Looking for a £700 car for a friend...

[joshwa]

I'm looking for a car for a friend, £700, small, with mod cons like power steering, electric windows, and ideally a bit of safety, can you get 4star cars for this cheap? I know the Astra S reg and newer is getting really cheap these days, but not sure if it's this cheap?

Links to examples on autotrader in the NW would be good?

She's had a Corsa, Punto (x2) so anything better than these would be good

Thanks

Josh

[Howard]

Ford Mondeo. Nissan Primera.

Oh small.. bugger. does it have to be small? I guess you could get a Clio for that money. Most small cars that cheap won't be much good though

[mycarsavw]

2 Rover 220Ds?

[Jay]

This is small...

[tiggerai]

A good Micra goes for that kinda money... not surea bout mod cons, but it'll keep going/

[joshwa]

It doesn't need to last long, just needs to be safe, so that if it's written off, she'll be safe
Cheap insurance would be good too

[mycarsavw]

Ford Focus is a 4 star car and there's a few around that price.

Hate them myself and I had one (ghastly thing) but a Pug 306?

[Behemoth]

Dunno if it has a 4 star rating but Nissan Almera's can be had for that price, the 1.4 Si will have power steering, air con and remote central locking and they are pretty decent cars

[Konan555]

This is small...

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

It had so much left to give!

[kalniel]

Mk2 golf would be my preference, not sure about NCAP as it's too old.

Mk3 is 4 star and will have mod cons, but almost certainly less reliable.

edit: oh, autotrader agree - check out this article:
Great first cars for under £1,000 - Auto Trader UK - Features - News and Reviews Hub

[staffsMike]

This style clio is a 4 star I beleive.

Autotrader - RENAULT CLIO 1.4 RT 5dr Hatchback

[Vimeous]

Shame about the size limitation, my sis was the centre-fold in an M25 concertina once and the last-gen Avensis she was in certainly saved her bacon.

Clio
Pre-2000 = 2star
Post-2000 = 4star
+ Small with mod cons; - Not known its mod-con reliability.

Megane
4star
As Clio but bigger.

Punto
Mk1 (Pre-99) = 2star
Mk2 (Post-99) = 4star
Similar benefits to Clio but less reliable

Polo
94-00 = 3star
00 on = 4star
+ Better in a bump; - Fewer mod-cons;

Golf MK2: Hmm in this case hopeless, 80's safety and power-steering the only mod-con on very few models (big bumper GL & GTi + some Drivers)

Golf MK3: Rust at £700 kills safety

Micra
93-02 = 2star
03 on = 4star
+ Reliable - Too expensive for a safe one

106/Saxo
2 star
+ Tiny and cheap to run; - Not the safe enough

Matiz
3star
+ Equipment; - Average safety

[staffsMike]

Clio
Pre-2000 = 2star
Post-2000 = 4star
+ Small with mod cons; - Not known its mod-con reliability.

more than just a face lift then?

What about corsa's?

Fiesta 1.25 Zetec?

must be plenty of those around at the right price.

[mycarsavw]

Mk2 golf would be my preference, not sure about NCAP as it's too old.

Mk3 is 4 star and will have mod cons, but almost certainly less reliable.

edit: oh, autotrader agree - check out this article:
Great first cars for under £1,000 - Auto Trader UK - Features - News and Reviews Hub

Mk2 would be ideal, "Driver" if you can find one that hasn't been chavved/thrashed.

Mk3 is bloated, I'd avoid.

[joshwa]

Focus or Mk4 Astra (98+) would be nice but they're around £1200 around here. or cheaper with 200k on the clock

I think she would be safer in a Golf sized car rather than a Micra sized car but she always seems to go for small cars, and seems to want one this time as well.

Mk4 / Mk5 Fiesta might be available around this price. Still not massively safe though.

1998 Renault Megane can be had for around £750 - are these 4star?

[Vimeous]

Focus or Mk4 Astra (98+) would be nice but they're around £1200 around here. or cheaper with 200k on the clock

I think she would be safer in a Golf sized car rather than a Micra sized car but she always seems to go for small cars, and seems to want one this time as well.

Mk4 / Mk5 Fiesta might be available around this price. Still not massively safe though.

1998 Renault Megane can be had for around £750 - are these 4star?

According to Parkers the Megane is 4star and it certainly fits the bill in terms of size, space, comfort and ease of driving. No idea how reliable they are but it's looking good.