Replacement Car for GF - cheap/reliable

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Just looking for some ideas/suggestions for a replacement car for my partner. The overall idea is lower motoring costs.

Current car;

V reg Red Merc 180 C-class, 1.8 Automatic. 100K miles. Estate.

Replacement must be;

Available for around the money the Merc is worth (estimate about £2000).
Newer than a V-reg (private reg is a V)
Better MPG
Cheaper insurance group
Lower or same tax
Reliable

She's doing about 180 miles a week, mostly dual carriage way commuting. She also will be doing the odd run up the M25/M1.



So, any ideas? :)
 
[TW]Fox;17757620 said:
How is that going to be any cheaper to run than a 1.8 C Class?

The constant irrelevant Saabing on here is getting daft.

Come on then Einstein you suggest something.
 
as a rough idea I've been trawling PH and AT looking at Vauxhall Corsa's, Fiesta's that kind of thing.

I don't have much experience with smaller metal and the real-world running costs associated with it so beyond published facts/figures I'm only guessing.

Cheers Gav, I'll check the Passat TDi out, am I likely to find a post V reg Passat for under £2k though?
 
Get her a pretty looking Focus 5 door 2001'ish. I'm only guessing though as i've lost touch with motors & prices.
 
as a rough idea I've been trawling PH and AT looking at Vauxhall Corsa's, Fiesta's that kind of thing.

She'd go from a Mercedes C-Class estate to a Corsa?

Do you actually have any requirements from the car as a load carrier, or is she perfectly happy to drive a small piece of dross?
 
Paradigm, she literally has the criteria mentioned above which needs to result in less overall costs.

I'm not sure she's going to be happy but due to a change in her circumstances she understands that she needs something a fair bit cheaper for a year or so.

She doesn't really need to carry much load, she has a springer spaniel so something with a boot is a must. Pooch isn't massive though so no need for a load-swallowing estate :)

If she needs to move load her mum has a pickup and there's a van she can use.

She's 25, has 3 points and has been driving for over 7 years (if it helps).
 
Trouble with doing what you are doing is this, you are going to a size of car where value for money is nil, small cars cost stupid money.

Also it never goes well these sideways steps because you sell the devil you know for 2k if your lucky, then buy another 2k car that inevitably you end up spending money on.
 
Mark, her insurance at the moment is astronomical (I don't have the exact figure but she has very little NCB) and it's costing her about £55/w in petrol to do under 170 miles.

It doesn't have to be a smaller car but a sideways step should, in the space of a year or so, surely see lower costs?

The merc is not without faults and could quite possibly have some bills looming.
 
Mitsubishi Lancer, no one likes them, cheap, never go wrong, probably slightly over budget 2400 quid or something.

She surely dosent want to end up with a 10 year old little beast, i dunno im out of ideas, sorry Fox :)
 
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Get her a pretty looking Focus 5 door 2001'ish. I'm only guessing though as i've lost touch with motors & prices.

This. The gf got one a couple of weeks ago - X plate 1.8 Zetec, 38k, 2 owners (last chap had it since it was 6months old), Full Ford dealer Sh and in fantastic condition.

It has aircon, a quick clear windscreen (new), leccy windows/mirror, central locking and alarm. Four new tyres and all for £1500.

Its pretty economical and she's dead chuffed with it. I drove it 250 miles and was impressed by the handling.

Not bad imo for a 10yr old car.

edit: She is paying £350 with Aviva, fully comp without a no claims discount. I was rather surprised.
 
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Has to be a Mondeo Mk3 1.8 manual surely at this money? Parts are so cheap on them its untrue. The Merc's autobox will be sapping the economy. Whether or not she will entertain the idea of a manual car is another issue, but you wanted cheap to run right?
 
naefeart, cheers I'll check them out :)

Jez, she'll be fine with a manual, cheap to run is deff the required outcome!
 
Mondeo manual might feel a bit like she has hit rock bottom after the C-class auto, but its definitely the best car for this budget and it will likely cost pennies to run.
 
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