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Smoll 90s car for fussy buyer.

Angrydicky

By Angrydicky
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Angrydicky Rank: Lancia Gamma

Angrydicky

Posted
Posted

I do 160 miles a week commuting at the moment (plus a lot of miles going to see my parents and girlfriend) and although my Somerset and Maestro are coping admirably, it's time to buy something a bit newer, especially with winter coming up.

 

Criteria is:

 

Made somewhere between 1993-2001

Cheap tax band so under 1549cc

Cheap to run and insure

Five speed manual or automatic gearbox

Power steering

Fuel injection

Not too rusty

Hasn't been really neglected

Must have at least some MoT

Budget approx £400

Ford or Japanese (don't like French or German cars from this era)

 

Have already looked at three cars described in glowing terms which turned out to be end of life scrappers. The one I looked at today (P reg MK4 Fiesta) was described as having a 'small amount of rust on one wheelarch' and turned out to have two badly rotten wheelarches, and both sills were rotten along their entire length. And the seller had lied about it having PAS when it didn't. And the interior was disgusting.

 

Does anyone have anything suitable? Within Essex or Suffolk/Norfolk would be an advantage.

 

TIA :)

Ghosty Rank: Talbot Tagora

Ghosty

Posted
Posted

At a stretch is my 416 any good to you?

 

It's basically a late 90s Civic in a Rover frock.

  • Angrydicky and LightBulbFun
  • Like 2
hairnet Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

hairnet

Posted
Posted

panda will be up for sale but wont be till dec at the earliest

 

eco so 30 quid tax 59 plate

 

apart from service never needed anything - 47k miles

 

apart from dented wheelarch (how the fuck) and scrape on back bumper (not me)

 

presentable

 

itd be 400 ish mot till june i think

  • Aston Martin
  • Like 1
MikeR Rank: Lancia Gamma

MikeR

Posted
Posted

same here , not wishing to hijack but I think its getting difficult to find a honest car

 

I am also  looking for 500 quidish motor for the Mrs . somat small like a Micra .......C2   .....Fiesta

 

present cars mot is up in the new year .....   arse end of the Micra is well rotted ....

 

so I have 2 options , wife takes over my Focus and I get a another motor . or find a car she likes ...

 

the micra has been a good car as it will take a wheelchair or a large dog ...

Broadsword Rank: Renault 16

Broadsword

Posted
Posted

I think you might struggle with a Ford from this era. I don't think there are that many Mk. 4/5 Fiestas that haven't decomposed by now. Kas are too rusty obviously. Personally I would open your criteria up a bit and buy a Clio, which should be obtainable on that budget mainly because they are more rust resistant. Japanese, maybe a Yaris. Very reliable but even they are going to be rusty at that age. Not as bad as a Ford perhaps, but still.

alcyonecorporation Rank: Renault 16

alcyonecorporation

Posted
Posted

I have a 2004 Citroen C15 van.

  • Laseraligningfoofooflanges, chaseracer and Lacquer Peel
  • Like 3
Rusty_Rocket Rank: Citroen Ami

Rusty_Rocket

Posted
Posted

 

Made somewhere between 1993-2001

Cheap tax band so under 1549cc

 

Budget approx £400

Ford or Japanese (don't like French or German cars from this era)

 

 

Shame about the French dislike... because the 106 1.5 diesel would be perfect.  They are BRILLIANT!

pandamonium Rank: Renault 16

pandamonium

Posted
Posted

Wagon R would be perfect...

 

Swaps for Maestro? :) 

skattrd Rank: Lancia Gamma

skattrd

Posted
Posted

No real help from me, but I just saw bubs thread on his Proton, and something like that sounds like it would be ideal for you.

Alternately Daihatsu

dozeydustman Rank: Talbot Matra Rancho

dozeydustman

Posted
Posted

Get a Corolla. Wife neglects hers and it won't die, so must be strong.

  • MikeR, Dick Cheeseburger, tooSavvy and 1 other
  • Like 4
vulgalour Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

vulgalour

Posted
Posted

We're too far away being in the opposite corner of Englandshire, but there is a Corsa B (no power steering, but all other boxes ticked) and a K11 Micra here (which does have power steering) that are up for grabs in the price range.  Suspect the distance rather undoes the cheapness factor for you, it's quite a trek.

wuvvum Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

wuvvum

Posted
Posted

HR-V meets most of the criteria but engine is too big.  Perodua meets most of the criteria but it's too new.  Nothing else I have at the moment even comes close, soz.

Spottedlaurel Rank: Lancia Gamma

Spottedlaurel

Posted
Posted

I'd agree with Starlet/Corolla suggestions, and I'd favour either of them over the equivalent Micra/Sunny/Almera. More chance of finding one ex-long-term/OAP owner and with less rust.

 

Doubtful any Civic would be available for £400, but possibly a 323 or Colt?

