Changing jobs at the end of the month, losing the GTD ( 🙁 ) and switching to a car allowance instead. As the allowance and mileage are fixed rates, it seems to me that the less I spend on the car and runnimg, the more cash I have on the hip at the end of the month. So what's reliable and cheap to buy and run? Had an old Corsa that fit the bill before I got a company motor, thinking of small diesels - 6 or 8 year old Corsa, Clio or Fiesta, lowish mileage and good history, something like that? Any experience or tips, or is it a pure gamble?
Older Yaris, petrol of diesel.
/End thread
Japanese, but petrol.
No company restrictions on what you have to get? No other requirement than 3+ wheels and legal to drive?
No age stipulations, can't remember much more off the top of my head. But it's not like I'll be ferrying customers about.
Japanese, hey - the thought had occured that there are many old Avensises and Priuses in use as taxis round these parts...
The latest model Corsa is a great little car, I’ve driven loads over the last four years, either ex-Motability or ex-loan cars from a car repair company, (six in one week!) usually driven home from Cornwall, so a couple of hundred miles each car.
I really like them, they’re very nippy, comfy, the auto box shifts quite quickly, and the SR/SRi models come with a heated screen, the only Vauxhall that does.
The Fiests is also a lot of fun to drive, also has the heated screen, very comfy, auto is also very smooth shifting and the 1.0 is a good little motor.
Clio is also a nice drive, and a nice looking car, just doesn’t have a heated screen option.
Mitsubishis seem to be ridiculously reliable.
My wife has had a 59 plate 1.3 petrol Colt since 2011.
Cheap to run, cheap to insure, does 55mpg on average journey. Never failed an MOT.
I imagine you could pick up a decent one of similar age, or a bit newer, for not a huge amount.
My dad's had a couple of Mitsus too and has had a similar experience.
Definitely an older yaris. Been really pleased with the gnusmobile. Cracking car, the thread of its journey from Edinburgh to Carmarthen should tell you enough. Since then we've been to the peak district from Carmarthen, and to Luton on a seperate occasion. All trouble free and really economical too.
Mitsubishis seem to be ridiculously reliable.
My wife has had a 59 plate 1.3 petrol Colt since 2011.
Cheap to run, cheap to insure, does 55mpg on average journey. Never failed an not.
Guy I work with had a crazy run with one of those. Paid like £800 and got 6 years out of it with no major issues. Some of that time with a big motor way commute
So yes look at japanese.
2 thoughts
If it's big miles don't go to cheap if comfort matters
Will it cause alot stress if it doesn't start one day
If you want to work 3 years old might be a reasonable compromise
This is a really useful resource for info on car reliability...
https://www.reliabilityindex.com
Mondeo estate tdci. I have an 04 plate I bought off here for 400 quid and still going strong. 50mpg and masses of boot space too brilliant workhorse and just keeps ticking along. Can't really fault it
Last taxi I got was 250,000 Skoda Octavia 1.6 petrol. It was driven 24hrs a day by 2 drivers and the guy loved it.
Don't get a high mile modern diesel. Interestingly/DMF/fuel pumps all go at higher miles and can be eye bogglingly expensive.
Small, light, Japanese petrol hatch bfor economy.
Large, NA petrol engined Japanese saloon for motorway miles.
Or a Saab 9-5 petrol wagon for load lugging.
Interesting, I'd kind of assumed diesel was essential for high miles, petrol opens some other avenues.
Comfort-wise, we'll see how it goes - the Golf is a lovely mile-muncher, prepared to accept a drop in comfort and toys (although cruise control would be nice...:), starting is fairly critical but a three year old car just ain't in budget. 🙁 Put 80k on my old Corsa and it never failed to start, so I don't think I'm particularly hard on cars. 🙂
2000-ish Yaris FTW IMO - the first batch of European made ones where they screwed them together properly and the cost-reduction exercises hadn't started - we have a 2001 Verso that's done 100k and MOTs simply come down to things like tyres / blown exhausts. 1300VVTi and it still zips along on the motorway when needed. Ugly as sin so no appeal to anyone.
8 year old petrol BMW 318.
Honda.
I have a 1.6 petrol one. 2004, 240,000 miles. Still doesn't use any oil. Only needed its first new exhaust at the last MOT. Only had 2 sets of brake pads.
Budget for cam belt to be on the safe side with any second hand motor. You just never know.
My wife has a clio that’s been totally reliable for the last four years (it’s 7 yrs old)
My old man had a clio that he used for ten years, it was relatively basic, but he consistently says it’s the best car he’s ever had.
Golden rule on a used car is buy on condition.
Don’t get hung up on age mileage or spec.
My Girlfriend has a Honda jazz which we bought for £680. It's economical, very spacious for a small car and doesn't seem to want anything ever. The nice thing about them is they've generally been owned by older people who have spent money on looking after them, compared to the usual Fiestas and the like which have been used and abused by young drivers and it's got a cam-chain so no belt changes needed. My only criticism is that the ride is unnecessarily stiff.
I found the jazz had massive blind spots on the a pillar. Even moving backwards and and forward a lot it is hard to see round. I am over 6' but my mum has no problems at 5'2"
Sound, thanks all, and keep em coming. 🙂 Should I disregard anything Cat C/D/S etc out of hand, or worth a drive if everything else looks ok?
Another vote for a Jazz\cee’d\corolla (anything Far Eastern and unlovable). Get one from an old dear, something that’s spent it’s life at 1500rpm at 1/16th throttle. Give it an Italian tune up and then immediately change all the consumables and the brakes (or wire brush the glaze of neglect off thier friction surfaces). Should be good for the moon and back.
Alternatively a second hand fiat Tipo will have lost 90% of its new list price just by being driven off the forecourt. They’re an astonishing used buy.
2002 Nisan Primera petrol here - had it 16 of it's 17 years. Fantastically reliable, will do 40 mpg if driven carefully on the motorway. Mid 20's is crawling traffic. Loads of room and toys. It's one car I haven't changed as I like it -
Yaris if a small car - we had one for 17 years before selling it for a Qashqai (another totally reliable car).