car advice needed

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adam*

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Unfortunately the cam belt went on my corsa and took at least one valve with it, looking at around 350 min to fix. As the car cost 580 and has 86k I don't think its worth the cost.

I work as a press photographer and do quite a lot of miles- about 12k a year. I need a reliable, economical car no bigger than a 1.6. Trying to get a 2k loan so budget is potentially 1-2k. PAS, electric Windows, central locking, 5 door

Would really appreciate any recommendations.

Adam
 
I would suggest something japanese for reliability. 2k should get you a pretty decent Honda civic or Toyota corolla, for example
 
Diesels seem to go on forever might be worth thinking about it?
 
I would look out for a Citroen ZX 1.9 non Turbo diesel.

Yup I know it's above your engine size but worth a look. It has a Peugeot Diesel engine thats built like a tank. I had one that went to over 140,000 miles and other than a clutch and tyres never needed repairs just servicing.

Not the raciest of cars but comfortable and a decent car to drive. Well worth a look as they are cheap and value for money.
 
Cheers for advice so far - the 1.6 I think is probably my insurance threshold before I start paying alot more. Don't have any no claims and currently only pay about £480.
 
Other option is 5 year 0% on something like a Ford Focus Zetec 56reg.
 
Have you got a steady income for the 5 year deal? I am always wary of paying over 5 years for car will you still want to part with a significant sum each month when it's getting a bit shabby ( compared to a shiney new car) and this would already be 4 years old when you get it....
 
If you want something that will go forever and not die, buy German or Japanese.

Maybe a Polo or something like that ... should easily see you doing 140k+ without too much in the way of costs.

I have run 2 Golf GTIs to 100k+ (the first went to 130k when I sold it and was still running as well as the day I bought it).

Currently have a 4 yr old Audi A4 that has turned 105k without missing a beat.

HTH :thumbs:
 
My brother has a Mazda 323 and swears by it, as do two colleagues who used to have one. Problem is there's hardly any on the market.

I'd be tempted by a Polo but you seem to pay alot for it's reputation? Although perhaps there's a reason for that.. Saw a polo for £1500 but that just seems a bit steep - had about 50k on it. Audi's are nice but all fairly big engines?

I may also be looking at around £1000 if I have to finance from elsewhere.
 
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i have a focus tddi that i use for work that is on 139k
it does not use a drop of oil or water between services and has been faultless over the 4 years i have had it
a focus 1.6 zetec is a reasonable car and they last for years
 
Get something with a cam chain, not a belt. Chains can fail but nothing like as frequently as belts.

Diesels tend to be lower insurance group for the same capacity when compared to petrol car, or at least used to be - I haven't changed my car in six years so don't really pay attention. They also use quite a bit less fuel, but cost more to buy because at the moment everyone wants something that will do 40mpg.

Friend of mine just bought an 08 Ka 1.3 for 5k after her W-reg Focus 1.8 TD lunched the engine (suspected oil pump failure). That had under 100k on it when it died.


adam* said:
Cheers for advice so far - the 1.6 I think is probably my insurance threshold before I start paying alot more. Don't have any no claims and currently only pay about £480.
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On a corsa? Blimey. I pay £350 fully comp, unlimited miles on a Boxster S as my every day car.
 
Budget now definitely up to 2k, has to be bought outright- no finance. For that I doubt I'd get a focus 1.6 zetec with under 70k miles?
 
About three years ago we bought a Peugeot 309 for £100 and it had done several thousand miles for us since. It was a diesel and we did the Scally Rally Ireland in it, then it was used by my youngest daughter to learn her winter driving skills and the following year we used it on the Scally Rally Arctic. Brilliant car, recommend them

My daughter used a C plate (original C) Polo to do a Scally Rally through Europe, general driving and then used the same vehicle to do the Scally Rally Ireland.

So we are looking at two excellent long living vehicles. Good luck
 
Skoda Fabia. Not the coolest, but it is a polo underneath, and a low insurance group cos no one wants to nick em, and they don't attrack the racing crew. £1500 for a 1.9d with 90k on the clock. Or same money for a 1.4 petrol with 45k.

Seat ibiza is the same car, differnet badges again.

If you can cope with a small car, then the Ka is good value. 1.3i engine, ins grp 1, drives well, economical etc.
 
adam* said:
Budget now definitely up to 2k, has to be bought outright- no finance. For that I doubt I'd get a focus 1.6 zetec with under 70k miles?
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there are loads on autotrader 2002-2003 not sure how new a car you want but for 2k you wont go far wrong with one
 
A 2003/4 (or even a 2005 if you accept a leggy one) 1.0 Corsa 5 dr would be a decent bet for £2k, GP1 insurance, sips fuel, surprisingly nippy (I have 3 points on my licence to prove that :lol:) and they have a timing chain, not a belt. You may even be able to find a DualFuel (LPG) one, they're fairly scarce in 1.0 litre form, but with the price of LPG being roughly half that of petrol you're looking at the equivalent of 100mpg on a run :D
 
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