Well my sisters Micra got written off she got £500 (was £600 minus the £100 excess)

She wants something "reliable" in her terminology I think that means relatively new

with PAS and all other stuff.

I'm just ranting off as I dont think she has a clue about cars/values etc plus she hasn't even got a proper budget for a car and insurance.

I showed her Matts Suzuki as that would be an ideal runabout for a good few months

But theres no pleasing some people!!!

Showed her some other cars like Micras "Mileage too high" I think my Dad has the same attitude!!!

Dont they realise well kept cars are likely to be robust no matter the mileage!!!!

Think #I might be able to find something in the Seat group unless she wants a Felicia!!

Edited 8 March, 200917 yr by Captain Sisko

What age micra was it?

I'm guessing it's two generations old based on the price - I'd look at the last shape ones as they are pretty decent cars and good VFM

Toyota Aygo? Supposed to be reliable little cars.

swifty has been very good to our family over the years and is now just as throw away car really,. like you say great for a couple of months motoring and p/x when she finds something she wants. She wont loose out on it value in that time.

In my mind going for a car in that price bracket service history isn't that important but the more toys they have the more there is togo wrong and turn a cheap run around into an expensive car.

I'm guessing there will be plenty of Fiesta's and Corsa's around for that kind of price that will offer decent motoring to get from point a to point b

She had an M Reg Micra

An Aygo....well out of her budget!!!

Seen a few Fiestas though

N reg micra?

SWMBO old M reg one is still going strong with the mother in law, except for needing a new clutch it has never had a real problem and they generally seem to be bomb proof. If you get an n reg one you'll get an immobiliser.

Any idea on the £'s your going to spend?

I have a clio for sale

Yeah she wants another Micra unfortunatly the ones that fit her criteria fall outside her £800 budget as the really good ones you're looking at a grand plus. I doubt she has that stashed away!@Robshaw I saw you advertising your Clio but she doesn't have that amount of money to spend on a car unfortunatly.I'll let her and my dad do the hunting, at least then I won't get frustrated!

Or stop being so picky. If she's only got £800 she'll just have to look for something that is still in good nick whatever the brand.

I was going to suggest and old Honda Civic but the ins might be too high on that. What about some of the Korean cars? SWMBOs grandad had a Hyundai that was R reg worth nothing but running fine.

Or stop being so picky. If she's only got £800 she'll just have to look for something that is still in good nick whatever the brand.

I totally agree.

Look on ebay and see what's in budget and in range and go and look at the most promising ones.

Trying to buy a specific vehicle in that price range is a nightmare

At that sort of price you have to take what you can get, by which I mean good condition regardless of make, model, colour and kit.

We used to have an old Micra - was the wife's second car - would still have been marching on today if some spotty oik hadn't driven into the back of it and ruined the boot and rear suspension.

Agree with others - at that price you are looking for condition and mileage over toys. Might be a little tough to get something with PAS in that price range, unless it has intergalactic miles on it...

I'll let her and my dad do the hunting, at least then I won't get frustrated!

That's best idea in the whole thread to date.

Whatever she gets, if you had anything to do with it, you'll end up getting the blame for every tiny fault she finds with it for the next 50 years (at least)

I stopped helping family and friends finding cars ages ago, having learnt that the hard way.

That's best idea in the whole thread to date.

Whatever she gets, if you had anything to do with it, you'll end up getting the blame for every tiny fault she finds with it for the next 50 years (at least)

I stopped helping family and friends finding cars ages ago, having learnt that the hard way.

Hit the nail on the head there.

She wasn't happy with her Micra after my mechanic worked on her clutch, but I never had any problems when i drove it :confused:

Plus showed her some Ibizas one looked mint but she didnt like the colour.

My Dad keeps saying go look at this Punto near my mechanics place but I'm thinking hang on, its not for me why should I go see it.

So I'm just gonna back off now.

I do have one happy story. Last year when my cousin was looking for his first car. He was looking at VWs but they were quite dear.

Suggested a Fabia, he even went and test drove one himself and liked it

He did want the vRS version but settled on the 16v 100BHP as that fell into his budget.

We went to view one was a bit of a drive away!! But that was the one he bought and he liked it.

Plus showed her some Ibizas one looked mint but she didnt like the colour.

No point in trying to advise people like this, unless they're doing something like looking at 3YO Festers in a Ford dealership!

The last 2 used cars I've bought and intended keeping have both been dark green, not because I like dark green, but because that was the colour of the best condition example of a model I wanted available in budget!

No point in trying to advise people like this, unless they're doing something like looking at 3YO Festers in a Ford dealership!

The last 2 used cars I've bought and intended keeping have both been dark green, not because I like dark green, but because that was the colour of the best condition example of a model I wanted available in budget!

i once bought a white Mk2 Golf. I *hate* white cars. Really hate them, but it was a good deal and a very reliable, good condition car.

