Best cheap, economical car?

[Fifteen15]

Just testing the water here, seeing what's out there. Not planning on buying a car anytime soon, just planning well ahead.

I've been driving a 1.3 diesel Corsa (not mine) for the last 3 years but it's about time I start looking at getting my own car. I'm looking for something cheap, about £1.5-2.5k, 05 onwards, VERY good MPG, reliable, and a decent sized engine (but not necessary, just something faster than my 1.3 deeersel). I know, I'm not asking for much!

So any suggestions?
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"Pain is weakness leaving the body, and blood makes the grass grow faster...but I'll wear my gear anyway"

[garth]

May I suggest a Peugeot 106 1.5D.

60mpg, no turbo, cheap to buy, next to nothing to go wrong, still goes well enough (mine indicates 110) parts are cheap, low tax bracket.

It's a basic car, but it has a roof and heater and is cheap, so suits me*


*except it's a diesel and front wheel drive.

[Chalky.]

Have a look at clio DCIs, 80 odd mpg.

[_Will_]

2005 Rover 25 2.0TD

Same as the mg zr with a less cool badge, cheap and cheerful on the insurance, decent 2ltr diesel lump that returns good mpg, for it's age good bang for buck - slightly more up to date styling than its predecessors.
https://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=116337935
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[Joncrete Cungle]

I had a Clio DCi the 1.5 100bhp variant, yeah yeah I know its French and therefore will fall to bits in no time Thirty quid a year emissions extortion, averaged 60mpg, cheaper on insurance extortion than other nippy small diesel cars. It was by no means sheeyite off a shovel, but had not bad bhp and torque for a small light car. Handling and stopping was a bit better than I had expected.

Finding a non chavified car with SH and reasonable mileage took a while, if I found another I would buy one again.

[STONEY!]

I agree with Garth, I love peugeot diesels, had a few now and they are bloody good.

106 1.5 diesel bombproof but basic can be bought for sub £500 easy cheap-ish tax at £130 a year and 60mpg if driven sensibly and not much less if thrashed.

306 1.9td diesel bombproof bit less basic but 50mpg and higher tax £220 or so, bonus is its a lot faster and a better tow car.

206 1.4hdi £30 a year tax all mod cons fast and easy to get bits for but a bit delicate.


I currently own all of the above, still trying to decide whether to keep the 106 or the 206 (306 is on long term loan to a mate)

106 is slow and reliable, less refined, slightly worse on fuel and £100 higher tax

206 is faster more refined more economical but easier to break and a bit of a girls car to look at lol

[robs321]

Our skoda fabia is still going strong, its an 02 I paid 2.3k for it in 2007, My better half has stuck over 50k on it. Its a 1.9 SDI and on a run will touch 70 mpg. Had a coil spring and a temp sensor go wrong so far!

[tom_m]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peugeot-207-Urban-HDI-1-4-/121079991992?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c30ee0eb8

one of these

i had one, 1.4 hdi diesel, 67bhp, £30 a year road tax, 600-650 miles to a tank of £60 diesel (100 to a tenner!).
also really cheap to insure and i did 30k totally hassle free in mine, will also happily cruise at 110mph (on a private test track of course )

maybe slightly higher than youre budget but can pick a good one up for between 2.5k - 3k
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Current: 2005 Kawasaki Er-5 C5P
Past: 2012 Yamaha Ybr 125, 2004 Yamaha Neos 50, 1994 Suzuki Gn 125, 2005 Aprilia Sportcity 125, 1988 Yamaha Tzr 125
Theory: Passed... Mod 1: Passed 22/08/12 Mod 2: Passed 22/10/12

[The Shaggy D.A.]

66.4 average MPG from a 1.9TDi SEAT Alhambra :-

https://db.tt/oaxZnUWX


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[andyscooter]

wifes got a 1.2 fabia petrol

cheap to run does about 50 mpg (at least)

tax is 120 quid a year

and its not a slow car for its engine size
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[Clanger]

What about a Mitsubishi Colt 1.3. I recently test drove an auto version, and it seemed pretty nippy, low insurance, high mpg and has decent reviews online, plus they are quite cheap to buy, and best of all are Japanese.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[bikertomm]

Wildcard.. Saxo VTR.

Love mine, 46MPG if you're gentle and a go-cart when your not..

Can be picked up for pennies on ebay, really under-rated IMO.


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[0l0dom0l0]

Seat Ibiza 1.9TDI, or VW polo 1.4/1.9TDI are good examples.
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Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[stevo as b4]

If your doing plenty of miles id go for a 55-65mpg small diesel, but if your only doing a few thousand a year, then a small petrol hatch that does 50mpg will work out at least as cheap if not cheaper. Having said that i don't really look at what is nice to drive and cover distances in unlike alot of people, so you will genreally find a small turbo diesel hatch is better to drive than a 1.0-1.2L petrol car.

I had a 900cc 700kg jap car for 2years that was cheap to run but slow and a bit small. It did 55mpg though! I now have a 2.0L car that does 20 odd mpg and id possibly swap back if i could?