Small car, around £1500:

Duff-Man

Duff-Man

Duff-Man

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I just recently passed my driving test, after having put off learning to drive for many years (mainly due to lack of funds and no real need for a car). Anyway, now that I've passed my test I'm looking to get a small car. Ideally I'd like one that's cheap to run, and relatively cheap to insure. I'm looking to spend around £1000 - £1500 really, although my budget is flexible.

I won't be using the car all that much... I might drive to and from work a couple of times a week if I'm feeling lazy / running late (~5 mile round trip), and will probably make one or two ~100 mile trips per month (Nottingham to Sheffield return). Other than this, it'll be used only for the odd errands (supermarket trips etc). So very light use really.


What I'm looking for is a few tips and suggestions. I don't much care what the car looks like, or even how it handles really. I'd like to get a car that isn't going to break down continually, and I'd like it to be cheap to insure. I was thinking about something like a Fiesta? It seems that £1000 - £1500 will get something like a 1.3l 2001 model, with around 60k miles. Insurance for me on something like this seems to be around £1200. Any other car suggestions would be welcomed...

As for buying - would you recommend going through private sellers, or going straight to a dealer? Anything in particular I should keep my eye out for?

Cheers...
 
Janesy B said:
Don't buy a 1.3 Fiesta, please.
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Might be worth actually explaining why:

The 1.3 is an old OLD engine, particularly useful as an un-economical boat anchor. The 1.25 on the other hand is a pretty decent engine (in comparison to other similar sized engines).

The 1.3 is old, noisy, slow, and quite heavy on fuel for its size.
 
paradigm said:
The 1.3 is an old OLD engine, particularly useful as an un-economical boat anchor. The 1.25 on the other hand is a pretty decent engine (in comparison to other similar sized engines).

The 1.3 is old, noisy, slow, and quite heavy on fuel for its size.
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Thanks - will keep this in mind :)
 
The 1.25 is quicker and better on petrol, bought one for the gf as her first car after being recommended to on here.

Was a great little thing, even at 12 years old, I preferred driving that to my mum's newish Corsa

Cheap to run & service, her insurance was about £550 I think, at 22, 0 no claims
 
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Sorry I didn't get the chance to fully explain why.

The 1.3 is an old chain driven engine, noisy, slow and uneconomical. It's loosely based on an engine that was introduced over 50 years ago with bits and bobs added on. The 1.25 Zetec is a far superior engine in every way possible.
 
I've currently got a 1.25 and my brother in law a 1.3 and the difference is night and day. If you can find a Zetec LX model (has air con amongst other few little bits) it's a lovely car. If we didn't have 2 kids, I wouldn't be selling it.
 
With something like a 1.25 Fiesta (~2000 - 2002 era), what sort of mileage should I be looking for before I can start to expect regular problems from it? 50k? 100k?

Also, how much does the age of the car come into things, and how important is it compared to the mileage? I would have thought that in this day and age of non-corrosive components that mileage would be far more important than the age of the car?
 
My 1998 Fiesta is on 85k and I've only had to replace things due to age rather than mileage. Stuff like seized calipers and split CV boots - but of course things deteriorate with age. The only thing known to fail with mileage on the 2002-2002 cars is the fuel pump, but that's a £30 part and mine went at 78k. I'd be happy with anything up to 80k, any more and they tend to look worn and tired.

Make sure belts have been done as there shouldn't be a single 2000-2002 1.25 Fiesta out there on it's original cambelt, but of course people skimp on things.
 
The only problem (which you could consider a major one) the gf's one had was it drank oil like no tomorrow

Was about 4 litres every 1000 miles, but it didn't smoke or have oil drips beneath the car :p

It was well over 100000 miles though and had no service history, still had 40mpg mind
 
bledd. said:
The only problem (which you could consider a major one) the gf's one had was it drank oil like no tomorrow

Was about 4 litres every 1000 miles, but it didn't smoke or have oil drips beneath the car :p

It was well over 100000 miles though and had no service history, still had 40mpg mind
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I think that's an exception, even mine doesn't use that much and the 1.4 is known to like a drop of oil every now and again.
 
I presume its a cost of insuring and running deal?

Small petrols are often a lot cheaper to insure than diesels in the same car and with little driving experiance this will make more difference in your pocket than the MPG. Depending on how far you drive, I guess.

Personally, when buying cheap and cheerful cars I have had best luck with Japanese stuff. Try buy something off a little old lady who's had it serviced properly etc. Mazda seem to last particularly well and run reliably into quite old age.

You will get a far better deal buying a medium to large car on the £1000-£1500 budget, but the insurance may crucify you
 
Alistairk said:
You will get a far better deal buying a medium to large car on the £1000-£1500 budget, but the insurance may crucify you
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This. I saw a 51 Mondeo 2L Ghia X for £1,395 today in truly mint condition. This thing has more toys than a spoilt rich kid! Only reason I didn't just take it away was someone had beaten me to it. :(

After the first year you may be cheaper on insurance with something like this - for some reason the 2L Mondeo is the same price to insure as my 1.3L Starlet now, probably because people my age tend not to drive cars like this and/or the Starlet is a death trap. :P
 
Duff-Man said:
With something like a 1.25 Fiesta (~2000 - 2002 era), what sort of mileage should I be looking for before I can start to expect regular problems from it? 50k? 100k?

Also, how much does the age of the car come into things, and how important is it compared to the mileage? I would have thought that in this day and age of non-corrosive components that mileage would be far more important than the age of the car?
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My brother-in-law recently picked up a 01 1.3 (I know, I know) with around 35k on for around your budget. It's absolutely immaculate, aside from the crap engine!

Mine is a 01 Y plate. We've had it for about 6 years and it's starting to show its age on the body. Rusting on rear arches, small amount starting on the sill. Not sure why it has as I see plenty without rust.

Engine wise, at 67k, it's been serviced fairly regularly and is due again now (a big one, probably cam belt etc). The clutch is starting to go too.

Aside from that (servicable things), I've had to replace front springs (damn speed bumps), the ignition coil, rear wiper & motor in those 6 years. Cheap to fix though.

Janesy B said:
Make sure belts have been done as there shouldn't be a single 2000-2002 1.25 Fiesta out there on it's original cambelt, but of course people skimp on things.
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Don't know if it's so much as skimp as not know/been misinformed. I've heard all sorts from 10 years / 100k to 4 years / 40k.

Mines on 67k and as I said, is due I think.
 
If your budget is a maximum of £1500 then I'd be looking at Fiestas whereas if you can stretch to £2000 then I'd be looking for a decent 1.6 Focus. If insurance is stupid on either of them, I'd be looking for a Yaris.
 
Syph said:
Don't know if it's so much as skimp as not know/been misinformed. I've heard all sorts from 10 years / 100k to 4 years / 40k.

Mines on 67k and as I said, is due I think.
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Ford say 10 years or 100k but it's generally accepted that 6 years or 60k is the time to start thinking about getting it done.
 
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