What's the cheapest half decent runabout you can get for under €500

Voodoomelon

Lo all.

I'm not looking to switch cars, infact I don't plan on driving any suggestions more than a few hundred miles a year.

But I always thought it would be handy to have a small, half-reliable backup car that I can tootle about in if my E38 is up on stands for a few days seeing as I do my own work. I've been left without on a few occasions now when jobs took longer than I thought.

What would be your choice for an NCT'd (is that possible at this price?) yoke under €500, the cheaper the better. Smallest engine possible to keep the tax low.

Maybe a Starlet, what do yous think?
Thanks!

Mycroft H

Starlet/Micra are the old reliables. They may have an inflated price due to demand. Perhaps look at the Suzuki Swift (most inappropriate car name in history). Skoda Felicia is another underlooked one.

Thinking outside the box, I got a mk1 Clio with 8mths tax and NCT for 400 quid during the summer. It's still tipping along no problems. There is a few 1200cc versions about and less 1400cc versions.

hanloj1

I was gonna say starlet to ya. There was a few for 500e asking price on donedeal a week ago.

Jellicoe

fiesta

eringobragh

Jellicoe wrote: »

fiesta

Get the Zetec Ghia spec for those extra little frills

Voodoomelon

Yeh was thinking Starlet or Fiesta was the only way to go in that price bracket. Polos seem to get a slating, the one I had for 6 months was fine mechanically though.

Thats some deal on the Clio BX, you do see them pop up cheap too alright.

eringobragh

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Yeh was thinking Starlet or Fiesta was the only way to go in that price bracket. Polos seem to get a slating, the one I had for 6 months was fine mechanically though.

Thats some deal on the Clio BX, you do see them pop up cheap too alright.

My mate has a 99 1.25 zetec Fiesta since 2006...still has it and believe me he hasn't a clue how to look after cars :rolleyes:

They are roomey inside especially the front passenger side in his...

Pottler

Fiat Punto, old pre 00 model. Timing belt breaks, stick on another, no harm done. Nippy, dirt cheap, reliable, yes, reliable and fun to drive. I love them, can drive whatever I like pretty much and I pootle around in a battered 1.2 Punto most of the time when not working. Never give it a second thought and walk past a lot of other metal to get into it. It was €650, has 49,000 genuine miles and I never put a spanner near it. Good set of tyres(I've Firestones on it) and it goes like stink and is abandonable if it decides to die. My kind of car.:D Best of all, i can drink and spill coffee in it and smoke to my hearts content, which I can't do in the posh car. I can also throw a welder or a genny into the boot with the seats folded if I want to fly somwhere to get somthing done without firing up a big van. Also, SuzuKi Swift, not swift? Ever driven one? Very swift indeed for a little motor, great cars, indestructable. Daihatsu Charade also tough and not as overpriced as the Starlets. Same car really.

Black_Knight

New to the market! My girlfriend Hyundai accent. 01. Perfect as a runabout, but unfortunately not perfect for high speeds and cross winds. It's basically been a runabout for the past 4 years, with the odd trip down the country in it. You're welcome to it for 500. Possibly not what you're after, but it certainly fits the bill of a cheap runabout.

Voodoomelon

Pottler wrote: »

Fiat Punto, old pre 00 model. Timing belt breaks, stick on another, no harm done. Nippy, dirt cheap, reliable, yes, reliable and fun to drive. I love them, can drive whatever I like pretty much and I pootle around in a battered 1.2 Punto most of the time when not working. Never give it a second thought and walk past a lot of other metal to get into it. It was €650, has 49,000 genuine miles and I never put a spanner near it. Good set of tyres(I've Firestones on it) and it goes like stink and is abandonable if it decides to die. My kind of car.:D Best of all, i can drink and spill coffee in it and smoke to my hearts content, which I can't do in the posh car. I can also throw a welder or a genny into the boot with the seats folded if I want to fly somwhere to get somthing done without firing up a big van. Also, SuzuKi Swift, not swift? Ever driven one? Very swift indeed for a little motor, great cars, indestructable. Daihatsu Charade also tough and not as overpriced as the Starlets. Same car really.

Yeh my mother had a 97 and 00 Punto, always liked that shape.

Black_Knight wrote: »

New to the market! My girlfriend Hyundai accent. 01. Perfect as a runabout, but unfortunately not perfect for high speeds and cross winds. It's basically been a runabout for the past 4 years, with the odd trip down the country in it. You're welcome to it for 500. Possibly not what you're after, but it certainly fits the bill of a cheap runabout.

Probably looking for a smaller hatchback to be honest, the smaller the better.

corktina

eringobragh wrote: »

My mate has a 99 1.25 zetec Fiesta since 2006...still has it and believe me he hasn't a clue how to look after cars :rolleyes:

They are roomey inside especially the front passenger side in his...

I have a 96 fiesta on loan to my son that I'll be selling for about €250 shortly, with NCT. There's loads of late 90s fiesta in good nick for sale for small money