Hello guys,
I have been put in charge of finding a cheap new car for my younger ( 23 ) sister she currently has a H registered Astra Belmont 1.6 which has become troublesome - she is on the last warning from the AA that they will charge her if she has them out again. Also as she lives in London, somebody tries to nick it nearly every night, so it has to go. Question is what would be a suitable replacement capable of occasional motorway journeys, Very cheap to run and insure and which will not attract the attention of light fingered scum ? I am thinking along the lines of: Volvo 340, VW polo saloon, Ford escort diesel. or even a Van.
Cheers
Dave
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OH and I forgot to include a budget of less than £600 .......
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Peugeot 205 atmo diesel. Or even less nickable, a 309. Get one with power steering, unless she's a shot putter.
Chris
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If she's good looking enough I'll give her the runaround for free.
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Rob wrote:
>
> If she's good looking enough I'll give her the runaround for
> free.
And if she fails to meet Rob's standards I will - I'm not so choosy...
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We have yet to find out if she's a shotputter. Although shotputters need romance too.
Chris
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ChrisR wrote:
>
> We have yet to find out if she's a shotputter. Although
> shotputters need romance too.
Thank God for that or I'd still be as pure as driven snow!
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She would eat you alive !! - She has no power steering on her present car - it's only for the limp wristed isn't it - up north we won't consider a car with power steering because its effeminate and it might go wrong and then cost a lot to put it right !!
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too true, us northerners know what a real car should be.
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I'm not sure I'd
a) want to give a female shotputter the runaround
b) dare
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Okay, I'm biased - but a Citroen BX can be picked up for next to nothing. Diesels are economical and most BXs seem to have power steering.
Best of all, they seem to escape the notice of theives.
On the bad side, get a rough BX and you'll rue the day you ever clapped eyes on it.
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Rich,
You're brave. I only point the true old Citroen enthusiast at the BX these days.
Sunday teatimes were getting interrupted all the time with....
There's green oil on the road under my car, what is it?
My car is right down at the back and won't go up?
My car creaks at the back when it rises?
My drivers electric window goes down when I go over bumps?
What's that clonk at the front when I reverse?
Interesting that today I've just been delivered a bargain '92 ZX TD for post-purchase timing belt, service and coolant change.
That's got PAS, a nice engine and absolutely no rust for under a grand.
David
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Bearing in mind your points about (a) Theft & (b) £600, and if they're trying to nick an H reg. Belmont, that only leaves a Skoda Favorit or perhaps Felicia OR a clean & tidy 1.3 Maestro. I've had two and their OK for the money. No-one will nick either of them, especially if you use the (previously recommended) - DISKLOK heavy duty steering wheel security device from Halfords or direct from manufacturers ........www.disklok.com Either will be OK on motorway if she's gentle and both are cheap to run/insure/repair.
Before anyone says they wouldn't be seen dead in either of the above, remember what the criteria is - cheap, practical and undesirable.
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These Thieves target Vauxhalls of this age because they are so easy to steal, however Hers has a top drawer immobilser and an alarm so they run off once the door is opened.
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My local Costco's had Disklok's on the shelf recently for about £50. If you want one its worth paying the £27 membership just for that.
They're pretty good on tires too. A pair of 205/50vr15 Michelin Pilots cost me £115, fitted and balanced. The cheapest my local tire place could do me was £90 per tire.
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disklok is too heavy and cumbersome, instead go for the autolok 2000, its also cheaper than the disklok.
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I'm sorry to say I may be able to help here. I too had to find and purchase a car two years ago that fulfilled the same requirements as your sister's.
I bought an indestructable tank also known as a Volvo 360 GLE ( limited edition no less!). It is the ugliest thing on the roads......But at ten years old was rust free in it's entirity, had 60 thousand one owner (old couples) mileage, which I guess alot of them are, has proved to be completely reliable, safe and secure. Mine cost six hundred pounds.
It has served it's purpose and as soon as it lets me down i'm getting rid, and buying something else, but alas it just keeps on going....and going. ( straight through last two MOT's)
Only downside I've heard is that steering is very heavy on non power streering versions................Hold on a minute, she wouldn't be intersted in mine would she????!!!..................good luck
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Hi Dave,
We run two older cars, a 1988 Nissan Bluebird 1.6LS and a 1989 Skoda Favorit 136LX. The Bluebird was bought when 6 yrs old and now has nearly 120K miles on, apart from routine servicing and a radiator it has been exceptionally reliable, Not fast but well built (at Sunderland) and reasonably economical (35+ miles per gallon), ours does not have power steering but the LX model does. They are so cheap and your £600 should get you a low mileage one in very good condition.
The Skoda Favorit is also OK. We bought ours as a stop-gap-car over four years ago and it keeps going and is now virtually worthless. They are not that well built (a bit plasticy and flimsy) but offer good visibility and are easy and cheap (scrap yards) to fix. Electrics are a bit weak I've replaced the alternator rectifier and pickup coil for the electronic ignition and had a short on the wiper motor. If you see a mint 1 owner, low mileage, one going cheap it could be worth considering. The best advantage though is no car thief will touch it!
