Which Car to get ?

[mac_shinobi]

Going to get a new car in a weeks time or so before I have to go back to work and just wanted peoples thoughts / suggestions on which ones are good ones.

 

Basic requirements are as follows

 

Around the £1000 mark

Engine no bigger then 1.4 ( was looking at a 1.3 toyota corolla ) but have been suggested a vw polo

Hopefully cheap and reliable both on engine parts as well as cheap on insurance and tax

 

I was also looking at diesels but not sure how they would effect my insurance so am guessing I would not want to go above a 1.8 diesel or something along those lines but again which car to go with.

[Haptic]

what are you doing with yours then bud ?

[mac_shinobi]

what are you doing with yours then bud ?

 

Lets just say selling as spares and repairs - as read edutechs post and basically lost control of me car on the way back from home the friday before last and would cost more to repair then buying a new car - the engine is totally sound in it but all down the passengers side is forked, wind screen smashed, roof has been tilted to one side as bent the front bar holding it up on the passengers side, smashed passenger windows and doors, and the lights at the front and back on the passengers side.

 

Was thinking about maybe getting some equivelant doors etc but then still have the problem of the roof and also re spray would cost a lot.

[Haptic]

Lets just say selling as spares and repairs - as read edutechs post and basically lost control of me car on the way back from home the friday before last and would cost more to repair then buying a new car - the engine is totally sound in it but all down the passengers side is forked, wind screen smashed, roof has been tilted to one side as bent the front bar holding it up on the passengers side, smashed passenger windows and doors, and the lights at the front and back on the passengers side.

 

Was thinking about maybe getting some equivelant doors etc but then still have the problem of the roof and also re spray would cost a lot.

 

ooh not good fella hope your ok , any pics ?

[Andrew_C]

Was thinking about maybe getting some equivelant doors etc but then still have the problem of the roof and also re spray would cost a lot.

Forget it. If you've bent the metalwork around the screen, you'll never get the glass to seal. As to the replacement, it really depends on what is available. At £1000 nothing is likely to be wholly reliable; maybe look to Japan (Swindon) and Honda?

[mossj]

Ford fiesta zetec 1.25, you should get a decent model for £1000.

 

Reliable, quick (for a 1.25), and every garage i've been to they seem to jump on the chance to work on it (something about yamaha engines).

 

Had mine 2 years (S reg) and did a hour round trip to work everyday and it's only had one problem (exhaust rusted through).

Edited December 19, 2009 by mossj

[K.C.Leblanc]

Ford fiesta zetec 1.25, you should get a decent model for £1000.

 

These are faily highly regarded, make sure you look at the 1.25 and the 1.4 petrol which are the two best engines by miles. There is also a 1.3 which is ancient (it was only kept on because it's only engine that fitted up the KA's bonnet) and a 1.8 diesel which even older.

 

If you want to go diesel (and unless you want to do a lot of miles I wouldn't bother), probably the best option would be a Citroen Xsara (it's a dullified version of the Pug 306). There are two main diesel engines to choose from the 1.9 (either Turboed or non turboed) which is fairly old fashioned but consider the be one of the best diesel engines of it's generation. There is also on later Xsaras the HDi, which is pretty similar to their current deisel engines. It's much nicer to drive then the 1.9 but also more complicated and something I'd avoid in a £1000 car.

 

I personaly wouldn't buy a Polo, there's nothing wrong with them, but because they're made by VW you pay a premium and end up with an older car.

[mac_shinobi]

ooh not good fella hope your ok , any pics ?

 

Am fine thanks - will post pics up later on but its written off - what are peoples thoughts on nissan, toyota and possibly mazda ?

 

Im not keen on a polo myself but it was a suggestion that was made , other then the above mentioned ones I was thinking a vauxhall corsa , not keen on ford ka and the like as I like my space and have sat in a ford ka and they are tiny and I feel too cramped

[mossj]

not keen on ford ka and the like as I like my space and have sat in a ford ka and they are tiny and I feel too cramped

 

I'm 6"1 and find the ford fiesta fine, in terms of space i've moved twice with it and was able to get all my kit in it.

[torledo]

Forget it. If you've bent the metalwork around the screen, you'll never get the glass to seal. As to the replacement, it really depends on what is available. At £1000 nothing is likely to be wholly reliable; maybe look to Japan (Swindon) and Honda?

 

i think it's rare to find a car for several thousand pounds which is 'wholly reliable'. Not without a warranty anyway.

 

i have however found cars at a few hundred quid which have been very reliable and required very little maintenance. Also, at the low end of the price spectrum the lack of central locking, electric windows and other electrical gubbins can sometimes be a bit of a blessing as far as narrowing down what could go wrong.

