Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: _tom_ on March 12, 2006, 07:47:20 PM
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Well, I'm looking for a cheap car, that doesnt eat up fuel quickly, and isnt tiny (because I'm not tiny :lol: ). I've been practising my driving in my brothers Fiat Siecento which is ok but like I said, too small for me. I'm hoping my dad will pay half of the insurance or something, till I can afford to pay it back (had an interview at Co Op on saturday so fingers crossed..). I dont really care how it looks (unless its simply an EMBARRASMENT!), so long as its efficient. Need some recommendations really. My dads been looking at VW Polo's but they seem pretty expensive and I dont know anything about their efficiency.
Cheers for any help.
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Budget? Car styles you like and hate?
Toyota's are reliable and run pretty well. Dunno what they cost over there, though. I like Japanese cars. they're much better than the American cr@p we get here, like Dodge and Ford.
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just how cheap does this car have to be exactly.... ? :twisted:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Land-Rover-Defender-110-2-5-tubo-diesel-truck-cab_W0QQitemZ4618343694QQcategoryZ29748QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting
:lol: .... it is a diesel though.... if that helps...
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nissan micra. they may look slightly embarasing but to be honest thats your best bet. the older ones are slightly better but only due to the fact they don't look as ugly, either way they are very fuel efficient. my friend has one, no problems with it as yet.
however dependind on what you call cheap, anything by honda is practically indestructable. but the jazz is a bit lady like.
i'm gunna try and get my hands on a civic.
VW's are quite unreliable as a general rule and not the best for efficiency.
the toyota yaris or aygo are about as efficient as they come, however as they are fairly new cars they are likely to be quite pricey.
whatever you do make sure you get something with an engine under 1275cc, other wise the insurance will be sky high. if you are put on your dads insurance for the car and are a named driver as apposed to the sole driver, then the insurance will be much cheaper. for example, my friend duncan tat i mentioned above got his insurance £500 cheaper on his mums insurance than it would have been on his own.
hope that helps dude.
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Budget? Car styles you like and hate?
Toyota's are reliable and run pretty well. Dunno what they cost over there, though. I like Japanese cars. they're much better than the American cr@p we get here, like Dodge and Ford.
Under or around a grand if possible. I think a 3 or 5 door hatchback type thing would be best, I dont want a saloon or whatever the "longer" ones are called. My dad suggested a Nissan Micra and they DO look embarrasing :lol: Could be good though if its efficient.. Civics look nice aswell
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sambo you daft bugger :lol:
notice the lack of info i.e number of miles not included probably means that it's done far too many to use and tom wouldn't get insured on a 2.5 litre engined land rover. can you imagine though, you could drive through the hills to get to work....
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Budget? Car styles you like and hate?
Toyota's are reliable and run pretty well. Dunno what they cost over there, though. I like Japanese cars. they're much better than the American cr@p we get here, like Dodge and Ford.
Under or around a grand if possible. I think a 3 or 5 door hatchback type thing would be best, I dont want a saloon or whatever the "longer" ones are called. My dad suggested a Nissan Micra and they DO look embarrasing :lol: Could be good though if its efficient.. Civics look nice aswell
i know i'm gunna end up with a micra for my first car, i just know it.
and the thing about civics is that they start at 1400cc, the insurance fof new drivers would be about £2000.
there was a guy at my college who we called badger boy, he was seriously rich and for his first car his dad bought him a TVR tuscan but he couldn't get insured on it due to the fact that it had a 4000cc engine and 400bhp, his dad just drove him in in it in the mornings occasionally instead :lol:
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Budget? Car styles you like and hate?
Toyota's are reliable and run pretty well. Dunno what they cost over there, though. I like Japanese cars. they're much better than the American cr@p we get here, like Dodge and Ford.
