€1,200 to buy a reliable used car!

nino1

I am looking for a cheap car for around €1,200. It will be rarely used, just every now and again for short journeys.
Was thinking of a 2001 ford focus 1.4L
I want one with low tax and as reliable as possible.
Any suggestions?

JohnBoy26

nino1 wrote: »

I am looking for a cheap car for around €1,200. It will be rarely used, just every now and again for short journeys.
Was thinking of a 2001 ford focus 1.4L
I want one with low tax and as reliable as possible.
Any suggestions?

A 98 or 99 corolla would be your best bet. They are one of the most reliable cars out there and are cheap to run and cheap to maintain.

road_high

Maybe too small for you but super reliable and economical, Daihatsu Sirion.

JohnBoy26

road_high wrote: »

Maybe too small for you but super reliable and economical, Daihatsu Sirion.

A good recommendation. These are very reliable cars, but for 1200 the op would have to opt for a first generation sirion which are rare and even rarer are good examlpes.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Get yourself an 01/02 micra 1.0L. Easy to run and tax, reliable and if something does go wrong they aren't the hardest car to buy parts for or repair.

The Pontiac

nino1 wrote: »

I am looking for a cheap car for around €1,200. It will be rarely used, just every now and again for short journeys.
Was thinking of a 2001 ford focus 1.4L
I want one with low tax and as reliable as possible.
Any suggestions?

Can't go wrong.

JohnBoy26

The Pontiac wrote: »

Can't go wrong.

They wouldn't pull you out of bed though. They are they most underpowered 1.4 out there along with the golf. Apart from the power issue, they give their fair share of niggley issues but are generally reliable.

The Pontiac

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

They wouldn't pull you out of bed though. They are they most underpowered 1.4 out there along with the golf. Apart from the power issue, they give their fair share of niggley issues but are generally reliable.

The 1.4 is fairly sluggish alright.

Stiil, I much prefer the Focus than anything in that class. Good handling, perfectly weighted steering, independent rear suspension. It was the class leader for a long time.

I had the 1.6, and it's definitely the one to go for, but for the OP it's 1.4 max by the sound of it.

JohnBoy26

The Pontiac wrote: »

The 1.4 is fairly sluggish alright.

Stiil, I much prefer the Focus than anything in that class. Good handling, perfectly weighted steering, independent rear suspension. It was the class leader for a long time.

I had the 1.6, and it's definitely the one to go for, but for the OP it's 1.4 max by the sound of it.

The focus is a good drive il give it that much, but apart from that I found the focus very uncomfortable and could feel every vibration from the road.

As for being a class leader, many cars had independent suspension at the time including the corolla and mazda 323.

The true class leader at the time imo was the honda civic with it's fully independant rear suspension and double wishbone front suspension , this was set up for comfort rather than handling though so didnt gain the praise the focus got, however with a few adjustment these cars can far outhandle a focus.

shooter88

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

They wouldn't pull you out of bed though. They are they most underpowered 1.4 out there along with the golf. Apart from the power issue, they give their fair share of niggley issues but are generally reliable.

A mate had a 1.6petrol and it wasn't great power wise and a bit thirsty,the 1.4 must be really dead

JohnBoy26

shooter88 wrote: »

A mate had a 1.6petrol and it wasn't great power wise and a bit thirsty,the 1.4 must be really dead

The 1.6 is much nicer than the 1.4 but as you say they are thirsty. The 1.4 is also not that economical but also has no power. In the mk1 you would just about get by with the 1.4 but in the mk2 it's woefully slow nearly to the point where it's dangerous.

Wicklowandy

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4541108

For your budget and what you want it for a k11 micra is hard to beat. Many many out there at or below budget.

If you can stretch a little, get yourself a yaris.

1.4 focus, while a lovely handler, has a dog of an engine, and a 1.6 you say may be too much. Keep it simple for a runaround:)

The Pontiac

Wicklowandy wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4541108

For your budget and what you want it for a k11 micra is hard to beat. Many many out there at or below budget.

If you can stretch a little, get yourself a yaris.

1.4 focus, while a lovely handler, has a dog of an engine, and a 1.6 you say may be too much. Keep it simple for a runaround:)

Maybe the OP wants something nice?

The Micras is a girls and it's hideous. Forgive me if the OP is indeed a girl. I even know a few girls that wouldn't be seen dead in one. However slow the 1.4 Focus is, the micra is still slower.

