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Fri 9 Mar 2012 10:41

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - chrissheff

Hi All,first time poster but have been reading the board for a little while, great source of opinion and advice.

Im looking to purchase something in the next few weeks, currently driving a 2001 seat Ibiza, which is starting to creak shall we say so dont want to get to the point of it being a 'money pit'. a couple of things have been repaired recently and i just have a gut feeling that it will start degrading further.

Therefore I'm looking for something different, poss a little bigger to so focus sized. I have at most £3k but dont really want to go over £2.5 to cover for future repairs / servicing etc

So any opinions? is milage as important for cars of this age?

also thought about an almera as a sensible but not exciting choice as I want somthing reliable so I can save up for something exciting in a couple of years.

thanks in advance!

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Fri 9 Mar 2012 12:58

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - Sam49

Mileage can be a factor of course, but you should really look at the condition of the individual vehicle and aim for a full service history. For a reliable car, mid -size Japanese petrol is where I'd be looking.

Almeras are good cars. I had a 1.8 one for 6 years. It was going strong on 120,000 miles by the time it got written off in a "parking incident". Timing chain issues are discussed but I got my car serviced regularly and had no major problems. People say they are dull but they actually handle great - like a go kart. However their image is such that your budget could get you a nice, late model one.

Toyota Corolla are also a solid choice but a bit more expensive. Budget could get you a later shape one (02 onwards). My folks have an 02 1.6 estate - a proper workhorse and now well over 100,000 miles with minimal problems.

Civic, Focus and Astra also worth looking at - though I've had no long term experience of any of them.

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Fri 9 Mar 2012 16:21

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - Bobbin Threadbare

I have, with the Focus - had a 52 plate 1.6L petrol LX before my current car. Hammered it up and down the motorway for close on 25k miles p.a. It handled in a very fun way on country lanes and it was comfy and roomy. I replaced the Ford radio with a DAB radio. Super!! I only got rid because I wanted a bit more power and I was moving house, so a bigger car was very handy.

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Fri 9 Mar 2012 16:45

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - madf

I agree with Japanese. Well serviced ones just run and run...

Corollas are ideal..

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Fri 9 Mar 2012 16:49

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - chrissheff

Thanks, re the focus - anything specific to watch for with them?

I'll definitely have a look for one in decent nick

I think the challenge is going to be finding one thats been well serviced - any vehicle of that age, not just the focus (to clarify...)

Edited by chrissheff on 09/03/2012 at 16:53

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Fri 9 Mar 2012 16:59

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - Bobbin Threadbare

The only thing I had to do to the Focus was replace the bushes in the suspension at the front, as it started to squeak when it hit about 85k. It cost me about £70.

It was trouble-free to be honest.

Honest John's review says "1.6 is overgeared at 23.35 mph/1,000 rpm (3,000 rpm = 70 mph and 6,500 rpm would equal 152 mph) which gives very flat 5th gear performance at motorway speeds." I would agree with this; it genuinely wasn't an issue but if someone cut me up on a hill, it felt like I had nothing in reserve. That was my only bugbear with the car, and that's what lead me to get a larger-engined Mazda.

You can't go wrong with a petrol Mazda either.....!

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Sat 10 Mar 2012 21:14

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - Xileno

You should be able to get a nice late MK1 Focus for you budget.

Make sure cambelt has been done at the correct interval - although it's not expensive on these, easy to get at the bits and pieces.

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Mon 12 Mar 2012 09:22

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - chrissheff

Thanks for all the advice,

seem to be able to get a good early ish (02-03) 1.4 corrolla with lots of service history for about £2.5k, I'll keep you updated

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Mon 12 Mar 2012 16:10

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - Bobbin Threadbare

Yes do, we're inherently nosy. A Corolla is a decent bet - a friend of mine drives one round Wales and it takes the punishment really well.

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Sun 18 Mar 2012 13:43

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - chrissheff

Hi all who have provided advice, very much appreciated

So, the outcome..

I've just put a deposit on a 54 plate focus 1.6 3 door with 51000 on the clock, FSH with 1 previous owner for £2800 which I think is about right. really pleased with it

thanks again

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Sun 18 Mar 2012 15:58

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - Bobbin Threadbare

Sounds decent and fair. Enjoy!

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Sun 18 Mar 2012 17:25

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - Roly93

Honest John's review says "1.6 is overgeared at 23.35 mph/1,000 rpm (3,000 rpm = 70 mph and 6,500 rpm would equal 152 mph) which gives very flat 5th gear performance at motorway speeds." I would agree with this; it genuinely wasn't an issue but if someone cut me up on a hill, it felt like I had nothing in reserve. That was my only bugbear with the car, and that's what lead me to get a larger-engined Mazda.

You can't go wrong with a petrol Mazda either.....!

I agree with HJ that the 1.6 was overgeared as we had a 53 plate 1.6 Zetec, but compared with our current 09 plate 1.6 Focus this was an advantage given our fortnightly 170 mile motorway round trip. Given the choice I would go with the old Focus gearing to be honest, but they are both good trouble-free cars, the Mazda 3 is basically a more expensive Focus anyway.

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Sun 18 Mar 2012 17:59

ANY - advice for £2-£3k purchase - balleballe

A well cared for focus and a well cared for mazda 3, each with the same engine and/or spec can be around the same price, IME

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