Midmotorsteve

Does one exist, i've decided i can't really afford to run my cars so i'm getting rid of them and going extremes, a bike engined 7 for summer/track weekend fun and then super **** diesel runabout, you know the sort, couple of hundred quid think that'll run forever and can be fixed with bailing twine. Thoughts so far have been limited i'm sure peugeot did a diesel 205? Thats the type of think what else should i look at. As i'll have the (dax MC, loBlade or what ever) speed isn't an issue, COST is the main issue followed by reliability, an ability to cruise the motorways would be good to (hence i think diesel)???

47 NAT

How about a Citreon Xantia 1.9td? A bit pipe and slippers I know, but there a good old wagon, comy and very economical ....

Nath

brickboy

Like Nat sez, probably have to be French to fit your budget. I don't think Mark III Golf diesels are below £1500 yet.

Xantia's are better than you'd think, and most of the bits come from the Peugeot / Citroen parts bin. There's also the ZX which will be cheaper as it's been around for about 10 years.

[Edited by brickboy - 1/30/2004 5:30:49 PM]

si_kosta

Peugeot 205 Diesel, and Vauxhall Nova 1,5TD Spring to mind!

julian N/W wrx my93

astra 1.7ld are ace!

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

The Nova 1.5 TD is a superb little car...

You can't really buy much for £400 though!

Midmotorsteve

looking at trader £400 buys a k/l 205 1.6 diesel no probs, at the mo its still winning. Renualts, the numbers 5, 11, 25 ,20, 23 ,67 ,48 , whats going on what a 205 comparable?

looking like the fast cars going to be a striker with my aw11 3sge, here comes 300bhp per ton

dome

205, 309 or a Citroen ZX is probably your best bet. Or a 2.3 sierra? Slow as f@*k but as long as its not rusty it'll run forever

Trucker Ted

Last year i bought my missus an M - reg diesel corsa at the salvage auctions for £400,only had some light damage,needed a new rad,headlight,bumper and wee touch of filler on wing,repaired it myself and got it on the road with a years ticket for about £650.It drives excellent,parts are plentifull and dirt cheap, ohh and it does nearly 60 mpg.
If you can go the extra few ££'s then i think you would pick a tidy one up for around £600 - £700,well worth it.

flatfourburble

Rover 218SD...........my dad has one with 190k on the clock and still going strong!!!

kenny.c

i've seen some "95" peugeot 106 1.4cc diesel's going for around the £400 mark.......i own a "96" model as a main car to lessen the miles on my P1.

In a full tank at £29..i'm getting 480miles

Its a great wee car.....makes me appreciate the P1 more as well

Stuart J

Id vote Citroen having had a couple with no real problems & both were long in the tooth.
One tip, try talking to your local Main dealers as anything traded in which is old or tatty goes into the trade but some dealers will sell direct to the public if you ask nicely & accept absolutely no warranty, I bought a Volvo (EEK IVE OWNED UP) that way once & it stood me in good stead for 12 months.
Also try your local salvage yards, cars these days are written off without a lot wrong with them, if you dont mind the odd dent you will get a much newer car for your £500 although again no warranty.
I saw a tidy Citroen totalled with a long groove in the rear wing & the bumper damaged & hanging off, looked like it had scraped a bollard in a car park. A couple of bolts would have refitted the bumper & if you didnt mind the apearance of the scrape a lot of car for the money

Brendan Hughes

Watch out for the Xantia's clutch cable. RHD cars had the cable re-routed so it chafes, and when it snaps it's something like five hours' work to replace (professional, not DIY), a horrific job. Have a few friends with these problems.

I'd go for the 205, given my great GTI experiences

MGJohn

Montego D ..? run a fleet of 'em for four hundred quid ...... 60 mpg, quite nippy if you want and cheap as chips ....

Oh, must be hatch? .... then get tin opener ... or make it Maestro Ds..... huge hatch! ditto 60, nippy + chips ....

Stu_M

I have just bought a bargain Seat Cordoba diesel . M reg with 85k and fsh for £300 to run alongside my ITR, as ive just got a new job with a 70 mile round trip. It has VW 1.9D engine and mechanicals so hopefully will be reliable, it certainly has been to date. It is slow but gets the job done its intended for, and have just done 520 miles to a tank (just under £35) which is over 300 more than the Teg will manage for the same amount!.

Another one you may want to consider is a Citroen AX 1.5diesel as they are reputed to do up to 70MPG