bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Hi guys, I'm gonna buy my sister a cheap car for her to run around in , for work and visit me and family on a regular basis from Manchester to Huddersfield every weekend etc, as hers has broken (basically fecked) and she has no spare cash so I'm gonna kind of bail her out

Now this is where I could do with advise and past experiences on cars to go for, preferably a diesel as they are cheap motoring and running costs. I'm not used to buying cheap diesels tbh so don't have much experience in that field.

The requirements are-
-5dr hatchback
-Quite reliable
-Good mpg
-new as poss
-look ok to please her

And budget is £1000.

Now I've been looking at a few on autotrader and it's a minefield lol
Cars that I would consider

Focus 1.6 petrol or 1.8 diesel (prob better for mpg)
Golf 1.9 diesel
307 2.0hdi (but French un reliability, but good mpg)
2003 megane seem to be very cheap but again too many problems I suppose.
Corolla she's not keen on
Almera she's not keen on either

May consider cars like vectras, mondeos, mazda 6 if poss. newest ones at budget.

Should add that it needs to be hatch style for her dog and family

Any advice to help me make a desicion on what to get or any others I need to consider.

Regards

cuprajake

iTrader: (11)

Tbf for a grand your not going to get a great car, your going older, higher miles. They'll 99% be trade in cars, which are usually traded in for a reason. But there are some gems to be had. Just don't bank on a Tdi.

Mouser

I was thinking the same ^^^^^^

1.0L Micra. Petrol but very good MPG, cheap to run and insure. I had a 3 door for 5 years as a cheap commuter car and it never missed a beat and sailed through the MOT 3 or 4 times. Servicing was easy with parts very reasonable from any motor factors. Best of all it was built in the U.K. (Sunderland)! Pity about the looks.

Justme103

iTrader: (2)

I have got an 03 plate Micra SE coming in on Wednesday, FSH & long MOT, In Black bit above the budget at £1100 though

ScoobyWon't

You'd probably have a better chance of getting a 206 than a 307. I've heard that the 1.4d Pug diesel engine is more reliable than the 2.0d and something daft like £30 a year road tax.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Tbf guys I know where your coming from as I wouldn't want to buy a £1k car hence the advice. But I'll be dammed if I'm spending more, I'm already bailing her out so **** spending more.

The micra would be too small as she already had a fiesta and wants a bigger car this time.
So I think it maybe a focus 1.8 diesel or golf diesel as they are the only ones that seem okish (I think).

The budget of £1k is of course going to be high milers hence the advise as I've never bought a car with over 100k on it.

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

Will everything fit in a Clio?

Shaun

Moz_Rb5

iTrader: (2)

306 hdi, get a late one and they still look good, decent boot, pretty quick and cheap to run.

Don't get too hung up on the french being not reliable, I've had loads of peugeot cars in the past and they've never been a problem.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Expectation over what she can get and wants needs managing.

I want never gets!

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

"advice"




that is all............

K3ogh_sti

306 hdi hands down for me on that budget

Chris

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Sounds to me that for someone getting a free car she's a bit fookin fussy, tell the b1tch she can feckin well like it or get nowt.

As for what car Petrol/diesel at that price band i'd always go petrol, plenty cars out there that get 35+mpg if your not hooning.

I'd put 5 doors into auto trader search and see what pops up, it can take a while sifting through the chaff but there is usually a gem or two to be found.

Last week i found a 98 honda civic estate, one owner 70k full mot and svc history, new tyres and recent cambelt etc for the princely sum of £400, missed it by 1hr, ok maybe not fancy but they are good cars and get around 40mpg.

I'd suggest what ever you buy just make sure you also spend a bit extra on RAC, Green Flag or AA cover otherwise if it breaks down she'll be calling and blaming you.

hodgy0_2

Personally I would go for a

BMW X5 or maybe a RR Sport or Q7

But if she wants something more sporty a BMW M6

Or failing that a Nissan Almera ( in the sh1ttiest colour imaginable)

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Wtf! Are you wearing glasses, please clean them and read op again.
P.s I already have a x5.

Lol yes guys I know I'm gonna kick into to touch alright, tbh I'm just gonna buy if it was me in the situation.
Ditchy, that exactly what I did in the search of autotrader to see, and it's a mine field hence I need to narrow it down a bit. And she can bloody pay for rac AA, think she may have it on her insurance not sure. But I'm doing enough here.
Think the golf 1.9tdi, focus 1.8tdci,mondeo 1.8tdci or vectra 1.9cdti are the ones I'm considering at mo.

dpb

I'd advise steering clear diesels tbh, unless she does 100 mile a day
Yiu could be lumped with repair bills as big as the car

1600 petrol , french will be as good as anything ,people think they're more unreliable -therefore they're cheaper. In reality trim falls off. You can do without trim.

Some kind of xsara would be my recommendation with as much history as poss

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

Rx8

dpb

Lol

ReallyReallyGoodMeat

Buy cheap, buy twice.

ScoobyDriverWannabe

5 door astra ?

Justme103

iTrader: (2)

May have a 2003 Peugeot 307 1.4 coming in a week or so, Will be £800

K3ogh_sti

french cars have never been a problem for me have had many, they cant be that bad if every other car you pass on the road is french?? As said before 306 hdi meridian half leather interior auto rain sensitive wipers electric mirrors etc etc and you could get a minter for a K

eggy790

iTrader: (20)

go for the older 306 d turbo, got one myself, awesome runners

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Thanks mate but I think I'm gonna leave the French alone as if the elecs pack in then I'm not near enough to fix it for her.

yeah the 306 d seem to be the more bullet proof of the French lot, apart from elecs if any?

Think I may have to go for a mk1 focus tbh, seem reliable, popular, cheap readily available parts, easy to work on so no expensive labour costs if owt needed.

David Lock

Bought my daughter a 2001 206 1.9d privately for £900. Fine for 4 people. Daily use for 80 mile commute. Smart little car although due cambelt change which is £300. At a guess 50-60 mpg.

dl

Captainpirateboy

Polo SDI. I got one as a run around. will do 75mpg on the motor way, cheap to insure, incredibly reliable. Mine cost 2k with 79k on the clock. Never had a single problem with it in the last 2 years. If you're only keeping it for a short period of time it will hold it's value. I know I would rather spend 2k on a car and get 2k back after a year than buy a 1k shed that will break and be worth £500 at the end of the year.

Downside is they are boring as **** and painfully slow, but I doubt you're too bothered about that...

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

THIS ^^^^^^^

Paben

iTrader: (5)

306 turbo diesel if you can find one, less than £1k. Mine's a third car runaround so gets minimal attention other than occasional oil changes. It's never missed a beat in 3 years ownership, 120k miles now and still pulls well.

dpb

Don't drive it through a puddle though!

gazzawrx

iTrader: (11)

Ive got a descent 2003 1.4 16 valve renault scenic for sale £900.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I spent £1,200 on a merc for my MRS 7 years ago, 4/5 cars later and still not added any more cash to that original £1,200.

only "mistake" i have made is the Rover 25 as it's worth bugger all now, but thats only if you think a car that's still going 3yrs 50 odd thou miles later and has cost bugger all is a mistake, but I will have to run it into the ground, should still get £100 when i weigh it in though.

Bangernomics, I love it.