Reliable old car for under 1k?

Hi, just wondering if anyone can recommend a small but reliable car for under €1000? I know any cars in that price range will be about 10 years old at least, but which ones tend to last the best? I'd be looking at a small engine (one litre preferably).

I just need it for a couple of months, and then will be passing it on to a relative.

Any opinions much appreciated.

x in the city

Flying Fox wrote: »

Hi, just wondering if anyone can recommend a small but reliable car for under €1000? I know any cars in that price range will be about 10 years old at least, but which ones tend to last the best? I'd be looking at a small engine (one litre preferably).

I just need it for a couple of months, and then will be passing it on to a relative.

Any opinions much appreciated.

H O N D A

Top Dog

Clio, Punto, Skoda Felicia, Fiesta ... theres a heap of them out there, and if looked after properly they should be plenty reliable too.

ltdslipdiff

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1600195

Cheap, cheerful + reliable !

homer90

ltdslipdiff wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1600195

Cheap, cheerful + reliable !

Cheerful ???:eek::eek::eek:

I would be looking out for a fiesta with the 1.25 engine, cracking wee car if it could be got for that money..

ytareh

Cheap ,yes ,cheerful....?Hmmm....Anyway hard to beat an aul Micra ...16V engine well able for 140k and prob a lot more ..only real consistent weaknesses are in door handles and door hinges !!!

junkyarddog

Hyundai accent,horrible boring ****boxes,
but vitually unbreakable.

JayMul

I've had two pre 1999 Honda civics in the last ten years, not a peep out of either and I drive it well. Both jap import, I think they are possibly a bit better built than the Irish ones and getting parts is never as much an issue as people will tell you.

Pros
Great engines and gearbox pre 1999.
Responsive handling and gear shifting
Quality aircon on jap models
Will never breakdown if you treat them well, even if you don't they probably won't
Electric problems not common
Push seats down turn into minivan (honestly I've fit a whole bands equipment in the back)

Cons
Heavy on gas
Slightly Hard and low ride
Cv joints and rubbers go fairly frequently (relatively cheap to repair though)

Thanks for the tips! I'll look into all of them.

I did consider a Daihatsu but I'd never heard of the Sirion before. Would there be any hassle getting parts for it if/when needed?

There are a lot of old Micras still on the road, so I'll take that as a good sign!

shedweller

x in the city wrote: »

H O N D A

+1
Those things hardly need oil!!

EPM

Starlet? Unbreakable!

+1 on the Fiesta suggestion too

Max_Damage

Ford Escort. They may not the the most refined cars in the world, but they are very reliable (well, mine is anyway).

Anan1

I've said this before, but if you're looking for a reliable car for €1000 you don't really get to choose the make or model. OP - you need to find someone who knows their way around cars and have them hold your hand. I got two sub-€1000 cars for friends recently, it took me about 3-4 weeks to find each one.

hairyman

Max_Damage wrote: »

Ford Escort. They may not the the most refined cars in the world, but they are very reliable (well, mine is anyway).

Il second that,im on my fourth Mk4 Escort with the 1300 HCS block,they are smelly,noisy and slow but next to impossible to break with great fuel economy to boot.

If any thing does go wrong with an escort running a HCS or CVH lump then a Haynes manual and a basic tool kit can fix thing.

Also parts are relatively easy and inexpensive to purchase.

Love em!!!

Max_Damage

hairyman wrote: »

If any thing does go wrong with an escort running a HCS or CVH lump then a Haynes manual and a basic tool kit can fix thing.

Good to see another Escort fan on here!

The HCS (Ford Kent) pushrod engine is impossible to kill!

Mr Benevolent

Il second that,im on my fourth Mk4 Escort with the 1300 HCS block,they are smelly,noisy and slow but next to impossible to break with great fuel economy to boot.

If any thing does go wrong with an escort running a HCS or CVH lump then a Haynes manual and a basic tool kit can fix thing.

Also parts are relatively easy and inexpensive to purchase.

Love em!!!

I think I know why you're on your fourth Escort. They're unbelievably bad, the very last truly terrible car Ford made.

Max_Damage wrote: »

Good to see another Escort fan on here!

The HCS (Ford Kent) pushrod engine is impossible to kill!

I think I'm going to cry.

langdang

Unless it absolutely has to be a 1L, I'd always recommend a Mazda 323 for bangernomics. It will be cheaper than a Corolla or Civic, but as reliable. Saloon will be cheaper than the coupe 323F.
Saloon also has the (sloooow) option of the 1.3 engine (possibly taxed as a 1.4 tho). A 1.5 engined GLX would get you ABS, airbags, maybe all electric windows, maybe heated mirrors?

trad

Can't believe whats being recommended.

Go that little bit bigger in engine size and get a Toyota Corolla. Wife has a 97 one for the last 6 years, a few tires, annual service, one pair of front struts and about 4 bulbs. Boringly reliable.

Daughter's bf got a mint 96 corolla, 1 owner, fsh, 106k, taxed and tested, new tyres and a full tank of petrol off adverts.ie for €500. It's mine when they go to Oz.

squod

trad wrote: »

Can't believe whats being recommended.
.

Starts off well............

trad wrote: »

get a Toyota Corolla.

ends badly. Why would anyone inflict a corolla on themselves.:(

Lord Derpington

Top Dog wrote: »

Clio, Punto, Skoda Felicia, Fiesta ... theres a heap of them out there, and if looked after properly they should be plenty reliable too.

