Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

I just want a cheap car to get me to and from work.

I want to spend as little as possible (£1500 being the max I want to spend)

Ideally I want:

Cheap insurance
Power steering
Air conditioning
Small hatchback (ideally 5 doors)
Reasonably new (less than 5 years if possible)

It's to do 8-10 miles a day, plus the odd trip to the supermarket.

What sort of car am I left with?

Scooby-Doo

Daihatsu and Fiat spring to mind although maybe not under £1500, how about Kia or Dawoo. Place a few bids on Ebay and see what you get.

How about getting the dance video out again

davegtt

less than 5 years old for under £1500 is gonna be tough mate, saxo maybe??? to get 1 with the spec your after will be akward, maybe a rover will fit the bill. IMO if its a second car just to get to work and back and your not too bothered on a particular model then get down the auctions, £1500 will go along way

Tomtommunchyman

For that age, price & spec you're left with a Daewoo.

Matiz / Nubira / Lanos.

RS2 JIM

iTrader: (5)

Andy,

I had exactly the same dilemma last year and was looking for something of very similar spec to what your after.

In the end i paid exactly £1000 for a 5 Dr M plate Ford Fiesta Si 1.6 16v in aubergine metallic with 50k on the clock. It's been a superb wee car and an absolute go-kart to drive. It has the super comfy sports seats, full electrics, sunroof, airbag, heated screen, alarm, power steering etc

What more could someone want from wee car like that! It costs me less than £100 to insure and returns about 250 miles to £28 of unleaded.

Being a modding nut i do have to admit to feeling it was a little sluggish so i bought a superchip (2nd hand) for it and it's certainly opened it up! The 8k rev limit is used daily!

The car has now got nearly 70k on it and owes me one front lower suspension arm and a service. Thats all it took for it's MOT's for the last two years.

Ok so it's not the most modern of cars and a lot of folk think i'm some sort of boy racer but it's a nice car, dirt cheap to own and run and it goes well too.

If you found one of these you would not regret it.

Hope this helps

James

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Ok, if I said up to 8-10 years old, does that allow for something more interesting? Still needs to fulfill the other citeria though:

Cheap insurance
Power steering
Air conditioning
Small hatchback (ideally 5 doors, athough 3 doors and coupes will be considered)

Cheers
Andy

Hanslow

Go for one of those little jap import cars. As you know, they tend to be better equipped so more chance of the air-con, etc.

Might be an issue with insurance though with it being an import?

Or something like a Micra would do it

Olly

Just bought a Citroen AX 1.0, a 50k miler with 11 months ticket and plenty of tax, for expensive shirt money.

It's an absolute hoot, drives just like a 205 GTi in slow motion. 1.0 litre motor has plenty of pep. Lift off oversteer is available at 25mph. And its filthy cheap in all areas (tax, insurance, tyres @£15 a corner, parts etc). I simply cannot find fault with it.

Quoted MPG is 55, which when you are used to a V8 Merc is a pleasure. Stering is oh-so light so PAS is not needed, but feel and feedback is all there.

And when I've finished with it in a year, there will be a queue of 17 year olds waiting to buy it for more than I paid. Just no air-con, thats all.

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

I've been looking at Fiat Cinquento's (sp?) but no power steering and no air con.

BTW the power steering is for my soon to be wife! (before I get any comments!! )

I thought that maybe a Volvo 440/480 turbo would be a laugh, but the insurance is still group 12-14, so I would be better keeping my CRX!

Brendan Hughes

Andy, you looking at getting her rubbed out just after the wedding?

Have you seen the crash protection for a Cinque? It's like they join forces with the other car to make sure the occupant dies! (Could be I'm looking at the Seic, but can't believe the earlier car is better).

Get her something else, please!!

Reffro

If you want air-con you're going to have to think Japanese. as they were the only makers really fitting air-con at that time. Mitsi/Honda/Nissan will be where you should be aiming.

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

It's not as bad as it sounds:

We have two cars a Ford Ka (group 3) and a Honda CRX (group 12).

We are looking at a Subaru Forester and a runabout car.

I have 7 years NCB, she has 3 years NCB.

The Forester would basically be her car, but insured in my name as it's a group 17 car.

I would then need a runabout car to be insured in her name, with me using it for the majority of the time. There will be occassions when we will need to swap cars, hence something with power steering.

I personally think the Ford Ka is too nice for me to use everyday (and it's worth £3-3.5k) The CRX has air conditioning, but doesn't have power steering. I'm sure I could find a way to keep the CRX (it's too good sell really) as long as it's a reasonable cost to insure with 3 years NCB.

TECNick

buy my fiat punto p reg for 700 or nearest offer :P
no power steering, but its v light so not heavy at all and no air con but decent wee cars :P

Scoobs_4ever

Andy,
In the exact same boat as you now.
I'm looking at either a Volvo 940 SE, an Audi 80 Estate 2.0E or a BMW 525 Touring.

£1500 fgets you 1991 Volvo, 1994 Audi or 1991 BMW.

Dream Weaver

Saw a motor for sale tonight near me and wondered if you'd considered one:

Honda Civic Coupe, the three door booted things that are 97-98 models etc - they are usually cheap.

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

I've considered them in the past, funnily enough straight after watching The Fast and The Furious!

We're going to check the insurance costs for the CRX to be insured in her name, that way I can keep tinkering with the CRX and possibily track it!

Hanslow

Andy, not a small hatchback, but probably matches the rest of your criteria here.

Just saw it in passing and thought of you

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

It has everything, except it's the wrong size!

My journey to work takes me 15-20 minutes and it's only 4 miles! It's more important that the car is nimble enough to go in and out of traffic! (Have you seen Kingston in rush hour? )

Looks like I'm keeping the CRX for now!

taffyboyo

Andy, why not have 2 cars insured under your name, its a lot cheaper than people think, and it will mean you can keep the honda

your company will offer you your max no claims on 2 different policy's with your good lady a named driver on both,

worth a look imho

good luck
Mike.

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Good thinking Mike!

Something worth looking at! Someone also suggested looking at classic insurance on the CRX as it's over 10 years old. There are some limitations to the policy, but it may be a cheap way of insuring for less money than now!