Hi all,
Time has come to change SWMBO's MX5 for something a little more practical. We're going to hold on to it until spring, when the demand/ prices go up (have room to store under cover), but thought it would be sensible to buy the replacement now, while the market is dead & prices will be low.
Anyway, we are looking for a banger circa about £500 to £1500, golf-sized or thereabouts.
Almeras. Nice & cheap, seem to be a few around, including some of holy grail-type single cosseting owner jobs. Dull, but worthy. Any comments re which are the best engines? I'd like the GTi, but insurance looks high. Are the 1.4s underpowered?
Civics. Fewer around than almeras, seem to be a bit rougher.
Corollas. Not many, some really old ones.
Volvo 440s. Quite a few, dirt cheap. SWMBO likes heated seats (have these in our 940), I like the cheapness and the toys in the higher spec ones.
Volvo 480s. Oddball, I like them. How are they for room? Not alot about, some modded (??).
Off the wall (if I get my way!)- VW Corrado. Would involve more cash for a nice one, but not too bad. I'd like a VR6- any idea if they'll get hit for big road tax any time soon?
Mazda 323s. Not sure I'm mad about the look, although there are a few around and they seem like good value.
Saab 900s. Slightly bigger and have a bit of a bad rep, but so cheap I'm tempted. Would I be mad??
Not really looking for any more advice about other models, just about these. Although if I've missed anything obvious, do yell!
Thanks in advance,
Alex.
--
Dr Alex Mears
Volvo 940S estate 1993
Maxda MX5 1.8iS 1997
Yamaha RD350 YPVS 1992
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Although ifI've missed anything obvious do yell!
You should be able to find a sound Escort very easily at the lower end of your price range. My old 1600cc 16v has been very good and cheap to maintain, banger though it be. The odd irritating fault but nothing really bad. And quite economical, reasonable handling, and reasonably brisk.
Of course if you are a Ford hater or mind being thought a chav by HJ, I am wasting my breath.
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Although if I've missed anything obvious, do yell!
In my opinion you have: Peugeot 306 1.9D or TD.
It has the well proven XUD9 engine which is economical and runs forever, popular cars so parts are available, they look good, are not slow, quite low insurance group and they're about the size you want.
They will also run on a veg oil blend saving you money on fuel costs if that is what you want to do.
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At this price point, have a very open mind and buy on condition and service history from someone who doesn't look the sort to skimp on things. Forget the badge completely.
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When buying bangers size has an almost inverse relationship to price. A 3 litre V6 will command far less than a 1.0 group 1-3 hatchback - no-one wants the fuel bill...
Other cars have some interesting pricing too - take the 405 - in estate form they fetch £300-£1,200 - the latter price for low miles diesel estates. So go for the saloon, even in diesel form. Still cheap parts, low running costs, but far fewer buyers for the saloon, so you'll get one for £250-£500.
Same is true for Volvo 240/740/760, except there are hardly any diesels, so the saloons are even cheaper - £200 is not uncommon, even with 12 month's MoT.
Don't spend £1,500 - spend £750, same chance of it being a dog, but you could just about write off £750, whereas you'd have to pump money into the £1,500 one even if it's a dog, because you've already got such a lump of money in it.
Or go for anti-badge - get a Skoda Felicia - pretty much a Polo, but no VW badge, so it's half the price, and they often get looked after better, as it's an old persons' car.
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Nissan Sunny, Suzuki Baleno, Hyundai Accent - you should get them in £500-£1000 range.
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Thanks everyone for your responses- very helpful.
I'm not a ford hater, just not mad about the way the escort looks, and there seem to be alot of things to worry about on the CBCB.
I'd almost discounted French, but I do believe that Pug diesels are longlived. Again, though, the CBCB has quite a list of things to look out for.
I hadn't thought of the Baleno- quite nice actually. Ditto the Sunny, I'd forgotten about the mid 90's shape, quite pretty. The Accent is a nice idea, but I think we'd look out for a post 2000 car.
Larger saloons are a good idea, but we are looking for something a bit smaller- we already have a 940 estate for big stuff!
Skoda Felicia is an interesting idea, hadn't thought of that one either.
Basically, thanks for the suggestions- some food for thought. I'm not going to rule out anything. As has been pointed out, we will certainly look at condition/ history rather than being wedded to a particular model.
Any opinions/advice on the models I originally mentioned?
Thanks again,
Alex.
--
Dr Alex Mears
Volvo 940S estate 1993
Maxda MX5 1.8iS 1997
Yamaha RD350 YPVS 1992
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In my opinion you have: Peugeot 306 1.9D or TD.
Bought a 1995 306 xrdt for £600 with 112k on the clock, as a stop gap car to get me too and from work. 2 years later it is still going strong with only a pair of tyres and a wheel bearing replaced. Seriously unbreakable engine and no corrosion problems.
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I wish I had kept my 306, lovely ride and great handling.
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Another car which has proved very capable, cheap to repair and easy to find is the 205. Very few seem to rust, many are still in great shape, and they go on and on. They are fun to drive, not cramped inside, and saved Peugeot's skin. For a small run-around they are pretty good, IMHO. Plenty to choose from, so pick one which has been cosseted.
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What I really meant to say was - get a 205GTi, you know it makes sense. Just don't get one that's been abused....