Under or around a grand if possible. I think a 3 or 5 door hatchback type thing would be best, I dont want a saloon or whatever the "longer" ones are called. My dad suggested a Nissan Micra and they DO look embarrasing :lol: Could be good though if its efficient.. Civics look nice aswell
i know i'm gunna end up with a micra for my first car, i just know it.
and the thing about civics is that they start at 1400cc, the insurance fof new drivers would be about £2000.
there was a guy at my college who we called badger boy, he was seriously rich and for his first car his dad bought him a TVR tuscan but he couldn't get insured on it due to the fact that it had a 4000cc engine and 400bhp, his dad just drove him in in it in the mornings occasionally instead :lol:
Oooh right, I was also looking at Vauxhall Corsas, Renault clio's, Peugeot 106 etc. I have no idea when it comes to cars really, I can just drive one OK-ish :lol:
And a TVR Tuscan for his first car? Spoilt git.
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My first car was one of the old Renault Clios. It was a 1995 N Reg (I think). I've had a Skoda Felicia and a Nissin Sunny since then, and that Clio is still by far the best out of the three I've had. If you end up going for an older car, try and get one with power steering. My Nissan has the clunkiet clutch in the world and the steering is apallingly heavy. Not fun at all when trying to reverse out of tight spaces.
Yeah, anyway, my advice is an old Renault Clio with power steering :).
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get a diesel....!!!
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My first car was one of the old Renault Clios. It was a 1995 N Reg (I think). I've had a Skoda Felicia and a Nissin Sunny since then, and that Clio is still by far the best out of the three I've had. If you end up going for an older car, try and get one with power steering. My Nissan has the clunkiet clutch in the world and the steering is apallingly heavy. Not fun at all when trying to reverse out of tight spaces.
Yeah, anyway, my advice is an old Renault Clio with power steering :).
That sounds horrible haha. My brothers Fiats fuel actually lasts ages but that car is so bloody small!
Are diesel more efficient?
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yer diesels are cheaper to run- thats the point of them.... i think...
and going on 'crisps' advice- LOOK AT THIS!!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OUSTANDING-1993-RENAULT-CLIO-DIESEL-VERY-LOW-MILES_W0QQitemZ4620445035QQcategoryZ9861QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
an old renault clio- DIESEL!!!
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Ebay is useless at the minute as I dont have the money! I just want to get an idea of what to look for.. This all being said, I probably wont even get the job :lol:
I dont see why they put "Lady owner", as if that makes you think its been taken care of :lol: :lol:
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haha having a lady owner makes it worse imo lol
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haha having a lady owner makes it worse imo lol
Yeah exactly hahahah
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Clio or Micra!
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A cheap car is one you borrow from your mum....or dad other than that there's no such thing as a cheap car! :lol:
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A cheap car is one you borrow from your mum....or dad other than that there's no such thing as a cheap car! :lol:
Hahah probably true, but Mum or Dad wont let me drive their cars, I've allready tried that!
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Then you need to ask for more lifts....they will give in! :lol:
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Then you need to ask for more lifts....they will give in! :lol:
Hahah my dad WILL NOT let me drive his car! I'm not showing off but hes got a Merc and no one in their right mind would let a 17y.o new driver loose in one haha. My mums just got a new VW Beetle and is VERY protective of it, so I dont think that'll work either :lol:
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just get an old mini.... and convert it into a pick-up (as in a pickup TRUCK not a BKP kinda pickup).... line the interior with some obscure fabric like fake tiger fur, and paint it either bright pink or matt blacke... or bright pink AND matte black
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I will just comment of insurance.My advice is not to insure in anothers name as if you are merely a named driver. Insurance is always rated on the main user of the car.If you are the main user, do not insure it otherwise- false economy. A bad time to find that your insurance is not valid is after you have need to make a claim and if you make a false disclosure, that is what could happen if they find out- and they have ways of doing that. I am afraid that cars eat money Tom-the price of convenience.
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OK well my 0.02cents (as was brought up in Car industry, till folks finally sold garage business late last year).
Bear in mind I have no idea of insurance in UK right now after 6 years in Texas.
Please pm me for more info. if required as could write a book here.
Firstly, Diesel operating costs are indeed (at the moment less) BUT their maintenance costs are NOT. Diesel parts cost alot more than petrol. Glow plugs etc. and fuel system is more complicated (to a point) and more costly.
Japanese cars, on the whole, are the best bet for longevity.
Toyota produces amazing engines and are VERY hardy. The parts are not as cheap as say Nissan but they run well.
