Advice on buying small car

paulig

Hi folks,

Currently driving a '92 Jap import Starlet, great car for many a reasons. Anyway I'm looking to upgrade to something a bit newer. I'm a bit skint so don't want to spend more then 3,000 euro and for the same reason reliability and fuel economy are really the most important things I'm looking for (i.e. cheap to buy cheap to run).

Any suggestions on what I should be looking for, what year/make/model where's the best place to buy etc? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

Needler

Skoda Fabia can be had for less than 3k

paulig

Looks decent actually. Do you folks have any thoughts on the Peugot 206? I kind of like the look of it...

_Conrad_

paulig wrote: »

Peugot 206?

Horrible troublesome car. dodgy electrics, annoying driving position, look very tatty unless in top condition, rear axles are awful (price the rear beam for one of those in a scrapyard compared to one for something like your starlet, they're in high demand). 4 close frineds of mine, 1 relation and a neighbour all had those and every single one was a whole heap of trouble that they were glad to be rid of. I've driven quite a few of them and found them utterly horrible, typical spongy rolly french suspension, they sit too high and as i said they've a horrible driving postition. Seems to be made to perfectly suit those girls you see driving sat way to close to the wheel sort of leaning on it while driving with their backs not touching the back of the seat.


Why move from a reliable handy little car like the starlet just to drive a useless troublesome french heap of crap simply because it's reg is a few years younger?


If the starlet's treating you well you'd be as well off to spend a grand on that, get it in perfect shape and keep tippin away in it for another while, all the while saving up to get something much nicer after a couple of years

paulig

Ya with closer inspection the 206 mightn't be the best option. What about the 02-09 polo? Looks nice, seems to have good review on autotrader. Gonna give the starlet to the sister.

mawk

I had a 2002 fabia burst into flames lately.. Engine went rough sitting in traffic and when I got to the side there were 6 foot flames from under the wheel arches/headlights.

Damned if anyone could figure out how.

Pretty good car up that point though.
Got a golf instead, very solid car and I got it for half your budget. Good deals to be had

Ardennes1944

youd get a tidy facelift astra 03/04 for 3k. reliable and the 1.4s are nippy.

careca11

paulig wrote: »

Hi folks,

Currently driving a '92 Jap import Starlet, great car for many a reasons. Anyway I'm looking to upgrade to something a bit newer. I'm a bit skint so don't want to spend more then 3,000 euro and for the same reason reliability and fuel economy are really the most important things I'm looking for (i.e. cheap to buy cheap to run).

Any suggestions on what I should be looking for, what year/make/model where's the best place to buy etc? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

check out any of the online car websites and in particular the Cavan/Monaghan area, seem's to be where all the bargains are ,
in 2010 , I got a 2006 opel corsa (40,000km's 1 previous owner), 2 years NCT'd, new tyres and new break discs €3,300 ,
the same spec car for sale in Drogheda at the same time was €5,900 :eek:

anyone I speak to say cavan/monaghan and Galway seem to be the counties that are cheapest for decent spec cars

colm_mcm

http://m.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201116202078864

Shares bits with the current yaris, cheap as chips, bit different, tiny tax and not too old


Buy me a pint or something