Does anyone use a beater to go to and from work?

[bobbersmill]

Delivery date is getting nearer and for the first time I want to get a beater to run too and from work, I literally works 5 minutes drive from home but need to drive as im suited and we have no showers at work (I would cycle or run if we did), I also need the time in the mornings and evenings to spend with my son other wise I would walk.
So I am after something thats no more than 1k, will breeze an Mot, it doesnt have to do mega miles to the gallon but must be reliable ish!
Any one have any experience or share some thoughts.

 

[tpwuk]

I'm looking out for something similar. Been looking at old W201's and Alfa 156's.

 

[OneCarefulOwner]

Not everyone's cup of tea, but my 1982 Allegro has been my almost constant workday companion for 15 months now; dead cheap to run, easy to fix myself if something does go wrong (only major breakdown of the year was a condenser which cost a few quid to replace)...

 

[wemorgan]

A colleague at work has done this several times over the years. He seems to be quite good at buying sub £1k cars. His advice is to be flexible as to the make/model you buy. Cars with low number of owner, lowish mileage, FSH are out there, but you need to be quick when they appear. He's had a few Vauxhall Corsa's and currently has a Fiat Brava.

Not many on this forum like French cars, but for what it's worth I've had a few Peugeot/Citroen diesels, both up to 180k miles.

 

[Will]

A late 190E 1.8/2.0 Auto for £1k +/- will make an excellent commuter.

Cheap to buy, cheap to insure and cheap to run/service/repair. Once you're finished with it (it'll outlive you..), you'll get your money back too

Plus you might enjoy owning/driving it - not a chore, but a relaxing, comfortable and classless experience

All IMHO

Will

 

[OneCarefulOwner]

My outgoing "long legged" car is a ZX diesel I bought on the strength of the engine's reputation; I'd been a passenger in a ZX many years earlier but I'd never tried driving one until I'd already passed over the cash (FleaBay bargain ftw!) As a non-turbo model, it was never going to set the ground aflame behind me, but it ate the miles with abandon and I never got less than 50mpg from it even with me flogging it as fast as it could go (sorry officer, that hill must have caught me out...)

It's not dead now, it's just been passed on to another family member.

 

[BlackC55]

Vauxhall astra 1.6 8V

Cheap to run and it does not matter if it is beaten up a bit

 

[StavFC]

My Merc IS my going to/from work beater! I could never drive my 'proper' car on a daily basis, 120db, 5mpg, and semi-slicks isnt a good look as a daily.

 

[Palmball]

Yes, I use my C63!

 

[davidjpowell]

I know a Saab 9-5 which just falls within the £1k mark on a hard bargain.... (OK I admit it - it's mine and I am trying to sell it). Very well maintained, service history, 11 months mot, and starts at first turn of the key every time.

This is it. Saab : Saab 9-5 2.3 2001 Let me know if you are interested or want more info.

Shame on Will for not pointing you in my direction!

 

[Animal Mother]

Buy a scooter.

 

[Alps]

use the AMG... whats the point having it ifyou dont drive it?

i have the same convo wit ha good freind of mine who has a 3 mile journey to work and a parking space, and he uses a old clio, he owns a 996 911 that barely does 500 miles a year which is locked up in the garage.

id defo drive to work if i was in his position... obviously if you are covering ALOT of miles then a little diesel is the way to go...

 

[BlackC55]

I would not use the AMG it will not do the engine wear rate any favours.

How about a 202. Many under a grand now.

 

[jonnyboy]

I might be in the market myself, thinking of letting the s430 go now we've got premises.

If that Saab had been automatic I would be on the phone

 

[drocter]

I use a 98 MY C200 Elegance Auto...does 35+mpg!!! and has cruise control which makes it perfect for my 70 mile daily commute...

I bought it from a friend 2 1/2 years ago who had had it for around 8 yrs. He maintained the FMBSH...I've always taken it to a specialist. It's got a folder full of receipts, all old MoTs/spare keys/full document pack

I'll be selling it come December, when I take delivery of my new car. will be looking for £1k, but almost tempted to hold on to it.....

....I actually think, that while writing this, I've managed to talk myself out of selling it, LOL

 

[moonloops]

I used to:

Rover 200vi £350 on ebay - never missed a beat. ABS warning light was on but that was a loose cable under seat.

Also had a Peugeot 406 1.8LX for a while £795 nowt wrong with it apart a dent.

Thinking of what to go for next sub £1000 petrol engine for running about in..

 

[Tiff]

You could have all 3 of my "beaters" for £1000.. One does 15000 miles a year,with just servicing costs, the other toured Europe, and has even done a wedding, the other, admittedly is in pieces..but the Porsche 924 I bought last week was brought back to life today after a 4 year slumber, and looks to need only a service and a wash to get an MOT on it- total cost £450.. less than 100,000 miles and rather smart!

I've been doing this for years,never really had a bad car out of the 400+ cars, and pretty much have enough change for a good night out from £500 on each one..You do need to put the legwork in though, and sometimes take an "educated" gamble.. Many of my cars have been bought "blind" from ebay, but good sellers and good cars seem to go together, and you need to see behind the words of the advert. Ignore anything with poor spelling, txt spk, look at the background- it it in a dodgy area? Has it been prepared for sale or is it full of chip papers and Stella cans. Are there any suspicious burns on the drivers seat? Does it have original wheels/wheeltrims, and not 3 Halfords frisbees.

It doesn't mean you have to be bored though, stay away from the mainstream dross. I'd have a 35,000 mile mint Lancia Dedra long before I'd have a raggy old Mondeo, and for much less money too. (my Dedra was £120.. did 60k with no issues and was sold for more than I bought it for.) Lovely car!

 

[jdrrco]

I bought a 190E for the same reason, never looked back. Cost me £950 (less than 2 months depreciation on the E-class) and saved me 8,000 miles a year on "big merc" (as it came to be called). Get yourself a "little merc" and you'll love it.

 

[Scott_F]

Vauxhall astra 1.6 8V

Cheap to run and it does not matter if it is beaten up a bit

Good choice but I'd go for the 1.4 8v. Cheaper road tax and for a 5 minute commute you'd never notice the difference between the two engines.

 

[Classic_car]

I know a Saab 9-5 which just falls within the £1k mark on a hard bargain.... (OK I admit it - it's mine and I am trying to sell it). Very well maintained, service history, 11 months mot, and starts at first turn of the key every time.

This is it. Saab : Saab 9-5 2.3 2001 Let me know if you are interested or want more info.

Shame on Will for not pointing you in my direction!

Had one of these, good nice-looking car, under-rated and very cheap right now. Cheap to run also, my insurance was only £200pa on a limited mileage policy. Regular oil changes absolutely critical to avoid engine problems, but other than that they are very reliable up to an easy 200k if they have been looked after properly.

The one in the link looks rather tempting actually!