I'm sick in the head. Talk me out of a boring corolla.

Mycroft H

Right the time has come. I've to go car hunting once again. But I'm thinking (i)logically and I need something cheap to run/tax/insure and something that will start in the morning. In other words, a boring car.

It must:

Be cheap (<1500 quid but the lower the better)
Be able to do 40mpg on the motorway.
Not cost silly money to insure.
Carry 4 adults plus a bit of luggage on the rare occasion.
Reasonably cheap to tax (read <=1.6l)
Be dependable. I've been stranded with funny car problems in the arse end of nowhere before. I'd like to turn the key and go.

Bonus features:

Cruise control (rare but it'd be nice)
Leccy windows
Steering wheel radio controls

A early 2000s Corolla ticks most the boxes. Am I missing something else? Something cooler?

Noccy_Mondy

I like that thread title. Whatever about the newer ones, the post 02 corollas seem to have a good reputation and are a solid car! Can't go too far astray with them.



http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/corolla-1-4-2002-nct31-07-14/6107904
I appear to be talking you into a corolla... Saloon or hatch? This is a nice tidy example. Quite high mileage though.

Mycroft H

Now why do you suggest the post 2002 ones? I had a brief go in a 2000 one and it was fine. I also had a 1994 one but I'd rather go a bit newer. Read into that as I don't know a whole pile about the newer ones and more about the old ones.

The oil burning issue? Not too much of a concern really? Most high milers are going to burn a drop of oil here and there.

Noccy_Mondy

Just that you going into old territory from post 02. No offense or anything. Them particular models get good reviews and appear to be quite good on fuel, from what I hear.

bazz26

Because the newer model is more modern and better packaged, the 2000 Corolla has actually been around since 1995. Burning excessive oil wasn't an issue on the 2002 model on.

ba_barabus

I always preferred the older shape but maybe that's just me. They were lighter and more nimble.

Supergurrier

Focus ST !

Hear it roar and you will forget all the above

Mycroft H

Supergurrier wrote: »

Focus ST !

Hear it roar and you will forget all the above

Me: I'd like a loan to buy a car and insure it.
Credit Union Manager: So what car are you buying?
Me: A Focus ST.
Credit Union Manager: *spits tea out*

sawdoubters

buy one

Noccy_Mondy

Fits nothing in your description and it is dear and it's a Mk1.... but hell it is nice...



http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-focus-st170/6263767

toyotaavensis

+1 for the corolla but the one posted here has a quarter of a million miles on it. You should be able to get something with less than that done

wotzgoingon

Supergurrier wrote: »

Focus ST !

Hear it roar and you will forget all the above

Where would you get one of them for €1500

Noccy_Mondy

wotzgoingon wrote: »

Where would you get one of them for €1500

There was a few nice mk1's on done deal for under 2,000, but they've all disappeared

Mycroft H

ST in a dream. But with loans/rent, the ST aint going to fly. The insurance premium alone.

dgt

Does the tax have to be sub 1.6?

Otherwise anything XUD'd fits the criteria

Mycroft H

dgt wrote: »

Does the tax have to be sub 1.6?

Otherwise anything XUD'd fits the criteria

If I can work the figures out, perhaps. I'd like one though, something I'm familiar with.

Cantremember

Mycroft H wrote: »

Right the time has come. I've to go car hunting once again. But I'm thinking (i)logically and I need something cheap to run/tax/insure and something that will start in the morning. In other words, a boring car.

It must:

Be cheap (<1500 quid but the lower the better)
Be able to do 40mpg on the motorway.
Not cost silly money to insure.
Carry 4 adults plus a bit of luggage on the rare occasion.
Reasonably cheap to tax (read <=1.6l)
Be dependable. I've been stranded with funny car problems in the arse end of nowhere before. I'd like to turn the key and go.

Bonus features:

Cruise control (rare but it'd be nice)
Leccy windows
Steering wheel radio controls

A early 2000s Corolla ticks most the boxes. Am I missing something else? Something cooler?

You are missing something else. If you need a car to bring excitement to your life you have no life.

Supergurrier

Mycroft H wrote: »

Me: I'd like a loan to buy a car and insure it.
Credit Union Manager: So what car are you buying?
Me: A Focus ST.
Credit Union Manager: *spits tea out*

I told mine i was buying a tdci focus

dgt

Mycroft H wrote: »

If I can work the figures out, perhaps. I'd like one though, something I'm familiar with.

Either a Xantia or 406 would be a grand motorway cruiser. 50+ mpg is achievable by turning up the pump a bit....

Its just a matter of how much mileage would you be doing and would you save much over a petril doing 40mpg. Personal preference would lean towards diesel there

My 406 would average about 45mpg with the big turbo and franken pump (using the power quite often too for overtaking) I'll be measuring it again with the new engine

Mycroft H

Cantremember wrote: »

You are missing something else. If you need a car to bring excitement to your life you have no life.

I'm saving for a Masters. Excitement may wait for a wee while.

Another Xantia is tempting. Or a 406. Hmmmmmm. I could do with another couch on wheels.

dgt

Mycroft H wrote: »

I'm saving for a Masters. Excitement may wait for a wee while.

Another Xantia is tempting. Or a 406. Hmmmmmm. I could do with another couch on wheels.

Go onnnn.... Do it. XUD'd 406/Xantia, follow my build thread and have a fast economical daily car :cool:

Btw the parts to make that build happen cost less than £100 in total

JohnBoy26

ba_barabus wrote: »

I always preferred the older shape but maybe that's just me. They were lighter and more nimble.

They were but they were not as refined as the e12.

BillJ

How about an sr corolla? they tick the box and are less boring than a normal one


http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-sr/6386613
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-sr/6231068

Or a g6 in the pre facelift version would be alright.

Dont think the oil burniing is as bad in the 1.6vvti and the 1.3 is a very solid engine

renofan

A car that I would not have thought of until I bought one cheaply last August (mine is 1.8) is this . Very comfy car imo.

ba_barabus

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

They were but they were not as refined as the e12.

No argument there. I just preferred them as an overall package.

Mycroft H

ba_barabus wrote: »

No argument there. I just preferred them as an overall package.

I kinda prefer them too. A tad cheaper as well.


Another option.

The 1.5 Mazda 323? Opinions?

Mycroft H

Right. Had a wee ring about for insurance. Cos I've feck all NCB, most was expensive. Tried ringing for a few XUD powered things and I was looking silly money, north of 1800 euros. A bit much. Maybe next year. I've other things to pay for in the meantime.

Insurance for a Corolla was a more palatable 800 euro, best from the AA. Most other 1.4 wagons were the same with the exception of the Civic for obvious reasons, didn't try the later newer shape one.

Supergurrier

Them corrollas mad yokes bayyyye



Good luck with whatever you get though and come ot the meet in it !

wotzgoingon

Mycroft H wrote: »

north of 1800 euros.

That seems awful high. What age are you?

Mycroft H

wotzgoingon wrote: »

That seems awful high. What age are you?

I'm still getting hit by being under 25. Even though I've had my licence since I was 17. Daft really.

Mycroft H

Supergurrier wrote: »

Them corrollas mad yokes bayyyye



Good luck with whatever you get though and come ot the meet in it !

I will :pac: