Second hand reliable small cars

Noctu

I'd recommend the Suzuki Ignis.

forgotmyname

Resetting the light is OK, But what are the actual faullt codes logged in the memory?

£500 or £1500 or £5000 for that matter, Wont guarantee a reliable car.

Cars are pot luck when reliability comes into it. Ive bought cars you wouldnt park outside a scrapyard
in case they put it in the crusher. Yet never got serviced or repaired and yet never broke down.

Newer cars have sensors that detect faults with sensors, Bottomless pit waiting to empty your pockets, If you want
something cheap to fix. Buy something older.

But not too old because those cars will be rusty....

candykisses

Thanks, think I will look at Japanese makes, seem to sound like they'd be more reliable. Also going to look for FSH, the Polo I bought was advertised with FSH but when I got the book home it hadn't been service stamped since 2006 - when I questioned garage about this, they said because it was only doing a couple of thousand miles a year then they regarded it as FSH, given that normally you would expect a car to do around 10k per annum.

Makes you wonder if you're just as likely to have problems with cars that have stood around doing nothing as you would with high mileage cars.

Suppose at least if I could find a FSH one, even if the miles were higher, then it would indicate it had been well maintained.

mazza111

It's always hard to tell buying a cheap 2nd hand car. Last one I bought was a complete lemon, Citroen Saxo french POS, should have known better I guess. Was a clean, low mileage car. One problem after another with it.

Then bought a wee skoda fabia. Higher mileage but with FSH. And it's been a wee gem of a car. Battery is starting to fade now, so popping out for a new one tomorrow, but it's the first time I've had to spend any money on it since I got it. Sailed through it's MOT first time with no advisory notices on it :T

Do you know any mechanics you could take with you when purchasing a car?

The guy who does most of the work on my cars told me to give him a shout when I was going and he would come with me, as chance had it, he was selling the fabia on behalf of his missus. So ended up getting quite a good buy on it too

useless_git_requires_wife

Get a Corolla

mikey72

The problem with japanese cars is they trade solely on their reputation, the same as german cars.

So you know what reputation means.

Everone makes good and bad cars.

Currently we have an 04 vauxhall, and a 97 peugeot, neither have cost anything other than brakes and tyres, in over 150k miles.

forgotmyname

Checkout the dealer charges and parts prices for japanese cars compared to others.


Not such a bargain then.

TamA

Micras are brilliant cars. Chain driven as well so no costly belts to change. Be careful about the clutch though that seems to be a week point. I wouldnt say they rust that badly - my fiesta is worse than any of the 5 micras ive had in the past - and one was 20 year old. The fiesta is only 10 year old.

Civics are good surprised nobody has mentioned them. Pre 2000 shape car's aren't very good on fuel though in my experience.
Suzuki Ignis is a very good car and again chain driven.
Fords will need a timing belt change at 10 years of age so watch out for this. Good cars otherwise if not rusty. Look for rust issues on previous MOT's (online if not in paper form)

warehouse

Yeah a Micra is OK if you want to look like an idiot on the road, it's got to be the most ugly car of all time and driven by the worlds worst drivers!

Get a focus. Superb car, reliable and cheap as chips for spares.

Red_Cat

I would also recommend the Micra. My DW has had a 53 plate since Aug 05, and the only things that needed replacement were "wear and tear" parts, i.e. battery, tyres, brake pads and one wheel bearing. Fuel econmy is good, no rust and is fun to drive.

Must keep on top of oil changes though! I have heard this keeps the chain in good order.