 

If it's more than 10 years old i think it has to be something japanese.

[mac_shinobi]

i think it's rare to find a car for several thousand pounds which is 'wholly reliable'. Not without a warranty anyway.

 

i have however found cars at a few hundred quid which have been very reliable and required very little maintenance. Also, at the low end of the price spectrum the lack of central locking, electric windows and other electrical gubbins can sometimes be a bit of a blessing as far as narrowing down what could go wrong.

 

If it's more than 10 years old i think it has to be something japanese.

 

Any chance of a list of japense cars ie honda, nissan, mazda, toyota ....... ????

 

The car I did have was a honda civic 1.4 - dont want my engine size to go above 1.4 - at least for petrol engines due to insurance, tax etc

[Andrew_C]

I've down-sized to a Honda Jazz as my daughter is now of driving age, and I couldn't afford the £2100 to add her to my Saab insurance. 46000 miles, (12 are mine) and I've spent nothing on it this year bar £130 inc for service and MOT, and a set of tyres (Mitchelins are so much quieter than the standard ones!). It would have been out of your price range, but with the scrappage scheme and recession, I'd guess there might be some cheaper, older ones around. HUGELY practical, if a bit unexciting. Who really needs excitement on snowy roads?!

[EduTech]

Sorry to hear about your car mac :( Hope your okay mate..

 

I have felt lost without my car the past few days... it's silly but even though i aint been driving long without it i feel so down

 

I am "probably" going to sign the paperwork today/tomrrow but i have just got me a new Vauxhaul Corsa 1.4 SXI 2009 Plate

 

James

[torledo]

Any chance of a list of japense cars ie honda, nissan, mazda, toyota ....... ????

 

The car I did have was a honda civic 1.4 - dont want my engine size to go above 1.4 - at least for petrol engines due to insurance, tax etc

 

there's quite a few, but off the top of my head mazda 323, the 1.3 petrol might be on the edge of your budget. And it looks to be a bit bigger than the likes the fiesta. I think the fiesta is also a good recommendation.

[mac_shinobi]

Sorry to hear about your car mac :( Hope your okay mate..

 

I have felt lost without my car the past few days... it's silly but even though i aint been driving long without it i feel so down

 

I am "probably" going to sign the paperwork today/tomrrow but i have just got me a new Vauxhaul Corsa 1.4 SXI 2009 Plate

 

James

 

yeah am ok thanks - That's how I feel right now - have to wait a week tuesday before we can go out hunting but just looking on auto trader and wanted to get an idea of the sorts of cars that would be good to look at.

 

If you dont mind me asking where did you get the 2009 plate corsa and roughly how much was that ?

[EduTech]

yeah am ok thanks - That's how I feel right now - have to wait a week tuesday before we can go out hunting but just looking on auto trader and wanted to get an idea of the sorts of cars that would be good to look at.

 

If you dont mind me asking where did you get the 2009 plate corsa and roughly how much was that ?

 

Well quite funny actually

 

Before i even sat down i managed to get a flat rate of 5.5% as to the 7.5% they had listed I also got 12 months Tax, and Knocked down from £8,995 to £7,995. Monthly payments i managed to get for £145 per month because i said i would walk if they were what he said at first at £165 as my budget per month was £150.

 

oh oh and dont forget the Matt's i also got some free matt's out of him

 

Now i know what everyone has said is true and that i would loose money the minute it comes out of the show room.. but at least it's a Vauxhall and they do hold there price.

 

I be honest and say i would of prefered not to have a new car on finance, but i just have not got any money at the moment to go and pick up a car of AutoTrader.. that then might need work doing to it.. at least with this i know i wont have to spend any money on it for a good while with the warrenty which is just comfort more than anything, plus it's a nice car not too big and flashy but perfect for someone like me.. has a bit of a sporty look aswell.. with suspension, alloys, tinted windows,lights etc so happy really

 

James

Edited December 19, 2009 by EduTech

[mac_shinobi]

any more info on the mazda or why you recommend a 323 ?

 

I should be able to afford it and will also at some point today post back pics of my mashed up on one side car ( including wind screen and wipers )

[steveg]

Be sure to check insurance quotes before you buy anything, and dont get too hung up on engine size with regard to insurance - When I was only just 19 I went from a 1.3 Accent to a 2.0 litre hyundai coupe and my insurance dropped by over £300 a year! Then 2 years later got a 1.8 diesel mondeo and the insurance almost doubled! I think it's pretty much based on whatever boy racers are smashing up that year rather than engine size or insurance group!

