Need a cheap car that won't die in 2 days :))

Babylegs

Hello! I've been living abroad for years and just came back to Dublin so I have no no claims bonus and no job and my old Focus died beyond repair recently (this is a cheerful story obviously )

I do need something to get around in just for even a year or six months while I'm settling in back here and then I'll upgrade to something better. In the past I've had BMWs, MX5 but I genuinely don't care what I drive now. I think the engine size should be fairly small given my lack of NCB and the amount the insurance will be. I can only spend around 1500 on it. I'll do fairly low mileage too, 5000km a year Id say. My main goals are something that will drive well, won't need to be fixed expensively or regularly, isnt madly expensive on insurance and has an NCT.

I've seen a few Meganes with okayish mileage and a NCT for a year but also been told to stay away from French cars. I've seen some people saying here that the Nissan Tiida is terrible. I just want to see if anyone has any advice of what to avoid/look out for. Id love to buy from a garage as well purely because I haven't a clue what I'm doing and I might get a short warranty with it. I realise you don't have a huge amount of scope here with my limitations but any advice would be massively appreciated!!

Thanks a million

Del2005

At €1500 every car is a gamble. You'll have people tell you that x car is bullet proof, that means that people don't service them, or that y car is a price of crap, and you'll have people saying I've had one for years with no issues. So buy the car on condition and not reputation.

But whatever car you buy don't value it less than €5k, they'll only pay book value if you over insure, and get fully comprehensive cover, I've checked for insurance for my parents and myself over the last few years and and conistantly 3rd party only has been multiples higher than fully comprehensive for all of us.

Babylegs

Del2005 wrote: »

At €1500 every car is a gamble. You'll have people tell you that x car is bullet proof, that means that people don't service them, or that y car is a price of crap, and you'll have people saying I've had one for years with no issues. So buy the car on condition and not reputation.

But whatever car you buy don't value it less than €5k, they'll only pay book value if you over insure, and get fully comprehensive cover, I've checked for insurance for my parents and myself over the last few years and and conistantly 3rd party only has been multiples higher than fully comprehensive for all of us.

Thanks a million- I know every car is a gamble at that price and I'm fully prepared for it not to last a very long time, it really is just a case of I might as well spend it on this rather than taxis. Good to know on the insurance - thanks for the advice

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

Depending on your driving habits and requirements. You can rent a car for about 20 EUR Mon to Fri from Dublin airport. Thats e20 total for the 4 or 5 days. Incredible value. Could be an option for you. Example autoeurope.com obviously it's more expensive during peak times like summer and holidays. E.g Christmas.

Babylegs

Leslie Hissing Barbell wrote: »

Depending on your driving habits and requirements. You can rent a car for about 20 EUR Mon to Fri from Dublin airport. Thats e20 total for the 4 or 5 days. Incredible value. Could be an option for you. Example autoeurope.com obviously it's more expensive during peak times like summer and holidays. E.g Christmas.

That's a really good option unfortunately I don't have a credit card and as I'm not working here yet it's unlikely that I'd be given one! But it does definitely make sense to rent like that.

0lddog

Dont overlook Gocar ( www.gocar.ie ). At this stage they have pretty good coverage around Dublin

beauf

Are they not a bit pricey.

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057729711&page=440

Mikedexter

Del2005 wrote: »

At €1500 every car is a gamble. You'll have people tell you that x car is bullet proof, that means that people don't service them, or that y car is a price of crap, and you'll have people saying I've had one for years with no issues. So buy the car on condition and not reputation.

But whatever car you buy don't value it less than €5k, they'll only pay book value if you over insure, and get fully comprehensive cover, I've checked for insurance for my parents and myself over the last few years and and conistantly 3rd party only has been multiples higher than fully comprehensive for all of us.

I have not heard this before ?

Can you.explain in more detail.why you would/should insure.for 5k?

Also I never heard that 3rd party is more expensive than comp

U_Fig

Mikedexter wrote: »

I have not heard this before ?

Can you.explain in more detail.why you would/should insure.for 5k?

Also I never heard that 3rd party is more expensive than comp

I've noticed for the past 2 years when renewing that fully comp has worked out cheaper than 3rd party with many insuers not sure the rational behind it , usually only a fraction int he difference mind you.

Del2005

Mikedexter wrote: »

I have not heard this before ?

Can you.explain in more detail.why you would/should insure.for 5k?

Also I never heard that 3rd party is more expensive than comp

If you value a car at €1k the premium is usually a bit higher than if you value it at €5k.

The last few years while I've been looking for insurance the cost of 3rd party has been higher than fully comp. For me in a powerful car it's a few hundred but my Mother in a 03 Punto 3rd party was multiples more than fully comp.

Both are down to people buying low value vehicles, insuring 3rd party and then staging a crash.

bazz26

They also go off the logic/probability that someone driving a 5k car has more financially to lose than someone driving a 1k car.

wassie

Del2005 wrote: »

At €1500 every car is a gamble. You'll have people tell you that x car is bullet proof, that means that people don't service them, or that y car is a price of crap, and you'll have people saying I've had one for years with no issues. So buy the car on condition and not reputation.

Agree with this.

Also forget about buying European brands, stick with your Japanese & Korean makes for both reliability and generally lower repair & servicing costs. Try to stick to under 10 years old, as parts & insurance can become more expensive after this. Your budget is going to be your biggest issue.

wassie

Leslie Hissing Barbell wrote: »

You can rent a car for about 20 EUR Mon to Fri from Dublin airport. Thats e20 total for the 4 or 5 days. Incredible value. Could be an option for you.

I've often thought of this myself, but I think its one of those ideas which is good in theory but not in reality. You need to factor into the hire price the cost of 'excess insurance'. If you choose the hire car companies product, it will basically mean you hand the car back without any hassles, but can easily double the cost of the hire.

It is an absolute rort here in Ireland - stand at any of the hire car companies desks at the airport and watch the expression of tourists picking up cars as they find out they are having to fork out additional €€€'s to pay for 'optional insurance' that wasn't quoted online. This is often their first experience in Ireland - getting shafted by the car rental firm!!

If you don't take it out you run an extremely high risk of being charged for damage (including any pre-existing damage not noted at time of collection). Plenty of horror stories out there on the interwebs of travelers being screwed over as the car company know you have a flight to catch!

You can obtain a significantly cheaper low cost yearly 'excess insurance' policy from third party suppliers - but again if you are charged then you have the hassle of dealing with a claim with the insurance company and the hire car company.

I guess it depends on how you value your time.

JC01

Any old corolla, avensis, civic etc will be bomb proof I’d be looking towards those for cheap reliable driving.

Bit pricier to tax and fuel but old 325/330i BMWs can be got for nothing these days and are usually fairly reliable once the cooling systems have been kept well. Iv used 2 as cheap runabouts over the years, bought each one for under 600e with test.