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I recently purchased a Seat Ibiza 1.9TDi 1998 lady owner 5 door 70,000 miles. Its a cracking car for £1000, no rust and based on VW bits with the fab TDI motor it goes like stink and great to drive, returns 52 - 58 mpg. Remote locking windows and sunroof what more do you want. The build quality is better than the Pug 306 xdi i ran and more satisfying to drive.
BEWARE You need to know the game at these prices and be fairly handy with the spanners to keep costs down. Mine just needed front discs and pads (£40) for the MOT, changed oil and filters and thats it for 12 months. Depriciation no problem.
Did you hear the one about the chap who sold is 9 month old 5 series Beemer ? Only lost 9 grand from new, ouch.
Older cars make more sense than ever due to vast improvements in rust proofing and mechanical components from the cars of 20 years ago. Mondeo's, Vectra's, 406's and the like can all be had for a few hundred pounds in decent condition, but be choosy and dont buy one thats been used as a Taxi , their getting good at disguising wear and tear and not drilling holes in bumpers anymore as a telltale.
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Another vote for the 306 dt. Very cheap to maintain and insure, and even drives nicely. The engine can be noisy at above motorway speeds but its more or less indestructable with regular oil changes. Never really had a problem with mine. Just wear and tear along with the odd idiot writing it off.
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If you would consider a 205 GTi i know where there is a pretty good 1.6 GTi for sale that whilst not 100% cosmetically has been well looked after by a true pug enthusiast.
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"Saab 900s. Slightly bigger and have a bit of a bad rep, but so cheap I'm tempted. Would I be mad??"
Do they have a bad rep? I'm not particularly aware of it. I'm a big Saab fan and have had no more trouble with the Saabs I've owned than any other car. ( and I've owned a lot of cars)
I think they're bargains compared with a lot of other cars, that's what I'd go for. You'd get a decent 9-5 for that price too ( I know you said smallish, but is size that important, and my 9-5 is incredibly comfortable and worth banger money)
Edited by lordwoody on 04/12/2007 at 08:17
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£1500?......... 'banger'?
I may have to re-consider what I felt was 'banger' territory (£0 - £100).
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Hi all,
Thanks again for all the advice. Had a look at a 440 and an Accent at a dealer in Charlton, both pretty rough, sadly.
Spotted another option, though. Local dealer has a 1992 Xedos with the 2.5 V6. I've seen alot of praise for these in the BR, and it's within budget at £990. Doesn't quite fit our criteria, but I do like them! The CBCB is also complementary.
Any foibles I should look out for?
TIA,
Alex.
--
Dr Alex Mears
Volvo 940S estate 1993
Maxda MX5 1.8iS 1997
Yamaha RD350 YPVS 1992
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 11/12/2007 at 17:48
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I would be wary of putting my money into a Xedos of that vintage, they were a nice unique car based around the Mazda 626 but had a curved body design which makes any accident repairs very tricky. Getting spares for old Mazdas can be difficult and expensive, for example suspension links that are only available from main dealers. You could be facing a big bill to pass the next MOT. Another consideration would be the running costs, petrol for the V6, not sure if it's a cambelt or chain design but would need meticulous oil changes over past 15 years to run smoothly.
If I was looking for a similar sized car of that age I would go for a Nissan Primera which is just as reliable and easier to maintain. They probably have the edge on similar aged Mondeos or Vectras.
As others have said, you can consider going for the diesel route via an older Peugeot which gives good economy and low road tax but gamble on possible bills, or go the other option of a petrol Japanese or Korean model such as an Almera or Corolla which will run for ever if looked after.
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"not sure if it's a cambelt or chain"
It's a belt, but non-interference engine, so breakage just stops you going anywhere.
My 1992 Xedos is in fine fettle. I'm sure others are too...
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"it's within budget at £990"
He'll probably take less. Big Japanese cars are worth buttons at the moment!
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does the cost of road tax really matter ?
For any pre-2001 car with an engine size >1549cc it's £180/yr and even if, say, cars with an engine bigger than 2000cc had to pay £220/yr then the difference is only £40, or the price of a tank of petrol. Actually the cut off would be something like 1900cc no doubt, to ensure the majority of 2L cars would be caught.
If you did want something cheap to run then get the 1.4 Almera, I guess it depends on how many miles you plan on doing and if it's a bit slow whether you could live with it.
In this months' "Practical Classics" a guy there bought a SAAB 900 for £190 with 30 seconds MoT and they drove it to and from Nurburgring with very little hassle or preparation I vaguely recall....
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I just bought a volvo 440 with fsh history and 56000 miles for 350 quid only thing i did to it was change the cambelt as there was no evidence this had been done.
Total cost 500 pounds, heated seats very handy in this weather, only problem is no power steering but then, one less thing to go wrong on a car this age.
I quite like this subject of Bangernomics!
Kush
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My brother in law bought an "L" registered 306 XTDT as a stopgap car five years ago. He used it for a year or so, then my sister in law used it for a bit, then they ran it as a station car / dump run special for a while before he gave it to his sister after the MOT man condemned her Micra. She still has it now, it's done 160,000 miles and still drives beautifully. It's only needed a steering rack (£40 from an online breaker) and replacement track rod ends outside of routine maintenance. Does high 40's mpg and has a surprising turn of speed.
Great cars. If we hadn't needed the Mondeo's space at the time, I would have bought one without hesitation.
Cheers
DP
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04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
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