[RCUK]

Folks,

Following on from the Almera Tino needs a new engine engines-express thread been told best path might be for my friend to scrap her Tino and buy something else instead.

This is where some help would really be appreciated!

1 - she needs to scrap the car - it has a blown engine so anywhere she can get the most for it would be much appreciated. Car is rather 'worn' its fair to say!

2 - The new car!
Budget is approx £1k + whatever she can get in scrap for the 55 plate almer tino

Requirements:
4/5 door preferable
manual
economical - pref 1.6 or smaller
aircon would be a huge bonus, but not a requirement.
reliable ... must be reliable

Thoughts so far are Ford Focus, VW Golf, Renault Megane. Id prefer she had something newer and safer as kids in the car etc, but for the budget cant have the world.

(She is based in Essex so cars withing 30 miles ish of the Dartford tunnel as otherwise getting to them will be a nightmare)

[Sportplus]

something like this :-

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...x-2004/1307008

It depends how much she gets scrapping her old car.....

[mowflow]

I was stuck without a car for a while last year. I picked up a Y reg Honda HRV for £1k. It was a non Vtec 1.6 4wd so it was slow. However, it was comfortable, gave mid 30smpg, brilliant for the family in terms of space, solid build as my son could't even destroy the interior, brilliantly simple AC that was baltic when required, never a thing wrong with it (never even serviced it). It drove like a supermini with light and easy controls. Everyone laughed when i bought it, my wife hated it but after a few drives the whole family fell in love with it a little and we all miss it a little now it's gone

The bonus only bonus to it's departure was that after nearly 12 months and 15k miles I sold it within less than 24 hours of advertising it for £1500.

From your list i would avoid the Renault like the plague. An old french car for £1k will be a dog, trust me, I've just bought one . Mk4 golf for £1k, not sure i'd bother I think the VW reliability thing is a myth. I'd go Focus if you can. If not then something from Honda, Toyota or one of the Korean brands.

[mowflow]

Haggle this down a bit
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...s/40?logcode=p

[RCUK]

The toyota is out of her range... £1200 max for any car.

Called the guy re the honda - said he wanted at least £1300 for the car, even tho i said £1200 cash tomoro ....

[Sportplus]

What about this??

Its a Renault Megane Scenic Fidji

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-m...ery-item-mid-4

Not my first choice of car but within budget

[RCUK]

that megane isnt bad at all..... ive dropped the lady an email askign about service history on it.

[mowflow]

I would strongly advise against French if reliability is a "must have"

See if this one will drop to £1200
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...s/40?logcode=p

Or this even
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...s/40?logcode=p

Or some super cheap and cheap to run LPG converted. My brother in law had one of these and it covered 260k miles without a single problem before he traded it.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...s/40?logcode=p

Try Scum tree as well. Loads of cars on their and people expect to get hammered on price if they advertise their.

[Sportplus]

"Scum Tree" LOL, That's a little harsh.......

[Kerr]

The banger market has been killed with the scrappage scheme a couple of years back and the value of scrap metal.

I've also seen WBAC pay very strong money for runabouts too.

There seems to be an effort from many groups to push car values up.

[Kerr]

I did see this go through eBay the other day and thought £870 with a full MOT was good value.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1309010988...84.m1423.l2649

Guess you just have to keep your eyes everywhere.

[Kerr]

Just noticed this one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-ACCO...30901098872%26

No time to prepare a viewing though.

I know it is an 1800 but usually Honda engines and pretty good for economy. More importantly they are usually very reliable.

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by Kerr

Just noticed this one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-ACCO...30901098872%26

No time to prepare a viewing though.

I know it is an 1800 but usually Honda engines and pretty good for economy. More importantly they are usually very reliable.

Just finished.

Seems a lot of car for £710

[RCUK]

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-m...#photo-content

She thinking of going for this...

[mowflow]

Probably won't go far wrong with that.

[RCUK]

Looks fairly safe... and prob easy to sell on after too.

[CarAbuser]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/1?logcode=p

I would take the focus every time. They do high miles without falling apart and are really practical.

This one also has just had the cambelt changed.

[SiofChester]

Just a curve ball here but I've been looking for the same sorta thing. I'm tempted by a cheap runabout and found the newer style Saab 9-3 TDi 150s are a bargain!!!! http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...1500?logcode=p

[RCUK]

That focus is a really good price!

Have sent that over to her - agreee on it... slightly bigger engine then she wanted, but all serviced up etc - its a very good price.

[CarAbuser]

That Saab is great value. With it being diesel i would stretch for that.

[RCUK]

She really cant stretch any further sadly

But is off to see the fiesta tomoro at 1 so fingers crossed she likes it - and the car isnt a bad one! Told her if she sends me the details ill do a car check here.