The MK1 hatchback looks better than any small to medium car of that era. Still looks fresh today. I ran one for 5 years and sold it with 160k. The best car I've ever owned.

Sorry, but this, for example, looks better that any mirca. :pac:

Wicklowandy

S/hes looking for a small, cheap to run car which wont break.

Im no micra fan, and i actually like the focus, but id recommend someone buys what suits their needs. And i could never recommend a 1.4 focus to anyone; a 1.6 yes (but surely a 1.6 doesnt suit the OP requirement for economy / low tax?)

If a car is going to used occasionally (the OPs words) why not get something fit for that purpose?;)

The Pontiac

Wicklowandy wrote: »

S/hes looking for a small, cheap to run car which wont break.

Im no micra fan, and i actually like the focus, but id recommend someone buys what suits their needs. And i could never recommend a 1.4 focus to anyone; a 1.6 yes (but surely a 1.6 doesnt suit the OP requirement for economy / low tax?)

If a car is going to used occasionally (the OPs words) why not get something fit for that purpose?;)

I think the OP picked the Focus in his opening post for a reason, maybe he just likes them?

Lots of people need a reliable car for short journeys, but that doesn't mean it has to be a Japanese supermini, everytime .

Even a Nissan Almera would a better option than the Micra. The OP said it will be rarely used, so the fuel economy will be a minor factor.

Get something more comfortable and safer like a Almera or Focus.

Anyway, all Micras should be taken off the road. I rarely see one where the owner can actually drive properly.

Arciphel

I think you should get a Micra OP :-)

Wicklowandy

Arciphel wrote: »

I think you should get a Micra OP :-)

Be careful with that, thats fighting talk to some

Wicklowandy

The Pontiac wrote: »

I think the OP picked the Focus in his opening post for a reason, maybe he just likes them?

Lots of people need a reliable car for short journeys, but that doesn't mean it has to be a Japanese supermini, everytime .

Even a Nissan Almera would a better option than the Micra. The OP said it will be rarely used, so the fuel economy will be a minor factor.

Get something more comfortable and safer like a Almera or Focus.

Anyway, all Micras should be taken off the road. I rarely see one where the owner can actually drive properly.

Whatever about a focus, an almera (00 on) is a truly horrible machine, with very little nice to be said about it. Thirsty, rough, poor handling and slow would be a fair description.:)

bazz26

Small cheap to run superminis are in demand which means selling prices are very strong.

An alternative to the Focus and generally give very little trouble:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4536611

The Pontiac

Brother has a 1999 Mazda 323. Savage car, has it for nearly 6 years now.

JohnBoy26

The Pontiac wrote: »

Maybe the OP wants something nice?

The Micras is a girls and it's hideous. Forgive me if the OP is indeed a girl. I even know a few girls that wouldn't be seen dead in one. However slow the 1.4 Focus is, the micra is still slower.

The MK1 hatchback looks better than any small to medium car of that era. Still looks fresh today. I ran one for 5 years and sold it with 160k. The best car I've ever owned.

Sorry, but this, for example, looks better that any mirca. :pac:

The mk1 focus imo is very dull and dreary to look at and the saloon version is just pure muck ugly.

The Pontiac

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The mk1 focus imo is very dull and dreary to look at and the saloon version is just pure muck ugly.

And the Corolla, as you suggested, is a head-turner?

Overpriced boring domestic appliances. You'd fall asleep at the wheel - they're so boring to drive.

The Focus is a million times better looking too.

booklova

I used to have one of them http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4545768
Takes 5.5 litre petrol per 100km,
9.8s till 60mph
and don't forget honda's reliability!

JohnBoy26

The Pontiac wrote: »

And the Corolla, as you suggested, is a head-turner?

Overpriced boring domestic appliances. You'd fall asleep at the wheel - they're so boring to drive.

The Focus is a million times better looking too.

No I never said a corolla was nice to look at but at least it has rock solid fault free reliabilty to make up for it's dull looks.

Tbh a focus is just as much of a domestic appliance as a corolla.

A honda civic of the same era is better looking than both the ford and toyota imo and has the reliability to go with it.

Toyota 1976

hi Yeah new at this Toyota Corrola is very good i have had 2 petrol and diesel but great one ran to 250,000 miles if looked afte,r 00- 02 one very good good tip go for salloons they are jap made far better quality (assembly) (JT ) will be on the chassis plate these are the jap ones but bulit with european spec salloon round headllight twin light( 5 door and 3 door not great bulid on them french and uk assembly well know problem drinking oil and have tired thicker viscosity oil 10w 40 or 10 w30 ??? and other stuff but has stopped can be erratic and vert erratic every couple of days and then grand for weeks ?

Diesel not so good i think? the had a peugeot engine and were meant to be a bit poor D4D one to go for but a bit sore on the pocket as they are still in great demand

JohnBoy26

Toyota 1976 wrote: »

hi Yeah new at this Toyota Corrola is very good i have had 2 petrol and diesel but great one ran to 250,000 miles if looked afte,r 00- 02 one very good good tip go for salloons they are jap made far better quality (assembly) (JT ) will be on the chassis plate these are the jap ones but bulit with european spec salloon round headllight twin light( 5 door and 3 door not great bulid on them french and uk assembly well know problem drinking oil and have tired thicker viscosity oil 10w 40 or 10 w30 ??? and other stuff but has stopped can be erratic and vert erratic every couple of days and then grand for weeks ?

Diesel not so good i think? the had a peugeot engine and were meant to be a bit poor D4D one to go for but a bit sore on the pocket as they are still in great demand

The 3 door hatchback e11 corollas, the 97-02 model are all built in japan alongside the saloon. The only corolla of that era built in the uk is the 5 door liftback. The e12 saloons 2007-2007 models are built in turkey and are actually inferior in quality to the uk built hatchbacks of the same era.

No corollas were or are made in france. It's the yaris that made in france since 2001.

As for the diesel engines, the bugeye e11 has a toyota diesel engine, when toyota facelifted the e11 in 2000 they had to replace the reliable toyota diesel engine with a (not so great) peugeot 1.9 diesel engine due to upcoming emission regulations. All corollas reverted back to toyota's own diesel engines in the e12 model starting with a 2.0d4d engine and a 1.4 d4d version was added in 2005.

Alfa Quadrifoglio

FIAT Panda, picked up an 04 with nct and just 57k miles before Christmas for just €1,350, very reliable and cheap to run heres a piece from wikipedia:

Top Gear Motoring Survey in 2006 ranked the Panda 8th out of 152 cars surveyed for reliability, craftsmanship, ownership costs, driving experience and service received. (One of the show's hosts, James May, went on to purchase one). Traditionally, Fiat have ranked at the lower end of this table, showing that the Nuova Panda is reversing the trend and suggesting a rise in quality standards for Fiat.[19]

JohnBoy26

Alfa Quadrifoglio wrote: »

FIAT Panda, picked up an 04 with nct and just 57k miles before Christmas for just €1,350, very reliable and cheap to run heres a piece from wikipedia:

Top Gear Motoring Survey in 2006 ranked the Panda 8th out of 152 cars surveyed for reliability, craftsmanship, ownership costs, driving experience and service received. (One of the show's hosts, James May, went on to purchase one). Traditionally, Fiat have ranked at the lower end of this table, showing that the Nuova Panda is reversing the trend and suggesting a rise in quality standards for Fiat.[19]

What good is a survey done in 2006 on a then relatively new car that was only launched two years previously? Imo most cars don't show quality issues until they are at least four or five years old.

Alfa Quadrifoglio

Fair point. The one we bought is an 04, 1108 cc, with admittedly low mileage and its faultless, what really impresses me is it is an easy car to drive, has good space inside but must important must be one of the cheapest cars on the road to own

Barr

I have a 2000 Civic 1.5cc with 130k miles . Have it a year and the car runs like clockwork.

Great car on a budget.

Alfa Quadrifoglio

How much did the Civic cost you?

Chris_Heilong

Barr wrote: »

I have a 2000 Civic 1.5cc with 130k miles . Have it a year and the car runs like clockwork.

Great car on a budget.

Is that a Jap import? usually the 1.5 is the Jap spec.

Barr

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

Is that a Jap import? usually the 1.5 is the Jap spec.

Nope its an Irish car. There is a few 1.5 saloons about.

They could be easily bought for €1200 or there abouts for that vintage.

JohnBoy26

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

Is that a Jap import? usually the 1.5 is the Jap spec.

No there is a 90bhp and a later 115bhp euro spec 1.5 eco vtec also.

pete4130

I had a 1.4 Focus estate and it wasn't all that slow. It just had to be worked a bit harder. So many people say how slow they are and probably haven't driven them.