Nissan is also very good.
Mitsubishi was more due to less imported vehicles.
Subaru, great cars but expensive to maintain.
Honda, also great cars, little maintenance usually.
European.
Citreon is not a very strong car (was'nt anyway) and their suspension system is very complicated (hydrolastic) on those models.
Renault, not bad car but parts were overpriced.
Fiat, Italians know NOTHING about electrics. Repeat after me, NOTHING :)
VW, well made, run well, not most fuel efficient (largely due to weight , read well built) parts can be costly, not that some models break down much.
Ford may be best bet for maintenance/cost ratio. Parts are readily available and cheap which ofsets other costs.
As I said I could write a book (even after a 6 year absense not a whole lot changes).
Any specific questions feel free to ask. If I don't know I can find out.
Nick
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BTW, I have owned/driven/worked on the lot (up to 6 years ago in UK).
Your Dad has good taste Tom. My folks both have Mercs! And don't feel bad, I am 36yo and am not given the keys to them either LOL.
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Wow thanks for that Dakine, sorry is your real name Nick, so I can just use that in future? I'll check out Toyota and Ford then I guess, they seem like the best bets from what you've suggested.. I'll have to show my dad this thread, to see what he thinks, as he'll probably have to be the one paying for it till I get the money back.
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My VW Polo had been quite cheap to run until the gearbox went (apparently a common fault in the Polos at that time). Before that I had a VW Jetta which did loads of miles with very little going wrong.
When I get another car I'm pretty sure it will be a Honda. Jap cars are very reliable and don't have the costs of the VW's. Ford are cheap to maintain, but some of them can be real dogs.
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:D For what it`s worth Tom......
HJM `s right cars no matter what one you get are expensive to run i`m affraid.
Get a Ford/Vauxhall there both very easy to find cheap parts for. If your spending anything upto a grand on a car then you need to face the fact that it will break down occasionally & or will need replacement parts when it`s MOT`d.
Diezel will give greater full economy but will cost the same at the pump as petrol
Small cars are sensible for 1st time drivers & or young drivers as they keep your insurance low try Ford fiestas/Vauxhall corsa`s
:D 8)
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The advice about insurance in UK is right. You really need insurance in ya own name.
I would first check out the lower group cars (insurance wise) and make that your "short list".
All cars past a certain age (what you may be able to afford/looking at/end up with) will need some maintenance sooner or later.
Domestic is cheaper on parts and most have "non-dealer" parts available so you don't have to pay for genuine bits.
Japanese are very well put together. The Japs may not be the most inventive but by gawd they can improve on an idea.
German is VERY well engineered but abit more pricey.
My opinion, stay away from older diesel as it is "false economy".
Also, rear wheel drive (if possible) is better. They drive nicer (IMO) :twisted:
but also gearbox work is MUCH easier/cheaper. Case in point (with tools layed out and a gearbox jack handy) my record for changing a clutch in a Ford Sierra was 35 mins dead :) (back in the day lol).
Some high mileage stuff is'nt as bad as it may seem. I worked on/dad sold a few ex. police vehicles with high mileage. Thing is they are regularly maintained and NOT let get cold. One shift gets out, other gets in. It's the constant stop/start hot/cold that wears mechanics down.
If you could find an older (but good) non-fuel injection car things could be even simpler. Cars that still had distributers/points etc. are very simple to learn and maintain. A library book could actually teach you ALOT about good maintenance on such a car, not so true with the electronics in the newer cars.
BTW, no-one has said (and I think they have been rescued/bought?) but some of the rover cars were/are actually very good cars. Heck, Rover was in bed with Honda at one point and had Honda engines.
Anyway, as said, WAY too much for me to talk about. Get some more idea's and "if" you want/have any questions, just lemme know.
I may not be as "clued up" as most here on guitars/pickups but Cars have been my LIFE!
Nick
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Thanks for all the help, hopefully I can find myself something ok after reading all the advice. Dont know about the different insurance groups yet, I'll go have a search on google to see what it comes up with, if not I'll be back :P.
