What to get for £1 - £1.5 k?

Eliza_2

Dear all, I'm thinking of getting a new runaround car and have about £1k or maybe £1500 cash to spend max. In the past I've been very unconfident about buying cars, the sellers see me coming I'm sure as I'm no good at bargaining or asking for extras. I just don't think about it at the time. However the cars I've had have been great and lasted me years (Escort, Honda CRV etc)so the pain of knowing I've been ripped off fades over time!!

This new car needs to be rock solid, I live in the sticks, would normally have a 4 x 4 but realise I can't get that for the money but am worried about winter driving and winters are bad here. Not bothered about looks etc but does need to be able to take a bit of bumping around on country lanes and farm tracks. Short drives normally (20 miles or less) but once a month I do a 400 mile round trip on the motorway to visit elderlies.

Can anyone suggest what I should be starting to look at? Either a spec to put together or better still, make model etc that would suit me. Usually only 1 person so loads of passenger space isn't important.

Really grateful for any help, I've looked on autotrader but not sure what would be ok.

Thanks

Liz

Hintza

You won't be getting any extras from a £1,500 car. At that sort of money you need to take someone along who knows what they are doing or paying for an inspection.

All cars of that age will have some problems (eg air con not working) you just need to make sure they are not too serious.

Herzlos

Get a front wheel drive petrol old persons car with small wheels.

Front wheel drive - more predictable in the snow
Petrol - cheaper to buy, and you're unlikely doing enough mileage to make back the difference.
Old persons car - less desirable so tends to be cheaper.
Small wheels - cheaper to replace, better in the snow as they tend to be thinner. For instance, look at something with 14/15" wheels (preferably steel) rather than things that come with 17/18" alloys which is the fashion at the moment.

So I'd be looking at things like a Rover 45/75, or older Volvo saloons/estates.

But it purely on condition - don't worry about the badge, milage, colour or the spec too much. Look for one where the owners had it a while and looked after it, preferably with a full service history.

Weird_Nev

Toyota Rav-4, Honda CR-V or Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin?

OddballJamie

This looks a decent buy and comes with winter tyres.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201312080408864

Alternatively if you can haggle and raise the budget slightly for LPG.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201408016258811

Weird_Nev

OddballJamie wrote: »

This looks a decent buy and comes with winter tyres.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201312080408864

Alternatively if you can haggle and raise the budget slightly for LPG.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201408016258811

Forgot about Subaru Foresters, that's an excellent suggestion given OP's requirements.

OP - Just check that they have had a cambelt done every 50,000 miles and aren't due one for a while! It's a £300-£500 job and it's critical to the life of those engines. Other than that they should handle high miles pretty well.

Flying-High_2

Jeep Cherokee XJ the square shape but avoid the 2.5 TDs unless youre handy with the tools.. Limited Spec will come with the leather cruise toys etc.. £1500 should get a nice one maybe scrape an Orvis model.


Easy to Fix parts are 2 a penny and cheap enough.

JustinR1979

Passat tdi. 50+mpg, comfy for your long trips.
130 is pokey enough. Well screwed together cars.

arcon5

JustinR1979 wrote: »

Passat tdi. 50+mpg, comfy for your long trips.
130 is pokey enough. Well screwed together cars.

Until op gets home and starts bottoming out in her country roads

JustinR1979

Sorry, round here they lay tarmac on them, thought it was standard practice.

forgotmyname

You buy the car with the best service history. Which owner still services it despite the cost of a service being as much as the cars worth.