Up to £2k budget?

Dave

Dave

Dave

Soldato
Joined
30 Oct 2004
Posts
4,955
Location
Sacramento, CA, USA
Hi all

Got a summer job so looking for a new car - I'm 22 but have 1 years NCB from when I used to drive, sold my old car when I was at University as I didn't need it. Graduated now so need a car to travel and commute - my commute will only be under 10 miles so no problems about finding a car that can take motorway miles.

Budget really is £1000-£2000, but I'd rather spend in the £1700 region. Been looking at Ford Focus/Mondeos, but all seem to have a high mileage in this region - I've found a '00 Civic with 77k on the clock for this price range, seems pretty reasonable? I've also looked at Seat Ibizas and Leons. Any other cars that are particularly standout for the range?

A strange one that came up was an '04 (number plate 53) Fiat Stilo - my gut reaction tells me that since it's a Fiat it will prove bothersome, even though it's relatively newer than the Civic!

Cheers :)
 
seat ibiza seems a good shout if you look in the right places a mk3 cupra is getable for 2k
 
Sounds cheap for the civic, is a a poverty spec model?

Mondeo is a good shout here, you can get ones with lower mileage but just buy on condition. I've seen a 70k mile mondeo in a much worse state than one with twice the mileage.

I recently bought an accord for 1500 quid - top of the range spec with the 1.8. If you can get over the image (the fact mine is maroon doesn't help!) then they do seem to be better value for money than the mondeo. Mines an X reg with 80k on it, the best mondeo i could find at the time was an entry spec lx with higher mileage, for more money
 
From my experience, most if not all MK3 Mondeos in this price range are tatty and generally not nice. The pre-facelift is bland outside and in and I think I'd rather have a Focus instead. Having said that, most in this budget are also tatty and unloved.
 
When I was looking I found a few Mk3 Mondeos that were in resonable condition but they were the minority.

Didnt find a single Focus I'd want to own either
 
The Civics a good choice at that age they are reliable even with high miles as long as they have been serviced correctly and the cambelts been done

You could get a 5 door Civic 1.5 VTEC-E for that money and have change, they are insanely good on fuel and have a little eco light on the dash for when its running in VTEC-E mode. They have a good spec and are fairly easy to find in good condition
 
NCB is from 2 years ago, but I have been a named driver on my parent's car for the last two years - obviously not accruing NCB. But I rarely drive their car because they don't trust me :p Only trust me picking them up from the airport at silly o'clock!

Relentless81 said:
You could get a 5 door Civic 1.5 VTEC-E for that money and have change, they are insanely good on fuel and have a little eco light on the dash for when its running in VTEC-E mode. They have a good spec and are fairly easy to find in good condition
Click to expand...

That's the one I've been looking at - seen another 1.5i VTEC Sport - I presume this is just a trim thing? Parkers has it down in the same insurance & tax group, unless I'm missing a trick.

I went to Ashbourne today and saw a few interesting cars - would like people's opinions on them:
- Fiat Stilo, 53 plate, £1895 with 74k on the clock, recent cambelt change
- Seat Ibiza, 51 plate, £2495 with 30k on the clock, 1 owner
- Rover 45, 04 plate, £2895 with 43k on the clock

My gut reaction with the Rover is no - my old car was a Rover 200 whose head gasket blew at 44000 miles. The Ibiza seems a bit expensive given the age, considering the mileage I think I'd offer about £2k and see if they bite. I don't really know anything about the Fiat - it's in great condition but I have memories of the electrics on my Mum's old Punto breaking pretty much on demand! Does anyone have any good Fiat Stilo experience?

Going to view a Mondeo on Sunday, 03 plate and looks in good nick on Autotrader - hopefully will be good in person!
 
Sport is the trim yeah, theres also an LS version I think and that engine comes in 3 and 5 door shapes the 5 door looks a bit like a Rover, the Honda will be bullet proof just make sure it has histrory and a cambelt change and make sure there is no rust on the rear arch lips and at the bottom of the doors, the others you mentioned I would personally avoid
 
Dave said:
Excellent, thank you for putting me off it! :D




It's a 1.4 "Chill" version.
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the mk4 sells for around 2k on ebay & autotrader so 2k for a mk3 seems a bit too much.
one tip though avoid the 1.2 engines as currently have one and its too slow and not even good on petrol
 
I'd avoid a 9 year old car (the Seat) with only 30k on the clock. I know it's only a little shopping cart, but it's probably done scores of short cold start trips or spent most of its time sat on a drive.

Rover is alright if its a derv, otherwise avoid. Petrols are K series which is pretty much guaranteed head gasket failure.

If you're looking at Seat Ibizas and Leons...Take a look at the Toledo. It's a Leon with a boot and commands much lower price tags because there's nowhere near as much demand.
 
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