Buying a banger

[laserblazer]

It's a long time since I bought a banger but my son starts work on Monday and needs transport. We don't want to spend more than £1000 because it's unlikely we will ever get it back! Any recommendations on what to look for and what to avoid. No doubt he would like something that goes like stink and looks the part but what he needs is cheap to run and reliable.

[synaesthesia]

I've not had a car worth more than that since my first car (which lasted 6 months and cost 6 grand).

Last one has never missed a beat (1.8 accord). On that strength and general Honda reliabilty I'd keep an eye open for Civics. Rover 200/25's are also a good look as they're very often cheap to buy, but see if they're had their head gasket replaced. If they were owned by a granny/granddad then avoid, those engines like being treated properly and revvy and not nursed by someone who can barely use their right leg.

 

Avoid Focuses. Avoid anything French. Both electronic reasons.

[newpersn]

Avoid anything French. Both electronic reasons.

 

I had a few French cars and never had a problems with electrics. i currently drive an 04 Laguna and not had any problems with it.

 

as above avoid focuses.

[difinity]

As an ex mechanic, I'd avoid French and rovers as the headgaskets do fail.

Japanese for reliability - Honda or Toyota.

[pantscat]

Yes, what @difinity said. Avoid anything french...

 

For around a £1,000, and given that you'd want insurance to be as cheap as possible, I'd be looking at Nissan Micras, Honda Civics and probably also have a look at mk3 VW Golfs (although check the gearboxes on these - they can be a bit crunchy!).

All of these should be fairly bomb-proof and reliable.

[tmcd35]

Under £1000. Based on my last car - Perguot 106 diesel. very cheap, very basic, very reliable. Under £2000 then I couldn't find better than my current Rover 45, again diesel, when I was looking a few months back. Both cars have impressed me. If I could afford a bit more I would have gone Japanese, probably a Toyota.

[SHimmer45]

nissan micra circa 1996 bomb proof simple cheap to run

 

easily get one in decent shape for less than a grand

[Gibbo]

Avoid anything French. Both electronic reasons.

 

Total rubbish. Have a drive around France and see all the Pugs and Citroens. They don't drive them for fun or out of patriotism. It's also worth mentioning that Peugeot has / had a factory in the Midlands churning out cars, so if you're making slurs on them, you're technically slating British manufacturing.

 

Electric problems are down to poor maintenance, pure and simple. As a Peugeot mechanic I see it all the time - owners never bothering to lift the bonnet and do any kind of basic maintenance. Windscreen water channels blocked with leaves and crud. Laziness in not replacing protection panels under the engine and wheel arch if they get damaged. I've owned several Pugs over the last 20 years and never had an electrical problem, because I've made sure I don't buy something not cared for. And when there are problems, there's an excellent online community and parts prices are reasonable - even from the dealers, and they're easy to fix yourself.

 

OP: If you want a "good" banger, search for a 306 diesel, or a 106. They retain their value because they're reliable. You won't see many other makes of cars 12-15 year old with 150,000 miles on the clock fetching £1000. A colleague of mine has just bought a 306 with 240,000 miles on the clock, he says the interior is immaculate and it drives like its got a quarter of that mileage. It cost him £500. My brother bought a 52 plate 307 diesel for £800. 180,000 miles, with a few dings on the bodywork but the engine is solid and interior not showing any signs of wear. His first car was my old 306 dTurbo, which was cheaper to insure than a 1L petrol Corsa!

 

If you're local to me I'd be happy to help you find one, check it out, stick the diagnostic gear on it to browse through the faults log and see what's happened to it during its life.

Edited May 16, 2013 by Gibbo

[jamesrobinson]

Don't know if it helps, but a few of my friends, only 20 Year old. Have got Volkswagen Lupo or a Seat Arosa, not bad looking cars, Pretty Nippy, and best of all they're cheap, both to buy and to insure. Hope it helps.

[Sunnyknight]

Ford escort mk6.

[jallsop]

I vote for small french diesel. Cheap to buy, insure, and run. Last forever if serviced properly. I've had french cars for around 15 years and the only fault was an electric window winder motor, which was made in the UK. Japanese build quality is better, but you pay for it in the servicing costs, even if you do it yourself.

 

Either that, or pick up an old Duratec engined Fiesta or Escort. Cheap as chips, reasonably reliable, and plenty of spares available.

[SpuffMonkey]

On the Which site - the best supermini you can get for under £1000 is an old Ford Ka, for a medium sized car - the Hyundai Accent and for a big car - a Kia Magentis.

 

Personally I love my ancient Toyota Camry - the 3 litre engine and auto gear box are as smooth as silk, and you can pick one of them up for that price.

[hardtailstar]

go for a Ford, parts are cheap and common.

[sted]

if you decide on a ka check for rust esp round fuel filler and being an old 8 valve engine they arnt cheap to tax

[synaesthesia]

 

Ouch. Vote one for the failmachines!

[sted]

Ouch. Vote one for the failmachines!

 

and here so far ive had 0 issues with my citroen and one side of the family have run them for years with few issues

[sippo]

For a £1000 you don't need to buy a banger. Its a matter of looking in the right places. Scour owner group forums. You will pick up a bargain, and pretty much guaranteed the car has been looked after.

[Gibbo]

Ouch. Vote one for the failmachines!

 

Didn't you recommend the Rover 25 / 200 - one of the most unreliable and undesirable cars around because of head gasket failure, based on fact because of a design flaw. Even a replaced head gasket can and does fail.

[Flatpackhamster]

I had a few French cars and never had a problems with electrics. i currently drive an 04 Laguna and not had any problems with it.

 

as above avoid focuses.

 

What's this with focuses and unreliable electrics? I've never had a peep from mine. Never met anyone who did. Is this some sort of hangover from the 1970s 'Fords have unreliable electrics' thing?

[Dos_Box]

I think there must be a tradeoff here for a £1000 car that looks the part and goes like stink. You can get a pretty decent Mondeo for less than 1k, but tax and insurance may be steep for a younger driver.

Likewise a small hatchback won't be too fast, but would be cheaper to run and insure. I'd also hazard that many used small hatchback cars would possibly be ragged silly by previous owners.

You can pick up a pretty decent Polo for less than a grand. Generally these are lower mileage, reliable and economical and looked after - lots of 'old lady owner since new' models out there.

[Flatpackhamster]

How about this?

 

Volvo 740 GLE 4dr Saloon 2.3 1987

 

 

One of those colossal, built-like-a-tank volvo estates for £470!

[Danp]

Can't go wrong with a late 90's Polo, no crumble zones though...

 

A MK3 Mondeo 2000-2007 can be had for less than a grand and are solid.

 

Personally I would say an E39 5 Series, they are a billy bargain, build quality is amazing and cheap to insure really. These came into play in '96. I have 2 of them

[Dos_Box]

How about this?

 

Volvo 740 GLE 4dr Saloon 2.3 1987

 

 

One of those colossal, built-like-a-tank volvo estates for £470!

 

You'd have to sign-up to an OPEC wholesaler to keep that thing in fuel!

[Flatpackhamster]

You'd have to sign-up to an OPEC wholesaler to keep that thing in fuel!

 

All the more reason to own it - it'll be so expensive to run he'll hardly ever take it out so it'll reduce the risk of him having an accident.

 

Sometimes I amaze even myself.

[Sunnyknight]

Again.

 

Mk6 escort.