Small car high mileage

[glojo]

The time has come and I have to bow to daughter pressure.

My daughter has not yet passed her driving test but wants her own car to practice with.

I think it wise not to spend a fortune on this car and have restricted the budget to a flexible £1500.

I have seen a few cars within this budget including a nice Polo but it has one 104,000 miles. what is the panel's thoughs on high mileage and small cars?

By all means feel free to suggest alternatives because this week-end is crunch time. We have checked out the insurance and even though she is under 21, we can still consider engines up to 1.6ltr.

I personally am against getting her an engine of 1ltr or lower so they are a non starter. She is learning on a petrol, manual vehicle so that is also a consideration.

So far the only car she doesn't like is the Mk III Golf, which reminds me..... Nothing bigger than a Golf.

All tips will be appreciated and please feel free to use the postcode I have left in the Polo thread and a 40 mile distance (It is a shopping area )

Regards
John

 

[seymansey]

A Ford KA is usually a good starting point. Theyre suprisingly nippy and spacious and the 1.3 is nice and easy to work with. Hell, even the stereo sounds acceptable. There are a plethora around the 1500 mark.

Mileage wise, I guess it is the same old story - what sort of 104k has it done. Countless cold start shopping trips, or long jaunts on the motorway, where everything is at a nice constant temperature and wear is even. I would suspect the latter with the Polo in this instance.

 

[MBManInKen]

Whatever you do, don't get a Clio

The Polo is probably an excellent choice, they should be reliable.

As we're talking about cars of a certain age, the Japanese tend to offer excellent reliability, so have you considered a Honda Civic?

Or, depending on the faith you have in her driving abilities, you might want to go for something with extra protection:

Linky, linky

 

[grober]

CORSA of the non "chaved" variety

In this motoring sector the Vauxhall Corsa ticks most of the boxes. Easy to drive,safe, reliable, cheap to run , service and insure. Thousands of driving schools can't be wrong.

Or Toyota Yaris if you can find one.

 

[glojo]

I have a very open mind regarding brand, but I should point out she is qauite a tall young lady, so the Ka might not be the best choice. I accept it will have ample leg room but for youngsters it is more to do with image. Or self awareness.

I found this Toyota and me being me I did a Google search on the garage owner's name

Liam Yekta Cars

We have discussed CAT C write off's before and I accept there are all types of CAT C write-off's and two sides to every story, but thanks, but no thanks. My daughter, my responsibilty and my advice is being sought.

I will not look at, nor consider a damaged, repaired vehicle. My choice, my decision and my advice to my daughter.

Regards
John

 

[MBManInKen]

I will not look at, nor consider a damaged, repaired vehicle. My choice, my decision and my advice to my daughter.

Very sensible - exactly the line I would take.

 

[Seamster15]

I would go for a VW Polo, as the KA's are known to rust on the doors.

 

[pammy]

A Ka is an excellent choice actually. The fact she is tall won't be an issue. The 6' ex managed to drive darling daughter's without any problems at all.

Polo is good but that high mileage on a small car would make me wonder what bills would be heading my way tbh. Might seem a good buy at the outset but in the long run..........

 

[RoseTattoo]

I had a VW Polo for many years as a second car. Sold at 150K miles and it was going strong. No reason it could not have done twice as much again. in that class it would be my choice.

 

[glojo]

A Ka is an excellent choice actually. The fact she is tall won't be an issue. The 6" ex managed to drive darling daughter's without any problems at all.

Polo is good but that high mileage on a small car would make me wonder what bills would be heading my way tbh. Might seem a good buy at the outset but in the long run..........

I am 100% positive she would comfortably fit into the Ka, but as you know, she is a very quiet, shy young lady and is terribly self conscious about what other folks may, or probably may not be thinking

I am concerned about high mileage and am reading the thoughts of everyone with great interest. When we look at the cars I cannot throw myself under them or even take them for a test drive, that particular chore falls upon my unfortunate wife. I have to make my decisions on what I see and unfortunately documentation. No documemtation will usually see me 'walking' away.

