Any Small Car - £500 Car Suggestions!! | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

Thu 14 Jun 2012 16:50

Any Small Car - £500 Car Suggestions!! - Jamieandjo

I currently get the train to work although my office is relocating for 12 months to somewhere that would mean I would have to get 6 trains per day due to the amount of changes as it is in the middle of nowehere.

As the office will be moving back to a central location in approx 12 months I will then get the train to work again.

So the easiest option for me is to get an old banger for 12 months to see me through as I cant afford too much as we have just brought a new house and have very little spare money.

So I have been hunting on ebay etc for a £500 car or there abouts. The main ones in my price range seem to be Fiat Puntos, Fiat Secientos,Rover 25, fiestas.

It seems I could get a car with lower milage if I was getting either of the fiats.

Could anyone give me some suggestions of reliable cheapys or if you think either of these are any good or what would you do!? (I cant ride a motobike!)

Thanks

Jamie

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 14 Jun 2012 17:05

Any Small Car - £500 Car Suggestions!! - gordonbennet

£500 is unlikely to get you much more than a scrapper likely to cost twice as much to keep going, if twer me i'd up that to budget to a grand.

Something like a Hyundai Accent/Sonata or Kia Magentis or similar, unfashionable but good cars, likely to find one thats been looked after my an older person, use for the year then re MOT and flog on.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 14 Jun 2012 17:38

Any Small Car - £500 Car Suggestions!! - mike25

I recently sold a 12 year old Fiesta 1.25 LX (50000 miles) for £600. It had been utterly reliable, passed the MOT every time and only had new exhaust/battery/brakes. Servicing and spares cheap.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 14 Jun 2012 19:12

Any Small Car - £500 Car Suggestions!! - Drivethru

Simi

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 14 Jun 2012 21:14

Any Small Car - £500 Car Suggestions!! - unthrottled

Old large cars are cheaper than old small ones ie a vectra costs less than a corsa, A mondeo less than a Fiesta etc. If you can afford the insurance, you should be able to get a vectra or mondeo petrol at that price. Make sure the MOT is long and there is enough wear in the tyres for 12 months.

You''ll get a 1st gen Megane for a lot less than £500. Nippier and easier to park than a full size car. The 1.6 8V is the one to go for. Cheap to insure, and, performance wise, pretty much on a par with the 16V below 4000 RPM.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 15 Jun 2012 00:47

Any Small Car - £500 Car Suggestions!! - Avant

At this end of the market, condition is more important than make or model. But most old Toyotas should give you a year's faithful service at least.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 15 Jun 2012 08:52

Any Small Car - £500 Car Suggestions!! - Jase

I would add Primera to the list. Unfashionable, cheap, long lasting car with a 2.0i chain cam engine.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 15 Jun 2012 16:56

Any Small Car - £500 Car Suggestions!! - Bobbin Threadbare

The Nissan Primera is a dark horse. Unusual looks but they drive in a very sprightly manner and they can't half pull.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 15 Jun 2012 17:56

Any Small Car - £500 Car Suggestions!! - daveycooper

nissan micra (93 to 2000) = lots of choice, reliable, cheap parts etc
nissan almera = like micra, but more space
toyota corolla = harder to come by than the nissans

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Sat 16 Jun 2012 21:50

Any Small Car - £500 Car Suggestions!! - mikem004

As above. Look for a K11 Micra 93-00 with a long MOT. Even if it's got 100k plus on the clock, the engine will likely be smooth as silk.

Toyotas will probably be outside your price range.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 20 Jun 2012 21:23

Any Small Car - £500 Car Suggestions!! - pullgees

Look for low mileage with long MOT, but always long MOT. You don't want to be having to do repairs as soon as you get it. I've had two old Fiestas in a row and they have both been very reliable and cheap to run.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Ask Honest John

Sell Your Car

Real MPG

Fuel Calculator