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I have £2250 to spend on a car. The car must be in a low insurance group, petrol, between a 1.1 and 1.4, good economy. In general a cheap run car. Image or performance is not really an issue preferably a small or small/mid sized car - anything from a pug 106 to a skoda fabia, to a fiesta, rover or even hyundai!! im open to suggestions. I travel approximately 45-50 miles a day on A-roads. Any ideas guys?
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For that money, simply look for your preferred style of car (e.g. 106 size, or Fabia size) and look for the best example you can find.
You may do well with a Hyundai simply because they are unloved, but have good reliabilty, which is possibly worth more than an extra few mpg.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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That's a really awkward amount in my book - more than a quality banger, but not enough to get a car that you can be fairly certain is not going to land you a bill that makes you wince, but you have to pay because you've got £2k tied up that you can't afford to lose (if you get my drift).
What about spending just £1,200 instead. You'll probably get a great car, that will last you well, and you'll have a grand in the bank (make sure you bank it!) should you need it.
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Yep agree.
The difference between a £1200 car and a £2250 car isn't that great, and with the former you'll have the luxury of being able to spend £1000 on repairs or throw the car away and buy another for £1000 should the need arise!
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MoneyMart
Current car: 55-reg Audi A4 2.5 V6TDi Quattro flappy-paddle
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It is not very big money, but in todays world of falling secondhand prices, (reflecting new car falling prices over 5 years) it is enough to buy something solid. Remember, its a communting car, not an interesting exotic car.
A hundred miles a day is 500 miles times 48 weeks = 24k a year. Biggish milage.
I would accept that at this milage it will be pretty worthless after 2/3 years, but reliability and low petrol costs are everything.
I would spend £1800-2000 on a 1.3 Micra, plus £250+ on an in-depth service, plus tyres etc if needed. Probably a 1-2 owner, with lowish milage and service history. Not a big or glamourous choice, but cheap, solid, and reliable. If it doesn't start in the morning, is that a disarster for you?
Keep it simple and go with a proven record. As the car is crucial for work, over-service it, with oil changes at every 6k.
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Does the OP mean a 50 or 100 mile round trip? A Toyota Corolla will provide reliable service.
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50 mile round trip, no family at present, cheers for the input guys, reading with interest. Keep comments or question coming?
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Fiat puntos are good and cheap with plenty of spares about .
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Maybe so, not to sure on reliability of fiats though. Someone suggested only spending around grand, would an x-plate skoda felica be a good buy? Any other suggestions welcome.
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Nissan Micra, it just won't die.
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Yes, for that kind of money, it would need to be a japanese car. Toyota Corolla, 1.3, Nissan Almera 1.4, Micra 1.3, or a VW Polo, 1.2/1.3/1.4.
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Re felicia - go for the 1.6 or the 1.9D, as they are both VW units.
The 1.3 is a cracking little Skoda engine, but does have some head gasket issues IIRC. Mine did!
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Agree. Your budget is 1,250 too high. You could get a £1,500 bill, which on a £2,000 car would pretty much write it off. On a £1,000 it still writes it off, but you are quids in.
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Re felicia - go for the 1.6 or the 1.9D, as they are both VW units. The 1.3 is a cracking little Skoda engine, but does have some head gasket issues IIRC. Mine did!
The 1.3 Felicia engine is of course an improved Estelle unit, with a prettier cambox and the distributor at the other end (this last making transplant into an Estelle difficult). I say 'improved' because a Skoda man I knew in Sussex said the Felicia unit put out 'a surprising amount of poke', and assume he knew what he was talking about. But 1.3 Felicia has non-assisted, therefore heavy, steering making it unsuitable for ladies or wimps. I always found Estelle steering excellent, and of course it is light unless very heavy luggage is being carried.
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