MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Hi all,
Looks like my 2002 Corsa C has finally died, so looking for something to replace it with.
Main requirement is low total cost of ownership - purchase, insurance (27 year old male, car will be parked on London street), tax, petrol, maintenance etc.
It will pretty much only be used for weekend journeys - biking, supermarket, going to see parents in North Wales etc.
Don't want a diesel.
Don't need anything massive, just as long as my MTB will fit in with wheels off (as it did in the 3 door Corsa). Space to fit an airbed in the back would be amazing but definitely not a must.
I'd consider some sort of van or camper conversion, could be quite fun, but doubt it will make economical sense.
Budget of £2-3000. Also open to other finance options, but doubt they will work out more economical?
I expect something around 10years old and 80,000miles is as good as I can hope for - maybe a Fiesta/Focus/Astra/Golf? Is Japanese for reliability, French for suspect electronics accurate?
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Duane.
All the electronics on my renault scenic work just fine, it’s the mechanical bits that are wearing prematurely.
another corsa is a decent shout, you know what you’re getting.
if you don’t use it for work, then mpg is probably slightly less important.
a matress would fit in a zafira quite easily.
Just put my Roomster on Autotrader today, petrol 1.6 so not budget car tax but not silly either. SW London area.
PF - got a link?
Also - thoughts on older cars with lower mileage vs newer cars with higher mileage (I know it also matters what kind of miles).. and also older higher quality cars vs newer lower quality cars?
All good questions. Ime any car after 8-10 years starts developing faults. I've been tatting about that price range for years. I always come back to VW though. For your needs a Golf every day, everyone should own a Golf at some point in their life so if you haven't had one before give one a whirl. Also..a Polo?
As regards the old car low mileage Vs newer car with high mileage my advice would be to consider all. Go and have a sit in it. Listen to your conscious, you get a shit feeling about it walk away. Consider dealer sales with a warranty to cover major issues.
I'm in the same bracket, Mazda 3 for me*
*The most boring man in the world
Berlingo. Petrol
Main requirement is low total cost of ownership
Mass produced Japanese is your answer, but condition is key at your budget. Swindon built Hondas were the most reliable a few years ago.
Also – thoughts on older cars with lower mileage vs newer cars with higher mileage (I know it also matters what kind of miles).. and also older higher quality cars vs newer lower quality cars?
Different considerations to make. Such and such engine might be capable of half a million miles, and with 200k on the clock some might consider it 'just run in', but if it's done 5 years without an oil change, or even 5 miles without any oil, it's probably just about dead. Service history is important. If it's done a lot of miles you want to be quite sure that it's been looked after throughout. Especially these days when cars are dispensable objects to many people. Also consider that high miles could be a bigger strain on smaller engines, and something like a Corsa has probably not spent it's life driving up and down the M1.
Older cars are more tempting than ever with rust mostly being a thing of the past. But even on low milers you have to remember that some components simply degrade and perish over time. A 10+ year old car is undoubtedly going to have it's quirks and foibles, even if it looks showroom condition on the outside. Also more likely to have had more owners and harder to assess how it has been treated by each...
If it was me, I'd just do a local search and find a privately sold well maintained car from someone who looks like they've actually owned and driven the car for a number of years (not one of the many used car dealers in disguise).
Condition is more important than make/model at that price IMO.
Old 1.8 petrol honda civic, 40mpg, swallows bikes, comfy drive, only downside is that stupid bar along the rear windscreen, but it's a small negative...
Toyota Corolla. Something fairly boring & unforgettable that should be reliable & keep plugging on, while not attention, given it'll be parked on a London street.
My mate had one and could get his 26er hardtail in the back with the wheels still on - seats down obviously.
Something like this:
You'll get a nice 2007 R56 Mini Cooper S for that money
10 year old car petrol is always going to be around 135 to 300 pound mark for tax unless you get a 1.0 3 cylinder.