 

If I see anything on my travels around the area I'll let you know.

New POD Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

New POD

Posted
Posted

same here , not wishing to hijack but I think its getting difficult to find a honest car

 

I am also looking for 500 quidish motor for the Mrs . somat small like a Micra .......C2 .....Fiesta

 

present cars mot is up in the new year ..... arse end of the Micra is well rotted ....

 

so I have 2 options , wife takes over my Focus and I get a another motor . or find a car she likes ...

 

the micra has been a good car as it will take a wheelchair or a large dog ...

I have 2 cars in mind for you. Your wife should have the focus.

Do you want me to bring one home next weekend for you to test drive ???

Snipes Rank: Lancia Gamma

Snipes

Posted
Posted

I'd have to agree with SL; cheap Almeras and Primeras will be rusty shit, Civics probably won't get that cheap, though you may find a Logo? How about a nice R8 Rover? ;)

  • Ghosty and Angrydicky
  • Like 2
SiC Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

SiC

Posted
Posted

If you go on the new tax system (i.e. after 2001), you'll find that it can work out cheaper. Even on the smaller engined stuff. Especially on the diesels.

 

Doesn't quite meet the criteria, but what about an MX5?

Matty Rank: Lancia Gamma

Matty

Posted
Posted

Yaris Yaris Yaris. Hateful obviously but can't praise them enough based on recent experience. better cars exist (mark one/two Punto are great) but they're hard to find and there's fucking loads of yarises (Yari? Dunno what the plural is)

  • Rusty_Rocket and Stanky
  • Like 2
wuvvum Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

wuvvum

Posted
Posted

You might pick up an early Mk7 Civic for that money - 1.4 would be cheap tax.  As long as you get one with a decent gearbox they're not a bad thing really.

AnthonyG Rank: Lancia Gamma

AnthonyG

Posted
Posted

Virtually all Mk4 Fiestas will be very rusty now, as will any Ka’s. You could get a 1.4 Focus Mk1.

 

Honda Civic (Rover 45 shape) is probably the best bet otherwise.

 

Why the 2001 limit? Extending it to about 2005 opens up a better choice of vehicles, such as the fifth generation Fiesta, Honda Jazz etc.

  • SiC and steveo3002
  • Like 2
New POD Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

New POD

Posted
Posted

I do 160 miles a week commuting at the moment (plus a lot of miles going to see my parents and girlfriend) and although my Somerset and Maestro are coping admirably, it's time to buy something a bit newer, especially with winter coming up.

 

Criteria is:

 

Made somewhere between 1993-2001

Cheap tax band so under 1549cc

Cheap to run and insure

Five speed manual or automatic gearbox

Power steering

Fuel injection

Not too rusty

Hasn't been really neglected

Must have at least some MoT

Budget approx £400

Ford or Japanese (don't like French or German cars from this era)

 

Have already looked at three cars described in glowing terms which turned out to be end of life scrappers. The one I looked at today (P reg MK4 Fiesta) was described as having a 'small amount of rust on one wheelarch' and turned out to have two badly rotten wheelarches, and both sills were rotten along their entire length. And the seller had lied about it having PAS when it didn't. And the interior was disgusting.

 

Does anyone have anything suitable? Within Essex or Suffolk/Norfolk would be an advantage.

 

TIA :)

Nephew has an early base low miles 1.2 Corsa B which he got off here as a stop.gap. 300 squid I think. Think it's got an mot.

Dsughters boy friend has a 51 reg 5 door 1.25 fiesta. He ran out of money and can't be arsed to mot it. The sills have been patched previously. I reckon 250 with MOT.

 

All about 3 miles from switch island m58/57 junction.

Eddie Honda Rank: Lancia Gamma

Eddie Honda

Posted
Posted

it's time to buy something a bit newer, especially with winter coming up.

Newer? I'd recommend a winter coat! ;)

 

Criteria is:

 

Made somewhere between 1993-2001

Cheap tax band so under 1549cc

Cheap to run and insure

Five speed manual or automatic gearbox

Power steering

Fuel injection

Not too rusty

Hasn't been really neglected

Must have at least some MoT

Budget approx £400

Ford or Japanese (don't like French or German cars from this era)

Five speed? POWER steering? FUEL INJECTION? Have you lost your mind???

 

Cheap to insure and Japanese? The underwriting gods say NO!

 

Ford and not too rusty? You're havin' a laugh!

 

Moon on a stick that list...

 

 

 

 

Get a Volvo 400 series

  • Cleon-Fonte, Angrydicky, LightBulbFun and 1 other
  • Like 4
eddyramrod Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

eddyramrod

Posted
Posted

Start buying Roffle tickets.  If you've paid a tenner for it, it won't matter what it is!

  • Aston Martin, Matty and LightBulbFun
  • Like 3

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