Spec me an automatic for £1500

Goose

Goose

Goose

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I've applied for a job that i have a good chance of getting and if i do i'll need to get myself a car for a 12 mile a day commute. Unfortunately the car must be an automatic and i dont really know anything about auto's in this kind of price range. My only requirements are that its cheap to run and as reliable as possible.

Would i be right in thinking that a diesel would be a bad choice since i'll only being 3k-4k miles each year?

Thanks
 
If you're only doing 3-4k diesel is a no. Any autos for under £1500 that are going to be cheap to run and reliable will be old Polos Golfs Astras Corsas and many of the other hatchbacks that have been used by grannies and the disabled.

Personally, at 12 miles a day, I'd want to do it in comfort whether it was wafting along country roads, or sitting in traffic. So I'd go with the £1k Jag, Merc, Range Rover, or E38 "she's about to blow" shed and take my chances.
 
Would a Honda Accord not be a good compromise between a Corsa/Polo and a Merc/Jag? A reasonable amount of comfort and waftability but with more reasonable running costs.
 
Even if you want a diesel you wont get a good diesel auto for £1500 - they've only really become popular in non high end cars in the last 5-10 years and the non ruined ones are not really £1500 yet.
 
OhEsEcks said:
Might be more reliable than a German / British shed, but no cheaper to run I'd have thought? They have the 3.2 v6 don't they?
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They vary between 2.7 and 3.5 litre depending on year, a small auto is not exactly economical so you may aswel have a bigger one that has a much easier time, it wont use a lot more petrol tbh.

Running costs on a car this age can be pot luck I admit, you dont know what the car has been through in its life. I beleive parts prices for a Honda may be on the high side!

Maybe a Bmw E39, lots of smaller sixes with an auto in them and can be cracking cars to own and drive.
 
OhEsEcks said:
If you're only doing 3-4k diesel is a no. Any autos for under £1500 that are going to be cheap to run and reliable will be old Polos Golfs Astras Corsas and many of the other hatchbacks that have been used by grannies and the disabled.

Personally, at 12 miles a day, I'd want to do it in comfort whether it was wafting along country roads, or sitting in traffic. So I'd go with the £1k Jag, Merc, Range Rover, or E38 "she's about to blow" shed and take my chances.
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I entirely agree but I just dont have the minerals to take my chances and buy something will cost more to insure and far more to service/repair than something like a VAG or a Focus.

Dr Who said:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-JAGU...7522289?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27f06ede71

Would be my kinda choice
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Looks lovely but I still wont like the bills. This job I (might) get is only gonna be minimum wage so i really cant afford to spend more for a more luxury type car.
 
My Lexus is appalling on fuel, it's on gas thankfully but it does 20mpg driven gently, doesn't really offer any kind of performance in return either. It's a lovely motor but I wouldn't want to run it on petrol!
 
Clarkey said:
My Lexus is appalling on fuel, it's on gas thankfully but it does 20mpg driven gently, doesn't really offer any kind of performance in return either. It's a lovely motor but I wouldn't want to run it on petrol!
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What have you got because that sounds broken! I've got the N/A 2JZ and can get 35+mph on a run.

Fuel prices aren't going to go any higher and the engines/drive trains in these things will go on for ever with cheap servicing. Worth paying slightly more for the piece of mind in this price range imo considering how little mileage he is doing.
 
Clov!s said:
This might be a silly option but have you thought about a bike?

Is it 6 mile each way or a 24 mile round trip?
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I'd absolutely love a bike but i suffer from M.E/CFS and think a bike might be too much of a strain on my body :(
 
I'd hunt down a late e38 728i, uber waftiness, reasonable (for a ~2ton boat) on fuel and plenty about for this money and less that are still very useable.

But given your low miles, you may as well be really silly and go for a 740i

I have a mate who bought an e38 740i six months ago for £900, Y plate sport model, he's its second owner and its immaculate, yes, it averages ~ 18mpg around town but it's been ,thus far,faultless and still looks and drives like a much more expensive car than it is.

158k miles on it, it's not helping my attempts to not buy another! :o

And before you mention your low income, he works at a hand car wash and is far from rich!


I am an ardent e38 fan and undoubtedly biased! :p
 
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I'd say Gen 7 Honda Accord, but with your money you'd be picking one up with 100k+ miles, which isn't a bad thing as these things last forever.

Mine is a 2003 2L Triptronic with 120K+ miles and still feels tight, Its comfortable on long journeys, interior has done well nothing is really worn, half leather seats especially the driver seat is in great condition, Its just a well put together car.
 
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