Buying a banger

[3s-gtech]

You won't have a lot of luck with dealers at this end of the market IMO - your best bet is to get to the local auction (which is where they get their cars anyway). If you get a duff one, you can always send it back the next week.

[ConradJones]

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

 

what sort of engine you running?

[mac_shinobi]

You'd never get that money back, but the diesel 45 is a decent car and should go for a good while yet. It's sometimes worth spending on a car you know and like, even if it can't recoup those costs - still often cheaper than replacement!

 

That's pretty much what I had to do. Got a petrol 1.6 L honda civic executive II

 

Paid £1450 to get the car and paid quite a lot on top of that to repair numerous things

[laserblazer]

Got the Y Reg Fiesta Flight for £900. One lady owner, 62K a years MOT, taxed until October. The service history shows she had the thing looked after. There's some rust in the rear arches but that's to be expected. It drives well and the engine sounds sweet. He had a bit of a shock with the insurance because he has been out of the country for the last 4 years, he has lost all of his NCD.

[cheredenine]

Not quite, but almost

 

Bought the car for £1500 and have spent about the same again getting it fully road worthy. Problem is, it's an 03 plate diesel with low (98k now) milage and it's the Impression S model with all the luxury trims (gorgeous leather seats!). It's more than worth what I've paid out for it. The way I see it, this car should last me a good 6 years+. It'll pay for it self in petrol costs, road tax and insurance - all dirt cheap

 

Not sure if this is too late for you or not, but check out the MG Rover forums, particularly the Diesel section for advice on cambelt change, etc. This job on the L-Series diesel is a DIY-able job without too much bother, apparently, and would save you an awful lot of money. One for the chaps on that forum has opened an online shop for Rovers, for example, and does the cambelt kit for £90 and the necessary tools to lock the crankshaft and fuel pump and release the belt tensioner for about £7.

 

The clutch job i know less about, though have read about people getting a decent clutch from a third party, then just paying for it to be installed...

 

Got two diesel Rover 45s myself, one each for me and the missus. Depending on average journey length, they do between 47 and 52 mpg....

[tmcd35]

Thanks @cheredenine, but I'm more than happy paying a professional to do the job. Someone who can guarantee his work and easily be sued if my engine explodes. I don't care how easy the DIY instruction may appear I'm not competent enough to follow them

 

Yeah, I'm currently getting about 45-50mpg, was hoping for a little more..

 

Love the car and don't regret a single penny spent on it!

[Miscbrah]

Think you'll find as many opinions as you will cheap cars! For my 2p I'd say go with cheap Ford Ka, I rattled around in one for ages with no issues and paid £232 for it, with tax, MOT, new tyres and a FULL tank. Then sold it just before MOT for £230-odd.

 

Bits are cheap, DIY is fairly simple with a Haynes manual, but they're no good in a shunt really (not personal experience I might add.)

[Hefferzzzz]

I have a habit of buying cars that turn into bangers! In the last 3 years I have had the below cars and got shot of them all as problems started to mount up....

 

Impreza STi - Bonnet scoop nearly tore bonnet off!

Mondeo Auto - Overdrive on gearbox failed

Toyota Celica - VVTLi system failed

Challenger - engine started to go bang!

Shogun - engine cracked and started pouring oil out

Laguna - gearbox/DMF/Clutch (replaced all of them and still have this car)

[featured_spectre]

Must be the way you drive

[cheredenine]

Thanks @cheredenine, but I'm more than happy paying a professional to do the job. Someone who can guarantee his work and easily be sued if my engine explodes. I don't care how easy the DIY instruction may appear I'm not competent enough to follow them

 

Yeah, I'm currently getting about 45-50mpg, was hoping for a little more..

 

Love the car and don't regret a single penny spent on it!

 

I think my better half might prefer me paying a professional, but i want to play with the car and save on the labour! Will be attempting an oil change on both soon and will work up to the bigger jobs...

 

One last tip - if performance is a sluggish around 2000 rpm, it might be your MAF sensor has failed. This sits on the pipe from air filter to engine, measuring the quantity and temperature of air flowing into the engine. It is notorious for failing, but is easy to test by unplugging the sensor and taking for a test drive - if it feels a lot more pokey then the sensor has failed. Quality replacements start from approx £70 (there is a Vauxhall one that fits and is cheaper than the equivalent Rover unit), though i've been driving mine with the sensor disconnected without much issue - the car wont rev over 4000rpm in this state, but all the performance you need is available below 3000rpm anyway...