[Closed] Anyone have a good reliable old car? (or no of one potentially going)

Personally, I'd stick with a VAG diesel (early 2000s).

Simple, solid and reliable.

boardinbob had a Daewoo people type carrier on here the other week.
http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/fs-cheap-bike-car-massive-load-carrying-space-low-mileage

hora - want to borrow my pickup?

Izuzu TF 2.5TD

Sort out your own insurance and pick it up/drop it off in Southampton. If you bend it, you mend it.

It is a double cab so it seats 5. the flat bede takes 5 bikes/loads of stuff. It is a bit creaky but just keeps going and for a short trip it has a certain novelty value.

Daewoo now sold. 1st person to see it, bought it. Not sexy but a really reliable car.

Jesus H Corbett!!! You need a reliable car for a short trip to Europe, and you're trawling autotrader! You never make things easy for yourself, do you?

[url= http://www.rentalcars.com/en/city/gb/manchester/?affiliateCode=google&cor=gb&label=manchester-2OMaj3WMcL_EfkAEXVdgqAS8621793770&ws=&gclid=CPbu4oGbkrQCFefMtAodehIA-A ]even for you, this is surely a no brainer?[/url]

Shame I sold the TVR...

I wouldn't trawl autotrader. It'd be a fulltime job in its self. WCA...hello thats a generous offer and of course- rules apply - damage/pay. The issue is distance as its a bit of a schlap from Soton to Dover via Manchester. Bugga! Did you hear that all the TVR jigs/moulds have 'probably' been destroyed so no chance of a TVR resurrection..

Focus 1.6 tdci.. been an absolute gem.

Just bought a new truck but cant bring myself to get rid of the focus and decided to keep it as a spare and for long journeys.

Highly recomend one if you can find one cheap.

*Sits back and awaits 'I'm stranded by the side of a French Autoroute with a blown motor, and no breakdown cover' thread*

My aunt is selling a 2004 Nissan Almera, full service history and 7000 miles on the clock.

4 door, 1.8 auto

Yes 7000 miles....

That wouldn't happen Binners. If need be I'll take the ickle Citroen C1. I took a Aygo over in 2005. So I know 'how to' put up with a tiny noisy one!

ericemel - how much?

*Sits back and awaits 'I'm stranded by the side of a French Autoroute with a blown motor, and no breakdown cover' thread*

Just get yourself something that should be reliable and factor in full roadside cover with hire vehicle should it fail on you

Get a Corrola or Civic etc

I've got a W plate Honda HRV -Vtec. It's totally trustworthy and the most "fit and forget" car I've ever had. £1500 quid buys an excellent one with a FSH. Nice and safe, plenty of room and 4 wheel drive sometimes (it's one of those 4wd when needed), can cruise all day at 80 and is a 1600cc so not too thirsty. I'd sell you mine but I love it.

Wrong time of year imo

Ive been looking for 3 weeks locally ..... Up to about 100 miles for. Sub 2k car thats not been to the moon and back and also not running a toy car engine in a heavy motor.

Given the cost of spares for our golf ill be staying away from vag group. Yes my peugeot van is supposed to go wrong more( it hasnt yet) but the cost of spares is a fraction of that for the vw.

Same plea to anyone in aberdeenshire or close btw 🙂

vag diesel ime
i'd go for a golf or an audi A4 myself, plenty of old ones about. I had a golf last car, had over 200k on the clock when I sold it and still got a grand for it, nothing could put it down and the seats fold down for a bike or 2, bonus.

E plate E30 BMW 318, did 230,000 until we finally got rid of it after the head gasket went

VAG 1.9TDI are good, the 5 cyl VAG 2.4 non turbo in the van is smooth, bomb proof but slow.

My 3.0 Auto Beemer would be perfect for the Euro roads, as steady as you like at 120 on Cruise control.....

But you didn't want it, and now I think I want to keep it. Cest la vie.

Whats the budget?

Any cheap car, Audi or Alfa, that you dont know the history of could be a lottery.

I'd be buying off a genuine seller with a genuine reason for sale. If you're going down the bangor-nomics route thats as important (more?) than the vehicle, IMO.

Any [s]cheap car, Audi or [/s]Alfa you buy[s] that you dont know the history of could [/s] will leave you stood by the side of the road.

FTFY 😆

Assuming you've weighed up benefit of just hiring one?

