Any ideas on a car for between Ã,£3,000-Ã,£4,000 or less...

Need something that aint going to cost me an arm and a leg on servicing and parts. Also anything above a 1.2l

Also insurance should be okay for a 20year old with 2years ncb....

SEAT Leon 1.4 IG4 and cheap Road Tax.  Pitiful performance though at 14 seconds 0-60

SEAT Leon 1.9 TDi (110bhp) IG7 and full road tax.

just ac ouple of suggestions, been looking at Leons for a mate who wants one, and they are just a Golf with different badge.

Prefer a 3 Door btw

Ford Ka    there is one sat outside my house waiting for my nephew to pass his test, I have driven it quite a bit round town and on faster roads and I must say Im really impressed.

It is 4 yrs old has only done 32K has PAS, AC, alloys for 3k, group 2 insurance I think.

Its nippier and nicer to drive than last couple of cars my Mrs has had (Saxo and Clio) decent room in the front with loads of headroom, only downside I see to it is that the legroom in the back isnt great.

Get something Japanese and be done with it.

Cheap Servicing & Parts?  A mini tbh. If you like them that is.  

3DR 1.2L+  Ã,£3-4K is quite a large choice tbh, I wouldnt know where to start.

clicky

or similar

Quote from: maximusotterGet something Japanese and be done with it.

He said cheap servicing and parts!


Theyre not too bad, I suppose... service it as per the schedule and it wont be needing that many of the expensive parts

if you did go Japanese, Id suggest a Toyota over Mazda. I am unsure of Honda, but I dont think they are quite as expensive either.

Mazda have HORRENDOUS parts prices - MX-3 front brake pads were nearly Ã,£70 each, a 6" aluminium pipe for the Air-Con was Ã,£100 - the list goes on and on

where-as my friend who has a Celica GT can have a major service, new brake fluid and a new light cluster due to a previous bodge job (failed MOT on alignment) and come in a bit under Ã,£300 for the whole damn lot inc. labour etc.

Quote from: ShaunFord Ka    there is one sat outside my house waiting for my nephew to pass his test, I have driven it quite a bit round town and on faster roads and I must say Im really impressed.

It is 4 yrs old has only done 32K has PAS, AC, alloys for 3k, group 2 insurance I think.

Its nippier and nicer to drive than last couple of cars my Mrs has had (Saxo and Clio) decent room in the front with loads of headroom, only downside I see to it is that the legroom in the back isnt great.

My dad just picked up a Ka and  , dont like the dashboard but other than that its a wicked car.

Quote from: snellgrove

Quote from: maximusotterGet something Japanese and be done with it.

He said cheap servicing and parts!


Theyre not too bad, I suppose... service it as per the schedule and it wont be needing that many of the expensive parts

if you did go Japanese, Id suggest a Toyota over Mazda. I am unsure of Honda, but I dont think they are quite as expensive either.

Mazda have HORRENDOUS parts prices - MX-3 front brake pads were nearly Ã,£70 each, a 6" aluminium pipe for the Air-Con was Ã,£100 - the list goes on and on

Japanese cars dont break, and youve obviously been shopping in spendy places for Mazda bits.

My Mx3 required nothing but gas and oil for the three years I drove it, I did price out new brake pads as they were getting thin: $15/each and the rotors were under $30.

The 2nd car, a venerable Daihatsu, cost me $10 dollars in oil and some throttle body cleaner last year.

Mind, I like the feel of Euro cars, but compared to the Japanese in quality, theyre a joke--and thats from the mouth of a guy who drives a VW.

Most jap cars are totally reliable and cheap to run, prioviding you check up on the make and that a Haynes manual is available.

Still looking for a Hyundai Amica manual, cant seem to get one for love or money

Quote from: ShaunFord Ka    there is one sat outside my house waiting for my nephew to pass his test, I have driven it quite a bit round town and on faster roads and I must say Im really impressed.

It is 4 yrs old has only done 32K has PAS, AC, alloys for 3k, group 2 insurance I think.

Its nippier and nicer to drive than last couple of cars my Mrs has had (Saxo and Clio) decent room in the front with loads of headroom, only downside I see to it is that the legroom in the back isnt great.

An engine from 1976 i think and breaks that are utterly poor. I wont drive the following tho, ford ka, vauxhall corsa, renault clio. I have my reasons for all of them.

Japanese is seeming the way I wish to go, tho depending on things maybe a Toyota Yaris, or something like that.... Will take a proper look around tomorow, I was to tired today and just got very bored very quickly on concentrating looking at cars and getting my head around what I want...

3 or 4 grand will not get you a decent Yaris, I know because I looked when I was hunting for a car for my nephew  

The breaks and engine in the Kas I have driven have been good compared to similar cars in the same price range I looked at when hunting for a car.
 
If the examples you have either driven or been in where early cars ? I suggest you get a test drive in a newer model

One thing I didnt mention in my first post is the handling of the Ka, which is very flat and progressive and could easily handle more power, while not up to small french car standards, the car itself is far better build and quality wise, keep its chassis on the edge on a curly road and  it can embarrass quite a few more expensive car

Nothing wrong with the brakes in a Ka, Engine dates back further than the 70s too.  It stems from the old Ford Anglia.  Unless you get a newer one, then its a Duratec lump.

Still bombproof and easy to tune but go to far and your economy takes a massive hit.

Parts are cheap for the Ka too but watch out for rust.

With some small modifications, the Ka easily out-handles many cars.  Even in standard form mine was outcornering many of the "hot hatches" at work and the back end used to slide progressively and always stepped back into line when told.

By the time I sold it I had
Ford Racing suspension kit
OMP Strut brace F+R
Ford Sport Ka anti roll bar.


Just turn it in to the corner, keep the foot planted and away you went.

Can get a Polo GTi for Ã,£4,000 with a 2 year parts and labour policy....

03 I think it was. Any comments on Polos.

I was possibly thinking reducing the price and searching for a Pug 106 Rallye 1.3, I can do most the work my self etc. Hrmmm options *sits down and looks around*