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Original poster

Cheap second hand car - runaround for me - any tips on what to get?

34 replies

bunyanvillas · 10/02/2006 08:52

I'm back to work soon and looking for a CHEAP and reliable second-hand car. Budget is £2k and that's pushing it!!! Has anyone any recommendations?

OP posts:
FioFio · 10/02/2006 08:57

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zippitippitoes · 10/02/2006 09:18

what about a nissan micra

Kelly1978 · 10/02/2006 09:19

i'd go for a fiesta. more reliable and if anything does go wrong parts are cheap.

Kelly1978 · 10/02/2006 09:20

would def avoid any french makes. The repair bills on older french cars tend to get astronomical.

FioFio · 10/02/2006 09:23

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mckenzie · 10/02/2006 09:23

Do you know anyone in the business who you can trust? If you can then word fo mouth i the best in this case in my experience.

My DH was sold a F reg Nissan micra 3 years ago for £300 (a friend of his had been serivcing the car since new) which he planned on using as his 'to work' car (he parks in a not very nice area and his previous cars, at the other end of the scale, were always being vandalized). Anyway, the car is still going very strong, runs on vapour it seems, starts first time even in a frost.
But my friend has bought near enough the same car, paid a tad more for it, came from a garage and has lasted only about 8 months before major work needed doing which rendered it worthless.

FioFio · 10/02/2006 09:23

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mumfor1standfinaltime · 10/02/2006 09:26

I recently bought a Seat Ibiza for 2k. It is a 1.4, so cheap on tax, insurance etc.
Really nippy and great to drive.
It is a T reg (99) so fairly new. Try your local paper for garages or the Adtrader website.

I was driving a D reg (87) fiesta 1.1 which rattled, had no suspension, no radio, no rear seat belts...

mumfor1standfinaltime · 10/02/2006 09:27

It has only 50k miles on the clock too, so not bad.

DissLocated · 10/02/2006 09:27

Get something Japanese. I've had 2nd hand cars all my life, my current T reg Nissan Primera cost £1,800 and that's the most I've ever spent on a car! I've had it for more than 2 years and (touch wood) it's never broken down and got through all it's MOT's with nothing needing doing.

My Dad's been a mechanic for over 30 years and he really rates Japanese cars for reliability and ease of repair. I've had nothing else for the past 5 years or so and can't recommend them highly enough. The worse car I had was a Ford, and Fiats are rubbish as well.

mumfor1standfinaltime · 10/02/2006 09:28

Do not buy a Ford Ka, they rust on the sills.

FioFio · 10/02/2006 09:30

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Kelly1978 · 10/02/2006 09:31

disslocated, I've jsut sold a nissan, an x reg, cos the steering, suspension, display and gearbox were all on their last legs! Only had 51k on the clock too. I think I might have been unlucky tho.

mumfor1standfinaltime · 10/02/2006 09:36

My old Fiesta D reg (87) had 75k on the clock, just old hat. Paid £200 for it with 12months mot and 12 months tax. Sold it 6 months later for £100.

We are caraholics at the moment. My dh loves Nissan 200sx. He had one while I was pg but when I got big he bought an old Rover 214 just to transport me to hospital! (I couldnt get out of the Nissan once I was in it)

Latest project is another Nissan 200sx which we bought for £1400, with no Mot. Dh will do repairs himself and sell it for £2500.

NomDePlume · 10/02/2006 09:37

I have a Ford Focus (S reg) and it has been fab. Cheap to repair too.

FioFio · 10/02/2006 09:39

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NomDePlume · 10/02/2006 09:40

I would go for a fiesta if I needed to buy a cheap 'banger'. It all depends on your budget.

FioFio · 10/02/2006 09:45

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mumfor1standfinaltime · 10/02/2006 09:47

Bang Bang, rattle, rattle, clunk clunk, ting, clunk, ting...my old Fiesta 'banger' on a trip to Sainsburys.

booge · 11/02/2006 09:04

Just bought an R reg 1.25 fiesta for £1200 it's only done 35K and runs beautifully, its fun to drive and I can fit the buggy in the boot. The only car seat that fitted was the Mamas and Papas Protec.

cece · 11/02/2006 09:08

I have an Escort and it has been fine. Rattles a bit but that is because my neighbours builder dropped a skip on the hatchback bit and then denied it!

Enid · 11/02/2006 09:52

I have a ford fiesta and it has been utterly reliable. Even when I drove it into a flood and it stalled, after we dragged it out and let it sit for a bit, it started first time!

mummytosteven · 11/02/2006 09:59

vauxhall corsa.

misdee · 11/02/2006 10:00

i have a matiz. i could sell it to you for 1500

parkj83 · 11/02/2006 12:06

I have a ford fiesta, 3 door, K Plate (92). DH bought it for £495, with 82.5K on the clock. Love it to bits. It is a bit heavy on the steering, but soooo economical to drive. Insurance is £35 pm, that's with DH on it and me (I have a provisional licence)

We have an R reg Escort too, for long journeys, but being a 1.4i 16v, it's expensive to insure/drive/own. Always seems to be getting broken into. Might be because it's bright green?!

Crazy, I hate fords, but have two!