[Closed] Bangernomics - 3 cars, what to look out for?

not the polo

I'm no expert, but I'd be looking at petrol vehicles at that kind of vintage.

The Focus would be top of my list for that reason plus lower mileage and well suited to that kind of driving.

I had a focus and liked it, it would be my choice out of those three as well, the larger engine will make for nicer driving rather than revving a 1.2 all the time

The one with the longest MOT, to start with. Its a total gamble really. There is no way you can spot every potential problem. Just get a feel for the owner and the general condition of the car. A test I always do is to find a nice clear straight bit of road and when there is no one behind you stomp on the brakes with your hands very lightly on the wheel. Feel for any juddering or pulling.

The one with the longest MOT

This, also you can check previous MOTs - I'd avoid something that passed with two pages of advisories unless you can see they've been sorted, things like tyres are easy, but be wary of rust issues.

For me I'd stick with a Fiesta or Focus - with a service history and long MOT. You won't get full dealer history at that age and price but you should be able to tell if a car has been looked after. And as other have said - check the MOT history - loads of advisories in recent years suggests a car that is hanging on to life!

And Ford because parts are cheap and plentyful.

I'd avoid the diesel. That is going to be taxed to buggery in the coming years.

I'd personally go for the focus if its in good nick and has been maintained.

The polo will probably be a bit gutless, but again, condition and maintenance are key. Possibly cheaper to tax and insure.

Have a look at the tyres - if it's got 4 different ditch finders on it then it maybe hasn't been that well cared for.  If it's got 4 Michelin on probably been really well cared for.  Similar for windscreen wipers - if branded it's a good sign; if not branded possibly not such a good sign

Without a doubt the Civic - but I'd find a petrol version instead, They just go on forever and a friend who has decades in the motor trade always says choose the Honda petrol.

so we have one vote for each and a vote for a car not on the list.

Nickjb speaks the most sense imo. If it gets through the next mot at that price its a bonus but the longest time to test wins for me as its the only guaranteed thing you really "know"  about any of the three.

+1 for checking history , speaks alot for its previous owners.

I have a 54-plate mk7 Civic 1.7 CDTi and also an 08-plate mk8 2.2 CDTi.  The 1.7 is a cracking little car, but the 2.2 is worlds ahead. Currently sitting at 190k on the 1.7, 230k on the 2.2.

Another 2.2 will be bought when either of them dies.  FWIW, I do 80+ miles a day commuting, so petrol is out of the question and can't afford new/hybrid.  The 1.7 gets an easy 48-50mpg over hilly roads.  2.2 not so good, but it needs a new IMRC valve.

Parts are cheap enough, especially if you use Eurocarparts and their eternal DFS-esque sales.  Overall, mk7 has less issues than the mk8, but Civinfo.com has plenty of knowledge.

The 2005 Focus - I think that's about the time they went from the mk1.5 to the mk2.  Mk2 will be more refined, but might get a fully loaded mk1.5 for the same price.

FWIW, the 1.7 Civic doesn't have a DPF to worry about.

Not the civic.

The other 2 if not rotten I would have either of.

"but might get a fully loaded mk1.5 for the same price"

thats a downside at this price , the more toys it has the more toys either wont work or will go wrong.

buying basic is yet to fail me , last time i deviated i ended up with a fully loaded and low milage escort ghia instead of a base model mk1 focus.... that was a foolish choice - electrical gremlins all over the place in the rain and central locking with a mind of its own when the temperature dropped.

I hope my latest forray into a top spec peugeot after years of the base models isnt a similar sorry state of affairs.

but then it wasnt <1k .... at that price id go basic as i can all day long.

Echoing the above, not the Civic unless you can find a 1.6 3-door Sport anywhere for a grand!

Normally I'd say the Polo and in terms of build quality I'd still suggest that but my mum has had a Focus of that age for years and years and uses it for her cleaning business so basically treats it like a small van and its been pretty faultless albeit a biblically awful and cheap feeling interior vs a Honda or VW of the same age.

I have a similar aged C-max and the GF has a similar aged Fiesta (so engine, gearbox and most other bits etc are all the same as the focus).

Since going over 10yr old they've had (not both, on or the other).

Distributor/alternator

Front wishbones

Water pump (x2 on fiesta)

The electrics on both are falling to bits, but only with minor niggles (stereo, windows, stuff like that).

gearbox/differential output bearing seals

Aux drive belt (it was old, but wasn't due for replacement)

I think the throttle body/valve is worn on the Fiesta.

Jammed seatbelts

Broken fiesta seat tilt mechanism (repeat offender despite not having kids)

Coil packs and leads.

Fiestas heater fan is FUBAR, causing it to blow up the regulator resistor controller thing repeatedly.

Not bad in the scheme of things for two cars both with 120,000 on the clocks (between them we've had almost 20 years of trouble free motoring), but the last two years have really been trying my patience! I'd get another one (the C-max especially as it's seemingly worthless due to it's complete lack of street cred). But I suspect a well cared for Civic petrol might be a better bangernomics bet.

Definitely NOT the Polo!

Thanks for everyone's input.

Just viewed the Civic. Everything looks good, only some surface rust around the arches. Test drive felt solid - no rattles, squeaks.

Three concerns though - first was the change in noise/tone caused when pressing the clutch when idling, is the DMF on the way out? Had a new clutch put in 4 years ago, no mention of DMF.

Second concern being no evidence or receipts of the timing belts being changed. Can't say I'd be comfortable with original belts on a 13 year old car with 140k!

Third being a tyre needing replaced.

The asking price of £900 is a bit steep perhaps, would a max of £700 be unreasonable?

I recently had a 2004 Honda Civic. I had to replace the starter motor and that was it. I just didn't like it, it was a hateful thing to drive and rattled like nobodies business.

