Cheap runner needed!

charlietheminxx

Hello,

I recently moved and with where I live now, I'm going to need a car. I've been driving for years but haven't owned my own car for a year and a half now (didn't need one and couldn't justify the expense of fixing my banger up).

With having just moved, it's an expensive time, so I don't want to spend too much on a car. I have about €3,000 I can spend on one (while keeping another few quid aside for tax & insurance). I have 5 years no claims which is still valid and have been a named driver for the last year and a half with no issues either, but I am getting crazy insurance quotes for all of the cars I was initially looking at. It's looking like I'll have to go for a car with a small engine (1.4 or less) to make this a runner.

So what I need is a reliable car, small engine and under €3k. I won't be doing massive mileage in it, usually round trips of less than 40km, maybe the occasional spin to visit friends in Cork/Galway. I won't be using it for work, just for visiting friends & family and grocery shopping etc. I would prefer to buy from a garage if possible.

I would love any and all suggestions you may have.

Thanks.

bazz26

The problem with buying from a garage with the small budget you have is that you will be buying less car as the dealer has his profit margin included in the price. You will also not be getting much in the way of warranty either. So on a car costing €3k the car could be actually worth only €2k while the dealer's profit margin and limited warranty may cost the other €1k. Cars of this price range from dealers tend to be rough cast offs traded in by their previous owners. There would be better value in buying privately but obviously there is a bit more risk involved.

charlietheminxx

I appreciate what you're saying and I haven't ruled out buying privately. I would be fairly savvy and always would view a car with someone mechanically minded, it's just that a friend of mine got suckered fairly badly recently and it's made me nervous.

Still, when looking at it as eating 1/3rd of my budget, its probably worth the risk!

bazz26

I'm just saying is that don't expect to be protected by buying a car in this price range from a dealer. The warranties tend to be very basic/limited given the price and age of the car. Getting them to fix anything can be very frustrating.

As for what car, I'd go with a Toyota Corolla, should be able to pick up a 2002 onwards model within your budget. They are a reliable car if a bit dull, saloons tend to be cheaper than hatchbacks.

charlietheminxx

I was actually looking at a few of the 1.4 Corollas. They all seemed to have very high mileage on them. I know mileage isn't everything, but how high do you think is too high on a Corolla?

bazz26

You have got to remember that the cars you will be looking at are 10+ years old so they are going to have a fair bit of mileage on them at this stage. 12,000 miles is about average annual mileage on a petrol car so these cars are going to have north of 120,000 miles on them. The Corolla is a very reliable car but like any car if it has had a hard life then it takes it's tole.

charlietheminxx

Thanks for all your help Bazz if you have any other cars you think are worth a punt, please let me know.

bazz26

Ford Focus:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/focus-nct-07-20161-full-year-nct/9944793?offset=21
Good car, 1.4 is a bit underpowered but they are nice to drive.

Suzuki Liana:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2004-suzuki-liana/10128783?sv=1

They are a bit odd looking but if all you want is no frills a to b cheap transport that won't give you hassle then they are worth considering.

Squidgy Black

charlietheminxx wrote: »

I was actually looking at a few of the 1.4 Corollas. They all seemed to have very high mileage on them. I know mileage isn't everything, but how high do you think is too high on a Corolla?

My auld fella has an 01 lift back with 170,000 miles on it that hasn't given him an ounce of bother, uncle has a 00 with 200,000 and it's the same.

Extremely reliable cars once taken care of.

passatman86

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-almera-1-5-sxe-4dr/10040681?offset=7
I only recommended one of these in another thread
Wife had one for 2 years - trouble free driving,
We regularly done a 600 klm round trip and wasn't expensive
Not a top of the line car but very reliable and up the years

passatman86

Double post

NickDunne

I'm not sure if its allowed to advertise your own car on here but I have this fiesta for sale, no rust issues, few tasteful mods and has been ultra reliable for me, frugal on the juice and doesn't attract any unwanted attention

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-fiesta-lx/10133248