+1 for a decent Toyota corolla
Honda civic 1.4 or 1.6, 3 door is nicer and the engines are very reliable 200 pound tax 35 mpg 0-60 11 seconds
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201806187608189
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201806257817682
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201807138412865
Petrol Focus or Mondeo estate, lower spec the better, with a manual box.
Thanks for all the replies. Just had confirmation that the old Corsa is indeed dead, so the search for a replacement picks up!
It's a tricky one as the car won't be used all that much, but when it is used its for relatively long distance (compared to just pottering around town) - so I don't need anything fancy, but still want something comfortable and reliable.
Any thoughts on. 2005-2006 Golf vs 2008 Focus/Fiesta/Astra/Auris etc, all similar miles, condition etc?
Go and sit in it. Does it look tatty? Do you get a general nahhh feeling about it?
You'll find a decent Focus for that money. Cheap to own in the long run and not bad to drive for a 'crap' car. Bike fits in fine with one wheel off. I'm on my third now - I always get 1.6 Zetecs and pay around £2k. Check the timing belt has been done.
The one with the best service history and the least amount of owners. So probably the Toyota being sold by the 60plus retired person who had it from and probbaly is selling it locally rather than autotrader.
So I’m currently down to two options:
Seat Ibiza 1.4
£2700
MOT until November
Part service history (up until 2014 I think)
Overall seems in very good condition, tidy and no scrapes
Very slight ticking/knocking that goes away with any brake pressure, maybe worn pads?
Toyota Auris 1.6
£2500
MOT until next Feb
Full service history
Generally tidy, not as clean as Seat, but not obvious creaks, ticking etc
Both have around 65,000 miles, and two previous owners. Both sold by motor traders.
I feel like the sensible option is the Toyota due to their reliable reputation, longer MOT, service history, and no tapping. However, the presumed higher quality, better looks, and better driving experience of the Ibiza is very (very) tempting!
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Duane
Your reasoning seems sound. Any warranty with either?
What age Ibiza? New shape or old shape? I used to have the old shape and it did me well, but I had the 1.9Tdi. I think the 1.4 was fine - they had some issues with the 1.2 I think, so perhaps stay clear of that. New Ibiza; that's my current car, but again the 2 litre diesel, rather than a petrol. Again, it's been a very reliable car, but not great for getting a bike in. Mine is the 3 door.
I'd be erring towards the Auris, if one of your main criteria is bike carrying. The extra space in the back over the Ibiza will be useful if you carry bike and kit.
Like I said above, a mate of mine used to own a Corolla and getting a bike into his car was much easier than my Ibiza .
Just sold my civic 1.8 on a 57 plate , never let me down in 4 years , easy 40mpg local and 50 on the M way with 2 bikes in the back ..
Failing that a Jazz , small nippy as hell and will easy eat a 29er
I'd avoid the Ibiza if you can hear ticking/knocking. And I wouldn't necessarily say they are "higher quality" over the Toyota either, but you're probably correct in saying they drive better.
If you like the Ibiza, keep looking,..
Ibiza is 2008, Mk4, new shape.
Neither have warranties.
The Toyota didn’t seem that much bigger than the Ibiza to me? I’m coming from an old 3 door Corsa so both of these will be bigger.
The term “Knocking” may be a little harsh on the Ibiza, it sounded just like on a MTB when the pads are catching, so a slight rub every time the wheel goes round
That noise could be nothing more than knocking surface rust off the disc...
Yep I think you’re probably right, but it could also be...
When it comes to cars, I always employ the "if in doubt, walk away" rule!
Too late to suggest a Honda? From jazz small cheap and reliable to civic type r, small, not cheap but reliable.
The Toyota didn’t seem that much bigger than the Ibiza to me?
Auris is basically the next size up. Think Focus to Fiesta....
Part service history (up until 2014 I think)
A lot of harm can come to an engine if it doesn't get any maintenance for four years..
^ this...
mine’s had an oil change every year (all at way less than the required mileage), and last year new plugs and air filter. And i’ve reduced the initial asking price, hint hint...