Small engine, older cars up to 1700 euro

Malv · 05-05-2013 07:31PM #1

Hi, I'm looking for a small engine car, year 2000 - 2004.
My budget is up to 1700 but I'd be willing to pay a bit more if they car is in superb condition.
I've viewed about 15 cars (yaris' and corsas) and all were in a state. All the good kept ones seem to be sold when I call.

I know it's very hard to find one that's kept well but maybe someone knows someone or seen an ad for one in good condition?

I'm getting pretty desperate at this stage :P

Thanks to everyone who helps out

EDIT: I live in Dublin, my engine limit is up to 1.2

The Pontiac · 05-05-2013 07:36PM

Stay away from Corsa's IMO.

Where are you located? No point on posting up cars in Donegal if you live in Cork.

valerossi · 05-05-2013 07:39PM

Malv wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking for a small engine car, year 2000 - 2004.
My budget is up to 1700 but I'd be willing to pay a bit more if they car is in superb condition.
I've viewed about 15 cars (yaris' and corsas) and all were in a state. All the good kept ones seem to be sold when I call.

I know it's very hard to find one that's kept well but maybe someone knows someone or seen an ad for one in good condition?

I'm getting pretty desperate at this stage :P

Thanks to everyone who helps out

How small an engine give your max limit, your looking at a 02 with your money id say. What's your general location and what's models are a no no.

Malv · 05-05-2013 07:41PM

The Pontiac wrote: »

Stay away from Corsa's IMO.

Where are you located? No point on posting up cars in Donegal if you live in Cork.

How come?

I live in Dublin, I can travel around Leinster if the car was worth looking into

The Pontiac · 05-05-2013 07:43PM

Malv wrote: »

How come?

I live in Dublin, I can travel around Leinster if the car was worth looking into

Pity, as dgt posted this up on another thread. Long NCT and a few months tax.

Corsa's are poor in every department.

Malv · 05-05-2013 07:44PM

valerossi wrote: »

How small an engine give your max limit, your looking at a 02 with your money id say. What's your general location and what's models are a no no.

1.2 is my limit, thought I'd prefer 1.0!

Well a Matiz is a no no.. also French cars and Puntos

ba_barabus · 05-05-2013 07:45PM

Clio?

wallyMe · 05-05-2013 07:46PM

Get a very very nice Punto for 1700. Great cars!

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4945803

miller50841 · 05-05-2013 07:46PM

ba_barabus wrote: »

Clio?

That's a problem it's French

Malv · 05-05-2013 07:49PM

wallyMe wrote: »

Get a very very nice Punto for 1700. Great cars!

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4945803

Heard they break quite often

is it true?

I'm clueless when it comes to cars so any suggestions of reliable cars would be appreciated

miller50841 · 05-05-2013 07:49PM

1.2 Corsa would be ok the 1.0 are sh1t but before you commit if you don't know much about cars get it looked over to be safe.
Safe bet would be Yaris, Micra, Daihatsu, Corsa 1.2 and Fiesta.

miller50841 · 05-05-2013 07:50PM

Malv wrote: »

Heard they break quite often is it true?

I'm clueless when it comes to cars so any suggestions of reliable cars would be appreciated

Head gaskets go but are cheap to fix but would have to say they are far from reliable.

Mint Sauce · 05-05-2013 07:55PM

I drove an 03 corsa up until about a year ago. Must major thing that went wrong with it was the gear linkage.

Dont get some of the criticism they get.

Malv wrote: »

Heard they break quite often is it true?

I'm clueless when it comes to cars so any suggestions of reliable cars would be appreciated

Fix It Again Tomorrow.

wallyMe · 05-05-2013 07:56PM

miller50841 wrote: »

Head gaskets go but are cheap to fix but would have to say they are far from reliable.

Very reliable past the 02 models. Head gaskets seem to go on models prior to then. very reliable cars and are decent on motoways.

Have an 03 punto do 400km a week in it on the motorway going the 120 km/h, never had a problem and flew the NCT with a quick lookover

miller50841 · 05-05-2013 07:59PM

wallyMe wrote: »

Very reliable past the 02 models. Head gaskets seem to go on models prior to then. very reliable cars and are decent on motoways.

Have an 03 punto do 400km a week in it on the motorway going the 120 km/h, never had a problem and flew the NCT with a quick lookover

I don't or didn't mean to put it down I drive a lot of car's and find them extremely light but as I said cheap run around's.

Malv · 05-05-2013 08:03PM

wallyMe wrote: »

Have an 03 punto do 400km a week in it on the motorway going the 120 km/h, never had a problem and flew the NCT with a quick lookover

And how is it on fuel?

I just don't want the car to break every two months or so and I've read that's the case with older Puntos etc

Malv · 05-05-2013 08:07PM

Also now my question is:
Is it even possible to get a 1.0 in good condition that will serve me for good few years for that price or am I being a lunatic? :P

wallyMe · 05-05-2013 08:07PM

Its light enough on fuel, get 41 mpg on motorway at 120 and around 50 mpg just on normal 80/100 km roads.

