Cheap, Economical, Reliable Car

crazymotorbik... · Nearly there... Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Karma :

Hey,
I'm currently looking for a car it must be:

-Cheap to buy £500-£600
-Cheap to insure
-Economical to run
-Reliable

I'll mainly be using it for commuting the 7miles to work and back, but i also go to Leeds now and again snowboarding, so needs to be capable of motorway work.

I've been looking at Renault Clios, Vauxhall Corsas and Ford Fiestas. However i know nothing about cars so have no idea what these cars are like.

I will not buy a peugeot tho. Most ppl i know who have had these cars end up with problems!

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Shaun.

reu · Trackday Trickster Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Karma :

Citren saxo mate probally your best bet hope this helps mate Thumbs Up

____________________
125cc Pitbike <sold> Aprilla Mx50 <current>

Shaane · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Karma :

Maybe a 106 Diesel? Or a corsa Diesel or something along those lines.
____________________
EMRA Roadstock #92 - Paperwork Permitted.
Previous: 1992 DT125R
Current: ~ 2005 ZX6R C1H

EddyJones · Crazy Courier Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Karma :

Ive owned a 12v Corsa B since I passed my test, never set a foot wrong,

Insurance is 600
Decent on petrol

I payed 500 for mine

The main thing with small hatchbacks is to get one that has been treated well, mine came from a vicar who was the only owner!

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

moneypit · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Karma :

Older VW Polo, crazy bling rat look like this one from VWNW on sunday.

I'm a bit biased because i'm a Dub girl at heart.
____________________
2008 Honda CBR 125R 'Style Over Substance'
Zipping 'round Manchester like a wasp in a jar.

MaybeGuy · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Karma :

reliant rialto...

cost me £127...

£600 insurance...

80 miles to the gallon...

can be carried.
____________________
Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!! Mr. Green

Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

EddyJones · Crazy Courier Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Karma :

Matt, I would LOVE to see you drive that car down the motorway Laughing

MaybeGuy · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Karma :

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

I'd say look for a corsa, ideally a 1.2 or 1.4 petrol.
We had one a few years ago, and it never put a foot wrong. It was as boring as hell, but never gave us any trouble Thumbs Up

Peugeots/Citroens can be unreliable, i should know cos ive owned a few Laughing

Phil_G · Traffic Copper Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Karma :

Kal · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Karma :

Escort/Orion 1.6 Diesel as long as the wings aren't rotting it will go forever would be my choice.

Metro

Escort

Fiesta

Golf

Mind you even the Ford petrol motor seems pretty solid. My partners 12 year old 1.4 Escort just rocked over the 100k mark. Don't get me wrong it's had work done, but then again the last time it had a service was a good 70k ago.

(My partner dosn't hold with servicing cars - apparently they break down if you do Sad

)
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

I'm selling my 2.0 Nissan Primera turbo diesel if you want it. Does about 40mpg, got 155k on it but drives good as new and there's no rust whatsoever (except a small bit on the underside of the bonnet near the catch). Just put 6months tax on it still got MOT for then aswell.

karen_moomin · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Apr 2004 Karma :

Ford Fiesta Thumbs Up

We bought one recently - we need it to do 6 miles per day plus the odd big journey.

It's reliable, cheap and I'd recommend it.

I've had a Saxo before, they are more fun to drive than a Fiesta but the old ones tend to break a lot and parts are not as cheap as Ford parts.

J0Al1 · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Nov 2006 Karma :

Your after a cheap car, for that price it will be quite old. I would not go for a ford, citreone or a vauxhaull. noooooo

Even my polo used to give me electrical trouble and that was when it was 5 years old!!

I'd go for an old civic. . . .I have a 6 year old one now . . not one ounce of trouble. My XX had a very old one and it was cool. Cheap to run (compribly) and its 1.4 so insurance is low too. Penny Coin

zephyrgirl · Spanner Monkey Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Karma :

From the description of the Metro Kal put up...

https://i10.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/04/ee/60da_12.JPG

Tango675 · Crazy Courier Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Karma :

Cheep but not obvious fair:

Nissan Sunny
Skoda Fabia (old shape)
SEAT Ibiza

And if you want to buy and insure for under £600:

Hyundai Accent
Proton Persona

I once drove a £100 Proton Persona from MK to Rome and back. It proved very reliable. Was quite impressed with it. Although someone nicked the pants off my spoler Surprised

Bought an old SAAB 99 for £100, if it hadn't have blown a head gasket it would have gone to Rome. Classic Insurace means the old SAAB was cheep to insure.
____________________
Somebody give that windup merchant a torque wrench..