20 replies to this topic

[MiniGrin]

Hi all,

Ive been thinking a lot about my mini, and having looked at how poorly it coped with the bad weather we've been having, and general day to day use, and how much of a pig it is sometimes, and how bleeding unreliable it is, and that I do 70 miles commuting a day... Ive been considering selling up. BUT cant bring my self to leave Bob the cooper XD so, the alternative is a 2nd car for the daily stuff, and keep bob for the weekends.

It needs to be reasonably reliable and easy to live with, low insurance category as Im 19 with one and a half years NCB, be within 200 miles of Sheffield, and finally cost no more than £600 ish to buy.

I don't care what colour, what make, how uncool, how basic, age (so long as will not rust its self into the ground or break down all the time), diesel/petrol/LPG/Witchcraft, even performance isnt an issue.

Tall order I know. Im an apprentice and so on an apprentice wage, so dont have loads of money to burn, but need a practical and reliable car for my 70 mile a day commute to work and back.

So far the two possibilities ive come across are: 1) the Suzuki Alto 998cc from 1999-2001. 2) Rover 200 211 (1100cc). 

So any ideas/suggestions/cars you've seen on classifieds. And any knowledge as to how reliable and easy to live with the above are, greatly appreciated.

Thanks, James.

[Jordie]

worth a look on here sometimes... http://retrorides.pr...on#.U5oasyhcsfg

[Summerill2]

What about a ford ka? Brilliant little cars! Just look out for the rusty ones.. But for £600 you should be able to get a fairly tidy one! Or a fiesta mk5? Both fairly similar and reliable cars, well looked after zetec engines are Better than the endura engines though.

[robminibcy]

I'm 20 tomorrow and strange as it may seem bigger engines cars are often cheaper to insure. I've got a mk4 golf with a 1.9tdi and it is far cheaper to insure than a corsa ECT not to mention much faster and nicer! You should be able to get a very nice mk3 tdi in your budget or an earlier mk4tdi. They will go on for hundreds of k if looked after and dead easy to work on.

[Kieranlee999]

i like the rover streetwise ive just sent you on fb :)

[MiniGrin]

thanks for the response so far, keep em coming,

The KA/ Fiesta is a great shout, but they all seem to be about to disintegrate or go bang as far as I can see, although one is looking kinda good. 

The VWs, i think the insurance will be too much on, but ill have a look now  
Edit: Diesels aren't quite insurable, the Petrol ones are almost do-able, about 800 quid insurance. The Suzuki is 600, the rover is 700.

And the streetwise is a no go from insurance, but its basic just a flazed up rover 211 which i can get insured on and buy, but im a little scared by the K series and there heads blowing.

Edited by MiniGrin, 12 June 2014 - 10:14 PM.

[HarrysMini]

Fiat Cinquecento Sporting! 

 

I've just bought one for £500. They are so uncool, that they are actually cool. There are quite a few around for that price. Insruance is cheap too, £700 when I pass my test and I'm 17!

 

Watch out for reliability though, get one with decent service history that's had a cambelt and head gasket.

 

[MiniGrin]

^^^ this guy is onto something. 550 quid insurance

Edited by MiniGrin, 12 June 2014 - 10:19 PM.

[grumpy2]

Similar situation about a month ago a bought a very decent vw polo from 2001. Been great, does 45 mpg driven sensibly, comfy and seems like it'll go on forever. ( fingers crossed) load from about £600. Ours was advertised at £850 with haggle room

[HarrysMini]

Oh yeah, and they do 50mpg if you're kind, 30 if you're not 

[megamini_jb]

I'm 20 tomorrow and strange as it may seem bigger engines cars are often cheaper to insure. I've got a mk4 golf with a 1.9tdi and it is far cheaper to insure than a corsa ECT not to mention much faster and nicer! You should be able to get a very nice mk3 tdi in your budget or an earlier mk4tdi. They will go on for hundreds of k if looked after and dead easy to work on.

Same. My insurance has always been very reasonable. I had a fairly new at the time Volvo C30 on own policy at 18 then when I was 19 got a Corsa VXR on own policy.

Saying that though. Guy on the VXR forum got a new GTR on his own at 19 or 20 I think he was and insurance was alright considering!

+1 for the cinquecento as a cool in it's own way cheap run around

Edited by megamini_jb, 12 June 2014 - 10:33 PM.

[MiniGrin]

oooo, an issue with the fiat.... is it any easier for long mileage than a mini, and will it not rust its self into the ground....

[HarrysMini]

Get one that's solid to start with, and give it a coat of waxoyl on the arches every year and it'll be fine. They are galvanised, but the rear arches seem to rot on them.

Long journeys are ok in them, they have a 5th gear at least. The seats in the sporting are very comfortable too. The driving position is weird, but you get used to it.

[Ben_O]

I had a Cinquecento sporting and i can vouch that is was incredibly cheap to insure and run but one small downside....

 

It was a terrible car!

 

It was always breaking and overheating. it was extremely noisy, ESPECIALLY on the motorway. Me and my missus had to shout to each other when doing 70 so we could be heard. The crappy pins that hold the headlights in were always breaking causing the light to drop and point to the ground and most of all it was very cramped. 

 

Mine had a very comprehensive service history and a new MOT as well!!

 

Watch out for the Alloys or infact, just bin them. They buckle and bend for no reason. I got through 2 sets of wheels in the 8 months i had it.

 

I would like to meet the designer of that car, shake his hand and then headbut him.

 

In the end some idiot did me a huge favour by rear ending me and writing it off. I used the insurance money to buy a pug 306 which was much better and cost little to buy and insure, admittedly a bit more than the cinq but it was WELL worth it

 

AVOID!!

 

Also don't get a suzuki Alto. My mum has one at the moment and parts are near on impossible to find and very expensive if you do. Really not worth it.

 

Try a Citroen AX but go for the 1124 engine as it has 5 gears where as the 954 only has 4 Mine was supremely reliable and parts are so cheap. Had two infact!

If you don't like the styling, then there is always the 106 or saxo.

 

+1 on the KA but as has been said look for a good one. One came up near me recently. It was a 2003 model in really nice condition with 8 months MOT £400!

 

Also bigger cars can often be cheaper to insure. Get a quote for a 1.4 Cavalier MK3. Thats if you can find a 1.4 Cav!!

 

Good luck.

 

Ben

[Ben_O]

Ta Da!!

 

http://www.autotrade.../1000?logcode=p

 

Skoda Fabia Bling bling!!