 

Steve

Steve

[mac_shinobi]

Be sure to check insurance quotes before you buy anything, and dont get too hung up on engine size with regard to insurance - When I was only just 19 I went from a 1.3 Accent to a 2.0 litre hyundai coupe and my insurance dropped by over £300 a year! Then 2 years later got a 1.8 diesel mondeo and the insurance almost doubled! I think it's pretty much based on whatever boy racers are smashing up that year rather than engine size or insurance group!

 

Steve

Steve

 

That's what we have been doing - getting the reg plate and contacting the insurance company I am with and getting a quote on insurance costs before going ahead and buying the car

 

images attached - got one pic from the drivers side as the drivers side is fine.

Edited December 20, 2009 by mac_shinobi

[Primus]

Vauxhalls hold their value well? Don't think so!

[Midget]

Peugeot 306 DTurbo (not TD) would fit the bill. Engine is good for 200k miles relatively low insurance too despite being >1.4L

 

If you don't care about driving an just want a basic car for A-B a Hyundai or Kia, they lose value like stones and with a 5-7year warranty you should be able to get one thats covered.

 

Don't be scared of high milers either. Engines in a motorway only 100k+ car will be considerably better than a 40ker only used for 1mile runs to school/work/shops due to never having a chance to warm up the oil.

 

Don't write off cars with larger engines either. Little shopping hatches are bought by 17yos and have higher insurance premiums than midsized saloons only bought by old men.

[mac_shinobi]

Peugeot 306 DTurbo (not TD) would fit the bill. Engine is good for 200k miles relatively low insurance too despite being >1.4L

 

If you don't care about driving an just want a basic car for A-B a Hyundai or Kia, they lose value like stones and with a 5-7year warranty you should be able to get one thats covered.

 

Don't be scared of high milers either. Engines in a motorway only 100k+ car will be considerably better than a 40ker only used for 1mile runs to school/work/shops due to never having a chance to warm up the oil.

 

Don't write off cars with larger engines either. Little shopping hatches are bought by 17yos and have higher insurance premiums than midsized saloons only bought by old men.

 

Thanks for the suggestion ref peugot but am not keen nor interested in a peugot - my better half has one and its put me right off of them.

[INeedAUsername]

Nissan Micra all the way mate. You can get a half decent one for around £700, parts are cheap, bullet proof engines and gear boxs and best of all they are cheap insurance.

 

we used the 'families' one to get a batroom suite in, a fireplace and the flooring for when we were doing the house. absolutley no bother with them and they last and last

 

We have had loads in the family, the last one my uncle had and that did 125k until someone forgot to prss thier breaks and went into the side of him wrote the car off but hey at least he got all his cash back from the insurance and yep you guessed it - another Micra was bought.

 

I had a renault clio 1.2 16v - nothing but trouble. the electrics are well dodgy and the labour alone is £80 p/h just to tell you that your ar cuts out mate. hopeless service and was well happy to get rid of it!

 

Yep definaley look into a micra mate

[mac_shinobi]

Nissan Micra all the way mate. You can get a half decent one for around £700, parts are cheap, bullet proof engines and gear boxs and best of all they are cheap insurance.

 

we used the 'families' one to get a batroom suite in, a fireplace and the flooring for when we were doing the house. absolutley no bother with them and they last and last

 

We have had loads in the family, the last one my uncle had and that did 125k until someone forgot to prss thier breaks and went into the side of him wrote the car off but hey at least he got all his cash back from the insurance and yep you guessed it - another Micra was bought.

 

I had a renault clio 1.2 16v - nothing but trouble. the electrics are well dodgy and the labour alone is £80 p/h just to tell you that your ar cuts out mate. hopeless service and was well happy to get rid of it!

 

Yep definaley look into a micra mate

 

Looking at the nissan almera's and toyota corolla and mazda 323 so narrowed it down to those for the time being - just need to wait until a week tuesday and then will have a proper look on auto trader - any other good websites that people can suggest I should look at - excluding google , bing etc

[Sirbendy]

All I can say is make sure you check it well.. My X reg 1.6 Astra auto cost me 2k, and apart from an ECU failure (£300), it's been spot on. I need to do the air/pollen/oil filters and oil change, and 1 new tyre..but it's painless and quite nice.

 

The 1.6 I had before that was stunning (£1800)..in 5 years it only cost for the usual tyres/brakes/servicing..then some tit crushed my boot. I do have a "spare" 1.4 auto that cost me £400...and it's a nail. Sigh.

 

Off the top of my head it needs a new headlamp, a new indicator, a complete exhaust rebuild (suspect a collapsed catalyst), a total rebuild of the brakes (no pressure), a steering check and tracking, and I'd say the autobox has been abused badly, judging by the turbine and fluid pump whine.

 

It came to me with a full MOT...mmm...can we say dodgy garage? Luckily it's a spare, so it's sat on ramps until I find the time.