning garages all morning.

i had mentioned vauxhalls because my mums got a vauxhall astra (1997) - had it for 14 years now and its a brilliant car.

someone else had mentioned nissan micras being very reliable - not sure if there's any particular model recommended - just not too keen on the shape but I can't be too choosy on my budget, lol x

vax2002

The VW are nowhere near as reliable as they like to make out, passats and other diesels are shoving conrods through the sides of engines.
vauxhall, from 2001-2008 are just complete pigs
Ford diesels have dual flywheels made out of soft cheese and brown paper.
I would agree, look at a japenese car, they are basic, they are boring, but they just keep going and going and going, hence why you see a good portion of them owned by Asians, they dont "do" repair bills...

candykisses

thank you - what had previously put me off nissan was that people say they go rusty quite quickly.

just looked on what car at nissan micra, said the 1.2 80bhp petrol is a good one, so will have a look