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Where can I get a good cheap car?

We need a large estate car - perhaps a Volvo - as we are a family of five with lots of clobber. I don’t mind a car with high mileage, as long as it is safe and reliable. Our budget is £1000, however I could go higher if the resale price and quality merits the extra cost. We would only own the car for about six weeks. Please could you let me know what you would advise and whether I should look on eBay or at dealers?

Asked on 23 June 2012 by WT, Doha

Answered by Honest John
Buy from eBay or privately, definitely not from a dealer if you want to minimise costs. Volvo 940s are deeply unfashionable, but have a following so aren't always cheap. Avoid 960s (too thirsty and can have cylinder head problems). If you can’t find one, then a pre-2006 Mondeo 2.0-litre petrol estate which has a chain cam engine and is relatively reliable. Anything you buy absolutely must have a long MoT because the MoT now covers a lot more than it did before, and any failure for anything will probably cost more to rectify than the car is worth.
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