And yeah, I guessed driving wont be "cheap" but I guess as 38th said - you're paying for the price of convenience. I hate catching buses and dont feel safe on a scooter/motorbike, so a car is the only option really (and I'm NOT cycling into college every day) :lol:
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dakine couldn't be more right about the italians and electronics.
my mum has a fiat punto and honest to god fiat should be applauded for building this car because with out it aspiring car-think-tank types would have no object lesson in the art of designing the most utterly irrelavent form of personal transport yet devised by man kind. a dreadful, dreadful car.
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Italians=style NOT function :)
Again, tooo many stories about HIGH end motorvehicles from Italy which were utter cr@p/nightmare (inc. Ferrari and Ducati)
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im a clio fan, learnt in one; was fantastic, sturdy and not toooo small...
Currently drive a toyota yaris 1.0 (not quite enough umphhh, but cheap to run and low insurance costs)!
Cheers,
Doogz
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my friend just got a refurbished old mini, for £800 insurance group one (£300), its the sex dude. 1 litre engine, reaches 70mph. just dont crash :)
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Clio's are good little runners, I've had mine for three years - never let me down once. I'm letting it go now though - cars are bloody expensive AND I can get a lift into work from a workmate.
:twisted:
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dont buy a Subaru Impreza Turbo... i did the other week and it returns about 20mpg if i'm lucky and dont press the 'warp speed' pedal too much ;)
A friend at work had a VW Polo diesel, she loved it.. did LOADS of mpg. Now shes changed to a petrol Alfa Romeo which does about 30mpg, and apparantly that is low compared to the old VW. (id kill for 30mpg :P)
I 2nd the Nissan Micra. Yes its an old mans wifes shopping car.. but its cheap, works well, reliable, cheap to insure (group 3?) and no one will nick it!! :)
A decentish service history is a must if possible, look for recent cambelt changes on higher (60K+) mileages as it will cost at least £200 or so to do due to high labour costs and it being a VERY fiddily job on most cars..and it needs doing or car gos bang and you lose ££££'s
Hondas tend to be more £££'s on the insurance i found, although it depends on your area etc.
Be warned, insurance WILL be steep. At least £900 id say (my 19yr old work mate just paid £1050 for a 1.1i Saxo.. his 1st car). Add your mum or dad as named drivers with you as the main policy, it may reduce your policy to start with and you get your NCB (it did on my 1st car... by about £150!).
Good luck and safe motoring :D
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Chris, you suck! :twisted:
Impreza turbo, you mad Taff you!!!!! I wanna play :twisted:
Actually I prefer the Mitsu Evo but just my preference.
Both are available here (as of cpl years ago) but not many Americans have ANY idea of their power lol (they think a big V8 is the dogs dangly bits). I "tire kicked" (took a Evo VII) for a test drive and nearly made the salesman (who wanted to come with) puke ROFLMAO. These americans have NO idea!!!!!!!!
BTW, 20mpg. I had a darn V8 Truck (granted it was supercharged) and averaged 10-12mpg!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know petrol is cheaper here, but NOT at that rate (not anymore anyway). Was fun though, too many tickets though (well one, as am Volunteer Police Diver, with badge and I.D. to certify so got away with afew :twisted: ).
Darn, an Impreza in the valleys, now am jealous :censored:
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I've been practising my driving in my brothers Fiat Siecento which is ok but like I said, too small for me.
I thought you only had a sister.
Its not nice to call your sister a man, Tom.
As a kind of country boy, im getting a beefy defender as my first car...
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Chris, you suck! Twisted Evil
Impreza turbo, you mad Taff you!!!!! I wanna play Twisted Evil
Actually I prefer the Mitsu Evo but just my preference.
heh
I like the Evos too, but they have stupid service intervals... every 6months or so! They are more raw and racey than the Imprezas.
10-12mpg lol.. its that far each way to where i work!! Thats alot of petrol :lol:
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I've been practising my driving in my brothers Fiat Siecento which is ok but like I said, too small for me.
I thought you only had a sister.
Its not nice to call your sister a man, Tom.
As a kind of country boy, im getting a beefy defender as my first car...
Hahah no I have a brother as well. I REALLY hope I get this job, if not then this thread is a waste of time as I'll never be able to afford anything :lol: