Old fuel efficient cars?

daylers

I'm looking at buying my first car and am wondering which old cars woukd be light on fuel for around 2000 euro or less...looks don't mater to much as long as it's cheap to run as costs of insurance are enoigh to be paying as is

Moneymaker

Any 1.0-1.2 car should be doing around 45-50mpg.

Toyota Yaris, Seat Ibiza, Fiat Punto, Renault Clio, VW Polo are all fine first cars.

JohnBoy26

A late 90's corolla would be about pretty fuel efficient whilst also offering stellar reliability.

cerastes

1.25 Fiesta, cheap to run generally, other than consumables, hardly spent much on it when I had one, tax & fuel economy ok too,
If insurance stays low, probably anything up to 1.4 as the tax for each band up to it only increase more per band above that, so slightly bigger car with more space and less reason to change up as small cars have less boot space/rear leg room.

bazz26

The only problem with Fiestas of that era and budget is that they rust like hell, sills, brake lines and arches rot.

cerastes

bazz26 wrote: »

The only problem with Fiestas of that era and budget is that they rust like hell, sills, brake lines and arches rot.

I havent seen rusty examples on the road, other than it appearing at the bottom of the hatch door, but I do believe they have that reputation, few of the brake lines were replaced, but that was preventative and half them were rubber tubes from age (front).
Mine didnt so its possible there are clean examples about, it had (most cars probably do) a rubber coating underneath the car, was always careful not to damage it or the sills. Arches had a plastic/fabric lining. Dont know what it was like under it, but all looked clean from what could be seen.

Although I see more older Micras,Yaris,corollas on the road than older fiestas, puntos,ibizas,clios or polo, maybe its where I live.

Mycroft H

Pretty much all fords of the age are notorious for rusting. Its well known

bazz26

Rust has killed plenty of Fiestas and Kas of that vintage. If yours hasn't any then you have been fortunate.

Lawless2k12

3 of my friends have micras... a 94, 97 and 99. They drive the absolute sh!te out of them and they still keep going. Better yet, they cost them less than a grand. One of them has had his 4 years since he started college. Driven through fields, rubbed off walls, handbrakes been tested around corners and its managed 101mph... still driving grand! Passes NCT and runs on petrol fumes. Perfect starter car

cerastes

bazz26 wrote: »

Rust has killed plenty of Fiestas and Kas of that vintage. If yours hasn't any then you have been fortunate.

I was only saying I havent seen rusty examples on the road , I have seen some clean ones on the road alright, but not as many going around, which is a shame as I think they had a pretty good engine and cheap to run, same for the Micras.

JohnBoy26

cerastes wrote: »

I was only saying I havent seen rusty examples on the road , I have seen some clean ones on the road alright, but not as many going around, which is a shame as I think they had a pretty good engine and cheap to run, same for the Micras.

They rust badly underneath those fiestas. Usually the car needs to be up on a lift for the rust to be visable but they do rust on the arches as well and its pretty common to see on them.

Not sure if those fiestas are that fuel efficient either tbh.

Toyotafanboi

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

A late 90's corolla would be about pretty fuel efficient whilst also offering stellar reliability.

this 96 corolla banger i bought, easily seeing over 40mpg driving it easy. motoring doesn't get much cheaper.

that said, finding insurance rather expensive.

in regards the OP, the handiest car i've personally ever had on fuel was the 1.8tddi focus. would literally go anywhere on a tenner. frequently from wicklow to waterford on that.