On trips up to Belfast with 5 people, 5 BMX bikes and 5 bags it would struggle to get up to speed. I regularly got about 37mpg give or take on long trips out of the city.

With 1 or 2 people it's fine. Not that slow at all.

JohnBoy26

pete4130 wrote: »

I had a 1.4 Focus estate and it wasn't all that slow. It just had to be worked a bit harder. So many people say how slow they are and probably haven't driven them.

On trips up to Belfast with 5 people, 5 BMX bikes and 5 bags it would struggle to get up to speed. I regularly got about 37mpg give or take on long trips out of the city.

With 1 or 2 people it's fine. Not that slow at all.

I have driven them and found them very underpowered in comparisson to other 1.4 cars.

The Pontiac

pete4130 wrote: »

I had a 1.4 Focus estate and it wasn't all that slow. It just had to be worked a bit harder. So many people say how slow they are and probably haven't driven them.

On trips up to Belfast with 5 people, 5 BMX bikes and 5 bags it would struggle to get up to speed. I regularly got about 37mpg give or take on long trips out of the city.

With 1 or 2 people it's fine. Not that slow at all.

I drive my friends 1.4 MK1 Focus from time to time, and while it's no pocket-rocket, it's certainly not as slow as people here are making it out to be.

It'd be the equal to my brother's mazda 323, or my mother's previous corolla 1.3, easily.

To drive, it's wipe the floor with the aforementioned. A far superior car in every way.

JohnBoy26

The Pontiac wrote: »

I drive my friends 1.4 MK1 Focus from time to time, and while it's no pocket-rocket, it's certainly not as slow as people here are making it out to be.

It'd be the equal to my brother's mazda 323, or my mother's previous corolla 1.3, easily.

To drive, it'd wipe the floor with the aforementioned. A far superior car in every way.

If your brothers mazda is the 1.3 version then it's just as underpowered. A focus 1.4 is definatley no where near powerfull as a 1.3 16valve corolla though. The corolla is away more responsive and much nippier and more economical.

As for been a superior car in every way, you are incorrect. the only advantage it has over both the corolla and the mazda is good driving dynamics. A focus however is no where near as reliable and doesn't have the build quality both the mazda and the toyota have.

The Pontiac

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

If your brothers mazda is the 1.3 version then it's just as underpowered. A focus 1.4 is definatley no where near powerfull as a 1.3 16valve corolla though. The corolla is away more responsive and much nippier and more economical.

As for been a superior car in every way, you are incorrect. the only advantage it has over both the corolla and the mazda is good driving dynamics. A focus however is no where near as reliable and doesn't have the build quality both the mazda and the toyota have.

The Focus is better built than both the Mazda and Toyota. You're just brainwashed to japanese reliability.

Both the toyota and mazda gave more trouble (albeit very little) for it's age, than my Focus. My Focus had more miles up on it too. Not a rattle on it when I sold it with 160k on the clock.

I've cousins and friends than own a Focus', and they're seriously, seriously reliable.

The Pontiac

From Wiki..

"The European Focus, in 2002, according to German reports and surveys, was claimed to be the most reliable car between one and three years old in the German car market.[15] This was a remarkable feat as the Focus was competing against German prestige manufacturers as well as Japanese manufacturers, all of which have strong reputations for quality and reliability."

JohnBoy26

The Pontiac wrote: »

The Focus is better built than both the Mazda and Toyota. You're just brainwashed to japanese reliability.

Both the toyota and mazda gave more trouble (albeit very little) for it's age, than my Focus. My Focus had more miles up on it too. Not a rattle on it when I sold it with 160k on the clock.

I've cousins and friends than own a Focus', and they're seriously, seriously reliable.

I find that very hard to believe tbh. what trouble did they give?

Tbh your cousins must do very little mileage if their focus's are ''seriously reliable'' because I couldn't class them as that. They are generally reliable though but do give little annoying niggley problems like, coil packs, rear wheel bearings, waterpump housings, interior fan failures etc.

The corollas and the 323s in my experience don't have problems like this.

JohnBoy26

The Pontiac wrote: »

From Wiki..

"The European Focus, in 2002, according to German reports and surveys, was claimed to be the most reliable car between one and three years old in the German car market.[15] This was a remarkable feat as the Focus was competing against German prestige manufacturers as well as Japanese manufacturers, all of which have strong reputations for quality and reliability."

you can't judge a cars reliability at such a young age. most cars don't show faults until they are four or five years old.

