Recommendations for up to 1.4L on €4k budget

donnchaw

Previously I was looking for something up to 1.2l but after reading threads on here i checked with my insurance company (quinn) and was pleasantly suprised to find its actually pretty much the same to insure 1.2 fabia, 1.4 corrolla, and 1.4HDi 307. Was previously driving a 2000 1.2l astra until last week when it bit the dust.
So after discovering this ive decided to look for anything up to 1.4l and €4k, assuming none of them turn out to be much more expensive to insure. I commute approximately 400 miles per week and often another 100 or more on weekends so reliability and reasonable level of comfort woud be the main priorities as well as decent mpg. First few ive thought of were 1.4 corolla(probably have to be the old style at this budget), 1.4HDi 307(pretty tough to find one with less that 130k miles for this budget but the excellent mpg would be handy to have) and possibly a focus.
Anybody have any opinions on these or other recommendations? What would be a reasonable mileage to aim for on any of these? Or also anything to look out for when looking at the models above?

Cheers!

vectra

00 Corolla ? > http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1274801

colm_mcm

way overpriced, you'd get an 04 Focus for that money.

donnchaw

Just heard of a 02 1.4 corolla (newer style i think) with around 80k miles on it for €4k, hopefully get a spin out of it in the next few days. I presume that mileage wouldnt be considered particularly high for a corolla since theyre fairly renowned for lasting for ages? seems like a decent enough deal from what ive seen around, any opinions?

colm_mcm

is it a hatchback or saloon?

donnchaw

colm_mcm wrote: »

is it a hatchback or saloon?

saloon unfortunately. I think theyre fairly awful looking things but then you dont see the outside of it when your drivin in it so could be worse!

colm_mcm

you get to see the inside though

Ah they're a grand reliable yoke, engine is nippy. only fault you'll probably find is a rattly inlet manifold.

donnchaw

colm_mcm wrote: »

you get to see the inside though

Ah they're a grand reliable yoke, engine is nippy. only fault you'll probably find is a rattly inlet manifold.

Ah well beggars cant be choosers as they say! What happens with the inlet manifold? Any way to see what sorta condition its in at moment? Much work to fix if it does happen? Nothing else really to watch out for so? To be honest, as long as its reliable/not costing me money to fix and reasonably comfortable im happy enough, supposed to be decent mpg too. Power/speed should be a reasonable improvement on the 1.2 astra too!
Whats €4k like for it? Seems good from what i can see on carzone.

colm_mcm

it'll just give a metallic rattly osund when you rev it up. not dangerous though just annoying. new one is about 400 notes.

bazz26

OP, do you have anyone else in the car?

Otherwise it might be worth considering a car derived van. Insurance permitting, this might be worth looking into if you don't have the need for the rear seats:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201015197633648

vectra

colm_mcm wrote: »

way overpriced, you'd get an 04 Focus for that money.

With low mileage?
also
I would prefer a Corolla than a focus anyday

donnchaw wrote: »

Just heard of a 02 1.4 corolla (newer style i think) with around 80k miles on it for €4k, hopefully get a spin out of it in the next few days. I presume that mileage wouldnt be considered particularly high for a corolla since theyre fairly renowned for lasting for ages? seems like a decent enough deal from what ive seen around, any opinions?

That 02 If I am correct is the vvti model.
When I was buying a second car there a few months back I did look at a few corollas and a friend of mine working in a Toyota dealership told me that apparently the older model ( the model I showed you ) has a much better engine than the newer one ( the one you are going to look at )
Now
Dont shoot me, I am only the messenger

Tea 1000

vectra wrote: »

With low mileage?
also
I would prefer a Corolla than a focus anyday
That 02 If I am correct is the vvti model.
When I was buying a second car there a few months back I did look at a few corollas and a friend of mine working in a Toyota dealership told me that apparently the older model ( the model I showed you ) has a much better engine than the newer one ( the one you are going to look at )
Now
Dont shoot me, I am only the messenger

The model you posted up is the older shape of the old model too though, with the 1.3 engine. They got replaced by the facelift with the 1.4 vvti engine in late 99, so that's obviously a late registered old one. That considered, it makes it even worse value. The facelift looks better outside and the inside looks a little better finished, and the newer 90bhp 1.4 vvti engine.

cuterob

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, do you have anyone else in the car?

Otherwise it might be worth considering a car derived van. Insurance permitting, this might be worth looking into if you don't have the need for the rear seats:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201015197633648

what are those vans like?

colm_mcm

lovely engine. nearly bought one back in the day. unsure about how good the the rest is.
Same engine as in the Corsa/Astra/Combo.

bazz26

cuterob wrote: »

what are those vans like?

One of my uncles has the same engine in his 05 Corsa for the last 3 years and has had no issues with it. The mileage on it is pretty low but it should have some sort of service history and look for signs of abuse especially with the clutch/gearbox and bodywork.

donnchaw

Ok so the corolla turned out to be a major dissapointment. Just spotted this earlier on, anyone have any opinions? Fairly basic but was thinking it should be reasonably reliable being a mitsubishis but cant find many reviews or anything much about them online. Was thinking that the 1.3l could be fairly useless though.