Small reliable car?

Chesnut1

Looking to buy a small reliable run around for under £1000. Main priority is safety and very good mpg. Would prefer a diesel, anyone know of good options? I was thinking of a renault clio or pug but not sure. It is due to the cost of fuel for commuting, my old ladies will have to put up with a smaller vehichle and the 4x4 will have to sit in the drive for towing only. Only option as my fuel bill now stands at £60 + a week and rising and I only do about 230 miles a week. So all help much appreciated, I will consider all makes except Fiat's (no offence to Fiat owners jsut a couple of bad memories)

anewman

Wonder if you could get a good conversion done on the 4x4 to LPG to help reduce fuel costs. Anyway I am sure some people will be along with recommendations on cars.

AdrianHi

Firstly don't close your mind to petrol cars. From 1st Jan to 21st May this year unleaded went up 10% and diesel 17%. If this trend continues most petrol cars will be cheaper to fuel than their diesel equivalents during the first half of 2009. The smaller the car the sooner this happen, you may well find the total cost of ownership of a small petrol car is already lower than the similar diesel.

For a £1000 reliable economical small petrol car doing 47mpg I'll vote for a 2002 Nissan Micra 1.0. 3 and 5 door models available. I've driven one as a courtesy car, it handles the motorway surprisingly well at 70-80mph , generally fun to drive despite an on paper 0-60 time of 15 seconds.
Insurance and tax disk among the cheapest going too.
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Detail.aspx?deriv=22672

ArsenalFC

I'll seconded the above, I had Nissan a micra (previous shape 2000) and it is very reliable indeed, the newer model is not even as reliable as the old one. For £1k you can either choose as new as possible with a basic trim or get an older one with more options i.e electric windows etc. Just remember the pre 2003 micra is a cheap reliable basic car which is what u want.

AdrianHi

I had 2 Nissan Primera's, the first I took to 115,000 miles and the only thing that ever broke was an £80 fuel pump. I used to get Micra's as loan cars when mine was in for service.
Micras and Primeras are built in Sunderland UK in one of the worlds most efficient and productive car factories Japan factories included.
If Nissan could build a good looking Primera and give it the same or better driving characteristics as they had in the 1990's (new one has gone soft and boring) I'd sell my BMW tomorrow and get one.

Hintza

AdrianHi wrote: »

If Nissan could build a good looking Primera and give it the same or better driving characteristics as they had in the 1990's (new one has gone soft and boring) I'd sell my BMW tomorrow and get one.

I basically thought the Quashquai was the Primera replacement.

Sorted MIL out with one this year (from a CRV) and she loves it.

nullogik

I second the Nissan Micra as well (previous shape). They sold by the bucket load, so there are plenty to pick from.

LandyAndy

Hintza wrote: »

I basically thought the Quashquai was the Primera replacement.

Sorted MIL out with one this year (from a CRV) and she loves it.

I thought the Squashedfly replaced the Almera.

Although, perhaps the Primera was also replaced by the Cashcow.

AdrianHi

LandyAndy wrote: »

I thought the Squashedfly replaced the Almera.

Although, perhaps the Primera was also replaced by the Cashcow.

The Quas..thingy..silly name I can't pronouce never mind spell :rolleyes: ... is on the Almera platform and sits in the range replacing Almera and Primera which they couldn't sell.
The Primera was always the best driving car of it's kind with plain and later ugly styling and so it died. I cannot help thinking with more effort on styling inside and out Nissan would have a Mondeo / Mazda 6 beater, but the fashion is for crossovers and MPV's and the Quash. sells like hot cakes, so much so they might start building them in Sunderland too soon.
We considered it but the boot shape and space is hopeless for us - Almera size you see, we need Primera car size boot floor space for the type of kit my wife has to carry for work along side puchchairs etc.

LandyAndy

AdrianHi wrote: »

The Quas..thingy..silly name I can't pronouce never mind spell :rolleyes: ... is on the Almera platform and sits in the range replacing Almera and Primera which they couldn't sell.
The Primera was always the best driving car of it's kind with plain and later ugly styling and so it died. I cannot help thinking with more effort on styling inside and out Nissan would have a Mondeo / Mazda 6 beater, but the fashion is for crossovers and MPV's and the Quash. sells like hot cakes, so much so they might start building them in Sunderland too soon.
We considered it but the boot shape and space is hopeless for us - Almera size you see, we need Primera car size boot floor space for the type of kit my wife has to carry for work along side puchchairs etc.

You didn't fancy the Citroen Cross-Dresser then?;)

AdrianHi

LandyAndy wrote: »

You didn't fancy the Citroen Cross-Dresser then?;)

Nope, my wife went from a P Reg. Almera to a new Mazda 6. These midi MPV's are all well and good as shopping and school run tools but they don't compare to a longer wheel base "proper" family car for distance cruising. You need the longer wheel base for boot space and a flatter ride.

Were getting a bit off Chesnut1's topic here