I hired a Merc E 200 Cabrio for my Alpine jaunt in August.It cost me £240 for the week,via Sixty at Munich airport.Ok that was an free upgrade on the Eos I had booked but I`m sure youd get a really good deal for something like a Golf.

Toyota avensis 2.0 petrol of the pre 2000 vintage.

I swear the engine was milled form one piece of metal or something, 120,000 miles, no love at all and the ****ing thing wont break, i snapped the cam belt on it - Not a problem, non interference engine, cost me more to have the bloody thing recovered that it did to have it fixed.

Edit, new cam belt, fitted was about £120

Assuming you've weighed up benefit of just hiring one?

I've also read the stories of post-hire a debit has been made for 'damages' found.

The other is issue is what if someone gently (and I mean gentley as well) scuffs one door in a carpark. I doubt I'd find a Chipsaway when I'm tired/in France etc so that may be £500 hire excess blown ontop of upto £300 hire for Uk-overseas-Uk travel in one.
I've also read the stories of post-hire a debit has been made for 'damages' found.

You can cover all that on the hire

Assuming you've weighed up benefit of just hiring one?

This is Hora we're talking about here. Never assume anything.

Just hiring a car would be the sensible, economical and easiest option and is therefore clearly [b]wrong![/b]

Now... about this 'wheel' invention that everyone's been harping on and on about for thousands of bloody years. I think its probably a flawed concept, and with a bit of thought, I could do it better.....

Wrong time of year imo

second that - I wanted to get cheaper spare motor this time of year when my van was facing a major money repairand I was swithering on whether to commit to it, so my plan was to lay it up and get a cheap blatter run about (a bit of patience and research got it sorted for a 10th of the price I feared however). You need to be desperate to sell just now - this time of year people aren't selling good cheap cars, they're selling cars that are failing in ways their circumstances can't afford to fix.

Economical?

I hired a diesel Insignia for 4days a month ago. That cost me just over £70 as the car I was supposed to be getting was downgraded/lost in their system so they bumped me up.

I doubt very much I'd get a Insignia again for £70. I contacted a couple- its upwards/towards £300 all in for overseas.

I could drive down to Dover in my car, leave my car at Calais but again its ££ and I've driven half the total journey in my own car.

I was going to borrow my bro in laws new car but hes just got it, doesn't want it driven that far 'yet' so thats out (remember his Audi S3 and Golf V6 that I had of his binners!).

Say I buy a great old car for £600. I could use it as a biking car as well/sell it post Christmas for the same....but then I could buy a £600 money pit that costs me £300 to repatriate... oh hum

Driving a £600 car across Europe - I presume with small child in the back? Fair do's. What could possibly go wrong.....?

This has got the law of sod written all over it, I'm afraid. The (previously) most reliable car in the world, will wait until the remotest spot, furthest away from the ferry, then lunch some critical, and now unavailable engine part

*Sits back, once again, and awaits 'I'm stranded by the side of a French Autoroute with a blown motor, and no breakdown cover' thread*

Cheap and reliable = MkII Micra.

Good point. Sods law will be hanging around the corner smoking a tab ready to mug me.

but then I could buy a £600 money pit that costs me £300 to repatriate...

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Say I buy a great old car for £600

😆 takes number plates off and..

Good point. Sods law will be hanging around the corner smoking a tab ready to mug me.

You knows it!

This is like the episode of Top Gear when they were driving three old cars across part of Africa with a bush mechanic in a Beetle sat always at the back..

I can see I'm going in the C1.

Just waiting on my delivery date for my new Co Car - fingers crossed before xmas - so will have a 2.0 02 plate Golf GTI for sale with 8 months Mot and 2 months Tax - Full service history 2 cam changes receipts and all work needed done on it its ever needed, 2k back had level 3 service . 128k on clock Apart from replacing what i would consider consumables its been spot on, I have been doing 600-1000k PM motorway miles in it for the last 12-18 months and never let me down Cosmeticaly it polishes up well also. Guess id want about 1k to take it off the drive when the new one arrives, im near watford

Take a tip Hora - there is no way you can be sure that buying any car that old/cheap is going to be reliable for a trip to Europe. WCA's offer is very generous and you'll be hard pushed to beat it.
.
Why risk it, especially with a child and if you break down, a night or 2 in a hotel will cost you more than a hire car anyway!

