Ok, I'm after a car to get me places, but it needs to be:

a) dirt cheap (I'm talking 200-300 quid here)
b) dirt cheap to insure (I think I'm gonna have to go under my Dad's name yet again despite the fact I've haven't had a smash in over 6 years of driving)
c) economic (I can't afford much petrol)
d) preferably a bit of fun to drive

I'm thinking along the lines of a 106, the engine might be puny but at least they're supposed to handle ok

Anyone got any other tips?

Cheers,

Pete

robin reliant.
cheap.......yes
cheap to insure...........i guess so
economic...750cc engine
fun to drive.....they tip over if you corner them fast, that counts as fun doesnt it

ford fiesta
mazda 121 (basicly a fiesta)
fiat panda
nissan micra

Problem with anything for that kind of money is going to be rust (if its a tin top)

That said, loads of part finished kit cars of the old/ugly variety for cheap money.

Something like a GTM or a Quatum may be do-able.

http://cgi1.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MakeTrack&item=110019839723



Failing that you should be able to get a Rover 200 on eBay comfortably and the honda engine is a gem.

I'd be less worried about what it is than the condition it's in and the insurance group.

For motoring on a budget, you want something that's been well looked after but is old enough to be nearly worthless. check the tyres, brakes, exhaust and the normal wearing parts to see if they had some good life left in them.

With a car for that sort of money it would be easy to spend double the purchase price on putting it right within a few weeks of buying it.

Also make sure it's in a low insurance group - it can make a huge difference to the premiums if you are running a car on a budget.

HTH Cheers

Mark

To be honest for that sort of money unless you go the part finished kit car route I think anything you get is going to be a cash cow. Always in the local garage and having things fixed.

That said try out your local car auctions (you MIGHT get lucky) but I'd advise you go a few times without bidding to get an idea.

Ah you lot are far too pessimistic! I've never spent more than a couple of hundred quid on a car Fiesta isn't a bad idea, I like the really old boxy ones. I'm not driving a micra though, I have some pride!

As for insurance group, I completely agree about getting one in as low a group as possible. I've come across a useful website HERE where you can download the insurance group database used by insurance companies. Whack it into excel, sort the list by insurance group and start at the beginning! Must admit I haven't even heard of half the cars in group 1, but there are a few in groups 2 and 3 that seem ok

Pete

fiat cinqacento or something like that seen them for around £300 look for the sporting a bit better trimmed etc usually very cheap at auction or clio/106/saxo

might you find an old mk1 306 1.9td (mechanical) for that money? good on insurance, economy and are quite a good drive.

Ned.

try a mk3 ford fiesta. might not be any worse than a 106/saxo in a crash test. take a look what happens to the saxo (same basic car as 106) on the ncap site

atb

steve

the mazda 121 is a ford fiesta, but is likely to be a lot cheaper to buy!

... but replacement parts are TOTALLY UNBELIEVABLE, to the point of comedy

but as they are cheap as chips, and are unlikely to go wrong, being a mazda, and not a ford, who cares!

Not overly keen on the Mazda to be honest, 306 isn't a bad idea, the insurance is a group higher than the 106 etc so I'll have to get some quotes to see how much the insurance is affected, but seeing as I'm going under my Dad's name hopefully it shouldn't make much difference. Hell, everything should be cheap under my Dad's name, maybe I'll just go for an Impreza P1 Now if I can just find one for 200 quid...

Pete

[Edited on 13/8/06 by scoobyis2cool]

mini

Not for £200-300! Or you will get one, but you'll have to spend a few weeks welded it back together again.

Mini certainly crossed my mind, but I need this car to be fairly reliable in the short term at least because I may have to commute 140 miles a day for 2 weeks, and I also don't have much time to make it roadworthy. I don't especially want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere at stupid o'clock in the morning!

Pete

[Edited on 13/8/06 by scoobyis2cool]

Get thee down the auctions.

Brother bought a Toyoyta Carina on Friday.
93 L reg
One owner
Full History
MOT to July 07
A bit of easily dealt with paint at the bottom of a door and that's it.

£170

Old japanese mid sized saloons are uber reliable and cheap. But if it's cheap transport you're after you can't go wrong.

I've owned a 106, saxo, 205 and 306 and out of those for what you want it for I'd go the 306td every time (or 205 diesel). Old reliable japanese things could be a good option, just be wary of what has been said abut spares (if needed) being more expensive.

Ned.

Get a Rover, or a Merc.

Great cars....

Whatever you say

PS, join the RAC

[Edited on 13/8/06 by coozer]

Just remembered, old age you see, paid £100 for my 55K rover with lock damage at the salvage action.... 6 years ago.

95K on it now, 16 years old, no rust (garaged, makes the diffence).

Swap it now for an older Merc 190 Deisel, I would!

quote:

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Originally posted by coozer
Swap it now for an older Merc 190 Deisel I would!

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I was hoping so, so I was....

Let the force be with you sir....