New cheap run about car

lynchy6789

lynchy6789

lynchy6789

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Joined
6 Feb 2008
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I have pretty much zero knowledge about cars and what to look out for when buying one so thought I would come here for some help.

To begin with I am 20years old and been driving for 3 years but only as an additional driver.

The reason for wanting to purchase a car is that I am starting my Uni placement in June so need a means of getting there.

Criteria
> Not on a massive wage so want it to be as cheap as possible but not something that is likely to cost lots in repair bills. Max Budget £2500 if needed but would like something around the 1.5-2k
> Mostly ring road and city driving but the occasional motorway trip
> Reasonably low cost to tax and fill up etc
> Reliable or if it does need repairing wont cost lots
> Wont depreciate loads as may sell it for final year of uni due to going travelling

More just need ideas of what cars to look at. I am thinking possibly Ford Focus/fiesta?
 
Get something based on condition. You cannot be picky on colour etc. for the price you are paying.

My personal advice:
- Don't go for something with the crappest engine of the range as you will regret it. A 1.4 75hp Focus will be dog slow and the 99hp 1.6 Focus would be far better. You can't be picky on the exact engine of your first car, but do avoid the crappest one. The same can be said for the trim levels, as you will often hardly any extra for a lot more toys.
- Buy based on condition. Walk away if there is rust as a car for £2000 should not be rusty.
- Run quotes on various cars. Sometimes bigger cars are reasonable to insure as not many youngsters have written them off.
- Don't buy an old red car. My Micra goes pink on the roof where it fades in the sun. I buff it up once a year to change it back to red but it quickly fades again.
- Don't get one that has no MOT.
- If the tax is about to run out, demand that price is dropped to accomodate this.
- Don't buy French if you want reliability. Ignore older diesels like a 1.9td 306 as the newest ones like this are 13 years old now!
- Keep your purchase reasonable. It will be tempting to go and look at better brands i.e. an old 3 series BMW but it will be very old and/or knackered. You would deeply regret your purchase.
- Avoid cars that have been modded. A better car that has been modded will probably have been modded well, but Wolfrace alloys and a big exhaust on a 10 year old Focus pretty much say that it has been doing wheelspins in the B&Q carpark on Friday nights.

Sounds like you want one of these:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3548143.htm
 
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I presume that 1.5-2k isnt for insurance as well?

Ive been getting quotes on cars recently (20y/o) Fully comp on a 1.6 fiesta was £1800 without anyone added as additional drivers.
Car was worth £600.
 
Not trying to highjack the thread but as a reliable cheap car I'm in the same boat. How is a 2005-2007 1.2 Micra? (Posted about the Smart car but doesn't have adjustable streering column and I'm 6,2")


RTJ
 
rip-the-jacker said:
Not trying to highjack the thread but as a reliable cheap car I'm in the same boat. How is a 2005-2007 1.2 Micra? (Posted about the Smart car but doesn't have adjustable streering column and I'm 6,2")


RTJ
Click to expand...

I am 6ft 3 and have the k11 (1992-2002 shape) Micra. It has plenty of headroom but the seat would be better if it went back another notch. A friend had a 2000 1.25 Fiesta and my face was in the sun visor - A bit useless for me!.

I have no idea on a 2005-2007 Micra, but if I could afford that then I would go for a late mk1.5 Focus (such as a 2004 1.6 Zetec) . If you want a cheap, small runaround with fantastic reliability with low insurance then get a k11 Micra, but don't expect your mates to approve or for the drive to be thrilling :p.

I didn't want a Micra and to some extend I don't now, but when it causes year-on-year of no (or minimal) issues then I cannot justify selling it.
 
Been having a look at a few cars-

1999 Ford Fiesta 1.4L 16V

Only £700 presuming there is a reason for that but I don' really know. All I want is a car that I wont really lose money on and will last me a year just to get me to my placement and back? Insurance is ~£800 (£120 Excess)

Also been looking at a few Clios such as:

RENAULT CLIO 1.6 16V
Dynamique 3dr (2004)

Renault Clio Sport 172 (2002

Don't really know what to look out for or what is good value or not etc. Insurance for them is around ~£1100 Fully comp not really played around with the added drivers yet so may possibly be a little lower.

FORD FOCUS ZETEC 2.0 PETROL (2003/53)

Is also around £1100 mark insurance as well.

What are peoples suggestions and feedback?
 
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OpenToSuggestions said:
Sounds like you want one of these:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3548143.htm
Click to expand...

He says he wants something economical, yet you choose a thirsty 2.0 petrol? Nothing wrong with the old 306td apart from their tractor like noise. They were economical and quite reliable by all accounts!

Don't choose a 2 litre focus. You'll get around 30mpg on a good day, they are far from cheap to run with regards to fuel. A 1.6 would be far better. If you're only driving round town i'd even suggest that the 1.4 might be enough.

