theALPINAregister.com

Hello,

Anyone knows a car for sale under £1000? or could recommend where to get one?

Basically, my mother-in-law has her car dying, need to replace it but can put up to £1000. so, I thought I would ask here just in case.

also, what would you recommend to check when buying such car?

many thanks
vincent

vblanche wrote: what would you recommend to check when buying such car?

Everything

Minefield to buy in this end of the market, in all honesty. You may be lucky and get a good one, or unlucky and get a money-pit. Get someone who knows cars involved if at all possible, but even then things can be easily missed and even experts miss things. Easier to answer specific 'what to look for' queries if a certain model is suggested as there may be previous ownership experience on here to call upon as many cars have historical common issues. I hate to say this to you, but avoid old French cars as reliability/repair bills can be horrendous.

I'm only tempted to buy one sub £1k car - my old Astra estate which I nurtured and fixed everything that was needed, and is with Liz's mum now and she's treated it the same (although the paint is now shabby )...and loves it, sadly, so isn't looking to part yet. However, Liz's dad is trying to prise her fingers away.....I'd take it back as our runabout and winter wheels in a trice.

I agree with Ade anything French will be cheap, and may go forever after all the surplus bits have fallen off, but generally you don't want bits dropping off.
As you are looking for sensible car for a sensible person I favour the Japanese route, cars driven carefully by the mature and regularly serviced. My quick trawl brought this up

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3408047.htm

Sensible, Low miles, under £1k, and from a dealer

There are quite a few like this Kia Hyundia and the rest, what you need is the mundane, generally mundane and mature owner is a winner

HTH

Hodge

wow...thanks.

Yes, indeed, no french cars...but I agree japanese ones (thanks for the link) should be ok.

thanks for your advices.
vincent

Hodge wrote: My quick trawl brought this up

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3408047.htm

Sensible, Low miles, under £1k, and from a dealer

There are quite a few like this Kia Hyundia and the rest, what you need is the mundane, generally mundane and mature owner is a winner

That's a great shout, Hodge Kia and Hyundai are definitely worth a look, as you say. Even, dare I say it, Proton which have Jap mechanicals in many models.

Oh, Vince, avoid Fiat too for the same reason as the French comment. Can be good (and they are cheap)....but can be extremely costly if they go wrong!

BTW, Japanese cars can go wrong too. My next dooer neighbour is a mechanic and owns the local garage. He bought 4 Avensis (2000-2002MY) - 2 to be used as loan cars and one for his wife and one for his son. Two have since blown their engines and he vetted them prior to purchase. Tread carefully.

How about this one, which is in Bristol

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3452284.htm

I had one as a runaround for a couple of years, totally reliable, 40 mpg.
5 door hatch, which is nearly as big as an estate.

Would buy one again if I needed a workhorse.

B10BRW wrote:How about this one, which is in Bristol

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3452284.htm

I had one as a runaround for a couple of years, totally reliable, 40 mpg.
5 door hatch, which is nearly as big as an estate.

Would buy one again if I needed a workhorse.

nice, thanks

vblanche wrote:

B10BRW wrote:How about this one, which is in Bristol

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3452284.htm

I had one as a runaround for a couple of years, totally reliable, 40 mpg.
5 door hatch, which is nearly as big as an estate.

Would buy one again if I needed a workhorse.

The most boring car in the world...but reliable Vince, see my edit to my last post as a slight warning

ade and liz flint wrote:My next dooer neighbour ...

is that as in "he who does" ?

My old boy just picked up a cheap 52 plate Focus Ghia auto as a 'spare' car. One owner, full main dealer service history, and 2600 miles! They are out there.

I'd also consider Volvo S/V 40. The last of the old ones were made in 2004(?) and just confirm that the cam belt was changed (think it was on 8 years or 80k miles).