WTB: Cheap 'get me to work' car

[WildCards]

Hello, everyone. Yes, yes, it didn't last long but I am looking for a cheap as chips runaround to get me to work and back. This isn't just because of the running costs, Kate wants to learn to drive and it's a little pointless in a VR4 (Similiar position as Kieran)

Anything considered as long as it's under £500, has a long MOT and is a manual.

Cheers

Steve

[Dream Weaver]

my son has a 1994 1.4 astra petrol that is cheap to run, MOT until Spetember. Boringly reliable.

[WildCards]

What sort of MPG does it return Dream Weaver? And how much would he want for it?

[WildCards]

ahaa, knew i'd seen it somewhere

This One (http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11541)

£650 is more than i'm willing to spend though i'm afraid.

[SGHOM]

Flippin' 'eck Steve !! /pan
If you cant find a banger/runabout within 200 yds of you, then the 2nd hand car trade is really kaput !! :inquisiti

[Kieran]

Steve - if you're after Max MPG (and to be honest you do need to average 40+ MPG to see a significant saving), don't even bother with a petrol. The ones that are advanced enough to deliver great MPG figures (without driving Miss Daisy) are likely to be too expensive.

To be honest, I would recommend a Golf if you can find one on autotrader or ebay cheap enough. Good reliability and you'd be surprised how cheap spares are.

I'd avoid italian diesels if I were you. Dare I say it, but for a cheapass runabout, the *&^£ French (/grr) do some decent units. The XD in the PSA groups been around years. My in-laws have always had Ford diesels. Again, tough, but very agricultural and not amazingly economical.

If you can find one, the Austin-Rover Direct injection diesels (yes, direct injection) are very, very economical, but that Perkins unit (later the L-Series) is the most gruff and clattery diesel I've ever known. very economical though, apart from the later Intercooled L-Series (used in the 220SDi and the 25 TCie). They also (for the 'Honda' Rover 200 series) used a Pug unit, a 1.8. Bit of a liability.

www.honestjohn.co.uk has some very useful information. Use their car by car breakdown section to read reviews. It's got a slant towards ownership and reliability, rather than how well a car goes around a corner. For buying a runabout, it's a worthwile read - much more informative than say Parkers.

Hope this helps!

[WildCards]

TBH, i've been thinking about a 205 Diesel, mainly because a mates cousin runs a tuning garage in Enderby and stocks parts for all the GTi's and has loads of knowhow with them. Diesel is what i'm after, Kate hasn't a clue about cars so she's happy with whatever I get her.

Derek, I've only looked on eBay and posted my intentions here, but from past experience the garages in Leicester don't flog the p/x cars to the public anymore, so it is a little more difficult than you'd think.

If any sees anything they think would fit the bill then put it under my nose please.

Thanks for the replies.

Steve

[jayjay99]

I'm doing the same, looking for a golf diesel, going for an auto though. If I see any manuals of interest i'll put them your way.

Jay

[WildCards]

Nice one Jay. I'll do the same mate :thumbsup:

[Dream Weaver]

he wants less for his Astra now as the MOT is shorter.

£400 would get it.

And it is cheap to run, if you don't drive it hard its fine.

[WildCards]

What sort of mpg does it return DW

[strangebat]

have you not given the auctions a try, I was bored at lunch time the other day and watched some good german diesels go for silly money. ie p reg merc with 120k for 500 quid

[nlo]

i have just got a clio diesel as the work runaround, and gotta admit its great just because of the fuel economy alone :5shots:

[WildCards]

What auctions are these strangebat? I've been looking on ebay but do you mean specialist car auctions?

I think anything small and diesel is going to be the key here. Looking at 306 diesels, mainly because a mate can repair and source parts for them extremely cheaply.

Cheers Guys

[gdelargy]

Stuff like this I think he means:

Honest John's directory of car auctions in the East Midlands (http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/directories/auction_finder/DirAuctions09.htm).


You can get some crazy bargains, but obviously the risk factor is higher with the bargain buckets because you get so little time beforehand to assess them.


Regards,
G

[WildCards]

Cheers

G(eek)

[strangebat]

Stuff like this I think he means:

Honest John's directory of car auctions in the East Midlands (http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/directories/auction_finder/DirAuctions09.htm).


You can get some crazy bargains, but obviously the risk factor is higher with the bargain buckets because you get so little time beforehand to assess them.


Regards,
G

if you go to one of the main ones-intercity auctions, etc, theyre pretty reputable just go prepared. Know what you want before you go and how much you're gonna spend. look out for ex fleet/rep cars, high mileage but usually full dealer history and mostly motorway miles.

[jolygreengiant]

Permenant 4 wheel drive, 2.0l deisel, same shape as this, in grey.

http://english.auto.vl.ru/catalog/toyota/corolla/1987_0/photo/

[WildCards]

Permenant 4 wheel drive, 2.0l deisel, same shape as this, in grey.

http://english.auto.vl.ru/catalog/toyota/corolla/1987_0/photo/


What?

[bernmc]

What?

Don't say 'what' say 'pardon' you rude boy ;)

[WildCards]

Don't say 'what' say 'pardon' you rude boy ;)

Sorry, meant to say 'what do you mean?' but was in a rush earlier. Please accept my humble apologies JGG.

[bernmc]

Sorry, meant to say 'what do you mean?' but was in a rush earlier. Please accept my humble apologies JGG.
Say thirty 'hail mary's' and give yourself 50 lashes with a birch twig and we'll call it quits.

[Kieran]

Don't say 'what' say 'pardon' you rude boy ;)

Shurrup!/pan

[WildCards]

give yourself 50 lashes with a birch twig

ooh, yes please

[jolygreengiant]

I have a 1991 Toyota Corolla 2.0l Diesel. The Executive. 4 electric windows, permanent 4 wheel drive. This doesn’t drive, as its age would suggest. It’s still sound.

Mechanically 100%

I’ve bought a VR4 so this has to go. This car got me into 4 wheel drives, it’s a primitive form of permanent 4 wheel drive, but it works.

12 months MOT

There’s no turbo, so speed wise its like a 1.2 – 1.3. Drive the car like a nutter you can expect 35mpg, drive like Miss Daisy 45mpg. The car’s all torque, 5th gear from 30mph.

Only modification, 700w main beam, and fog lights. Don’t worry about garish boy racer spots you can’t see them.

To boot the reg is worth a couple of hundred, TAZ.

Sony stereo, newish tyres.

I’ve had this car since 30,000 miles, it’s serviced every 5,000 and it’s paid for itself many times over. It is a good car, many years and miles still in it.

Outside metallic grey, inside blue/grey. Immaculate inside, body work shows its age, but nothing serious. Feel free to contact me 079 099 78 465.

[WildCards]

Let me take a looky at insurance JGG and i'll get back to you. Cheers Mate :2thumbsup

[WildCards]

Sorry for not getting back earler JGG, insurance is a tad too steep wityh it being an import so its a no go mate.

Anyone else got anything for me?

[WildCards]

Just bought a 95M 106 1.5 XND Diesel off ebay for the grand sum of £463. 108K, 6 months T&T.

K - bet my diesel can do more miles to a tank than yours /Nuuu










...at least I hope it does

[Kieran]

Good News Steve - You won't regret it.


(I bet, being a fecking Frog-Tin, that you get more bits fall off than I do ;) :evilgrin: )

[WildCards]

maybe, but it comes with some blue tack to keep it together

[WildCards]

Just paid the insurance for the new car and had the VR4 policy amended, which saved my nearly £200

Doing the sums - this little car is going to save me around £200 per month!!