Something Cheap For The Wife

[mowflow 67]

My wife has managed to kill yet another car. This time it was a 2l grand vitara killed by oil starvation. Before anyone points the finger, I'd like to point out it was a failed oil pump and no warning light.

 

So that makes 3 cars in 4 years and has finally brought me to the conclusion that cheap and binnable is best for her.

 

So anyone got any recommendations on something reliable, big enough for 2 kids plus all the junk, petrol as she doesn't do big miles and costing no more than £1500?

 

Initial thoughts are focus. Loads of nice Renault and Peugeot at this price but will she kill them given her history and their reputations of late.

Edited August 22, 2013 by mowflow

[welshpug 1,657]

Mk5 transit van, and a welder

 

Tbh, doesnt sound like it matters, so get whatever fits the budget, youll get a very decent 406 or c5 hdi for that money.

[pugdamo 111 2 Cars]

306 HDI estate,cheap as chips to pick up and loads of good spec ones

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

Honda, £1500 should get something reasonable, petrol Accord etc.

[mowflow 67]

I just don't fancy a diesel for her as most of her journeys are about 5 miles. Other than that how are 10 year old Peugeots?

 

Quite fancy a Honda. Had 3 of them myself and all have went to 100k without a single fault.

 

My thinking is something cheap with minimum known issues and an engine that could easily be replaced. The last 3 had the engines killed and were less common models so difficult to replace.

[Mac Crash 78 1 Cars]

Audi, preferably one of the old 5 cylinder types, difficult for anyone to kill one of those

[jonXS 30 1 Cars]

Get a mondeo, there pretty bulletproof. The phase 1, 2 or 3 are pretty cheap now. Plus there massive

[Anthony 1,003]

Get something petrol and Japanese and you're unlikely to go wrong.

 

Any of the late 90's saloons should do the job - Nissan Primera, Honda Accord, or Toyota Avensis - and unlikely to give any major grief if you buy one with sensible miles and documented history.

 

All well under budget and cheap enough to pretty much be consumable if the worse happens.

 

 

Get a mondeo, there pretty bulletproof. The phase 1, 2 or 3 are pretty cheap now. Plus there massive

Mk1 and Mk2's are hardy enough and parts dirt cheap, but Mk3's are seemingly anything but bulletproof engine wise from what I can tell - both petrols and diesels seem to suffer common engine faults that would effectively write the car off these days.

[mowflow 67]

Yeah, I worked with a guy that went through 2 Mk3 mondeos in a year. 1 petrol and 1 diesel and both with lunched engines. After the second failure he bought another, he just couldn't see past them for some unknown reason.

 

My wife is unbelievable with cars. The last 2 that she has killed have both been petrol and Japanese. The one before it was a 4 year old BMW. Just to illustrate my point. She killed her car on Monday afternoon so borrowed my car on Monday night. She came back several hours later with a flat tire. Another nice bill for me.

 

Viewing the following later

Ford fusion 1.6

Suzuki Ignis estate

Civic 1.6

 

She's currently refusing to have a saloon. TBH i'd rather a big hatch, estate or MPV type thing as well.

[tartanbloke 35 1 Cars]

Ford Puma 1.7 are good fun and relatively cheap.

[mowflow 67]

Doesn't really fit with the 2 kids under 3 and all the crap that is needed to transport them such as the massive car seats, bag full of nappies, bottles, wipes, spare clothes etc and the buggy unfortunately.

 

The Ford Fusion was really nice to drive. Utterly gutless on the motorway as expected but really nippy around town and had the same lovely direct steering as a Focus.

 

Damn you budget creep. I set out looking to spend no more than £1500 and already I'm test driving cars at £4000. I hate myself.

Edited August 22, 2013 by mowflow

[dcc 855]

Xsara.

 

Paid 500 for mine - its amazeballs

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

306 estate or xsara estate

Diesel of course.

It's passed my testing procedures which are well renowned

[Emmy Seize 8]

Volvo V70 Mk I. Even runs without any oil -as my wife proved over a couple of month.

 

Nice for towing a trailer with certain ebay bargains as well.

Edited August 22, 2013 by Emmy Seize

[harryskid 193]

A nice pair of comfy walking shoes, you wiil be quids in!

[mowflow 67]

We've stumbled upon a xsara Picasso 2l hdi which seemed promising. Viewing a 206 1.6 sw quicksilver tomorrow. The search is getting boring so either of these will be wifeys next victim.

[mowflow 67]

Done and dusted. Spent a week hunting and 3 days of looking and driving various death traps, bangers and the odd gem.

 

In the end I left the decision to the wife, she was torn between 2 frenchies. A 206 SW quicksilver 1.6 and a xsara picasso 2.0HDi. In the end the Picasso won (partly because it had a panoramic sunroof). I fancied the 206 until I discovered I'm too tall to drive it. After a short drive in the xsara I'm pretty impressed. The engine is more refined than my 6 month old BMW diesel, it pulls well enough, no rattles in the cabin and the space is amazing.

 

Ended up beating down to £900 for a 53 plate with 104k with recent new clutch, brakes, brake lines and tires. It would be nice if she didn't kill this one.

[welshpug 1,657]

now then, I do hope you have taught her to check the oil and water, and that big red STOP light really does mean STOP RIGHT NOW !

[mowflow 67]

The odd thing is, despite never driving her car and therefor never seeing any warning lights. It's my fault according to her and everyone else. I even got shouted at by a mechanic at one of the garages we visited.

[welshpug 1,657]

make sure you drive them once a week then