Buying a used car - your opinions please - haf35
I'm looking for a really cheap runaround to do approx. 80 miles per week.

I've narrowed my choices down to a couple of cars -

1. Mazda323 1.3 litre, 2001 reg. with 105,000 on the clock;

2. Daewoo Matiz 1.0 Xtra, 2004 reg. with 105,000 on the clock;

3. Daewoo Lanos 1.6 SX, 2003 reg. with 95,000 on the clock.


They all seem to be in fair to good condition for their age and are a similar asking price. I think the Mazda sounds like the better choice, but I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Many thanks Haf

Edited by haf35 on 25/08/2013 at 02:21

Buying a used car - your opinions please - Happy Blue!

At that age, you need to budget for repairs - and for these cars, it is the ability to source parts that will be the issue.

Daewoo made fairly poor cheap cars and were unpopular. Mazda is the better bet assuming its condition is appropriate for its age.

Buying a used car - your opinions please - sandy56
The Mazda is probably the best bet but at this age and mileage anything is a gamble-be prepared to pay out for repairs.
Buying a used car - your opinions please - Ordovices

Have you considered the Getz or Rio (or even an Accent). Low rent and styleless, but pretty indestructible and cheap.

Buying a used car - your opinions please - Avant

At this end of the market, condition is more important than make or model: if at all possiblr, try to find something that has been serviced and appears to have been looked after.

That said, you're probably best to go Japanese, and so you could add the Toyota Yaris or Corolla to the list as well as the Mazda. Be prepared to walk away if not convinced: there are plenty of cars out there.

Buying a used car - your opinions please - wrangler_rover

Probably seen as herecy on this forum but for 80 miles per week, do you really need a car?

I regularly commuted 7 miles to work and 7 miles home all year round on a bicycle. You don't get that many days when waterproofs are needed.

If it is just for 1 person and not much to carry, the cost savings and the health benefits far outweigh buying a car.

Buying a used car - your opinions please - RT

Probably seen as herecy on this forum but for 80 miles per week, do you really need a car?

I regularly commuted 7 miles to work and 7 miles home all year round on a bicycle. You don't get that many days when waterproofs are needed.

If it is just for 1 person and not much to carry, the cost savings and the health benefits far outweigh buying a car.

OP wants a car - since you don't know what the 80 miles consists of you've no idea if a bicycle is practical. In my case it wouldn't be possible, age and decrepitude forbid it!

Buying a used car - your opinions please - madf

haf

Matiz does not stand high mileages well as many areabused: corrosion in sills/rear wheel arches, rear brakes all sorts of problems- wheel cylinders/brake cables.

Trouble is??: at those miles and age.. owners skimp on servicing and sell when expese rears its head.

As Avant says, buy on condition. If you don't know how to do so, get someone who does to help...Some shiny cars can be a load of junk.

Buying a used car - your opinions please - SteveLee

The most bang for your buck will be in the form of a Daihatsu Charade or Sirion - Toyota mechanicals, ugly as sin and they weigh nothing so fuel economy is exceptional along with more than acceptable performance thanks to the favourable power to weight ratio. They can suffer from tinworm so keep your eyes peeled.

Mitsubishi Colts of the era you're looking at are also cracking little cars but will cost a bit more than the Daihatsus.

Buying a used car - your opinions please - primeradriver

I'd forget about the Matiz -- at that age and miles it's about at the end of the line.

I'd echo the comments about going Hyundai if you're interested in Korean bangers -- Hyundais have been nearly at the level of the Japanese for a long time in terms of reliability; Daewoos weren't terrible but the Matiz was never one of their best cars (the engines are prone to problems with the timing belt and head gaskets fail).

The Lanos isn't a bad car but again they don't really last very well. If it's cheap enough and in decent condition then they're OK, but then so is any other car.

If it were me, and if I'm reading your requirements correctly, I'd be looking at MK2 Micras. Other than a few problem areas (gummed-up throttle body, rust on the subframe and ensuring that the timing chain has been well lubricated -- in other words has the car been serviced properly) these are bulletproof.