cheapish reliable 1l car

cojomo2

budget up to 4k, hopefully less.

would the most reliable 1.0l car be a Micra or similar? Horrible looking I know but it's not important.

Looking for 03-06 in year with max of about 50k miles...anything worth considering over a micra in terms on reliability and cost to maintain/repair etc.

Many thanks

Remmy

The Nissan Micra k11 does seem to have a great rep for reliability. I'm not sure how the newer model stacks up in comparison. The older one can be picked up for 600-1000 .

My mom used to have a fiat seicento 1.1 and it was pretty trouble free. The clutch cable needed to be replaced a few but that could have been the way it was driven.

cojomo2

Remmy wrote: »

The Nissan Micra k11 does seem to have a great rep for reliability. I'm not sure how the newer model stacks up in comparison. The older one can be picked up for 600-1000 .

My mom used to have a fiat seicento 1.1 and it was pretty trouble free. The clutch cable needed to be replaced a few but that could have been the way it was driven.

cheers, yep its the newer micra I was thinking off as want something reasonably fresh looking.

seicento is a little small I think, and all I picture is the yellow one from the inbetweeners! altho- that was a cinquecento..very similar!

Mar4ix

+ for K11 micra. i had one , ive done it in and out, easy and cheap fix, run, good online support community in dedicated forum. if that march (jap import) , make sure, youll get alarm fitted, as jap imports has no security system.

cojomo2

Mar4ix wrote: »

+ for K11 micra. i had one , ive done it in and out, easy and cheap fix, run, good online support community in dedicated forum. if that march (jap import) , make sure, youll get alarm fitted, as jap imports has no security system.

cool, it will be the k12 though..anyone know if its has a timing belt or chain?

Edit- looks like its a chain. So is there anything I should be looking out for in the service history, or is regular servicing all it really needs?

simx

micra or starlet

bazz26

You will get a fairly fresh Fiat Panda 1.1 litre for close to your budget:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Fiat/Panda/ACTIVE-5DR/7213388939996880/

Cracking little car and very economical.

Mar4ix

cojomo2 wrote: »

cool, it will be the k12 though..anyone know if its has a timing belt or chain?

Edit- looks like its a chain. So is there anything I should be looking out for in the service history, or is regular servicing all it really needs?

well, i''ve never work on k12, assume they have same engine as k11, just with coilpacks , .. which some times fail ... but i think, once replaced with good quality coilpacks, will be fine for good while.

Idbatterim

Yaris?

Doylers

Im gonna fly the flag for the fiesta. Bigger engine then you looking for i had a 1.4, cost me about 1500 euros sold for 1350 2 years later. Was a 2000 reg i believe. Great nick drives fantastic has a nice bitta power for when u have more then yourself in the car, you will find a 1ltr a bit under-powered. The have a great rep and parts are super readily available, mine had aircon, alarm, central,locking, TAPE PLAYER, electric window's and all that jazz.

dgt

Why does it have to be a 1litre car OP?

2011abc

All things being equal a 750-1750 'old shape'(K11) Micra will be a far better buy from a reliability point of view.'New shape' Micra is a (part) Renault in disguise ...Old shape car has timing chain not sure about newer one .Older one not that light on juice if youre travelling at motorway speeds.Panda (if you can stretch to 1108cc tax/insurance would be infinitely better than both .8th out of 150+ cars in a Top Gear reliability/drivers satisfaction index.Theyre also v good in a crash!

mloc123

K10/k11 micra has to be the most reliable 1l ever. Rust could be an issue on them at this stage.

K12 was one of the first Renault era Nissans?

bugler

Idbatterim wrote: »

Yaris?

Definitely worth a look.

I bought a 2000 yaris in july 2010 for €2100, and sold it last month for the same price. And I felt sorry for the guy who bought it and gave him €100 off. Never gave me a days trouble.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4044328

You are kind of restricting yourself with wanting 50k miles or less though.

cojomo2

Thanks for all the suggestions..

Looks like it will be a Micra- is there any easy to tell if its an Irish micra or an import? Guessing an import will be harder on insurance?

Anything to look out for on a test drive? Its a 2004. thanks

oregano

cojomo2 wrote: »

Thanks for all the suggestions..

Looks like it will be a Micra- is there any easy to tell if its an Irish micra or an import? Guessing an import will be harder on insurance?

Anything to look out for on a test drive? Its a 2004. thanks

Look at the reg cert, it will show the previous reg if an import. 04 model micra may have cam issues. If in idle the revs see saw it needs a chain, or at very least sensors. Most 04s are ok as in this issue is already resolved. Gold is a hard colour to sell, so if its gold start haggling!

Zubeneschamali

bugler wrote: »

I felt sorry for the guy who bought it

Me too, poor sod.

How about a Citroen C1? A 107? Aygo? (All the same car from the same factory).

Joe 90

My wife has a 2001 Ka. Total non routine expenditure has been one heater water valve.

bazz26

Ka and Fiesta of that vintage tend to suffer from rust though.