New daily driver

[Faheem]

I'd like to buy myself a car to use just as a daily driver. The truth is I hate driving my zed everyday knowing that I'm increasing the chances of her being involved in an accident the more I drive it. Sooner or later some idiot will definitely rear end me.

Also hate putting lots of miles on the zed. I got it at 60k and I've put 10k on in a year which frankly is ridiculous. I want to use her as the weekend car, she's too old to take the daily abuse from me.

I got myself a new job but it involves a very long commute so I'm looking for a cheap daily car - approx. £1000-2000 - Car needs to be very economical and not hideous looking. Also should be cheap to insure - I am 19 after all. No kias. Considered the bmw 118d but a decent one is out of my current budget. Any suggestions?

 

[t-tony]

Don't laugh (after all it's a baby Ferrari) but you could worse than a Punto.

Tony.

 

[Faheem]

You make me laugh Tony you can't go from driving a zed everyday to a punto. Has to ooze style.

 

[stevie_a]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...searchad=new,nearlynew,used&logcode=p&adPos=1

 

[BMBabe]

Ford Fiesta cheap to buy to run

 

[Jack Ratt]

Golf diesel ?

 

[Dino D]

A cheap Z3 4 pot

 

[Faheem]

A cheap Z3 4 pot

I've already got 2 1.9 zeds To be fair, they are very economical - I got 190 miles on £25 worth of fuel last week - about 23 litres. However, they're very expensive to insure.

I'm thinking of purchasing a Corsa 1.3CDTI or something similar, I was looking at a Yaris - but for what they are, they're very, very expensive (the diesel variety anyway..)

 

[DavidM]

Volkswagen Golf or Polo - although, purchasing any car within your budget will have problems surface within a year - you would get a better younger car between 2000 and 3000, with reasonable mileage and bodywork.

 

[Low Rider]

Google car insurance group 1

 

[Stevo7682]

Yeah i would go 1.9 vw tdi power either vw seat or skoda . My superb is nearly at 250k still runs mint and gives 55 mpg average.
Newer 2.0 and 1.6 tdi still good but not so bullet proof as the 1.9

 

[Faheem]

@Stevo7682 A 1.9 would be deathly in insurance - just basing this on how much I'm paying on my Zed right now - a mere £4500

 

[Faheem]

Volkswagen Golf or Polo - although, purchasing any car within your budget will have problems surface within a year - you would get a better younger car between 2000 and 3000, with reasonable mileage and bodywork.

Even if the car had a panel or two missing, I wouldn't mind buying it and fixing it myself. Might work out to be more cost effective.

 

[Grumps]

My lad had a punto and it was bloody awful! Nowt but trouble.
Astras come in a 1.3 or 1.7 diesel and are cheap as chips to run and buy.

 

[Faheem]

My lad had a punto and it was bloody awful! Nowt but trouble.
Astras come in a 1.3 or 1.7 diesel and are cheap as chips to run and buy.

Get him a Zed! He won't know what he's missing out on unless he owns one. There's a shortage of people my age that like the z3's My folks constantly tell me to get rid of my zed and get a car that can seat four people - but where's the fun in that.

====

I'll update you all once I make a final decision, might save up for a couple of months before getting a car just so I don't end up buying a rustpot.

 

[Faheem]

Got myself a 1.3CDTI Corsa. Cheap as chips to tax and to insure. Diesel consumption rates are also really good. However, the car has been sat there on the drive for two years, even has the 2014 tax disc on it. Undoubtedly some work to do in the car, the amount of black smog the exhaust is putting out is unbelievable (@t-tony would this mean it is running rich?) I doubt there is a turbo issue as the car is low miles and otherwise drives fine. Also a rattle from the engine at low revs but it usually fixes itself once the car is at operating temperature.

 

[t-tony]

Got myself a 1.3CDTI Corsa. Cheap as chips to tax and to insure. Diesel consumption rates are also really good. However, the car has been sat there on the drive for two years, even has the 2014 tax disc on it. Undoubtedly some work to do in the car, the amount of black smog the exhaust is putting out is unbelievable (@t-tony would this mean it is running rich?) I doubt there is a turbo issue as the car is low miles and otherwise drives fine. Also a rattle from the engine at low revs but it usually fixes itself once the car is at operating temperature.

If it's been standing for 2 years I would start with a full service and some fuel treatment(s), the oil will be like tar after that amount of inactivity. Diesels don't run rich as such but build up soot due to being run gently and will sit in the exhaust again due to lack of use. You need to run it to clear the exhaust before assessing anything.

Tony.

 

[Faheem]

The mot history is fairly clean but I'm suspecting that there must be a catch somewhere as I don't know why he'd be selling it at that price. 70-78k miles?! Also the discs have corrosion, will they need replacing or can they be sanding down and smoothed with really fine sandpaper?

 

[t-tony]

The mot history is fairly clean but I'm suspecting that there must be a catch somewhere as I don't know why he'd be selling it at that price. 70-78k miles?! Also the discs have corrosion, will they need replacing or can they be sanding down and smoothed with really fine sandpaper?

Again, corrosion comes with car being stood, nothing rusts quicker than brake discs. Driving it (hard braking for a spell) will likely bring the discs back to an acceptable condition, or not, you've nothing to lose by trying.

Tony.

 

[Faheem]

Brilliant. Thanks for that Tony will shout you soon as I'll undoubtedly need more help