Budget cars!

[iCraig]

Right after my debacle with the Volvo, I am on the look out for a budget car. The cheaper the better really, I have up to £1000 but really don't want to spend over £600.

I want something fairly reliable, easy to work on and easy to get cheap parts for. And up to 1800cc.

So does any one have any suggestions/ideas?

[.....]

[ram_doom]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Reliable and easy to work on tend not to go together that well.

If you want cheap parts and easy to work on then buy a Ford. Cheap one is not going to be anything special, but parts are 10 a penny. Rust might be an issue, but same for pretty much any cheap car.

All the best

Keith
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[Phil_G]

petrol/diesel? any preference as to the brand or dislikes (i.e no japanese/french etc)

I got a little 106d that is a good car for just getting you from A to B without any glamour or fuss. Its a first time starter, and has proven to be reliable in my ownership (80,000) and has now covered 164,000. Given you were after a volvo 400 series, I think you would find the 106 too small so why not consider something like a late model escort? Cheap as hell to buy and have some reasonable space to them.

Like this one:

https://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD_web/servlet/media?id=4264275

just grabbed it off autotrader and claims to be a 48K mile car and is up for £750

failing that, peugeot 306, mk3 astra, or even a 3 series beemer

hope that helps

Phil
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[Whosthedaddy]

MINI!

Reliability is not its middle name, but they tick every other box possible
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[owdamer]

[Rookie]

Daewoo Matiz! I love these cars, it'll be my next car. Yes they're Korean but you can pick up a 99 model for next to nothing, they've got an 800cc engine so they cost nothing to insure, tax or run, and our family owned 2 of them over 5 years and neither ever skipped a beat.

[NickD]

I got rid of my last car when I moved to Laaarndaarn, cos it was gonna be surplus to requirements, but if I needed another, I'd be scouring the local papers for another late model Vauxhall Cavalier. They're well built, a really nice drive, reliable, plenty of 'em about, big enough to sleep in the back with the seats down (for winter rallies/ parties etc), and if you shop well you'll get a bargain (I paid £450 for my last, an 1800 Lsi in great nick with FSH). Ok, there's nothing glamourous about them but as a workhorse I'd have another tomorrow.
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[Nb]

[DucatiEVO]

I paid £160 for my Volvo 340 3-dr, taxed and MOT till next year!

Starts on the button and parts are cheap and cheerful.
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[TheShaggyDA]

[Finglonga]

[stinkwheel]

Look at what minicab drivers are buying and get the same thing. Just don't get one off a minicab driver.

Always used to be the Nissan Bluebird diesel but they are getting a bit old now.

My mate bought an old Hyundai accent for £650. It's just passed its third MOT since he bought it with nothing other than oil and tyres thrown at it.

[Whosthedaddy]

[stinkwheel]

My Dads solution for working on Minis was to put an old mattress onto the lawn and roll the whole car onto its side on the mattress.

Excellent if you need to change the bottom radiator hose.

[Finglonga]

[bikerbanditz]

Don't laugh but if you can find one a Lada Niva Cossack. Russian jeep that is so reliable. Loads of boot space, and you can take them off road.
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[st3v3]

yeah, they're ^^ really attractive.

[bikerbanditz]

My friend has a battered cavalier gsi and whenever we are out in it we always get pulled. Sods law I suppose, too young men in an old battered car. I would miss not being pulled over. But old cars like cavaliers/escorts get nicked a lot.
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[colin1]

my sister recently bought an l reg diesel golf for £800

i like it

you might like one too

it has more of a quality feel than something like a fiat uno or a metro

i once test drove a matiz, and they are great around town much better than a normal small car, but wdnt be so good on the motorway i suspect. also they look a bit silly as they are so small

[Resurrection]

As bad as Ebay is there is some cracking late night bargains to be spotted especially by people who either dont have a clue about cars or Ebay, I bought a H reg polo 1.3 coupe with tax and test on it for £80. I phoned the woman before hand and she was telling me allsorts of rubbish!

Turned up and all she needed was a basic service and a back box which i got from my mates car shop for £20, fitted it on the pavement outside and was away!

Got me too somerset and back all the way from manchester and never skipped a beat!

HTH

Res
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[Al]

Just buy a Toyota whatever model is unimportant. (old Carina's are a bargain)

I managed 60k out of my mr2 which I thrashed everywhere (115k miles)

I drove a Toyota Corona through the outback of Australia 1984 without so much as an oil change, 12,000km in 3 months and only a new rad(412km).

Now I own a 1992 Celica Gti-16 which I've not spent a penny on apart from a new set of front brake pads (195k miles)

why bother buying some french bit of crap and saving a 100 quid when you can get a proper car for a little more..

to be honest I'd never own a car other then a Toyota( perhaps a newish Honda) even if they are the most boring cars in the world
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[colin1]

you could probably get an h reg 3litre supra for less than £1000

[Al]

Not sure if it would meet the criteria (easy to work on and easy to get cheap parts for. And up to 1800cc.)

But it would still be a lot more fun Almost reason enough to not ride through the winter, but not quite
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