Need to hedge my bets on a £500 banger... any suggestions?

[Meerkat]

Hey guys

So I am helping out a good mate of mine, who is struggling a bit at the moment. Basically, he has some solid, guaranteed work lined up which would solve his current financial difficulty, but the only problem is he needs a car to be able to do the work.

Anyway, since things are alright for me at the moment and I can spare the cash, I have offered to step in and buy him a cheap (sub £500) banger just so he can start getting out and earning money. The car would only have to last him for a year or so until he has sorted himself out and can then look at getting something better. Obviously if it can last him longer than that, then great, but I'm working on the assumption that if I get him a car with a long MOT, he can just run it until the next one and then scrap it if it doesn't pass.

So the car needs to be:
 - As reliable as possible (minimal chance of mechanical failure in the next year)
 - Practical (my mate needs to be able to load a bunch of DJ gear in the back)
 - Cheap on tax and insurance

I was thinking a Toyota Corolla might be a good shout, they seem to be pretty reliable and there are a few about within budget. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

[bombercounty5]

Peugeot 406 HDI estate, I have one.

I wanted a cheap, reliable diesel that I could batter around the country in, collecting car parts, throw camping gear in and so forth, It's been the best car i've ever had.

I bought it just over a year ago, 2003 2.0 HDI (90bhp model - this is the one you want) 189,000 miles on the clock, bodywork a bit ropey but good for it's age.

I've since put 15k on it, changed the brake discs/pads all around for peace of mind, the only thing I have HAD to change in the year that I have used it has been a wishbone bush, it was a piece of cake.

It's Just gone for it's MOT this week on 204,000 miles, the only thing it failed on was a tyre below the legal limit and a rear suspension link (£15)

I've dropped the oil in it once, that is it. It doesn't matter how hard you drive it, it'll return 110-120 miles to £10 worth of diesel, It's always started first time every time, it's comfy, cheap to insure and relatively cheap to tax.

For the money I really can't think of a better banger.

My mates laughed when I bought it, and still laugh at it now, But it's constantly ferrying them around the country to pick cars up!

It cost me £400.

[jackyboy]

1999 civic 5 door hatchback. 1.4
manual cheap but an auto would be even cheaper.

[bombercounty5]

Corolla/civic all small cars though, The ammount of prarrie canoe you'll get in the back of an estate it may aswell be a van. When I stripped my DC2 i had pretty much everything in the back apart from the rolling shell itself, there is loads of room in there.

[bombercounty5]

I give you... the 'flying parts fridge'

[bombercounty5]

I know this is a bit out of your budget but I just had a quick look.

on 140k that will pretty much be a new car and will last forever.

probably knock £150 off that, who wants a prarrie canoety peugeot estate in todays climate?!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-51-Peugeot-406-Rapier-90-estate-Manual-diesel-140k-miles-swap-px-/131879567867?hash=item1eb4a281fb:g:c9UAAOSwARZXimWx

[bombercounty5]

This has just ran out of MOT, check see what it needed last year on the DVLA site, could be an absolute steal at 195.

Low milage too.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-W-PEUGEOT-406-2-0-RAPIER-HDI-5D-90-BHP-DIESEL-/112072366448?hash=item1a18089970:g:ro4AAOSwARZXl~W9

[bombercounty5]

I might buy this myself,

1 owner from new, 117k miles, MOT until june next year.... £450!! WTF, that's a car that will last another 200k for 450!!!

www.gumtree.com/p/peugeot/peugeot-406-hdi-turbo-diesel-estate-/1182389966

[Meerkat]

Could be a good shout, hadn't thought of a Pug actually. The newer ones are made of tack but those older ones were pretty solid.

Civic would be a reliable option but I think a bit small. The 4 door corolla would be big enough with the seats down.

[wannabe]

Toyota Celicas (twin headlight model) are cheap as chips now and seem to be dead reliable, but not that big inside and not that cheap on insurance, so, er... yeah, ignore me

[atlex]

Aug 10, 2016 10:55:46 GMT jackyboy said:

1999 civic 5 door hatchback. 1.4
manual cheap but an auto would be even cheaper.

Had one. one of the easiest cars to live with. if you get drunk and look at it funny it can remind you of an early evo.

[atlex]

can't go wrong with hondas or toyotas for reliability. had both. would have again. also don't forget the mondeo/focus turbo diesels :-)

[josho]

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-V-FORD-FOCUS-ZETEC-BLUE-1-8-16v-8-MONTHS-MOT-SERVICE-HISTORY-CHEAP-ESTATE-/272334885194?hash=item3f686c914a:g:3AsAAOSwV0RXqNyj

Good cars these, and not horrendous looking either.

[Meerkat]

Yeah I've been thinking a Focus would be a good bet - from what I'm reading they seem to be pretty reliable and the first gen ones are pretty cheap now

[jackyboy]

loads of civic estates in your budget on ebay