Are old cheap cars always a false economy?

99problems · 30-04-2017 05:59PM #1

So I need a car and I unfortunately do not have the credit history or the cash to splash out on a new model or even a decent second hand one.

I am looking at buying maybe an 05 Micra or corsa as they seem to be the cheapest.

I only need a petrol car as I travel maybe twenty miles a day to work, I am just wondering will I be looking at buying another car next year again if I don't spend the money on buying something newer.

screamer · 30-04-2017 06:05PM

You might and you might not that's the gamble with old cars. Make sure whatever you go for has somewhat of a reputation of being reliable. Apart from the car make sure you can get insurance before you buy anything as Insurance companies are Increasingly not insuring cars first purchased over 10 years old. If you owned it in year 9 then they will renew but buying it at 10 years old you might struggle to find cover at any sort of decent price.

gerard2210 · 30-04-2017 06:05PM

Depends on how well it was looked after, a car of that age could give you a few years without costing a fortune, or it could be a money pit.

Moomat · 30-04-2017 06:05PM

All depends on what you get. I bought a '96 Toyota Corolla 3 years ago. Paid 800e, they included 1 year tax worth 350ish and NCT'd it the day I bought it. So far, 20k miles later, it has just needed a clutch and 2 tyres. Sailed through the 2 subsequent NCT's.

I'd still probably get a few hundred back for it as it's very clean.

The only downside is insurance. Jumped by more than 100% last year but managed to talk them down to a more acceptable 20% increase.

phormium · 30-04-2017 06:07PM

A lot of it is pure luck with an old car, I have always had older cars and yes got caught for a few fixes but nothing major or madly expensive.

My present car is an 02, have it nearly 3 yrs, bought it for €800 and have replaced back shocks only in that time plus usual services. Do around 12,000 km annually, not daily driving as such but lots of long trips. Last week alone went to Dublin in one day, 3 hrs each way and this week Galway, similar distance.

I will probably replace it later this year for no other reason that it's becoming more expensive to insure and this year being over 15 yrs I will probably have no options but existing insurer who no doubt will be bumping it up again.

99problems · 30-04-2017 06:09PM

screamer wrote:

You might and you might not that's the gamble with old cars. Make sure whatever you go for has somewhat of a reputation of being reliable. Apart from the car make sure you can get insurance before you buy anything as Insurance companies are Increasingly not insuring cars first purchased over 10 years old. If you owned it in year 9 then they will renew but buying it at 10 years old you might struggle to find cover at any sort of decent price.

I get that much , my corsa at the moment is a 00 and I seem to get insurance no problem, I always found it to be reliable for me so I'm looking into a newer model corsa.

99problems · 30-04-2017 06:11PM

gerard2210 wrote:

Depends on how well it was looked after, a car of that age could give you a few years without costing a fortune, or it could be a money pit.

Is there anything I should look out for especially?

BorneTobyWilde · 30-04-2017 06:14PM

I'd go for Micra than a Corsa, that is first thing to do.

How are Micra's of 2005? Do they suffer any problems like a VW Polo for example, ie high emissions and failing engines.
Are Micra's reliable. They come across as just that...

BorneTobyWilde · 30-04-2017 06:24PM

Get a Micra with a test for over a year.
Few on Done Deal with tests up to 10/18 for under 1400

99problems · 30-04-2017 06:26PM

BorneTobyWilde wrote:

Get a Micra with a test for over a year. Few on Done Deal with tests up to 10/18 for under 1400

Are Micra's reliable though ?

theteal · 30-04-2017 06:28PM

This thread title is so wrong......especially considering the bangernomics thread is one if the most popular around here.

Cars don't just turn to dust because they're 12 years old. A well maintained car will go on for considerably longer than that. Look for service history, check for rust, look up common problems with a model that takes your fancy, bring a knowledgeable friend when test driving.

Also, Micra over Corsa any day of the week. The 98 Micra I learned to drive in (and my 2 younger brothers....and cousin subsequently) would still be on the road if the aforementioned cousin didn't implant it into the back of another car last year.

Reventon93 · 30-04-2017 06:49PM

theteal wrote: »

Also, Micra over Corsa any day of the week. The 98 Micra I learned to drive in (and my 2 younger brothers....and cousin subsequently) would still be on the road if the aforementioned cousin didn't implant it into the back of another car last year.

Like this, all 4 of us in my family had older micras (my parents had a 96, my sister had a 95 and I had a 98) and they're basically indestructable things. Most people I know have owned one at some point and haven't had much, if any, reliability issues. Just the usual maintenance bits and pieces.

I don't know anything about the newer ones, but they apparently same the same chassis as a renault clio. Says my mechanic anyway. I'd be more inclinced to go for one over a corsa any day of the week.

Jodotman · 30-04-2017 06:56PM

No older cars don't mean trouble. I have an 05 avensis and sailed through the NCT the last three years except for wheel bearings that cost around 100 quid one year.

People go on about diesels here and have a friend driving a 05 2.2 diesel accord and never had a bother with it doing feck all mileage the last five years except 16km back and to from work.

Go for a relaible model with a fresh enough NCT and you will be grand.

People have more trouble with newish enough cars than older cars in my opinion.

Just don't get something with 300,000 kms and you'll be grand.

Micras are cheap to fix and mantain, older ones will go forever.

You could get a 05 with a 140000 kms compared to 2012 with 220000kms. I know which I'd prefer!

Moomat · 30-04-2017 07:39PM

Jodotman wrote: »

Go for a relaible model with a fresh enough NCT and you will be grand.

Stick the reg into https://www.ncts.ie/ to make sure the NCT is genuine.

