Cheap Commutor car

[Rack]

I went to a 2nd job interview today, and it went well. It was in Cambridge, so i'll be driving a loooong way to work from SE London if I get it. I tried it on the motorbike and it's not fun, and the missus & baby will want a car to use when I'm at work, and also for her work.

So I'm looking at buying a 2nd car to do the 150miles/day for a few months until we move. I'm looking for:

1) Has room for 3 (including baby seat!)
2) Reasonably comfortable on the motorway
3) Cheap to buy (~£1000)
4) Cheap to run
5) Is a drivers car

not necessarily in that order

I've thought of several cars:

BMW 325i
Honda Accord 1.6
Mazda 323 1.8/2.0 or 2.0D
Nissan Almera 2.0D or 2.0GTi
Toyota Corolla 1.6/1.8
Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0i


I'm thinking my favourite atm is the nissan because I know they are an excellent driving car and should be reliable.

BMW is there because I've never owned one and would like to try it out, even though expensive to fix.
Cavlier is there because I've owned one and know them inside out, the 2.0i can be a good car and are cheap as chips for everything

Any idea's or experience?

[J4MES]

I'm thinking my favourite atm is the nissan because I know they are an excellent driving car

Mazda 323f fits in the budget, Corolla isn't a drivers car but is cheap and reliable, the Bimmer and Cav might cost a bit to maintain (prices/age respectively)

I'd, obviously, (as this is HEXUS) say get a Mondeo.

[noTHINGface]

Train?!

[Moby-Dick]

You'd pick up a nice 306TD for that kinda cash - should tick all those boxes.

[Butuz]

Mazda 323f fits in the budget, Corolla isn't a drivers car but is cheap and reliable, the Bimmer and Cav might cost a bit to maintain (prices/age respectively)

I'd, obviously, (as this is HEXUS) get a Mondeo.

I've got a 323f 1.5 sitting in my garage doing nothing if your inerested! Been in the family from new (98) - most reliable car ever!

Butuz

[Rack]

The almera has excellent suspension/ride, I had a mate with the 2.0GTi in australia and it was really good (considering he'd also had a lot of faster cars and he liked it for the money). Of course the 2.0D is a dog apparantly... the newer 2.2D is supposed to be very nice, but start around £3k as it's 2000 onwards.

Mondeo... ugh. It's so.... hexus....

I was looking at the bimmer just because I've never owned one, and a '97 325D is about £2k now, which I could stretch to, would be nice to try it, but expensive. I've always wondered what it's like without an indicator stalk.

Sorry Moby, I'm not getting a 306. I like them a lot, but I also want a reliable car...

Nothingface, from SE London to Cambridge would require at least 4 trains & a bus, about 8 hours of travel each day.

I like the 323, but if this is going to go on for 6months 1.5l probably will get annoying.

Damit, isn't there a good diesel for that money? Maybe a golf Tdi.

[piggeh]

Diesel or LPG only way to go for the mileage. Or you'd spend a fortune in fuel cost.

Bora/Octavia/Fabia/Passat/406/converted Vectra LPG

All possiblities (if within price range)

Renault Clios are very efficient cars (60mpg+) but obviously it's a renault, reliability probs, etc (actually I think reliability is ok, it's finding a decent renault garage to sort them that's the problem!)

[Rack]

I'm surprised I can actually afford an octavia - '99 tdi models start at £1200 (though 160k+ miles).

[J4MES]

£1000 diesel Bora? Jetta or Vento maybe...

[J4MES]

Damit, isn't there a good diesel for that money? Maybe a golf Tdi.

only a mk3

[Rack]

You'd pick up a nice 306TD for that kinda cash - should tick all those boxes.

OK I take it back, this might be my only resort - a car that drives well and does good mpg. I only need it for 6 months... what can go wrong?

[J4MES]

it's a 306... pretty much anything

[Konan555]

You'd pick up a nice 306TD

Master of the oxymoron

[Moby-Dick]

they are fine provided you drive them with the contempt they deserve

[Rack]

what about these?
example 1 example 2

[J4MES]

no to both. seriously, if cost is a factor don't buy the car which costs the most to put right...