MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Brother's trying to get a car he's got a grand to spend off tomorrow to look at cars got three ford focuses to look at two hatchbacks and one saloon and a Alfa 155 so what car should he buy???? 🙂 should add all but one have 100,000+ miles the focus saloon's got 70,000+ miles
If money is an issue then something Japanese.
Toyota.
If money is an issue, probably not something Japanese. The parts are silly expensive.
Of that lot, I'd go for the focus, but if it were picking from scratch it would be a SEAT Leon or Skoda Octavia.
if he's not in a rush just keep an open mind on what to buy and keep checking gumtree and buy on condition rather than type/make. I managed to get my son a great nick genuine 50,000 mile clio t&td 05 plate for £1150. Renault was the one make I never wanted to get.
Alfa 155s are great driving cars if you get a good one. Problem is that rust is a major problem in alot of them now. Problem areas are rear inner arches (if its showingin the outers the inners are going to behorendous) front bumper suports boot floor rear foot wells.
Some parts like wing mirrors and trim are very hard to come by mechanicals are cheap and easy to find tho.
Focus as long as rust hasnt set in they are cheap and easy to maintain.
Sensible head says honda civic or some other jap box. However my regular head bought a 155 v6 for 1k 🙂
I would be looking at a Toyota or an older civic. I disagree parts on Japanese cars are 'silly expensive' ?
When i had a civic any parts for it i needed were no more expensive than other cars ive owned. (Platform shared with rover) they only get expensive when you start getting info type-r and the likes.
JapLand parts are not expensive. 🙂
Not a Volkswagen
Focus Mk1 1.8 tdci
Best cheapo car I've owned.
There's a '98 Subaru forester with 80k on the clock and 12 months MOT round the corner from. Looks well looked after too! Its for sale at £1k, if I was buying now I wouldn't think twice.
eurocarparts have been cheap/similar price to vw/ford etc... bits whenever i've needed them for several toyotas, a nissan and a subaru.
that said, any back street place will know a focus inside out if you're not into your own spannering.
also, buy off condition & history at that age/price even if it means going non jap.
Focus saloon is unloved, could be a good buy. At £1000, don't pick a car, buy on condition.
That Focus posted by wingnuts looks clean. Might be a good buy.
Buy on condition is best advice, something from the land of the rising sun.
Tried the VAG route, what a pile of crap, it had more faults than all the cars i've ever owned put together.
Also for that cash I would try private sellers first, you would be more likely to get a better deal.
This "Japanese parts are expensive" is an old urban myth.
1. They are not expensive. Loads of cheap suppliers nowadays.
2. You won't need to buy parts anyway as Japanese cars are more reliable.
. 2. You won't need to buy parts anyway as Japanese cars are more reliable.
In my experience that's a myth at this level, one that pushes up the price of Japanese cars at the lower end of the market. I've found the Renault or Fiat you buy for £1000 is likely to be "better" than a VW or Honda of the same price. Always buy on condition not model, and you can tell a lot about how much trouble the car will be from the owner/seller.
1k gets you pristine 2000-2004 Honda Accord hatchback with cruise control, aircon, all electrics and airbags. It's the most reliable model Honda ever produced. Lovely driving car, but it doesn't look cool.
An old Beemer
At that price, ignore loaded with toys or be prepared to not fix if they fail, base models are the cheapo motorists dream