Spec me a cheap runabout for under 2k

pumaz · 2 Mar 2014 at 22:19

I currently have a 2001 306 Meridian 1.4L 67K miles that's getting on a bit, MOT due July and i think it'll probably cost more than the cars worth so could do with replacing. I'm not really a car person and just want something cheap and above all reliable to last me 2 - 3 years until I can afford a new small car.

I'd basically like the most reliable, newest and nicest looking small car I can get for under 2K

Any suggestions and where's best to buy these days? Garage, ebay or Auto trader etc. ?

Thanks

Orionaut · 2 Mar 2014 at 22:39

A car (Especially a basic older one) is worth what it would cost to replace not what you could sell it for.

Why do you think a 67K 306 might cost more than it is worth to keep for another 2-3 years??

pumaz · 2 Mar 2014 at 22:53

It's not the basic model it has leather interior, aircon and electric windows etc. I'm guessing with a full MOT it's worth perhaps £500 at best but I know it's going to need a new exhaust and a couple of other bit's doing for it's MOT and ashamed to say I've never kept up with servicing and it's never had a new cam belt.

It's also the oldest car in my works car park and I just thought rather than spending money on a old car I could get something a little more modern.

Orionaut · 2 Mar 2014 at 23:06

pumaz said:
It's not the basic model it has leather interior, aircon and electric windows etc. I'm guessing with a full MOT it's worth perhaps £500 at best but I know it's going to need a new exhaust and a couple of other bit's doing for it's MOT and ashamed to say I've never kept up with servicing and it's never had a new cam belt.

It's also the oldest car in my works car park and I just thought rather than spending money on a old car I could get something a little more modern.

If the bodywork and interior are good, do what needs to be done!

Exhausts, pads, Timing belts etc, even wheel bearings are consumables and are always likely to be an issue on older cars.

Spend 2 grand on another old(er) car and you might still end up with big bills!

Better the devil you know and all that!

(Yeah, I know! I am odd!

I specifically maintain my 20+ year old vehicles in order to avoid all the modern techycrap!

)

pumaz · 2 Mar 2014 at 23:16

You're probably right I might just see what needs doing for its MOT, Just feel it's a very old car now but not in a position to afford a new one for a while but "better the devil you know" does make perfect sense. Thanks

OhEsEcks · 2 Mar 2014 at 23:18

If you buy another car for under 2k you'll only end up having to spend money doing exactly the same thing as you would with the Pug. And it's not like 67k is a lot for the 306. In fact it's positively tiny for that age of vehicle. If you were doing 10k a year you'd be ticking over 130k miles by now, which most other 306s are well into and still chugging along. If you want to keep costs down, buy a Haynes manual and buy from scraped 306s and do the work yourself. Unless the engine blows up, everything is cheap as chips to replace or repair on the 306.

MissChief · 2 Mar 2014 at 23:18

If you are dead set on a change whatever is in the best condition with best service history and longest MOT.

andythelandy · 2 Mar 2014 at 23:20

I think this is more a case of you're looking for reasons to get something new, if you want something new that's fair enough do it but don't kid yourself thinking its going to save you money.

You haven't really specified what kind of car you want but 2k would get you a tidy petrol focus/civic or something bigger like a mondeo/accord/Octavia.

pumaz · 2 Mar 2014 at 23:38

I wanted something no bigger than the 306 and certainly don't want anything that would cost me more to run in fuel, tax and insurance. So was open to anything really that was renown for it's reliability.

I have taken in what members are saying and for 2k i can see how i could end up with something that would still need money spending on it. I really am not very good with cars as I've never got into them bar the need to get from a to b.

In my younger days I used to do my own minor repairs eg. exhausts, gaskets and carburetors so I know my way round a spanner. but these last few years I've had a mechanic friend who used to look after it for beer money but sadly for me he's emigrated down under so I'm at the mercy of unscrupulous garages and their oily rags!