Cheap car instead of car hire

Pixie5740

I’ve come home for a visit and I’ll be returning overseas in about 6 weeks. I looked at hiring a car but it’s quite a lot of money (over £1500 for a tiny car like a VW Up) for that length of time so I’m looking at buying a cheap car with a view to keeping it for a future visit if it turns out not to be a total lemon. There’s also the possibility I’ll return to the uk for good towards the end of 2022 so this would give me a car to tide me over until I find something more permanent. 

I’ve Mini Cooper, private sale, for £1695 which I think I could haggle down because it’s far too much for this car even with the relatively low mileage for the age. 

Mini Cooper 1.6 Chilli Pack 
Manual 5 speed , Petrol 
FSH , serviced December 2021 , 6 stamps 
MOT 24/12/2022 
New hand break , new pads , new bolt joint 
All documents present , two (2) keys . 

Nice Mini Cooper R50 model in Labrador Black , all original , 79k miles Warranted, black leather interior with full panoramic roof 
Only three (3) owners from new. 
Good condition for the year.

What do the MSE motorists think?

Stubod

..sounds like a plan, assume you have somewere "off road" you can "sorn" it while you are away?

Nobbie1967

Presumably you’ve got a permanent address to keep the car at and register it. Insurance might be an issue if you’re not U.K. resident. I’d probably avoid old Minis as plenty of expensive stuff can go wrong and stick with something simple like a 107/C1/Aygo.

Pixie5740

Stubod said:

..sounds like a plan, assume you have somewere "off road" you can "sorn" it while you are away?

I could leave it with a family member or friend who could use it as a second vehicle whilst I’m away….if that’s allowed. Work might also let me SORN it on their premises since it’s because of work I’m overseas. 

Pixie5740

Nobbie1967 said:

Presumably you’ve got a permanent address to keep the car at and register it. Insurance might be an issue if you’re not U.K. resident. I’d probably avoid old Minis as plenty of expensive stuff can go wrong and stick with something simple like a 107/C1/Aygo.

The Mini is out. I’ve upset the owner by suggesting the price is on the high side. 

I’ve also seen a 2008 Nissan Note. Not as fancy but bigger boot and 5 doors. 

[Deleted User]

The note should be cheaper to run and more practical. 

Pixie5740

Deleted_User said:

The note should be cheaper to run and more practical. 

That’s what I was thinking as much as I have a soft spot for Minis having grown up with the old Austin Minis. 

I’ve also seen a Mercedes A-class, diesel with low mileage and heated seats but being a Mercedes it’s going to have the same higher running costs like a Mini compared with a Nissan Note. 

mobileron

Minis not very reliable get a skoda,will last for years.

facade

Notes leak like a sieve in the rain.

Check the spare wheel well for water, check for damp carpets in the front, check for mould under the seats and alongside the seat runners, and for lots of condensation on the inside of the windows.

There is about 2 inches of hard foam below the carpets, so it is possible for a lot of water to lie in the bottom of the car but not be visible.

Other than water leaks, flimsy Renault sourced components and broken springs, the petrol engines are reliable & cheap to run. (Nissan parts are very very very expensive, but they don't break)

(The auto rips a subframe mount out of the chassis below the battery due to a design flaw, but the manuals are fine)

The diesel is the 1.5 Renault unit, and depending on your point of view is either the greatest engine ever made or a load of rubbish

Pixie5740

Other cars in the running are a Skoda Fabia and a Mazda 6.  However, I have hit a stumbling block with the car insurance.  All I have found so far is temporary car insurance so I'd need to buy the car in someone else's name, pay for their insurance etc, and then take out temporary insurance for myself when I want to use it.  It's starting to become a total kerfuffle where I might as well just hire a car and suck up the cost because I cannot remain in the village I grew up in without a car as I feel trapped.

Rolandtheroadie

Note's a good car. 
 2007 1.4 petrol we had for a while, the MOT guy always said they were great wee cars and very little common issues.
 Biggest bill was when something went inside the gearbox. Done the clutch at the same time, just under £300 all in. Apart from that, consumables. 
 There was an air bag recall, check its been done or arrange to get it done. 
 Another thing about the note is headroom for rear passengers. The shape of the roof mean's its comfortable for taller folks as well compared to some I've sat in the back of. The boot space is also adjustable I think from memory? Rear seat slides forward and back. 
 And the glove box is cooled.