Last time I was car shopping there was a surprisingly large amount of cars out there with dodgy discs. Perhaps it's less now.

Isambard · 30-04-2017 09:38PM

buy an old car and throw it away when it breaks is possibly the cheapest form of motoring.

Insurance on old cars might prove a stumbling block though..

The Rape of Lucretia · 30-04-2017 11:37PM

Quite the contrary.
The only certainty, is that new cars are a false economy. Within reason, the older you buy, the cheaper your motoring. Those with cash to splash, chasers of the newest gizmo, or those simply slaves to snobbery, are the ones who gain from newness. Not those valuing good economy.
Old cheap cars are the true economy.

JohnBoy26 · 01-05-2017 12:33AM

99problems wrote: »

So I need a car and I unfortunately do not have the credit history or the cash to splash out on a new model or even a decent second hand one.

I am looking at buying maybe an 05 Micra or corsa as they seem to be the cheapest.

I only need a petrol car as I travel maybe twenty miles a day to work, I am just wondering will I be looking at buying another car next year again if I don't spend the money on buying something newer.

Nothing wrong with good condition older cars. Id avoid both of those though tbh, especially the corsa because that model is pure dung. The micra is a better car by a bit but the k12 micra is not a great car by any means and suffers from it's fair share of problems and it isn't all that economical either.

The best car in that class at the time was the 1999-2005 yaris and it's one of these I would recommend if you want a good well built reliable car that is easy to live with and cheap to run and maintain.

99problems · 01-05-2017 01:18AM

JohnBoy26 wrote:

The best car in that class at the time was the 1999-2005 yaris and it's one of these I would recommend if you want a good well built reliable car that is easy to live with and cheap to run and maintain.

Funny you should say that actually , my fiance drives an 02 yaris that has been going forever , 250,000 miles plus but laquer is peeling quite rapidly and she wants to upgrade.

99problems · 01-05-2017 01:19AM

Has anyone had any experience with Renault Clio the older models maybe 04-05 ?

sandra06 · 01-05-2017 02:00AM

i had a clio heap of cxxp ,to much eletronics to break down but that was my car used to have to start it with a knife the keycard broke and i got it replaced to no joy ,,,i got a corolla at the min never had a ounce of trouble over 250 thousand miles still drives like new just passed nct for another yr but insurance is a killer ..any older corolla or nissan are great and parts are cheap

Del2005 · 01-05-2017 06:58AM

99problems wrote: »

I only need a petrol car as I travel maybe twenty miles a day to work, I am just wondering will I be looking at buying another car next year again if I don't spend the money on buying something newer.

If you buy new you loose several thousand Euro as soon as you own it, that is 2 or 3 bangers or a major repair. What's the better value?

Isambard · 01-05-2017 08:41AM

if you are at all handy you could buy a banger of the same type as you were replacing and use the old one for spares.
For someone not doing many miles, it's the way to go

JohnBoy26 · 01-05-2017 09:47AM

Isambard wrote: »

if you are at all handy you could buy a banger of the same type as you were replacing and use the old one for spares.
For someone not doing many miles, it's the way to go

it an old 00 corsa though

Reventon93 · 01-05-2017 10:59AM

I had an 05 clio. It was the best little car. Only thing wrong with is was that my wiper motor went on it. Only money I ever spent on it. Had over 8000 put up on the clock in the 6 months I had it. I absolutely loved it. And it basically cost nothing to run. My sister had a mk1 and the gearbox went on it. But she got 3 years of running between Galway and Mayo before that happened.

And speaking of the older yaris. Both my parents have one. The one my mother has, was only a couple of years old when she got it. Now 13 years later with over 270,000 on the clock, its still going brilliantly. She's been really happy with it.

My vote would be an older yaris, micra or the mk2 clio

ironclaw · 01-05-2017 11:08AM

Old body Yaris, 1999 to 2005 is bullet proof. You'd be hard pressed to kill that engine. Regular oil changes and thats about it. The water pump can go at higher mileage but you can replace that yourself in an hour as its very handy to get at. Downside is that they are more expensive to buy initially.

Personally I'd avoid the Clio. Electrics are terrible in them and I've never had a conversation with an owner that didn't include lamenting about them. The engines are also notoriously 'soft', right up the RenaultSport models.

antodeco · 01-05-2017 02:41PM

What's your budget OP?

99problems · 01-05-2017 08:44PM

antodeco wrote:

What's your budget OP?

3.500 is my budget

Ubbquittious · 01-05-2017 09:44PM

To really save money you'd have to do some bit of mechanicing yourself. If you are running to the main dealer for every bushing and wiper that needs replacing I can see how it would turn into a false economy in some cases. Although you can be lucky, buy a car for €500, drive it for a year with nothing but an oil change and sell it on for the same

sandra06 · 01-05-2017 09:54PM

99problems wrote: »

3.500 is my budget

buy a car for about a grand use the rest for insurance and if there any left over go on holiday:cool:

antodeco · 01-05-2017 10:18PM

I'll sell you my 2006 Almera for less than half that,and you can keep the rest and get yourself a holiday!

A car, insurance, tax and a holiday and still within budget

voz es · 01-05-2017 10:42PM

99problems wrote: »

3.500 is my budget

I looked at your profile, it seems your in cork:

Some options I would consider if I had the needs you outlined:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-fiesta-1-2-67000-km-only/15388035

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/05-2005-yaris-5dr-terra1-0-nct-09-2017-51k-kms/15006207

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/06-suzuki-swift-low-milleage/15226248

Hope it helps

Are old cheap cars always a false economy?

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