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The most reliable cars are Toyotas and Hondas and these also have high levels of customer satisfaction as well. It is important to take crash statistic into account but only up to a point otherwise we would all be driving bomb-proof Mercedes S600!
For safety and economy you need a car weighing about 1100-1200kg - any lighter and safety is compromised, any heavier and economy is compromised. Take into account total cost of ownership - insurance, petrol, servicing costs, replacement parts, depreciation, etc. Some cars are attractive but overly complex and that leads to high servicing costs, Italian and French cars are known for this.
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Posted: 2010-02-09 00:33:35
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Nice cheap runaround would be a 2001 Ford Fiesta 1.25 16v Zetec. Dont even consider the other engines (Endura engine is a right oil burner) in the range as the 1.25 16v Zetec is the most reliable and also is very nippy. The Fiesta Freestyle has quite a good spec and decent models can be found for as little as £1100. Main problems with the MK4/5 are the Heater control valve which is very easy to replace (£30 max for the part. Half hour fitting) and also the boot release solenoid sticks which is again an easy fix. Insurance is group 7.
Astra G (98-2005) 1.4/1.6 8v are also good cars to buy and plenty of parts available. 8v engines are the cheaper to repair wheras the Vauxhall 16v Ecotec engines can be expensive especially if the cams go (£500 each before fitting). 1.6 16v Astra G is insurance group 4 (MUCH CHEAPNESS !!!!!)
SEAT Leon. The little known Mk1 1.4 16v Leons are great economical cars with plenty of room. Slightly lacking on power at 75bhp but cheap tax and insurance and good 1.4 engine. Parts are easily available and cost are reasonable.
VW Lupo/SEAT Arosa. Really nice and nippy cars. Cheap parts, cheap tax, cheap insurance (especially the 1.0 8v MPI's) Arosa's come with a good spec compaired to the equivelent model Lupo but the Lupo has the looks IMO. Lupo 3L is an excellent but rare Diesel if you can find one at an importers (LHD only).
Citroen C1, Toyota Aygo, Pug 107 are basically the same car. All ok cars with cheap tax and insurance.
Also have a look at the VW Fox and Pug 206, SEAT Ibiza 1.2 (Don't bother with pre 2003 models though), SEAT Cordoba, VW Polo 2000 onwards including the Saloon and 4x4 Dune.
Forget the Nissan Wankra. Poor build quality, forever problematic.
Renault have improved slightly with better wiring plugs fitted to the looms but still expensive for what they are.
FIAT's have good engines but awful electronics. The electronic power steering is a big problem on them.
Avoid Citroen's apart from the C1. Others in the range are full of electronics which control everything (even the stereo's have to be plugged into a diagnostic interface to correct problems and to update its firmware) and are costly to run and repair (if you can get a non Citroen garage to touch them).
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Posted: 2010-02-09 01:29:46
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Some good advice there ^^^
Also steer clear of CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) equipped cars as this technology is not reliable in older cars 50,000 miles+. High milage conventional automatic transmissions should be approached with care and the safe option is to get a manual as changing a clutch is not usually difficult/expensive unless the car is 4WD.
Edit: Oh and BTW get a four cylinder car, this might seem obvious but Mitsubishi and Mazda made some 2.0L V6 models which are unnecessarily expensive to service as time goes by. Mitsubishi even did a 1.5L V6 which was short lived for obvious reasons.
[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2010-02-09 01:38 ]
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Posted: 2010-02-09 02:28:33
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@Rookwise, you just made me regret buying a brand new C2. Thanks
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Posted: 2010-02-09 11:24:13
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I was steering towards a VW Polo 2000-2002 but i'll look at all the other recommendations to see how they are all fare. I'm glad i started this thread, a lot of good info
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Posted: 2010-02-09 12:38:08
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Back again, baby turned out to be far more expensive than I had anticipated (funny that) so I had to pick that on the backburner, but once again interested in a car. Hopefully the used market is good. I want it economical, preferably 5 doors and definitely this century. Budget is £1,500. 0 years no claims, 23 years old. Pass Plus completed so hopefully it should get that insurance down.
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Posted: 2010-11-28 21:45:26
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Peugeot 306 HDi
Cheap, economical and they now appreciate if in very good nick
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Posted: 2010-12-08 20:35:15
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I looked on ebay briefly and all the ones i saw had 2 litre engines, won't this make the insurance price shoot up? Not a bad car from where i'm sitting but i'd have to see if the girlfriend likes it!
The girlfriend likes the 206 very much, providing its not in the signature blue, what do you think about that? Insurance up to a 1.4 206 third party is looking to cost me about £1,700 which is pretty steep so ideally i'd like to pay little more than that
[ This Message was edited by: mrmilo69 on 2010-12-08 21:52 ]
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Posted: 2010-12-08 22:51:16
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