spec me a car...

helpimcrap · 14 Jul 2007 at 21:39

for my sister.

- must be 5 door (or 4 door saloon)
- must have small engine 1.4max
- must be less than £400 average price
- must be reliable
- must be cheap for parts
- must have reasonable boot space (2 kids)

any suggestions other than fiesta/escort/astra?

i dont know anything about jap cars or volvos etc....

any decent volkswagens in that area?

Duke · 14 Jul 2007 at 21:40

Pug 205 or 106?

helpimcrap · 14 Jul 2007 at 21:42

Duke said:
Pug 205 or 106?

not cheap for bits compared to fords. i tend to avoid anything french for this reason.

Enfield · 14 Jul 2007 at 22:06

Duke said:
Pug 205 or 106?

Reliable, definitely not - not having a pop at you but I've had several Pugs and they were far from reliable.

I bought a Fiesta 1.6 Si for £400 a while back which never let me down. Ford do make a 1.4 version with 5 doors also.

Luke15 · 14 Jul 2007 at 22:41

Old Passat barge may do.

GreenMint · 14 Jul 2007 at 23:07

Tad over, but how about..

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/179820.htm

Sone · 14 Jul 2007 at 23:10

no offence but for £400 i would og look at anything an pick whats in the best nick. Condition is far more important than anything else for this budget imho

Morba · 14 Jul 2007 at 23:20

Duke said:
Pug 205 or 106?

hardly the sort of boot that you can go shopping with 2 kids really.

mk3 astra or a as new an escort as you can get imo, maybe a primera?

although, i would not want to be buying a £400 low spec car when you are going to be carrying 2 kids around, surely you want to have something that is as reliable and safe as possible, which in general is going to cost more than £400.

Scania · 14 Jul 2007 at 23:22

Sone said:
no offence but for £400 i would og look at anything an pick whats in the best nick. Condition is far more important than anything else for this budget imho

What he said.

[TW]Fox · 14 Jul 2007 at 23:23

sub £400 cars are cheap student transport not family cars :/

Tesla · 14 Jul 2007 at 23:32

I honestly would not transport my kids around in a £400 car.

If money was a real problem I would make-do until I could afford around twice that and buy a well looked after 8-10yr old Mondeo.

Andybtsn · 14 Jul 2007 at 23:33

Might be able to pick up a bad condition Mondeo for that price but it isn't going to be under 1.4 unfortunately.

DannyW · 15 Jul 2007 at 00:10

TBH fiesta/escort/astra are probably the best you'll get for the money specially if you want a 1.4

helpimcrap · 15 Jul 2007 at 05:15

£400 is the limit which is why i was hoping for a few more options than escort or fiesta.

safety is irrelevent tbh as long as the car is roadworthy imo.

unfortunately mondeos are out of the question (as are most 1.6+ cars) due to money and ever expensive insurance, its her first car and she needs the car so she can get back to work so making do isnt an option either.

escort/fiesta it is then....

Duke · 15 Jul 2007 at 07:55

Morba said:
hardly the sort of boot that you can go shopping with 2 kids really.

mk3 astra or a as new an escort as you can get imo, maybe a primera?

although, i would not want to be buying a £400 low spec car when you are going to be carrying 2 kids around, surely you want to have something that is as reliable and safe as possible, which in general is going to cost more than £400.

I couldn't think of much else either, £400 is somewhat limiting.

jamief · 15 Jul 2007 at 08:12

helpimcrap said:
safety is irrelevent tbh as long as the car is roadworthy imo.

I hope that is a joke.

[TW]Fox · 15 Jul 2007 at 10:21

helpimcrap said:
safety is irrelevent tbh as long as the car is roadworthy imo

And you are going to carry 2 kids in this car? :confused:

It doesn't sound like you've got enough money to safely maintain a family car - motoring is a privilage not a right, wait until you can afford it properly or do not bother.

K.C. Leblanc · 15 Jul 2007 at 10:50

For that sort of Money you might pick up a Skoda Felicia.

Or ignore the 1.4 requirment and look at Xantias, Mondeos and Volvo 440s.

helpimcrap · 15 Jul 2007 at 14:35

lol.... i think you guys miss my point...

as long as the car is road worthy its safe. hence MOT etc is needed.

you all seem to class safety in relation to price. i do not.... a £1000 car is not automatically better due to it costing more. a poorly maintained £10000 car is more dangerous than a well maintained £500 snotter.

so it looks like its an escort or fiesta as i originally thought. mondeo would be nice but insurance isnt even funny on one of them as a first car...

my own car cost £50... spent £200 on it and its passed 2 mots without having to replace any other than wearable items. not all of us are blessed with excess disposable money.

Tesla · 15 Jul 2007 at 14:40

Well maintained cars do not usually cost less than £400.