I will also not entertain rust... so no 210's

Regards
John

Sarah has just told me taht she was late getting home from work and missed seeing you

 

[pammy]

I am 100% positive she would comfortably fit into the Ka, but as you know, she is a very quiet, shy young lady and is terribly self conscious about what other folks may, or probably may not be thinking

So is my Meg's and she LOVES her Ka.

She's so shy and retiring Mark's boys met her for the first time last weekend and were terrified, why? Because they'd seen a message from her saying "but they are children, and boy children" when pointed out that so was she a child once, her reply "No, I've never been a child - I was just a small adult!"

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

A Ka is an excellent choice actually. The fact she is tall won't be an issue. The 6" ex managed to drive darling daughter's without any problems at all.

Pammy,

I presume you meant to type 6' (six feet) rather than 6" (six inches).

Tony

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Another vote for the KA from the Dazzler panel. They do rust, but they all rust, and so when it comes to sell the next buyer will be half expecting to find some. They're cheap to run and repair, and the market is bouyant as they're popular with first car buyers.

Don't be concerned about space. I'm just about 6ft and have a - err - rugged frame and I rattled around in the KA I used to drive. They're huuuuge inside - certainly for headroom.

If the Polo is a popular choice with your daughter, do consider a Seat of a similar vintage. They're pretty much a VW but at a lower price, and so worth considering at least.

 

[glojo]

I'm here to ask questions and most important....................

LISTEN

I will pass on all these comments about the Ka and see what is available within the 40 mile radius we have set.

Are there different models and what are the ones to look out for?

I have listened to rusty hinges

Regards
John

Edit

In the Services I was once given an old Fiat 500 type thing to drive and I had to have my head out of the sun roof. This was in Singapore and it certainly turned heads. Lots of leg room but definitely lacking in head room

 

[scumbag]

Just my 78p worths.

VW do tend to reduce the engine outputs on the lower models. Hence the like for like Polo/FORD bhp the fords can be upto 30bhp more.

Zetecs were designed to have a life expectancy of 100k. This would assume they will easily do that. Personnally, I would avoid the FORDS, and although the Ka is not the worst car in this bunch, it has no boot. They moved the seats back to give an illusion of space but still in a small exterior. The new mini is kind of a reverse effect. Looks bigger, but not massive amount of room inside.

Don't discount SEAT. The ibiza is on the polo floorpan and use the same mechanicals. The older Ibiza is on the mk3 golf tho, with gold VW bits. Most of which went intot he last generation polo anyway.

I don't think she needs a rocket ship. You would want to history of that type of car with high mileage on. It may have been a hire car for its first year, and put 50k on, then spent 8 years doing about 7k a year since.

A lot of low mileage cars, could be 2nd cars which didn't go out that much so they should be okay and should have lost value.

Try phone a few local newer car dealers and see if they have anything coming in, that they want to offload instead of passing onto a dealer that trades the older cars. A decent one will look out for a suitable car if he can make an easy few hundred for a phone call or 3.

I will just add. I don't do FORDS. I had one once. A puma, runs the same mechanicals as the KA. Had brake failure after a recal to change the part that fails and had changed it. Never again. Deathtraps!

 

[glojo]

I was amazed at the similarity in price between the Seat and Polo.

I wonder if we are a victim of location?

Regards
John

 

[jaymanek]

John,

Go for a polo, theres nothing else that comes close.

Whatever your budget there will be a polo to suit.

I have just got my Fiancee an 03 reg polo diesel and my sister is getting a T reg polo petrol in June when she turns 17...

nothing else comes close.. forget all the french rubbish.. and KA's - dont even bother.

 

[mw2510]

john,
they might not be your daughters ideal car but what about a rover? maybe a 200 series or a 25. nice and cheap now and parts are still easy to get. only a 1.4 or 1.6 not the 1.1 or a diesel but only available in 2.0. i have to say that mine has been ultra reliable and cheap to run.
(i will run and duck for cover now!)

 

[jaymanek]

I have a lovely Rover 25 in stock... even has 5 doors

 

[MBManInKen]

I have a lovely Rover 25 in stock... even has 5 doors

Are they still attached to the car though?