£1000 for a cheap to run and reliable automatic?

Ed · 1 Apr 2007 at 19:27

My sister is going to spend £1000 on a car in a couple of months time and is looking for something cheap to run and reliable for a couple of years. Is this criteria realistic for a runaround? It needs to be an auto too. I've had a look around and there seems to be some real crap for sale. Too much to ask perhaps?

[TW]Fox · 1 Apr 2007 at 19:28

Nissan Micra auto.

moss · 1 Apr 2007 at 19:30

[TW]Fox said:
Nissan Micra auto.

Probably the best option, just check the rear sills and front crossmember for rust, bar that very little else goes wrong with them.

Ed · 1 Apr 2007 at 19:34

[TW]Fox said:
Nissan Micra auto.

I dismissed them as I thought there's no way you'd get a Series II but they're about which surprised me. Makes the most sense to go for one of them as there's probably little else to compete with it.

Ed · 1 Apr 2007 at 19:34

moss said:
Probably the best option, just check the rear sills and front crossmember for rust, bar that very little else goes wrong with them.

Thanks for that.

Third Opinion · 1 Apr 2007 at 19:35

The problem with cheap automatics is usually the automatic box. Only very good quality autos will last any decent amount of time. As mentioned before Nissans do very good autos. My sister has a Primera auto that has done about 180k now.

I would steer clear of Ford autos as they don't have a great reliability reputation. Mazdas also were fitted with the dreaded Ford autobox from the early 90's.

Merc's and Bm's are probably the best but not cheap. Whatever she chooses give it a thorough test drive.

Ed · 1 Apr 2007 at 19:37

Third Opinion said:
Mazdas also were fitted with the dreaded Ford autobox from the early 90's.

Crazy. Logic would suggest it should be the other way around but that's accountants for you I guess.

Third Opinion · 1 Apr 2007 at 19:45

spinneR~uk said:
Crazy. Logic would suggest it should be the other way around but that's accountants for you I guess.

Don't get me wrong the Ford box isn't all bad it just needs regular servicing. For some ludicrous reason manufactuers rarely add in any maintenance for UK spec cars regarding automatic gearboxes. They call them "Sealed for life". Problem is ATF goes off with age and particularly heat. Change the fluid regularly the box will last much longer. I have done it with both my Merc and Mazda, cost about £20 each at a gearbox engineering company.

mr tommo · 1 Apr 2007 at 20:00

We had as a cheap runabout, a Nissan Almera 1.6 Auto (GL (IIRC))

Had 60k miles on the clock, and cost £900.

Now on 70k and just sailed through an MOT. It looks crap, handles crap, interiors crap and its as boring as hell to drive... But it does its job as a cheap runabout.