Seriously..?

I used to own a Punto, OP stay away if reliable is what you are looking for, in fact i can't possibly think of a reason you would get a Punto.

It was my first car and cheap and miserable is what it was, wouldn't touch a Punto again and i doubt im the only one.

trad

squod wrote: »

Starts off well............



ends badly. Why would anyone inflict a corolla on themselves.:(

One of the most boringly reliable old cars out there unless you want to go the whole hog and buy a Carina.

He wants a cheap reliable car under a gran for a few months that he can pass on to a relative. How many 96 puntos do you see on the road?

trad

There you go

http://www.adverts.ie/336112/cars/toyota-corolla-13-bargain/

That took about 1 minute to find (not my car).

Piri

My friend just sold his 00 Opel Astra 1.4 16V cambelt changed , 4 new tyres 2 year NCT and taxed 60k miles for €1500 Car was very clean. Real bargain

Anan1

trad wrote: »

There you go

http://www.adverts.ie/336112/cars/toyota-corolla-13-bargain/

That took about 1 minute to find (not my car).

wrote:

Is there a nct on the car..

wrote:

it's booked, but if it will be done the price will be diffrent

squod

trad wrote: »

There you go

http://www.adverts.ie/336112/cars/toyota-corolla-13-bargain/

That took about 1 minute to find (not my car).

Unless he's selling 'two for one' that post belongs in the dreamers section.

trad

I'm just posting my experience of corollas. And yes I read the bit about no NCT but having put my wifes corolla through the NCT 3 times without fault or expense I personally wouldn't worry too much about the upcoming test.

hairyman

Everybody has something to say!

At the end of the day this hole exercise is simply futile as we all have our horror stories and songs of praise for certain models.

I like old Fords as I have been lucky with them over the years(Confab clearly has not).
It has become clear to me that most brand haters merely base their opinions on what they have read or heard,and have never owned any of the cars they are so quick to pass comment on.

My advice.
Pick a car,ask for info from owner drivers and make your decision based on real first hand experience.

fonecrusher1

squod wrote: »

Starts off well............



ends badly. Why would anyone inflict a corolla on themselves.:(

Did you actually read the original post?

hairyman wrote: »

Everybody has something to say!

At the end of the day this hole exercise is simply futile as we all have our horror stories and songs of praise for certain models.

I like old Fords as I have been lucky with them over the years(Confab clearly has not).
It has become clear to me that most brand haters merely base their opinions on what they have read or heard,and have never owned any of the cars they are so quick to pass comment on.

My advice.
Pick a car,ask for info from owner drivers and make your decision based on real first hand experience.

Yeah look lets not bullsh!t ourselves here & i know im probably going to be crucified for this but with a budget of 1000 euros & the priority being reliability its not going to be anything other than an old jap car.

People can moan on about how boring late 90's jap cars are all day but given the OP's requirements its got to be an old honda civic, corolla or mazda 323. If he insists on getting an old fiat or ford, then good luck to him.

argosy2006

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1590722

Lord Derpington

I know it has no NCT but how about this?

It actually says in the description it has one, but in the title it has none...

um7y1h83ge06nx

Another Jap possibility, the Mk1 Nissan Almera??

http://www.adverts.ie/217454/cars/nissan-almera-14-s/

fonecrusher1

greenfly wrote: »

I know it has no NCT but how about this?

It actually says in the description it has one, but in the title it has none...

Great little cars. A bit slow but they actually drive very well & tough as nails engine in em. Definitely a more comfortable car than a civic of the same age.

Ideally i'd want the 1.5 323f with aircon if possible. Could be tricky getting one for under a grand though.

fonecrusher1

Jayde Dirty Sorbet wrote: »

Another Jap possibility, the Mk1 Nissan Almera??

Again a good car in my experience. My first car. 1.4, sooooo slow but a little tank. Not the best of the jap cars of that era though.

um7y1h83ge06nx

fonecrusher1 wrote: »

Again a good car in my experience. My first car. 1.4, sooooo slow but a little tank. Not the best of the jap cars of that era though.

First car here too. '99 and 1.4 as well. Approaching 170K miles and going strong. Very boring and slow but reliable.

Think of eventually replacing it with the latest model Celica or a petrol Honda Accord. I love the Jap cars.

Max_Damage

Confab wrote: »

I think I know why you're on your fourth Escort. They're unbelievably bad, the very last truly terrible car Ford made.



I think I'm going to cry.

Ever own an Escort? :rolleyes:

Mr Benevolent

hairyman wrote: »

Everybody has something to say!

At the end of the day this hole exercise is simply futile as we all have our horror stories and songs of praise for certain models.

I like old Fords as I have been lucky with them over the years(Confab clearly has not).
It has become clear to me that most brand haters merely base their opinions on what they have read or heard,and have never owned any of the cars they are so quick to pass comment on.

My advice.
Pick a car,ask for info from owner drivers and make your decision based on real first hand experience.

I like Fords, I just think they've come on so far that it's silly to buy an Escort. A well looked after old Focus would be a far better prospect to live with. There's no competition, the Focus is far, far superior. That's taking Bangernomics too far imo. A controversial view I know, but really the Focus makes the Escort look like a pile of rusty dung.

RichyX

Max_Damage wrote: »

Ford Escort. They may not the the most refined cars in the world, but they are very reliable (well, mine is anyway).

With a little bargaining you can have a Focus for a grand.