Why risk it

If you don't actually know Hora, imagine a child with severe ADHD whose just drank a 2 litre bottle of coke, in one go, through a straw

Like that child, every 0.7 seconds a new thought pops into his head. Hey... what if I.... (insert mind-bogglingly stupid idea, which any sensible person would immediately dismiss, here)

He provides a valuable public service, in making the rest of us appear rational. Give thanks to the lord for Hora. If he didn't exist, we'd have to invent him 😉

Why risk it, especially with a child and if you break down, a night or 2 in a hotel will cost you more than a hire car anyway!

In part I totally agree. however I've never broken down or had UK breakdown cover. I put this down to partly luck but also a large dose of preventative maintenance. True there are things like belts snapping- but belts can snap on a brand new car just out of the factory. Coolant loss tends to be measurable within a couple of k's etc etc. If a car really has been serviced regularly etc and you drive/base car on its condition (always buy on condition!) then within a week you'd 'know' if you had a pup. First drive normally gives you pointers/gut feel no?

Bro in law had a 02 320D up until recently and first drive I just thought 'hes been had'. 🙁

I've never broken down or had UK breakdown cover.

And in foolishly typing those words, you and your potential vehicle are now cursed!

It is looking like the C1. A 3cylinder, newish marvel of 700kg's.

It is looking like the C1. A 3cylinder, newish marvel of 700kg's.

I't'll be fine, just factor in an extra enroute hotel stop if needed, it'll be way cheaper than your other options

Could stop in London at friends or a F1...

-" this time of year people aren't selling good cheap cars, they're selling cars that are failing in ways their circumstances can't afford to fix."

Yup. I have a golf whos waterpump died. Have a quote to repair it but the car really doesnt suit our needs

Want to buy it hora 🙂 its never been a taxi ! Fsh

Got a peugeot 206sw to sell. Its been utterly reliable in the 10 years the wife has had it, but she now has a comapany at long last.

WCA's offer is very generous and you'll be hard pushed to beat it

Having been in said truck, to be BRUTALLY honest, I'd rather gouge out my own eyes with a spoon than drive it ANYWHERE. Unless its had some serious mechanical work, it's rogered.

WCA - You know that's true mate. 🙂

Personally, I'd stick with a VAG diesel (early 2000s).

Y2K VW Caddy?

Two seater, obviously, with 151k on the clock, but its been as good as gold for us (we bought it for use as a Works van 18months ago and have put 20k on it). Also makes the perfect bike transporter (I put two fork-clamps in the back nr the bulkhead so can take two MTBs with the front wheels off).

It seriously has never missed a beat. New exhaust bits and a catalytic converter. Very, very reliable. It always amazes me. If I had the room and the finances I'd keep it myself for biking duties. Taxed and MOT til April. We are looking for £850.

PM if interested.

Drive a van to Germany? No I think its going to have to be the C1 and all its tinny glory

So, let me get this straight, you're happy to put the missus and mini-you in a banger rather than hire something undoubtedly larger, more economical, more safe, more pleasant to drive hundreds of miles in?

What if you have a bad accident in some POS you paid £500 for vs a 1/2 year old hire car? Obviously the lure of bangernomics is great but not for a big journey and especially not with the family in it.

You are a daft lad Hora...

53 plate Renault Megane Dynamique 1.4 diesel Hatchback
Good runner, OH's car and never let her down in the 6 years she's had it running the kids about and work runs etc.
Can't remember mileage but certainly won't be high, serviced regularly (Not renault) and always been fine.
Nice safe family car. She's just bought a 4 year old scenic to give us more space now the kids are older and all have bikes / crap etc to lug about other wise she'd have kept it for a long time.
£800 Based tutherside of Stockport.

I can't even come to imagine why you'd do anything other than either drive your new/nearly-new Citroen or fly/train and then hire...

Anyway, got rid of that old SX yet?

Are you Hora, as in the Hora, right?

In that case why not spend more and have my 03 face lift impreza 5dr with 95k up and winter tyres. I'm MOTing it Thursday then its on AT for £1100.

Jeez I really didnt fancy going in the C1. Plus it has winter fitted as well though.

In part I totally agree

Hora, my mate has a dealership in North Wales and has this....

http://images.autoexposure.co.uk/AETA16052/AETV47316886_1a.jp g" rel="nofollow" >

Focus 1.6 petrol. They're cheap to buy because they sold stacks of them and the engine's pish. Pretty reliable, but also usually pretty transparent, they tend to fail or not fail with less inbetween than many other cars.

How about my 2.2D Almera? utterly reliable, not exciting, not fast, but 55mpg! In all seriousness, they are a great reliable car and I'd recommend one to anyone needing a workhorse, sailed through MOT and has had nothing except an oil change in the last year...

