How much do you need to spend to get a decent car...

Herzlos

With the current car market, £1000 is banger money - it's virtually impossible to find something for less than that which doesn't have some kind of "spares and repairs" disclaimer. That would be have been £500 pre covid.

So I think you probably need to get up to about £3000 to get anything that's not at risk come the next MOT but it's very much a gamble. You could spend a fortune on a crap one or get a great one cheap. I reckon that if you're not too bothered with the what part, then focus on getting something that's been looked after and is in good condition.

It seems the newer stuff gets, the worse the overpricing is at the moment. I bought nearly new last year because a 6 month old, 4k miles version was only about 30% more expensive than a 4 year old, 40k miles version. Normally that 4 year old version would have been under half the price.

Ganga

I am in the same boat ,i own an 19 year old Vauxhall Astra and i manage to get it through its MOT every year BUT now it,s outer font wings are starting to rot and cannot get second hand ones local ( Moonstone Grey ) and wish i had bought a new Dacia Sandero a couple of years ago when they were £8k, i had the cash and still kick myself as the entry model is now over £11k!!
as others have said a decent second hand car is now probably over £8k-£10k frightening.

Flight3287462

Here is one for you and that will be quite nippy.

https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/40327983/clean-title-2012-skoda-fabia-mont-sandwich

Should get that for £2-£3k 

Worth looking on Copart especially if you can get someone who knows what they are about to have a look.

fatbelly

Flight3287462 said:

Here is one for you and that will be quite nippy.

https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/40327983/clean-title-2012-skoda-fabia-mont-sandwich

Should get that for £2-£3k 

Worth looking on Copart especially if you can get someone who knows what they are about to have a look.

If speed is important you could chip that.

I like the estate versions of the Fabia more than the hatch

Flight3287462

fatbelly said:

Flight3287462 said:

Here is one for you and that will be quite nippy.

https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/40327983/clean-title-2012-skoda-fabia-mont-sandwich

Should get that for £2-£3k 

Worth looking on Copart especially if you can get someone who knows what they are about to have a look.

If speed is important you could chip that.

I like the estate versions of the Fabia more than the hatch

I'll upset the OP but here goes.  I picked up a 16 plate Monte Carlo Estate for my daughter  for £1,800 from Copart early during Covid, spent £1,000 getting it repaired  (isn't it great when there has been a flood and all the parts are in plentiful supply).  So all in at it cost £2,800, that is now valued at £9-10k mint or about £5-6k as is with the CatS marker. 

prowla

I bought a Renault Scenic 6 years ago for £400; it costs me something like that to keep it going each year, which ain't bad.

That adds up to ~£3k.

I've also got a 4 year old BMW which costs me about the same per month.