Can I suggest Cranial Amputation?

Using advanced and modern techniques cranial amputation is scientifically proven to remove the causes of dissatisfaction and within a matter of minutes it is guaranteed you will never be dissatisfied again*.

*Limited, lifetime money back guarantee, terms and conditions apply.

I never gave colour a thought when buying my 2 Skodas tbh.

I liked the Felicia, affordable insurance so i bought the thing

Then nearly 3 years later when the Felicia died I didnt quite have the funds for another one then found the Favorit!! Bargain bucket car but it looks a lot better now.

I'll admit i was a bit fussy before i bought the Favorit......

My Dad was looking at some Almera Tino's and some other cars for about £1-2k which was way out of my budget at that time even though my Dad offered to stick some cash towards one. Luckily though I found the Favorit

Well it looks like we have a winner.

My mechanic has a Punto 1.2 Y reg

RAC checked it shows its a CAT C but my Dad was told it would need a vic check.

Went to see it in my mechanics yard a few weeks ago but it was dark then. Needs a rear bumper and bootlid (no addtional damage seen) but otherwise looks clean and tidy in daylight.

Think it's a boggo 1.2 not the 16v nersion as there's no a/c or extra bits, a minor point but I'm not complaining.

But the cars ours for £800 and it's got power steering. My mechanic has the bits in the right colour and was fitting them on. Car should be ready in about 2 weeks.

My sister took a look at it and she didn't complain.

The only thing that needs sorting is her insurance. She doesn't know if the theft of her former Micra will affect her no claims bonus. But she'll ring her insurers tomorrow to get that info.

The only thing that needs sorting is her insurance. She doesn't know if the theft of her former Micra will affect her no claims bonus. But she'll ring her insurers tomorrow to get that info.

Yes it will, unless she had it protected. It may not have any effect until renewal though.

They may want to see the engineers report etc showing that its road worthy again with it being a write-off.

Don't know what it's like up country, but £800 down here would get a fully functioning punto rather than a crash damaged one!

Another car to consider is the Toyota Starlet. For example Racetech Cars limited : TOYOTA STARLET 1.3 SPORTIF 3DR 1 OWNER SILVER R-RE The last ones look pretty similar to one of the later Micras.

Here's a couple cheaper on autotrader

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/TOYOTA+STARLET/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-240-4294967142-4294967144/advert.action?R=200915332232504&distance=179&postcode=SE25+6GH&channel=CARS&make=TOYOTA&model=STARLET&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1997&vehicleRegLetter=P

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/TOYOTA+STARLET/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-240-4294967142-4294967144/advert.action?R=200913331162519&distance=168&postcode=SE25+6GH&channel=CARS&make=TOYOTA&model=STARLET&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1998&vehicleRegLetter=S

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/TOYOTA+STARLET/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-240-4294967142-4294967144/advert.action?R=200914331803335&distance=97&postcode=SE25+6GH&channel=CARS&make=TOYOTA&model=STARLET&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1996&vehicleRegLetter=P

Edited 9 April, 200917 yr by anewman

We did see a Micra on a S/T plate at the scrappers near my mechanics, but my sister wasn't impressed at the sight of it. TBH i wasn't either, cause I'd seen it a few weeks earlier before they worked on the door. My sisters M plate Micra was in better nick than that one.

We saw the damage to the Punto in torchlight and it was just the tailgate/bumper. The spare wheel well, other panels were untouched. Doesn't look like anything else is damaged like the rear suspension,.

In daylight the whole car didnt look too bad though. Interiors clean and no other panels seem damaged.

The Punto belonged to a relative of my mechanic. Was prob deemed not worth repairing but they kept the car.

My dad and my mechanic will be sorting out the VIC check.

Just been reading up on the VIC test

if over 3 years old, the car must be covered by a valid MOT if its to be driven to the VIC

I don't quite get that. Surely the VIC test would need to be first to deem the car roadworthy and ID'd before going for an MOT test?

£800 can get a fully functioning car but the Punto wasn't my choice but thanks for the Starlet suggestion guys. My sister should be pleased with it, and it keeps her out of my Favorit!!!

Bearing in mind you can pick up a Fabia SDI for around £1k I can't say that I think the punto is a good buy.

Bearing in mind you can pick up a Fabia SDI for around £1k I can't say that I think the punto is a good buy.

Quite. I was being fairly polite about it in my last post, but now I'm just going to say it. I think that buying that punto is a bit rip off. £800 will get a multitude of working cars. My old Golf mk3 TDI has just been sold for £850!

And if you know anything about Punto's, you'll know how poorly they are built. The suspension system is actually made out of meccano connections!

If the car has EVER had a set of alloys on it that weren't OEM, DO NOT DRIVE IT. I've had to help 3 different people try to sort their suspension out after fitting alloys, and on each it ended up being a loose hub nut.

But I'm sure someone, some where, will have had a good experiance with one.