I’ve ran bangers for years, I never spend more than £500 and buy whatever has the most MOT. I’m currently on the second year of a toyota carina that I got for £300 and its only got 58k on the clock. I’ve spend less on cars im my whole life than my mate lost on a vectra he bought for 8 grand. If it looks like its going to cost more than £300 – £400 to fix it i’ll scrap it or sell it.