Would I buy an old Impreza? Classic? (Pre bugeye) Maybe a few years ago.

Not for 1,000 miles in one sitting though

what about post bug-eye? 😉

and you want to do a 1000 miles in a C1?

Always fancied an impreza especially after having company cars that were a legacy and forester in days gone by. But service bills for the two I've used and the mpg figures put me off, that and some Bellend has just moved into our street with one and he seems to constantly be playing with it and revving its knackers off

Scamper cat D?

I'd love another Subaru.

1,000mile in a C1? 12k in a 12plate. Aygo/C1 one of the funnest/basic experience in a car 🙂

Hora I've a T reg 316 estate sat doing nothing.
Been great while I've had it. Had front discs/pads and clutch done this year. Alongside 4 tyres not too Long ago.
Tax/test isn't huge anymore (feb/march) but having checked over should all be fine except needin the handbrake tightened.
Estate so suitable for alps trip...

Scamper, if hora passes I might be interested, sounds like a fun change from a diesel almera... email in profile 😀

No cat D, pucka Impreza 2.0 petrol sport, non turbo. Been meaning to sell it since i moved away from the shropshire hills 3 years ago 😀

Will fire off an email Tiboy, once its passed its MOT this week.

No problem, where did you end up moving to? min interest for me is having to commute over the Malverns in the snow/ice! and always fancied one...

Moved to Birmingham. With winter tyres, real laugh to drive in the snow, and with a hill brake and low ratio box can get up just about anything. In fact, 2 winters ago i used it to pull cars and small trucks up snowed up road inclines around the local hospital when the City ground to a halt.

I've got an X-reg Xantia 2.0HDi, 50mpg, three owners and the second was my mum, always been serviced properly whenever required. 167k on it, should be good for another 100k. It's been reliable for me, and has just had the clutch replaced and two new tyres. Taxed till March-ish and MOT'd until September. Ain't worth a huge amount of cash but it's a well-looked after car...

Gen 7 Celica? Mines not skipped a beat despite been tuned a bit. My mates is on 190k with only services and consumables since he had it new. The pre-facelift ones like a bit more oil than the newer 03 ones but you can pick one up for £900. Easily get bikes in the back with seat down and the 140 bhp version isn't too thirsty and easier to sell on (lower insurance etc.) sits nice on motorway and the seats are really comfy but do need a bit of adjustment to be prefect on long journeys. Trusty engine and council estate ferarri looks bargain.

Rover 25 diesel. Had a couple, seemed pretty reliable. Engines a bit agricultural, but went well enough. Avoid the MG versions though, usually thrashed by oiks.

More details on the Impreza please. How is it on coolant level/use? Markhoracekuk AT yahoo dot com

Just when you thought he'd been talked into taking the sensible route ........... he wakes up and it's back to square one 🙂

I wouldn't drive it there. For a start the difference in the fuel bill would make it silly. 50mpg+ at a steady versus <30mpg real world in the Subaru.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/mercedes-benz/e-class/mercedes-e-class-e-320-coupe-1995/885597

Hora, I've got a Citroen Berlingo 2.0hdi,The multispace one, just about to hit 110k miles on an 05 plate, just mot'd, wants for nothing. Massive load space, fold down the rear seats and you could sleep in it!,twin sliding doors, cd player!. New battery and oil change, I would think nothing of jumping in it and driving across Europe. Wife wants a Fiesta so it's got to go. 2.5 k Ono. And im'e Cumbria based. Pictures on request.

True there are things like belts snapping- but belts can snap on a brand new car just out of the factory.

What drugs are you on? Yes, a belt on a new car is just as likely to snap as one on a car costing £1500 and having done 100k+. Of course, that's why manufacturers specify a belt change straight out the factory....

flange you really do tire me. Have you thought about seeing my name as the author for a topic and deciding not to click in? A sort of self-control. I come on here to relax, act abit silly/let my hair down. If someone annoys me I wont open any topic that he starts.

Have you thought about seeing my name as the author for a topic and deciding not to click in? Sort of self-control.

Nope - its like a moth to a flame, I have to comment.

You know in Fight Club where Tyler Durden is actually the narrator's vision of himself . Well I'm actually you, posting as your alter ego, Flora.

'You are not the car you drive'....

Dorset knob thats stunning. Im interested in scampers but scampers where are you?!!!