Car Talk - Non S2000 General Motoring and Non S2000 Car Talk

Best beater?

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Old Oct 19, 2006 | 07:00 AM
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Default Best beater?

Anyone got any recommendations?

Also, are car auctions worth going to for this type of car?

Current thoughts are for a Cat D - 106 Quicksilver... / ?
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Old Oct 19, 2006 | 07:10 AM
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You can probably pick a high mileage Focus up for that kind of money - got to be in with a shout, unless you're specifically after something smaller and 106-sized.
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Old Oct 19, 2006 | 07:34 AM
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Reason for the small-car idea was cheapness of running (tyres, insurance, etc.) and something to which i could make my own repairs and do my own servicing).

Can't tolerate Cinquecentos (as suggested by a mate of mine) but an older shape Punto 1.2 may be worth a *ahem* punt?
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Old Oct 19, 2006 | 07:46 AM
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Problem is, small cars are high on a lot of people's shopping lists so you;

a) Are in competition with young drivers (insurance is cheap)
b) Are in competition with people who don't (or can't) drive much (old people, school run mums)
c) Are in competition with people who can't afford to drive a bigger car (chavs).

And you risk the car having been owned by several of the above in it's life.

If you can afford the insurance, larger cars are a much better buy, and if you go for something without an aspirational/boy racer image you stand a pretty good chance of bagging something which has has a cosseted and dealer-maintained past.

It's how I ended up at a big Saab (110k miles, FSH all Saab dealers,
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Old Oct 19, 2006 | 07:49 AM
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I'd look at Gen6 Celicas .. the block is *fairly* bomb proof, good chassis, good reliability and big enough for 4 people and a goo size boot.

Bit better than a luke warm hatch anyhow.

Get down to the Jap import auctions and they go for about
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Old Oct 19, 2006 | 08:02 AM
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[QUOTE=Bibbs,Oct 19 2006, 03:49 PM]
Get down to the Jap import auctions and they go for about
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Old Oct 19, 2006 | 08:09 AM
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[QUOTE=gaddafi,Oct 19 2006, 05:02 PM] I go to lots of auctions and I've never seen ANYTHING that could be described as mint going for
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Old Oct 19, 2006 | 09:50 AM
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A ford Ka, very cheap to run/service/insure.

Its one of three cars im running at the moment and its
a fantastic runaround. I bought it to sell on but cant
part with it !!

Russ.
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Old Oct 19, 2006 | 11:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Bibbs,Oct 19 2006, 04:09 PM
Well I've mates that have so far obtained of note an MX5, FTO & mk4 Supra and a few other bits and bobs.

They have all looked (and run) fine after a service and a polish. They then drive them for a while and flog them on for a few quid profit.

And for the money they paid, they are laughing.
That's a bit different from a
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Old Oct 20, 2006 | 12:07 AM
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Originally Posted by gaddafi,Oct 19 2006, 08:44 PM
I'm sure they are very happy - it's not a bad way to motor at the bottom end of the market

thanks for clarifying what you meant
I suppse "minter" is pushing it but if it runs fine, low (unverified) mileage and doesn't have dents, scratches or torn up interior.

It's not quite the bottom end, they do this for beaters and spend any profit on their "proper" cars.

Defo get down the auctions if you don't mind a lack of history and you are handy wiring up a fog light.
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