Chuck Stone

The Pontiac wrote: »

"The European Focus, in 2002, according to German reports and surveys, was claimed to be the most reliable car between one and three years old

Between 1 and 3 years old in that survey in Germany at that time.

It's likely the car OP will buy will be older and of higher mileage, all things being equal, going for a Japanese brand makes sense.

The Pontiac

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

I find that very hard to believe tbh. what trouble did they give?

Tbh your cousins must do very little mileage if their focus's are ''seriously reliable'' because I couldn't class them as that. They are generally reliable though but do give little annoying niggley problems like, coil packs, rear wheel bearings, waterpump housings, interior fan failures etc.

The corollas and the 323s in my experience don't have problems like this.

My brother's 323 failed the NCT last month with two rear shocks and front anti-roll bars and bushes. It had 50k less miles than my focus.

The guy on the other thread with his mazda 323 failed on numerous things (just about everything).

It's obvious when a car gets to this age, you'll have to change wear and tear items.

I did have to do the coil pack on my focus @ 110k miles as this is common. But to say the japs are more reliable is garbage.

The Pontiac

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

you can't judge a cars reliability at such a young age. most cars don't show faults until they are four or five years old.

Yes they do. Most built in faults occur at this time. That's why it's always advised not buy a newly introduced model. Problems get ironed out after year two and three, usually.

You're talking about 'durability' again, where the Focus is better than most.

JohnBoy26

The Pontiac wrote: »

My brother's 323 failed the NCT last month with two rear shocks and front anti-roll bars and bushes. It had 50k less miles than my focus.

The guy on the other thread with his mazda 323 failed on numerous things (just about everything).

It's obvious when a car gets to this age, you'll have to change wear and tear items.

I did have to do the coil pack on my focus @ 110k miles as this is common. But to say the japs are more reliable is garbage.

They are though. tbh Two shocks and two anti roll bar bushes are nothing out of the ordinary. The focus takes things like these too and more like the things I listed. I remember being on the m7 last year and you couldnt see the road ahead there was so much smoke out of the focus in front, the poor woman driving it didnt know what was going on. It turns out one of the rear wheel bearings had failed which left her stranded at the side of the road:rolleyes:. You have yet to mention what trouble your mothers corolla gave?

JohnBoy26

The Pontiac wrote: »

Yes they do. Most built in faults occur at this time. That's why it's always advised not buy a newly introduced model. Problems get ironed out after year two and three, usually.

You're talking about 'durability' again, where the Focus is better than most.

No it's not. The first three years in most cars are trouble free. It's after four years that their faults show.

The Pontiac

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

They are though. tbh Two shocks and two anti roll bar bushes are nothing out of the ordinary. The focus takes things like these too and more like the things I listed. I remember being on the m7 last year and you couldnt see the road ahead there was so much smoke out of the focus in front, the poor woman driving it didnt know what was going on. It turns out one of the rear wheel bearings had failed which left her stranded at the side of the road:rolleyes:. You have yet to mention what trouble your mothers corolla gave?

A wheel bearing can go on any car, a toyota too. It's a cheap fix on a focus, about €90 inc. labour. Probably happen with over 100k on the clock.

My mother sold that corolla a while back and it didn't have big mileage, but needed as much as my focus did at the time.

Anyway must hit the hay.

JohnBoy26

The Pontiac wrote: »

A wheel bearing can go on any car, a toyota too. It's a cheap fix on a focus, about €90 inc. labour. Probably happen with over 100k on the clock.

My mother sold that corolla a while back and it didn't have big mileage, but needed as much as my focus did at the time.

Anyway must hit the hay.

Rear wheel bearings going is very uncommon and is an even more uncommon problem in old Toyotas. In the focus however it's a very common problem and can go all of a sudden leaving you stranded.

As you can't specify what faults your mothers car gave, id be inclined to believe it gave none at all, hardly surprising really with them being the best built cars in the world

The Pontiac

^That was the model my mother had 1997, but the 1.3 engine. It was built in Japan afaik. Hard to fault them for reliability, but it had less mileage up on it than my Focus. Pretty bombproof alright. My mechanic is a big fan of the Focus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmx2e9FN8B4

Clarkson even ended up buying one. He mentioned during the Focus ST review that he had a Y reg (2001) and "it has never gone wrong once, it's the most dependable car I've ever owned". Skip to 5 minutes in here.

It's the same with people I know that own a MK1 Focus', unreal reliability.

blade1

Mazda 323 for reliability!!!