best value run around car

CharlieRabbit01

mad_rich wrote: »

That sort of commute will be pretty hard on the car. 10 miles in the morning, 10 in the evening. You should budget a bit for maintenance.

I don't think you'll be able to beat the train on pure cost, but you might find its worth it for convenience. If it helps, you can mentally take a good third off the ownership costs and shift them to your 'weekends and holidays' budget!

Definitely do a couple of insurance quotes, to give you an idea of cost.

Thats the reason I'm considering a car for really, based on the convenience of it, as at the moment we cant just pop and visit family as its 2 hours by train to OH parents and 7 hours to mine, and obviously with a train you have to plan your travel more.

jaydeeuk1

Horizon has the right idea, something basic, japanese or korean.

I like daewoo's as parts come from vauxhalls and they're cheap to insure. Not too good on fuel though so tax is higher. Kalos or lanos.

What sort of roads are they? Scooter might be an option if you're feeling confident, although you'll need a cbt.

Hoof_Hearted

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

What sort of roads are they? Scooter might be an option if you're feeling confident, although you'll need a cbt.

And an organ donor card.....

bigjl

Old shape Hyundai Accent used to be a good car for next to know money but might be more difficult to find one worth having now.

Buying a cheap car can be a minefield for people that know what they are doing so will be worse for somebody with no car buying experience.

I would take the train in your situation.

Then you can snooze, read on the commute rather than sitting in traffic worrying about what may or not be about to fall off your cheap car.

fivetide

I wouldn't say 20 miles a day is particularly hard on a car. Being run for an hour a day will help keep things like the battery in good nick.

Toyota Starlet is a good small car. Cheap, reliable, cheap to insure etc etc.

londonTiger

dont buy a £500 banger, you won't enjoy it and will miss the basic features that modern cars have.

worried_jim

londonTiger wrote: »

dont buy a £500 banger, you won't enjoy it and will miss the basic features that modern cars have.

What like the leather, auto, climate and a years MOT I have for £495, I feel cheated to find out I am missing the basic features that modern cars have.

CharlieRabbit01

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Horizon has the right idea, something basic, japanese or korean.

I like daewoo's as parts come from vauxhalls and they're cheap to insure. Not too good on fuel though so tax is higher. Kalos or lanos.

What sort of roads are they? Scooter might be an option if you're feeling confident, although you'll need a cbt.

First and last part are town roads quite busy during commuter times and in between (approx. 10 minutes of the journey) is dual carriageway.

If I was single single I'd consider a moped but having a live in partner a car would make more sense as when we go out together we'd still have to pay for a train.

CharlieRabbit01

bigjl wrote: »

Old shape Hyundai Accent used to be a good car for next to know money but might be more difficult to find one worth having now.

Buying a cheap car can be a minefield for people that know what they are doing so will be worse for somebody with no car buying experience.

I would take the train in your situation.

Then you can snooze, read on the commute rather than sitting in traffic worrying about what may or not be about to fall off your cheap car.

So far my vehicle history stacks up as follows:

Moped - Yamaha neos picked myself

Car - Peugeot 205 1.8 diesel (k reg I think) - picked by an old friend who is a mechanic (no longer in touch) good runner till clutch cable went in the middle of Brighton traffic lights!

Car - astra 1.3 or something petrol p reg - picked by my mum and supposedly knowledgeable partner - biggest pile of junk ever, 2 weeks after collecting it started going wrong.

bigjl

Ah, I thought you had not drive for the last ten years, something my sister did (8 yrs in her case)

If you are confident on a scooter or moped then I would seriously consider one.

Little 125cc 4 stroke ones will give 100mpg and really only need minimal maintenance.

A litre or so of oil every few thousand miles due to the small sump and most have a strainer instead of a filter. Tyres last for years and drivebelts also last a long time.

If you bought a fairly new one you could finance it over a couple of years for next to nothing.

You will be less hammered for having no no claims, I insured a brand new Yamaha X MAx 250 two years ago for just over £300 full comp, my bike no claims had long since expired, Both times I was insured with Bennets.

If it takes 30 mins in a car it will take less than 20 on a scooter.