Need to buy a car - 1.4 litre or smaller and reliable

psychreseracher

Hi all,

My car (a 98 Starlet) was stolen and destroyed. I am raging because despite its age and somewhat advanced milage it was reliable as anything (passed NCT every year except last year when I had to replace a couple of tyres).

My budget is somewhat limited but I am looking for a small car (between 1 and 1.3 litre engine) and under 2k ish. What i really want is something that will be reliable. I know thats not always possible to know with second hand cars but some guidance would be great.

I am looking at a 1.4 Litre 2000 reg megane ... though I am skeptical

Ded_Zebra

Well if you liked the Starlet why not this:)

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4912913

DAZP93

Reliable and Megane dont really go hand in hand..Stick with Ded Zebra's choice above..

dh0011

or a corolla - there was a nice looing one on the bangernomics thread this week

bazz26

If you want something with reliability similar to the Starlet then I would be looking at something like the Mazda 323 or Mitsubishi Lancer.

For example:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4855215

colm_mcm

Or buy another starlet. You'll get mint ones for 1000

Afollower

Take it from one who knows - after the first five years Meganes are crap. Mine is 06 and it's costing me money every month at this stage.

ARCD

From personal experience I'd avoid any car that isnt Japanese, especially if your main concern is reliability.

The pre-2002 Nissan Micra's are always a safe bet. Know quite a few people who've owned them (including myself) and never any trouble. Cheap to run too with it's 1 litre engine.

Honda Civic's are very reliable too, I've had one for the past 15 months and its never gone wrong and its 12 years old at this stage. Any time I get talking to a mechanic they all say the same thing, very reliable make. Downside is they cost more to insure than others.

Another car I know is very reliable and very cheap to run is a Subaru Vivio, though they stopped making them in 1998. Great city car and 660cc engine means it has very low fuel consumption. Downside is it's tiny, you wont get leg room, and engine will struggle to reach high speeds on Motorways.

Ive had a Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus too but they caused nothing but trouble and would definitely avoid them. Dont know much about Renaults but I personally wouldnt go for one. Whatever you do get a mechanic to check the car before you buy, that way you should avoid any nasty surprises