I paid 600 for mine, so 900 for a 2007 might be about right. Lowball at 700 and you'll probably end up at 800 which seems fair.

1.7D civic is an Isuzu engine, same as used by Vauxhall in various Corsa's, and Astra's. IIRC Honda only used the ~100bhp common rail version, whereas Vauxhall used them from the old rotary pumps right up to the last 125BHP versions. I done 190k in my corsa with the 100BHP lump, and never had any major problems. Worst was two alternators.

Timing belts in Vauxhalls were due at either 80 or 100K depending on what it was in, so I'd imagine Honda will be similar. Getting it changed should only be a couple hundred a good independent, including the idler/tensioner (water pump is driven by the aux. belt, so won't cause instant self destruct if it was to collapse).

Vauxhall never used DMFs on the 100BHP version AFAIK, so I'd doubt Honda did. It's more likely to be a gearbox noise. A change of oil may help, and they can rattle/whine for a long time before finally causing any problems. It all depends on exactly what the noise is.

Personally, I would go for the car with the most complete service history and least worst MOT history!

Petrol would be my choice also.  Ford Focus parts will be cheap and plentiful.

But any car circa £1k is always a gamble.  If in *any* doubt walk away and keep looking.

I would get her a Berlingo or the Partner version.

Reason being you can carry a 29er upright in the back without taking the wheels off.

I’ve got a petrol 06 Focus with just under 140k on the clock. Good work-horse, decent amount of boot space, parts are cheap (and mostly easy to fit with plenty of YouTube how-to’s).

The one with the longest MOT, to start with. Its a total gamble really. There is no way you can spot every potential problem. Just get a feel for the owner and the general condition of the car. 

This plus check the MOT history online. Oh and rust, always rust.

FWIW I've got a 1.2 polo of similar vintage. Nice enough to drive on A roads and Motorways but pretty poor on fuel economy considering it's size.

Based on a friends experience, the Civic may be just about ready to consume suspension components and where they fix to the chassis. She was gutted as had the cills welded the year before.

Polo will be overpriced and wheezy.

Looks like the Focus if it has been well cared for .

You could get her a bike for that price 😀

As above, service history, mot (history), any recent biggys (clutch, cambelts, rack, etc..) always good, and look out for rust. We always have a bangernomics or two in the household. Current are a 52 plate golf tdi with 165k, 500 notes, brilliant car. There is also a 54 plate Polo tdi with 129k, cost 600, also great. Both look pretty smart inside and out as well.

Our fav small car bangernomics are Micras. An excellent choice but expensive at this level 600-1000! Our last one haired around the UK, through all weathers, motorways etc.. picking up parts through to engines, then sold it for the same as we paid for it.

Funny enough we’ve avoided the Fords, they usually are starting to hang and seem fragile but parts are cheap. Previous have included: Micras (excellent), Clio (best not), two Xantia diesels (both excellent), Polo (good), Fabia (Good), BMW 316 (ok), Rav4 (good).

I love these cars because so easy to live with, not worries with them, in snow, in public car parks, leave at a station, dogs in them, bikes in/on, boats on top. We have the advantage of a smart car as well but 9 times out of ten, we will grab a banger.

History and impression of care lavished

Honda gearboxes, manual and auto, have had their share of problems and is worth some research. Parts will be expensive

Focus would be my instinctive choice, parts are cheap

Clutch release bearing ? No noise when its  sitting   doing nothing ( clutch out ) some noise when its woorking  ( clutch in )

Avoid the Ford . They are  great up to 80 -90k then systematically all the major rotating componants will fail.

Honda sounds like the best of the 3

If it was me , small , hatchback , cheap to buy and maintain , petrol manual = Micra / Jazz

If it was my money I would be looking at a 1.8 petrol Honda Civic, no cam belt, bullet proof engine, no turbo to blow, great boot size, 40mpg possible, and lets just say, most  owners are on the sedate side, cost might be a bit more than your budgeted for.

I bought a 1.6 petrol focus (115 hp version) recently as a second/winter car & have been very happy.  Fuel returns aren't as good as i had hoped for but i think this may be an issue with a slightly faulty thermostat which i will soon replace.

Found a 2005 Ghia model for 400 quid with some work needing done which cost another 400 then it sailed through its MOT.  There are some early signs of surface rust but the car is in general good condition. I think the interiors wear quite well in more modern fords.  Being in Ghia spec, it has various upgrades including cruise control & a sony stereo system which goes as loud & sounds almost as good as the one in my 2011 BMW!!

I'd look for a 1.6 petrol focus 2003/04  Look for a minter with FSH etc .  loads about and recommended to me by a mechanic I trust.

We we just bought my gf a 2003 focus 1.6 Petrol for £350. Had a year’s mot and some of the car’s history was known to us. Checked mot history via DVLA on line and very few advisories and receipts going back the last 5 years sealed the deal.

This one replaced her previous focus which racked up 160k miles .

Great cars, cheap to fix , drive well , and cheap / plentiful enough to buy another if it dies.

Focus.

Thanks for all the replies. The consensus above seems to favour the Focus, however we couldn't find a decent enough one within budget/distance.

Ended up collecting the Honda last weekend - good full year MOT, plenty of history/receipts, recent clutch alternator and battery, decent owner/nice wee house etc.

On the other hand, the Polo we viewed wasn't anything like the description - scuffed up, long MOT but a few fails over the years, zero history available to show, followed by "um just sellin' fur ma mate" Complete waste of time, overpriced shite!

Anyway, fingers crossed the Honda proves to stay strong for the next couple of years!

Be pleased the alternator has been done.  Did mine at the weekend and it's a front-end off job.