Most Cost effective Car

johannamse

Hello,

We are about to get a car, purely for run around and truly it is a luxury as we will not need it for work. We want to get the most cost effective car there is. We will be getting second hand and will be spending hundreds, not thousands. We are not into cars and do not care about make etc. So...we have narrowed it down to 3 areas where we need to get a car at the chapest end of the scale.

1. Insurance - what cars are in the cheapest class to insure? Are there any exceptions (ie, small cars that are in expensive bands that we should look out for)?

2. Petrol - most cost effective per mile.

3. Tax - car in cheapest tax band.

So is it even possible to get a car that fits into all of these criteria? Many thanks for any help and sorry if these questions have been asked before (did do a search). Thanks.

crossleydd42

If outright economy is what you're after, city cars and superminis like the Fiat Panda, Kia Picanto, Toyota Yaris, Seat Ibiza or Honda Jazz could be what you're after. They can return almost 70mpg on the combined cycle with a diesel and exceed 50mpg with a petrol.

If you're mainly on the motorway, you might want to sacrifice some economy for a bit of added oomph for overtaking and cruising. Powerful diesel versions of the Ibiza still manage more than 50mpg, however, as do diesel-engined small family cars such as the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra or Volkswagen Golf.

If you buy the weekly magazine Auto Express, it will show car prices, eco band, fuel consumption and insurance groups.

Good luck!

BenL

Think Fiesta, Micra, small Peugeots etc.

Small car and small engine = lowest insurance - 106 1.1

Small car - larger engine = higher insurance 106 1.6.

You'll need the autotrader for your area and the bargains under £1000 section.

I used to have a peugeot 106 1.5 diesel. This was cheap on insurance and v good on fuel. Mine was an N reg and will be around £900 probably these days.

Fiestas etc have lots of cheap parts available.

Make sure you don't crash though as no safety features in your price bracket.

Long MOT is a bonus but you'll struggle for 12 months to come with it.

Do you have any No claims bonus??? Old NCD is only valid for 2 years after the last period of cover.

This could cost you nearly as much as what you have paid for the car.

Run some quotes through online quote engines when you have found some possibles in the autotrader before you call any buyers.

The parkers.co.uk website will give you price information and you can also pay and download a buyers guide for the models you want and it will show you what to look out for e.g. known rust areas.

Hope this helps

Ben

DO_YOU_KNOW_DAVE

Is this a family car or for a couple?
Anything 1.4ltr or under is in the cheap tax bracket. Will you be using it for long trips or just local trips?

jjames_3

Something like a Fiat Siecento is likely to be as cheap to run as cars can be, although there would be a question mark over durability.

Get a good one, and an old Fiesta or Micra can be run on an absolute shoestring.

But at the price you're looking at, your main worry is going to be the cost of keeping the car on the road. You need to be going for the car in the best condition you can find, with no serious inherent issues with reliability. Condition is everything at this end of the market.

The good news is that cars have never been more reliable or durable, and even older vehicles can be utterly reliable. We bought a Nissan Sunny 5 years ago for £1600 and we've never had to lift a spanner to it in 55000 miles, and the MOT has never cost us more than £120 in any one year. There are plenty of good cars around like that.

bazza1603

Hi,

My recommendation would be a Corsa.

You should be able to pick up a cheap basic model. If it was my I would be aiming for a tidy K or L reg in a crappy colour. The bad colours do reduce the price a lot. You should pick up one for £500-600. Diesels are also possible for under £700, but make sure they cambelt has been changed, it starts easy and that it doesnot smoke. Its its a diesel make sure it has PAS.

You could aim for a 1997 plate or similar but more than likey will be knackered.

Stay away from anything with aftermarket alloys, exhaust and stickers. Chavs love them. They may look nice but they will have been hammered and will have sticky seats.

I have owned many cars including 3 corsas. Parts are cheap on the pre 2000 models.

Best Regards

Barry

se999

I know you say you want a second car, but alternatives could possibly work out cheaper and better. If it's occasional use you can sometimes get 'regular' deals with local carhire companies, which could save you money & mean you drive a new car & without the hastle of servicing etc. A friend used to have a car dropped off and collected from his house.

Car clubs are also an increasingly common possibility, where the club owns the cars or hires them from a hire company and you normally pay an annual subscription plus a cost each time you use it.

Also using the cash to treat yourself to taxis instead when going out in the evening instead of someone having to be the nominated driver.

This article covers some of the alternatives:

http://www.sytravelwise.net/motoring_sheffield_personal.htm

We swapped 18 months ago back to one car, we did the sums and realised that it released enough cash for us to hire a car or use taxis when needed. Also if we needed to hire a car we could choose the right car for our need i.e. an inner city runaround, a people carrier or whatever!! Admittedly we've only hired a budget one so far for a few days when the main car was out of action.

So I'd recommend you look at your budget for this second car, and what use you want from it and see what option has the best benefits for you.

johannamse

Wow thanks for great response...

definitely not a second car...we have only ever had one car between us, could not afford to run two.

Thanks for tips about crappy colours and cheap replacement parts - never thought of this - so will now definitely be getting fuscia pink or yellow - no shame me!

I have had a look on autotrader and fiesta's seem ten a penny and very cheap. Will look up corsa's now. Will defintely get under 1.4l.

Thanks for all your advice, for a car novice I have learnt a bit more than I knew last week. Oh...and will also check insurance before I buy. Cheers!

Skint_Catt

http://www.parkers.co.uk/insurance/?frommenu=true

Here you can search by Insurance group - check out all the Group 1's first and work your way up if necessary - Parkers are good for giving you an idea of mileage and parts too.

Ford's are always a good bet - even an old Escort - my Dad's K reg diesel has been round the clock 1.5 times and has never given any trouble and it hasn't been that well looked after. The Fiestas are great runners too. Vauxhalls used to rust away so look for any sign of this on old Corsas. They're also highly liable to get nicked as the Chav's love them. Don't buy a Rover in any shape or form - my other half just sold his 1998 416SLI for £150 as the head gasket has gone twice and my Rover 114SLi was a nightmare for bodywork and the exhaust going.

Good luck and enjoy!

S_C

happygal_3

Hi!

I bought a Fiat Cinquecento this weekend as a runaround and would receommend them!

There's just about enough room for me, my partner and two toddlers.

It's group 2 insurance (cost £130 for year) low tax and cheap to run.

Paid £375 with 3 months tax and 8 months MOT.

Best thing of all - they are so diddy I can park with ease! :j

boogiemaster

They say rover cars cylinder head are made from recycled tin cans????? Anyway if the car over heats? the cylinder head always goes and needs skimming.
Rover cars always seem to warm up fast? In two minutes the car was heating up lovely? no other car i've had ever warmed up that fast.