Recommend second hand car

jeffsmith

Hi,

My 2001 Mazda 323 has recently failed it's MOT and the necessary repair costs (~£500) is close to the value of the car (based on browsing autotrader).

Can anyone recommended a car make and model which is fits the following criteria:
- 5 door. (Ford Focus sized)
- Reliable (!)
- Cost between £500-£2000.

I'm not worried about looks or powerful engine. I only use my car about once a week for either trips to the supermarket/gym, and occasional long journey to visit friends.

Thanks

Weird_Nev

Ford Focus.

That said, What's actually wrong with the Mazda?

It's 2001, so not yet ancient. If you could drive the cost of repairs down to £300 or so, would you be happy keeping it?

I only say that because buying at the bottom of the market, you may well end up with a less reliable car which will again cost you money for MOT's and general running.

jeffsmith

- The OSF fluid suspension unit is leaking. Kwik Fit have quoted
270 for replacing both front shock absorbers. 45 for geo-align of the front tyres.
- Corrosion in OSR and NSR wheel arch and seal that requires welding. A local garage (not VAT registered) has quoted 200 for this as it requires time to take the car apart to get access.

(originally posted in thread "Car repairs reasonable - welding and shock absorbers")

colino

If I was in the market for a Ford Focus sized, 5-door, reliable, sub £2k car, I'd buy a Ford Focus. You might just get a 2005 1.6 petrol in a good colour for that budget.

OddballJamie

Mazda 3?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201308168339267

Or another Mazda 323.

LandyAndy

How much a repair costs compared to the value of the car is only half the story.

If £500 spent on repairing a generally reliable car represents decent value to get another year (or however long) of use out of it then it is worth doing.

I like Mazdas so, if I was otherwise happy with the car, i'd be getting it repaired rather than buying a car that someone got rid of for a reason.

Prothet_of_Doom

LandyAndy wrote: »

How much a repair costs compared to the value of the car is only half the story.

If £500 spent on repairing a generally reliable car represents decent value to get another year (or however long) of use out of it then it is worth doing.

I like Mazdas so, if I was otherwise happy with the car, i'd be getting it repaired rather than buying a car that someone got rid of for a reason.

£500, for another year of motoring, isn't bad. Especially as you can probably get it for £400. If you shop around. I'd think about keeping it.

fivetide

jeffsmith wrote: »

- Corrosion in OSR and NSR wheel arch and seal that requires welding. A local garage (not VAT registered) has quoted 200 for this as it requires time to take the car apart to get access.

(originally posted in thread "Car repairs reasonable - welding and shock absorbers")

I was goign to say "is it rotton at the back?" many of these have very scabby arches. Mechanically it should be sound though. It is just keeping on top of the rot. It seems little is wrong with the car otherwise and you could well be walking into someone else's horrors if you chop it in.

Certianyl worth considering keeping if it is just a work horse.