Dirt cheap student car

Ed said:
I think the OP has had a reasonable response to his request. A Mondeo should suffice. It's cheap, comfortable and fairly reliable. Perhaps something smaller would be better but that's a preference thing. Money is always an issue with regards to transport but if money is an issue then why not cycle or use public transport? And you're missing an issue, the guy is thinking of buying a CAR! :)



He hasn't mentioned he doesn't want a lot of things though. A bicycle, a tricycle, a helicopter, an ice cream. He's asked for a car. Perhaps the OP could clarify this and perhaps state whether scooters are a viable mode of transport for his needs and desires.
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I dont think a motorbike and a bicycle are a fair comparison.

Taking the bus is a pain and motorbikes are faster (even a 125) and a £20 a week bus pass for 40 weeks is £800, a bike,cbt and insurance can be had for less, while running a car is much much more, whatever car he has (19 yo) the insurance is going to be £500 + so even the cheapest car is £1k without even filling it up.
 
If a Mondeo isn't quite your thing, also consider the Peugeot 406 at this budget. Tons of pattern/used parts around, well equipped, great to drive when they're working and generally fairly solid.
 
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Ed said:
If a Mondeo isn't quite your thing, also consider the Peugeot 406 at this budget. Tons of pattern/used parts around, well equiped, great to drive when they're working and generally fairly solid.
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Pretty comfortable cars and the diesels are not too shabby either, but check the electrics.
 
fuzzy said:
I'm 19, a student, and thinking of buying a car. I already have a full licence (since January last year) and had a car until about 6 months ago. What do you guys think about picking up a dirt cheap car for about £500 (like a 10 year old golf/polo)? And what other costs should I be aware of?
tax, MOT, car insurance etc
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Unless you've got about £1500 over the course of a year, you're probably better off not bothering tbh. Your insurance will cost more than the car. Personally, I'd find a very small car with a years MOT for as little as possible and quickly learn to patch it up with cheap pattern/used parts as and when it's needed. Two of my sisters bought like this. One a cheap Clio that badly let her down and the other was a nasty red Corsa that was very reliable and lasted a good couple of years.

Don't expect anyone here to advocate buying a Corsa but if you manage to drive one of them you can drive anything, parts are peanuts and they're generally reliable.
 
No point in buying a big 2 litre car like a mondeo as a student with todays petrol and insurance prices.

£500 won't get you a decent 6n polo let alone a golf. £500 is ford fiesta money though.
Being an old ford it's pretty basic but should do you through uni.
Smaller cars are generally cheaper to run, cheap insurance, less petrol, lower tax band etc. which is what I would assume you'd want as a student, gives you more money for lager and curry on a friday night.
 
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pitchfork said:
No point in buying a big 2 litre car like a mondeo as a student with todays petrol and insurance prices.

£500 won't get you a decent 6n polo let alone a golf. £500 is ford fiesta money though.
Being an old ford it's pretty basic but should do you through uni.
Smaller cars are generally cheaper to run, cheap insurance, less petrol, lower tax band etc. which is what I would assume you'd want as a student, gives you more money for lager and curry on a friday night.
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friday night? when were you last at uni? :p
 
Clarkey said:
do you have a licence? If not then I recommend you get onto it ASAP. I had the same view as you, never needed nor wanted a car at uni, ended up getting my licence at 21. Now I get raped on insurance for nice cars simply because I have not held my licence for long. I would be paying much less now if I had passed at 17, even if I hadn't driven a car at all between then and now.
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Yes, I passed when I was 17! =/ Our good old Mondeo has been running for 10 years now. Can't fault it tbh! Wish I could drive it but the insurance is still too high, so have to get the family taximan to take me to work and bring me back!
 
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aproctor said:
friday night? when were you last at uni? :p
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Years ago, if you had a job at uni, you got paid weekly, on a friday usually, so it was usually right lets go to the cheapest pub possible and if we've got any spare cash, get a curry. Worked out brilliant for me because I always had somewhere to sleep friday nights.

Usually went into work with a huge hangover saturday but it was always worth it, being skint the rest of the week.
 
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Clarkey said:
......ended up getting my licence at 21. Now I get raped on insurance for nice cars simply because I have not held my licence for long. .....
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I got my licence at 17. i might not get insured yet. depends on the moneys. but if i wait till im 20 (Next year).
How much do you reckon I'll get taken off an average quote ?
 
Twentymac said:
I got my licence at 17. i might not get insured yet. depends on the moneys. but if i wait till im 20 (Next year).
How much do you reckon I'll get taken off an average quote ?
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When i worked at churchill it was about 15% for holding it one year.


edit: thats on top of any other discount btw as they assume you have been driving under someone elses policy some of the time, but this was before they started giving no claims for named drivers so it may be less.
 
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