What cars to avoid (10+ years old)

alexlyons

Hey folks, pretty simple situation really bit of background first

We have/had an 03 polo 1.2 grand yolk altogether for me and the siblings to learn in. Up until last december it was fine, then one of the cylinders went or something, (I knew but cant remember now and got my own car at the same time so didn't really need to remember). Bottom line it cost about €1200 to repair and it has kicked up some serious problems since then, cat is gone, rocker seal gasket is gone, cylinder head is covered in sh1te, oil all over the sparks and coils etc etc. bottom line is its time to stop putting good money after bad.

The necessity of having such a car (ie a car other than a learner mobile) is gone as I have my own and the older brother doesn't use it to a huge extent and my sister is just learning.

However there is a need for something so the sister can finish learning and the brother can go from a to b when public transport isn't convenient.

So basically, is there much we should seriously steer clear of when looking at the likes of say an old fiesta/starlet etc etc budget around €600.
Really only want something good for learning and an odd bit of travel around dublin. Kind of looking for stuff like "them fiestas blow head gaskets at 140000k" or "starlets go forever". Just general pointers as we're knew to bangernomics. I'm keeping an eye on that thread as well.

Thanks folks

oh and anyone any idea what the best thing to do with it is? No desire to put a new engine in it.

Francie Barrett

A Fiesta/Starlet is your best bet.

alexlyons

how many miles is stupidly high on something like that? anything specific to check when buying?

Gweedling

I've got a 99d Fiesta and it runs fine, bought it for €1300 in April. 82k miles, works fine. great learner's car. As far as the starlet is concerned, you can't really go wrong. Toyota are brilliant for reliability, a small car like a starlet would be great for learning. My first car was a 98d Corolla xli (about 5 years ago) and I loved it.

alexlyons

Ye I've a good friend who has had 3 starlets (at the same time, long story) all from around 96 all working perfectly, swears by them, he's had enough and just bought a "nice" car now though!

just need to make sure it has some class of power steering, driving needs to be enjoyable when learning, not a work out for the sister!

Technoprisoner

starlet 1000%

shawnee

Starlets are brill and all post 98 have power steering. They are however 1.3 so much same as Corolla , friend has an Almera 99 over 10k on clock passes nct every time without problem and has cost nothing only tyres since he bought it.:D

Katunga

Gweedling wrote: »

I've got a 99d Fiesta and it runs fine, bought it for €1300 in April. 82k miles, works fine. great learner's car. As far as the starlet is concerned, you can't really go wrong. Toyota are brilliant for reliability, a small car like a starlet would be great for learning. My first car was a 98d Corolla xli (about 5 years ago) and I loved it.

that much for a 99 fiesta.
Should have cost about €800

Gweedling

Katunga wrote: »

that much for a 99 fiesta.
Should have cost about €800

Bought it from a Dealership, Just had a service and NCTd until march next year, so after testing it and having a runaround in it we didn't mind.

Poulgorm

You won't go wrong with a Honda Jazz. Brilliant cars. Given any sort of care and they are good for 200,000 miles.

colm_mcm

Poulgorm wrote: »

You won't go wrong with a Honda Jazz. Brilliant cars. Given any sort of care and they are good for 200,000 miles.

Can you get me a Honda jazz for €600?

dgt

Problem solved OP just get this

colm_mcm

dgt wrote: »

Problem solved OP just get this

Love the search words at the end of the ad

Intensive Care Bear

My first car was a Japanese import Starlet with a 4 speed gear box and i must say it was the most reliable car i have ever owned.

Ded_Zebra

Don't worry about type of car or milage, just buy on condition and your budget at that age.

Voltex

Saab....total pile of crap!!

Katunga

The Old Kia's.
The new ones are good though.

Del2005

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Don't worry about type of car or milage, just buy on condition and your budget at that age.

+1

In the price range the OP is looking at there is no good or bad makes/models it's totally down to how well the car was looked after and by who. You could get a sh!t heap of a Starlet or a perfect Ritmo you need to buy, and thoroughly check, the car not a brand/model.

Carson10

how many miles were on the Polo OP? Post a pic of the car! is it well battered?

inforfun

colm_mcm wrote: »

Love the search words at the end of the ad

Well, there is mention in that ad of an Opel Agila which is also for sale.
Buy both cars for €1000

anonyl

+1 starlet!!or an old honda civic!!think theres still a vid on youtube of some lads that dropped all of the oil out of 1 and thrashed it for a day and just could not blow the engine!civic/fiesta/starlet stay away from any fiat a lot of people go for the cheap punto but tbh there a pain in the ba**s!!head g blows after 60k or so!!well anything fiat really fiat = Fix It Again Tommorrow

alexlyons

Carson10 wrote: »

how many miles were on the Polo OP? Post a pic of the car! is it well battered?

65530 miles with a few scratches on it, mainly front and back bumper corners and I think there is a light keying mark part way down the drivers side. pic also shows one wing mirror cover is black (paint not plastic).
steel wheels, overall very clean with a few signs of wear

Wicklowandy

Go to a different mechanic to the guy who charged you 1200 and didnt really fix it.

If one of your siblings need a car, my preference would be to fix the one you have.

You could spend 600 and be lucky or not with your purchase.

A good indy could work wonders on that, there not a complicated yoke

alexlyons

Wicklowandy wrote: »

Go to a different mechanic to the guy who charged you 1200 and didnt really fix it.

If one of your siblings need a car, my preference would be to fix the one you have.

You could spend 600 and be lucky or not with your purchase.

A good indy could work wonders on that, there not a complicated yoke

it was a friend who is a main dealer who did fix what was wrong with it at the time and it has now broken again with a lot of other things.

They are a three cylinder load of rubbish, may not be complicated but they're not pleasant and its definitely not worth anymore money. some cars are just a bad lump of metal, this one has had its day

be my guest and take it of our hands for a fair price, pm me if interested.

alexlyons

just an update, we got a 97 corolla with 155k miles nct till june and it reasonable condition for age/mileage. drives well as well.

thoughts on a price then i'll tell what I paid for it!

richardsheil

Would not want to be more than €200.

tuborg_man

I'm going to guess 450 euro, is it saloon, hatch or hunchback

Pottler

alexlyons wrote: »

just an update, we got a 97 corolla with 155k miles nct till june and it reasonable condition for age/mileage. drives well as well.

thoughts on a price then i'll tell what I paid for it!

ten grand? Am I close??

alexlyons

richardsheil wrote: »

Would not want to be more than €200.

on the money, €200, its a saloon.