Hope this helps and you can get your sister a bargain banger.
Best wishes Ian.
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for £345 she can have a fiat 127, 1982 X, 41000 miles, lots of history, full mot, six months tax, runs on unleaded, and is group 1 insurance and classic insurance, electronic ignition fitted.
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if you are worried about the security, just get a lada, the badge along scares all car thieves away ;-)
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Hope for a post from Mark (Brazil). He's good at buying cars for his sister. Mind you, he might warn against buying from a bloke with cute children.
Meanwhile, back on topic, consider a Citroen AX diesel. Ours has lasted well, rust free, reliable and does 60+ mpg. It has proved of no interest to thieves, even when unintentionally left unlocked in the street.
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With all due respect LAS, have you got a DISKLOK or have you used one on a regular basis, given that you're advising against them?
Yes it's heavy (4.2Kg), but you don't exactly have to carry it very far. and it's the strong, all metal construction that gives it it's advantage, and not difficult to fit after you've done it once or twice. It's about £20 dearer than the Autolok - not much if it's going to do the job. If my car was being attacked every other night, I think I'd go for the strongest, most visible one I could get. Nevertheless you're really strapped for cash, then I'm sure it's a lot better than nothing.
Regards,
KB
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The missus has a Disklock for here Mini - a silver one so it matches the interior!
I had a good look at them and the alternatives and I thought they looked pretty sturdy and didn't have any obvious weak areas. In use they are not as convenient as steering wheel bars but so offer a lot more protection and cover the wheel totally, thus protecting the airbag from theft. Obviously this is only an opinion as although I and my girlfriend have used the device (and not had the car stolen or been severely inconvenienced by using it) we have not got anyone to try stealing the car by squirting liquid nitrogen onto the lock / hinge and smacking it with a hammer.
Piers
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But is she is a shot putter (nobody refuted that) what is the problem with 4.2kg?
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WHAT ??? She is 5'8 and slim, She is not a shot putter and if she knew what you had written and she met you she would knock your teeth so far down your throat that you would be putting a toothbrush up your arse to clean them!
she has a fiery temper because she has red hair and If any of you met her you would be sorry that you had said these rather unpleasant things. She is great fun and we often enjoy a good few pints together. You are a sad and twisted lot !
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i never said anything against her, because i never call ladies bad names.
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Sorry, I missed the 'if' out...........Nevertheless if you're strapped.....
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i just like the autolok, i think its stuck in my brain that these are good items, because i see one everyday in the local car spares dealer.
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Ive got a Daewoo Nexia the wifes been using, Same as a belmont but with power steering and ABS , only 35k miles,
Matt
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How about a 1980s VW Jetta (Golf with a boot)? £600 should get you the best one in the world. As standard they are very easy to break into, but you can get door lock reinforcing plates which sit between the door and door handle. This solves the security problem. You should easily be able to find a nice 1600 or 1800 with a few toys for your price.
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Richard, I used to have a Jetta 1600 TX - was the bloody best car I ever owned it had done over 150 000 miles when I P/X d for a newer Golf and surprise surprise it turned up a few weeks later on a dealers forecourt showing 86 000 miles.
I only know this because I had a call from the chap who bought it and was after the service book - said he could tell I'd looked after it well. . . . . . . . . .
I have just been looking at a K reg Vento which was up for £1300 quid - looks like a good buy for someone - sadly its more than she can afford.
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HJ has or had Jettas (GTis??) I say no more!
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Well at least that's an honest answer LAS, albeit not a very subjective test of the Autolok's credentials. It's a good job the local car spares dealer hasn't got a stuffed parrot in his shop, coz they're absolutely useless at preventing car theft.
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but i might be able to do the 'monty python' sketch with it ;-)
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Diesel D, Speaking as one who offered a response to your enquiry about a cheap car for your sister (which was the starting point of this thread), I'm sorry that you had some less than helpful comments. It is my hope that they were, on the whole, sent in a sense of tongue in cheek / intended humour. I agree though that they, perhaps went on for too long and ceased to be funny. I wouldn't want to be considered unduly sad and twisted myself and the majority of contributors did their best to offer some ideas for you, which I hope you found helpful.
Regards, KB.
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Diesel D, Speaking as one who offered a response to your enquiry about a cheap runaround for your sister (which was the starting point of this thread), I'm sorry that you had some less than amusing comments. It is my hope that they were, on the whole, sent without a sense of tongue in cheek / intended humour. I agree though that they, perhaps went on for too long and ceased to be unfunny. I would want to be considered unduly sad and twisted myself and the minority of contributors did their best to offer no idea for you, which I hope you found amusing.
Regards, Rob.
PS On the basis that any unnickable car (on an undesirability basis) will need a maintainence fund to keep it going, I'd go for a Polo. Without being too sexist, girls seem to like the saloon versions, which are relatively less abused. £400-500 should buy you a mint one. Change timing belt and water pump, keep eye on fluid levels and it will take several years to kill it. Look after them and they last for ever. No PAS. Disklok not needed, unless perhaps H-reg on facelift model.
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