Most of them on adverts have new NCTS so can't be too unreliable!

The Pontiac · 05-05-2013 08:09PM

Malv wrote: »

Also now my question is:
Is it even possible to get a 1.0 in good condition that will serve me for good few years for that price or am I being a lunatic? :P

Yes it is.

Probably better not to narrow it down to 1.0 though. 1.2 and you will have a lot more cars to choose from.

JohnBoy26 · 05-05-2013 08:09PM

Malv wrote: »

And how is it on fuel?

I just don't want the car to break every two months or so and I've read that's the case with older Puntos etc

Get yourself a Yaris, you will get a good example for that money but you might have to wait a while for a good example to come along, they are out there though.

miller50841 · 05-05-2013 08:09PM

Malv wrote: »

Also now my question is:
Is it even possible to get a 1.0 in good condition that will serve me for good few years for that price or am I being a lunatic? :P

Look up what I said to you in my other post yes you will get a car that will run for a few years just make sure it was looked after and when you have it look after it also.
Check oil, tyres, water, coolant regularly and you should be a ok

wallyMe · 05-05-2013 08:12PM

Only decent 1 litres are Yaris and Micras in my opinion, know people that had numerous problems with corsas and clios

Malv · 05-05-2013 08:14PM

What about 1.2 Skoda Fabias?

valerossi · 05-05-2013 08:15PM

Malv wrote: »

1.2 is my limit, thought I'd prefer 1.0!

Well a Matiz is a no no.. also French cars and Puntos

cool, punto and French

goz83 · 05-05-2013 08:25PM

I don't understand the abise FIATS get. My OH had a 98 punto for 2 years I think from 2005 and never had a single issue with it. We gave it to her mother, who drove it HARD up until last year and 4 people learned how to drive in it during that time. No car would have survived what this car went through with minimal maintenance. It went off the road due to a lot of wear and tear stuff needing replacing, which would have cst way more than the car was worth, so it got scrapped.

When we gave the punto away, I bought the OH a 00 Brava and she had that until last year. In all that time, it needed the back box replaced (and general servicing done by myself). I gave it to my brother and it's still running great.

Both of the cars were given a good old beating when driving and they both survived very well. I would have no problem driving a FIAT.

wallyMe · 05-05-2013 08:33PM

goz83 wrote: »

I don't understand the abise FIATS get. My OH had a 98 punto for 2 years I think from 2005 and never had a single issue with it. We gave it to her mother, who drove it HARD up until last year and 4 people learned how to drive in it during that time. No car would have survived what this car went through with minimal maintenance. It went off the road due to a lot of wear and tear stuff needing replacing, which would have cst way more than the car was worth, so it got scrapped.

When we gave the punto away, I bought the OH a 00 Brava and she had that until last year. In all that time, it needed the back box replaced (and general servicing done by myself). I gave it to my brother and it's still running great.

Both of the cars were given a good old beating when driving and they both survived very well. I would have no problem driving a FIAT.

+1 - Puntos are 100% more reliable than corsa's and especially clios

snaps · 05-05-2013 08:36PM

wallyMe wrote: »

+1 - Puntos are 100% more reliable than corsa's and especially clios

never understood it too the bashing fiat get. I owned plenty both here and UK (including alfas) never had any major problems.

Malv · 05-05-2013 08:36PM

wallyMe wrote: »

+1 - Puntos are 100% more reliable than corsa's and especially clios

Can I ask how come they're less expensive than most cars this type?

Stella Virgo · 05-05-2013 08:39PM

you wont go wrong with a micra,with a new nct, heres a few for ya to have look at :-)
http://cars.donedeal.ie/find/cars/for-sale/Ireland/new%20nct?filter%28make%29=Nissan&filter%28max_engine%29=Max+Litres&filter%28max_mileage%29=Max+KM&filter%28max_price%29=1700&filter%28max_year%29=Max+Year&filter%28min_engine%29=Min+Litres&filter%28min_mileage%29=Min+KM&filter%28min_price%29=1000&filter%28min_year%29=Min+Year&filter%28model%29=Micra&multiFilter%28fuelType%29=Petrol&source=all

wallyMe · 05-05-2013 08:45PM

Malv wrote: »

Can I ask how come they're less expensive than most cars this type?

Its like asking why a Skoda Diseal is dearer than a mondeo Diseal.

Scortho · 05-05-2013 08:46PM

Malv wrote: »

Can I ask how come they're less expensive than most cars this type?

Same reason as an alfa loses something like half it's value in a year.
They're perceived to be unreliable.
Any car is unreliable if it isn't serviced and maintained properly.
Fiat and alfa (especially alfa) need a bit more extra attention that vw and Toyota.

Servicing isn't something is irish are fond off.
Vw will be more reliable but alfa will put a smile on your face.
I'd rather a well serviced fiat than a poor serviced vw.

Small engine, older cars up to 1700 euro

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