Cheapest way to do 20k a year...

allllec

allllec

allllec

Soldato
Joined
5 Aug 2006
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4,261
Without a bike licence anyway.

Mate just asked me, he needs a car now to do 16-20k a year in. For as cheap as possible.

Budget = 1k. Wants cheap to service (when doing it yourself anyway!) and insure (same age as me no ncb). And if it can be slightly cool as well that'd be nice.

Anyway just wanted some ideas. Personally I've so far suggested 306 HDI.

Apparently v. economical, they look nice enough, and shouldn't be too hard to service and keep on top of stuff.

Obviously not the most comfortable place to sit and do 20k a year in, but cheapness is the key here. Not comfort! :)

So anyone want to raise me?

Ta

Alec
 
Janesy B said:
M...
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Insurance would be a bit higher, along with slightly worse economy I think it'd outweight the fact you could spend less than 1k, but i'll mention it (not sure it'll go down to well on the looks front!)

Jokester said:
Buy a banger for £200 with a years MOT.
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:p Don't think he wants a banger, he'll happily service a car (well no, get me too) but I'm not sure he wants to be repairing it should things go wrong (which I know can happen with anything, but the increased risk of breaking down on the way to work in the morning wont appeal much I imagine). However I will mention it, any particular cars to look out for on the cheap banger front? Bearing in mind no luxo barges, insurance is the biggest expense here. (probably on par with fuel costs if not more!)

Ta

Alec
 
fuel? needed everyday?

If he needs it to be on top form everyday and good on the ful then probably a n/a 306d?
 
allllec said:
Insurance would be a bit higher, along with slightly worse economy I think it'd outweight the fact you could spend less than 1k, but i'll mention it (not sure it'll go down to well on the looks front!)



:p Don't think he wants a banger, he'll happily service a car (well no, get me too) but I'm not sure he wants to be repairing it should things go wrong (which I know can happen with anything, but the increased risk of breaking down on the way to work in the morning wont appeal much I imagine). However I will mention it, any particular cars to look out for on the cheap banger front? Bearing in mind no luxo barges, insurance is the biggest expense here. (probably on par with fuel costs if not more!)

Ta

Alec
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You (your friend) have a very low budget but a high expectation clearly...
Its a tool to do lots of miles in, looks shouldnt really be an issue. reliability (at £1k is gonna be hard) and economy have to be the only 2 things that matter here surely?
 
Muffin` said:
fuel? needed everyday?

If he needs it to be on top form everyday and good on the ful then probably a n/a 306d?
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Well I didn't want to limit it to diesel, but with that kind of mileage it'd probably be the best bet, since they isn't much scope for spending less on the initial outlay of the car. And yeah needs to be used everyday, thus be reliable (which obviously we can never guarantee but can improve that chances with a sensible choice!)

Jokester said:
You don't service it, you bin it and buy a "new" one the following year.
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I didn't suggest servicing a banger, I just meant that's really the limit of involvement with the car! :) Bangernomics make sense but there's slightly more risk involved, which if something does go wrong then its gonna be a garage job which then defies the cheapest way of motoring. I'm not putting down the suggestion at all, after all its not up to me!

Morba said:
You (your friend) have a very low budget but a high expectation clearly...
Its a tool to do lots of miles in, looks shouldnt really be an issue. reliability (at £1k is gonna be hard) and economy have to be the only 2 things that matter here surely?
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Looks are not an issue in the slightest, It was more tounge in cheek than anything, like the title suggests its the cheapest (thus most reliable) way of doing 20k a year as you pointed out! Ideally for 2years on the trot I suspect.

Thanks for the ideas, keep em rolling.

Ta

Alec
 
can i ask why the need to do so many miles?
if its work related then surely something a bit better must be needed and warrented!
 
Morba said:
can i ask why the need to do so many miles?
if its work related then surely something a bit better must be needed and warrented!
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I think its just more of everything really. Its only normal 9-5 30miles a day commute for work, the rest is just lots and lots of 'social' use. Be it popping down the shops, over a mates or down to the beach for the weekend.

He has no interest in cars really, just wants 'a tool' to do the job as someone said above. No hassle basically :) And of course cheap as poss!

Forgot to add he's just let me know, he'd really like a hatchback (first proper car (not man enough for a big car i suspect ;))). What about Fezzas and what not? I know nothing of the diesel verity! Input would be appreciated :)
 
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just a thought as its for commuting to work, it surely better to be spending a bit more on something thats going to be a bit more reliable over those sort of miles a year.
don't want to keep having a breakdown in something crap and being late for work or worse being late home after leaving work!
 
