£400-£500 on car..?

salami1212 · 22 Oct 2009 at 19:27

Hi there.. I have about £400-500 to spend on a car, dont want to go any higher whatsoever as will only have it like 4-5 months.. Ive been looking at vw golfs, ford escorts and corsas.. Would the golf be the best most reliable choice? Cheers

iaind · 22 Oct 2009 at 19:30

Avoid the corsa like the plague.

To be honest, at this budget you're just going to have to settle on the car in the best nick for your money, you cant afford to be picky. If you're careful, a sound car shouldnt give you any issues in 5 months - just make sure its got more than 5 months MOT on it.

Look at Fiestas, 205s etc - maybe even a MK1 Mondeo?

Spuderoony · 22 Oct 2009 at 19:30

I wouldn't go for any particular car at this budget. I'd go for whatever isn't a) completely rusting, b) has an MOT, and c) has some sort of semi-recent service stamp. I don't think at this end of the scale badge reliability will come into things much.

mjt · 22 Oct 2009 at 19:32

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1268606.htm

my sister bought one for a similar price a year ago, and the only thing it needed to pass the MOT was a new back box and a new indicator stalk, which she fitted herself.
wouldn't call it 'nippy' though

it's a bargain if you want a cheap town car

OpenToSuggestions · 22 Oct 2009 at 19:34

My micra has spotless bodywork and has no rust underneath. It is an X reg so I bet it is only worth £900. There must be a few years older micras in good nick about (I have seen C reg ones about with no rust).

With £400-£500 you buy on condition, not colour, trim or engine

lambda · 22 Oct 2009 at 20:09

I don't understand why anyone would recommend anything French. They are already so unreliable in their modern forms, so why on earth would you buy a French banger?
Its just asking for constant expense and problems.

Surely the most important factor in any banger is reliability?
No Fords either, because 10 years ago they were ****.

Janesy B · 22 Oct 2009 at 20:09

Condition > Make/Model

lambda said:
I don't understand why anyone would recommend anything French. They are already so unreliable in their modern forms, so why on earth would you buy a French banger?
Its just asking for constant expense and problems.

Surely the most important factor in any banger is reliability?

Old 205s go on forever. There's nothing to go wrong on them.

Ricochet J · 22 Oct 2009 at 20:11

At that price you're better off choosing a car with the most road tax and MOT.

Schnippzle · 22 Oct 2009 at 20:16

Ricochet J said:
At that price you're better off choosing a car with the most road tax and MOT.

This tbh.

Dyson · 22 Oct 2009 at 20:36

Just get down your local auction and see what you can pick up. Private sales at this price point are laughable at times.

Joshy · 22 Oct 2009 at 20:46

lambda said:
I don't understand why anyone would recommend anything French. They are already so unreliable in their modern forms, so why on earth would you buy a French banger?
Its just asking for constant expense and problems.

Surely the most important factor in any banger is reliability?
No Fords either, because 10 years ago they were ****.

I echo this TBH. I mean, my 205, what an unreliable heap of rubbish. I've driven it REALLY carefully, like all testosterone driven teenage males when they are given a driver's license. I mean, all I've asked it to do is a short 5 mile commute, the odd 'play' on a B Road and a couple of track days, but it's been nothing but problems. £4 whole quid it has cost me, and that not including the cable ties that are temporarily holding my gear linkage together. It's a liberty that the gearlinkage even when, I mean, so what if I spent the entire track day purposely abusing my car 'for t3h lulz'?, even then I wouldn't expect such an integral, expensive and difficult to repair component would fail.

Now my E30 BMW, that's a reliable motor. So what if the suspension went and collapsed in on itself the first time I took it over a speed hump? It's got that legendary German reliability, innit :rolleyes:

.

Janesy B · 22 Oct 2009 at 20:49

Joshy said:
Now my E30 BMW, that's a reliable motor. So what if the suspension went and collapsed in on itself the first time I took it over a speed hump? It's got that legendary German reliability, innit .

Should have maintained it then.

SlyReaper · 22 Oct 2009 at 21:35

I got my Astra for 500 quid and it's still going strong(ish) after 7 months.

Joshy · 22 Oct 2009 at 21:39

Janesy B said:
Should have maintained it then.

Yes. Because renewing suspension topmounts is regular maintenance.

Janesy B · 22 Oct 2009 at 21:48

Joshy said:
Yes. Because renewing suspension topmounts is regular maintenance.

Are you telling me that one second it was perfectly fine, then it just collapsed with no warning? If you've got an old car, it is wise to make sure the suspension isn't going to nom itself.

[TW]Fox · 22 Oct 2009 at 21:53

Joshy said:
Yes. Because renewing suspension topmounts is regular maintenance.

Renewing them when they are 20+ years old is pretty sensible though!

Janesy B · 22 Oct 2009 at 21:59

[TW]Fox;15153321 said:
Renewing them when they are 20+ years old is pretty sensible though!

You're wrong. It's stated fact that if you buy a german or japanese car you will NEVER need to service it or renew any parts, regardless of age.

Joshy · 22 Oct 2009 at 22:17

Janesy B said:
You're wrong. It's stated fact that if you buy a german or japanese car you will NEVER need to service it or renew any parts, regardless of age.

And this is what I was trying to get at. These stupid stereotypes meaning sweet bugger all at the best of times, let a alone in the £500 bracket where you have to weigh up a few more factors than where it was bolted together.

Janesy B · 22 Oct 2009 at 22:21

I was being sarcastic.

mjt · 22 Oct 2009 at 22:23

misread Joshy's post..

yes, 205s are cheap to run and reliable