A Car for Girlfriend_L

[Split_Pin]

The missus is going to buy herself a car in the spring time, and I am going to be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of it.After my own heart, she isnt concerned one iota if its 'cool' or not, she just wants something small reliable and economical for around £1200- £1500.On a selfish note, I initially looked at Corsas, as I've only ever owned Vauxhalls. I'm therefore fairly familiar with the engines and design faults and can perform basic to intermediate jobs on them.However, for that budget, the most I could get was a Y or 51 plate basic Corsa with average mileage.I then looked at what kind of Micra I could get and was astonished that for £1200 you could get a mint down-to-the-shops-and-back miler on an 02 plate.My question is, can anyone recommend either this type of car or any other small car that will be reliable and easy and cheap to fix, with good parts avaialbility?

[andrew e]

Focus - its got 4 cylinders for a start! Its redeeming feature is even the oldest look rather smart still.

[Pete-M]

Focus or Fiesta, definately.There's the added bonus that it'll get you out of those 'orrible Vauxhalls and into a proper car occasionally

[aled]

toyota starlet really reliable won't fail mot on much and service parts are cheap. tho you will only get a 97-00 model for about £1000.people do tend to hang on to them. my mother has a 95 corolla 1.3 sportif with 88,000 miles, owned it for about 6 years and never failed an mot.

[Milford Cubicle]

SInce she's not bothered about style or image, I bring you...

[trigger]

I give a vote for the Micra, my wife and her friend both had the earlier 93- shaped ones and never had any problems, very easy to drive, easy to work on, parts are cheap and they are still nippy, my wifes old P reg 1.3 would piss all over my 1.6 zetec Escort.

[Mr Lobster]

Depends what she wants from it really. Small car then Micra / Starlet / Suzuki Swift. Should be able to find something tidy and low miles without too much hassle.For something a bit bigger then you can't really go wrong with a Focus. 1.6 in Zetec spec should be a belter.

[r.welfare]

Micra is a very good call if you don't want to be fixing it regularly. Most of 'em tend to be better looked after than the equivalent Ford/GM product. Chain cams too - and they don't snap 'em like the Corsa 1.2 does. About the only thing to watch for is rust at the end of the sills, but an 01/02 job should be fresh in that regard.My great-uncle has a W-plate 1.3 CVT jobbie, and bloody well loves it. The 1.3/1.4 borders on nippy for a small 'un.

[Parky]

YARIS!

 

Yaris, Yaris, Yaris, Yaris, Yaris, Yaris, Yaris, Yaris, Yaris.

 

Did I mention the Toyota Yaris? Your budget should just get an early one.

[Split_Pin]

Thanks for the replies I originally thought Micra as my cousin had a P-reg one called Bertie which was never serviced in its 13 years and was bashed and battered but never missed a beat!I'll look for Starlets, Swifts and Micras then. Are Swifts good cars? Anything to look out for?

[ashmicro]

Ka, non-rust edition. Maintenance is easy - just hit the offending part with a hammer until it starts working again. Quadrillions to choose from, cheap-cheap ten dorrar parts.

[Guest]

Get a Mazda 323, there's something about the quality and "feel" of them which makes them feel a bit of a cut above. £1200 will get you an absolute stunner of a late 90s 323F model.

[ashmicro]

Left field?Merc 190E

[Ratdat]

Get a Mazda 323, there's something about the quality and "feel" of them which makes them feel a bit of a cut above. £1200 will get you an absolute stunner of a late 90s 323F model.

By far the best cars we've had as far as reliability goes have been late 80's Mazda 323's. They happily keep chugging on even if you never service them or anything.

[lorrydriverstig]

My old man had an 03 plate micra from brand new. It kept breaking, pretty much every sensor on the engine broke repeatedly. Monday morning motor obviously.

[Pillock]

HYUNDAI SONATA

[Split_Pin]

Get a Mazda 323, there's something about the quality and "feel" of them which makes them feel a bit of a cut above. £1200 will get you an absolute stunner of a late 90s 323F model.

Hadnt thought of those!

 

Is it this the one?:

 

[pogweasel]

Vauxhall Chevette. SRSLY.

[lorrydriverstig]

Vauxhall Chevette. SRSLY.

Behave yourself Hattie.

[pogweasel]

Vauxhall Chevette. SRSLY.

Behave yourself Hattie.

BOLLOCKS.

[Guest]

Is it this the one?

Nah one of these:

 

Thought you could get one like that probably.

[pogweasel]

I thunk they were on about this sort:

[Guest]

That's a BG, you could get a tidy one of those for half the budget.

[Torsten2001]

Isn't Count Pandamonium selling a tidy 03 Suzuki Swift for what appears to be fcuk all?

[Cavcraft]

Micra a good bet and, despite serious reservations about recommending a bloody VW, how about a Polo? Boring as you like but not too bad a car.Focus=over-rated and shite.Can't you just pay top dollar for a low mileage mint 8V Corsa? It'll never go wrong and give years of good service.

[pogweasel]

Focus=of deent quality and involving to drive and therefore commanding good resale values.Can't you just pay top dollar for a low mileage mint 8V Corsa? It'll never go wrong and give 1 years good service prior to a massive MoT fail sheet due to terminal rust.

Edited because the OP was on drugs.

[Cavcraft]

*I've had more involving number twos than driving a Focus.

[Split_Pin]

Micra a good bet and, despite serious reservations about recommending a bloody VW, how about a Polo? Boring as you like but not too bad a car.Focus=over-rated and shite.Can't you just pay top dollar for a low mileage mint 8V Corsa? It'll never go wrong and give years of good service.

I was put off Polos becuase you have to take off half the front end to change a headlight bulb. I normally avoid cars like that, unless it was super cheap.I might also look at a Corsa B with an 8v then. I had one of those as my first car and it was virtually bombproof. I'm run ragged at the moment with my 2 Ecotecs, much as I love them. I just couldnt face another in the family.

[Cavcraft]

You'd score a tidy low miler 98/99 8V for under a grand no danger I reckon.Just the usual Corsa 'favourites' such as boot floor and inner wings to lok out for really plus normal used car checks.My mate's bird bought an old (97 I think) 323 about four months back and absolutely loves it to bits, and I have to say it's a cracking car.I also reckon you'd get a decent OAP owner-ed Starlet for decent money too and they're a belting little car.

[Split_Pin]

LOL @ Pog I'd discounted the Corsa B due to it being too old and the rust issues I had with mine, but there are some really good bargains as you say. Saw a Silver V plater 43k for 1 large on AT. At least I'll know where to look for any rust!Couldnt find an 8v one though, theyre all 1.0 12V's.