If you're not too fussed on looks, an old micra will do the job. Fantastically reliable, any half decent mechanic will have worked on hundreds of them, and parts will be widely available.
 
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Liquidfox said:
He says he wants something economical, yet you choose a thirsty 2.0 petrol? Nothing wrong with the old 306td apart from their tractor like noise. They were economical and quite reliable by all accounts!
Click to expand...

The link was just an example.

With the 306, you hit the nail on the head with 'were' - They are very old cars now and are almost all sheds.
 
I think a 2l will be to overkill for what I need it for. What your thought on that Fiesta? Will it just be a rusting shed ready to break? As for the age and miles it sounds like it has just been a run about car. I really do like the look of Clio's but not sure how reliable they are?


This look pretty good condition http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3804681.htm
 
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OpenToSuggestions said:
The link was just an example.

With the 306, you hit the nail on the head with 'were' - They are very old cars now and are almost all sheds.
Click to expand...

No they arent, I sold a 306 1.4 meridian on a Y plate a few weeks ago, £750, cracking in pretty decent condition and everything works on it apart from the remote fob.

Define shed? 306's wont rust, the mechanicals are pretty solid, electrically they are weak, but not that it needs the brain of britain to fix.

Focus 1.6 is the best bet or even something jap like the corolla or Mazda 3.
 
Tinders said:
No they arent, I sold a 306 1.4 meridian on a Y plate a few weeks ago, £750, cracking in pretty decent condition and everything works on it apart from the remote fob.

Define shed? 306's wont rust, the mechanicals are pretty solid, electrically they are weak, but not that it needs the brain of britain to fix.

Focus 1.6 is the best bet or even something jap like the corolla or Mazda 3.
Click to expand...

Yea had a look at Corolla but they seem a little bit out my price range for a decent one
 
Tinders said:
No they arent, I sold a 306 1.4 meridian on a Y plate a few weeks ago, £750, cracking in pretty decent condition and everything works on it apart from the remote fob.

Define shed? 306's wont rust, the mechanicals are pretty solid, electrically they are weak, but not that it needs the brain of britain to fix.

Focus 1.6 is the best bet or even something jap like the corolla or Mazda 3.
Click to expand...

I am not saying yours was a shed, I am saying the newest 1.9td ones were out in 1999 and the majority are at the end of their lives now.

I'd go for a 1.6 Focus.

My 2000 Micra is in extremely good nick (sold recently to younger brother) yet most people don't look after cars as much as we do on here unfortunately :(.
 
lynchy6789 said:
I don't mind the look of them either. For £995 that would be perfect in terms of price. Are they good examples?
Click to expand...

They both look fairly good to me although it's always a bit hard to tell from pictures. The 306's don't really suffer from rusting, but check the sills and above the doors anyway.

As with all French cars of this age, their main problems are usually electric, so check every single electronic device very carefully. On the 306, particularly the central locking, and make sure the airbag light isn't on.

The XUD cambelt needs doing at 72k, so make sure it's been done, although a lot of people recommend having it done a bit earlier. I've heard the XUDs need regular coolant changes to avoid headgasket problems, though I've only known one XUD have HGF and that wasn't because of lack of servicing. The waterpump should be changed at the same time. They also had problems with the aux belt tensioner failing at 150-200k miles, so have the tensioner changed before that.

There were quite a few reports on conrod failures on the 1.9 XUD, but at this age, I would suggest that if it's still going it's likely to continue going. IIRC it was only on the 1997-1998 DHY build code engines (didn't affect DHX).

If you want to see what these engines are capable of, look at the "how many miles has your car done" thread on the 406 owners' club forum (the 1.9 XUD was also fitted to the 406).

Other than that, as with any car in this age and price range, buy based on condition, everything working, and enough service history to convince you that it's been well looked after :)
 
Just been to see a 2001 51 FORD FOCUS 1.6 ZETEC 5dr with 64222 Miles from a reputable garage that my family have gone to for many years.

The car above is listed at £2699. Which after looking through auto trader etc is a little expensive.

However, it is in great condition both out and in and has a full service history from the above garage. They don't usually stock such cars which makes me think it is in good condition. It comes with 12month MOT and 6months RAC warrenty.

What are your opinions on the above? What price would you think is reasonable?
 
rodenal said:
That's a car you'd pay about £700-900 for at auction - just to put that price into perspective for you
Click to expand...

Thanks for replying. I guess you can get some good deals at auctions but am I right in saying you can't few or test drive the car and I am know place or informed to buy something without looking and etc. I do agree that it is expensive but I haven't been able to see a focus <1500 or 900 as you say that's in similar mileage or looks in mint condition. I guess I am nervous about buying a car that will breakdown and have expensive repair bills. At the same time I obviously don't want a to be ripped off and make a rather large loss on it.

Insurance is £660 9months. If I could get the car say <2200 would you still say that is far to pricey?
 
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