Morba said:
just a thought as its for commuting to work, it surely better to be spending a bit more on something thats going to be a bit more reliable over those sort of miles a year.
don't want to keep having a breakdown in something crap and being late for work or worse being late home after leaving work!
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Exactly what I said, but no budge. Can't say I've ever owned a derv 306 but they seem to last for a while looking around on the net?
 
Jokester said:
Buy a banger for £200 with a years MOT.
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This. I've never ever paid more than £1,000 for my cars (including a year's insurance) and I've managed just fine. I drive a 58 reg now, but I really enjoyed my time in 'bangers' - so much so I'd seriously consider doing it again!

So long as you know the big things to watch out for, or have a savvy mate, you're well in. Looks mean nothing, and there's not really such thing as a 'cool' banger (depending on your definition of cool though, I suppose). As was said above, we're talking tools for a job here.

Things like low-ish mileage Pug 405s with a 1.9td lump are worth looking at as they're only popular in their 'niche' (read: cheap) and cheap to insure. They pull well, do 50mpg on a run and have a nice turbo. Check electrics before purchase, though I mean windows and such. Don't ever expect to find working RCL in them as that invariably dies long before you buy it. Also wishbones, as they're a £55 a side fix even if you fit yourself (compared to £17 for an Astra part for example). Also make sure the coolant system works OK and the fan doesn't come on immediately on start-up. Fifth gear can bounce on them, so make sure there's no movement when you apply/remove throttle in fifth.

That sounds a lot but it's nothing really major. Just make sure the head's decent, it still pulls well and doesn't get over 90oC (but make sure the temp gauge DOES go up from cold!) and you should have a good one. A decent one can be had for £300 to £400 easily on a L to N reg with <175k on the clock and will easily last a year. I did 55k in a year in my old 405 estate and it still went like new. The guy I sold it to (with 265,000 on the clock) drove it to Russia and back (honestly!) that year and it's still going to this day.

1.4 three door Astra petrols are cheap to run and insure, and are "chuck around, scrape the sides, who really cares?" cheap. I snapped a cam belt on mine (car bought for £150) and the scrap yard delivered and fitted a 'new' engine for £100 that lasted me another 20k before I sold it at a profit. Or a nice 5 door (maybe estate if you can find a decent one) with a bigger engine or a derv lump.

Ditto mid-90s Mondeo diesels and, if you can find one, a nice 1.7td (Isuzu lump) Cavalier or early Vectra. Yeah they're Vauxhalls again, but they're bloody cheap and run on 100% veggie oil straight out of Tesco (as do 405s with a Bosch IP btw) at significant savings. All legal, too.

My brother bought a H reg Honda Concerto 1.6 VTEC with full leather and 60k on the clock - literally unblemished in every way and FSH. Price? £450. Primeras are worth a look, as are old Passats (diesel). There's plenty of motors that can run well for no money for the sake of 12 months.

Basically, if you CAN'T buy and run a car for a year on a £1,000 budget you're doing it wrong. Sure, things occasionally go wrong and things explode :p But so long as you have breakdown cover and buy sensibly to begin with you should never have to use it. I called RAC out once in three years (>150,000 miles) of bargain motoring - and only then because I had a wishbone snap due to a bloody big, unavoidable pothole on a DC.

This type of motoring will probably generate strange noises from the BMW/anti VX/high-end set, but for what you're after the above holds true. Just don't make the mistake I did early on... No expensive services (oil changes etc at home are <£20 and worth it though), and if something goes bang and will cost more than £50 to fix, scrap it and BUY A "NEW" CAR. :D Personally, I'd buy a "British" car like a Mondeo or Astra. There's more to choose from, you can afford to walk away from 10 bad ones to find 1 exceptional one, and parts and labour are silly cheap at this end of the market should something minor go wrong.
 
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Jokester said:
Buy a banger for £200 with a years MOT.
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1.4 diesel ax. if you want the cheapest of the cheap. However it is by far the worst car I have ever had the misfortune of driving.


he can't have everything either you go for something comfortable like a mondeo which costs more in fuel. of you go for the cheapest of the cheap and have a horrid boring uncomfortable drive.
 
allllec said:
Forgot to add he's just let me know, he'd really like a hatchback (first proper car (not man enough for a big car i suspect ;))). What about Fezzas and what not? I know nothing of the diesel verity! Input would be appreciated :)
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Thats ok, because most Mondeos are hatchbacks.

Doing 20k in a Fiesta is something so awful I shudder thinking about it. He wouldnt live in a tent to save money so dont drive a supermini 20k a year when a Mondeo can be picked up for 300 quid.
 
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