Cheap, Sub-£500 Car?

[Phil W]

Hi all,

My brotheres recently regained his driving licence, but now lives outside Brighton.

Theres ample work available in the area, but it means travelling, and he doesn't have a car.

I plan to buy him a car for no more than £500, doesn't have to be fancy (obviously) but must be cheap to run, insure and fairly reliable.

Now, the first car that sprung to mind was a 106 1.5D, but if anyone has any other suggestions feel free to throw some my way

Not interested in any dirt cheap luxo-barges, has to be reliable and cheap to run, which rules out and big engined cars.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[Sparky]

Saxo 1.1i can be had for this money. Not a bad little car.

 

[DannyW]

mk1 mondeo can be had for about 300 quid with 3-6 months tax/mot

 

[timbob]

Cavalier Mk3, either a 1.8 or 2.0 8v. Good, solid, well maintained ones with history are fetching less than £500.

 

[Repta]

plenty of mondeos <£500, have a look here for some ideas and what to llok out for http://bangernomics.tripod.com/buyguide.htm

 

[peterattheboro]

Regained his license? Get him a mountain bike!

 

[Begbie]

Cavalier Mk3, either a 1.8 or 2.0 8v. Good, solid, well maintained ones with history are fetching less than £500.

 

[ChoÞÞer]

pug 306

 

[ScoobyDoo69]

pug 306

 

[Ed]

Isn't there already a £500 thread?

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17904920

 

[Howard]

Don't buy a £500 306. It'll be more trouble than life itself is worth

 

[Janesy B]

get reading:
http://pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?g=1&o=p&min=&max=500&Submit=Search

 

[ScoobyDoo69]

Don't buy a £500 306. It'll be more trouble than life itself is worth

I'm currently driving a £500 306, and it's yet to do anything wrong and I've had it for almost a year between me and my brother.

 

[fonzee]

http://pistonheads.com/sales/654063.htm

perfect!

 

[mattpc]

I think you have to view each case on its own merits with £500 cars. More than what car it's going to come down to what condition surely? I would personally take a Mondeo or Xantia that appears to have been cared for. I wouldnt be bothered about mileage. I would be bothered about if has been serviced, MOT, tyre conditions etc.

You don't want something someone else has bought as a cheap car, run in to the ground, not serviced at all and be stuck with something that needs ALL the usual service parts and consumables changing.

 

[MikeHunt79]

http://pistonheads.com/sales/654063.htm

perfect!

That's a lot of car for £500

 

[semi-pro waster]

I'll happily admit to not knowing much about cars but something like a Nissan Micra would seem to fit the bill, pretty underpowered but if the licence was lost for speeding or similar that might be no bad thing. Insurance and running costs should be low as will be the tax.

 

[mattpc]

With regards to 106D 1.5 why? Surely a small petrol engine would be just as good if not bettter? Especially with the ever growing gap in price between petrol and derv? Derv engines are good for cheaply powering large cars. I just don't get small dervs.

 

[Jez]

With regards to 106D 1.5 why? Surely a small petrol engine would be just as good if not bettter? Especially with the ever growing gap in price between petrol and derv? Derv engines are good for cheaply powering large cars. I just don't get small dervs.

While i am normally against diesels a friend of mine used to own an AX 1.5D and its economy was absolutely ridiculous. It truly was 70mpg+ on average, there isnt a lot which can beat that and its a lot better than even the tiny 1.0 petrols.

 

[mattpc]

While i am normally against diesels a friend of mine used to own an AX 1.5D and its economy was absolutely ridiculous. It truly was 70mpg+ on average, there isnt a lot which can beat that and its a lot better than even the tiny 1.0 petrols.

Wow ok- perhaps there is a point!