car for �1000

[ieatbees]

Hi I'm looking to buy a car for my girlfriend, i'm looking to spend about �1000 - �1,500, does anyone have any ideas? it doesn't matter about size as she used to drive a large Merc, it just needs to be very reliable.

[Cockney_si]

Honda Civic

Bomb proof engines and extremely reliable.

[mfewell]

I've had Citroens for years - ZX Reflex, AX, Saxo (1.1 and VTS). Very very reliable, never once let me down. (I expect it will now!)

[dilligaf]

Cockney-sa answer is good. Had a Civic for eight years, no problems at all. However the price of a Civic may be above what you want to pay.
Two good value used cars are Vauxhall Corsa or a Ford Escort. Both are cheap to run., dont have to rely on manufacture only parts and overall are reliable. Avoid early Escorts, prone to rust. �1000 should buy you a later model wher the rust problem has been solved.

[c00ky83]

Toyota.  You can get a late 90s Corolla for that sort of money, and with low mileage it'll be like buying a new car.

[KebabMeister]

Japanese cars are very reliable (I used to have a Honda Civic Coupe, plus I used to work on Honda engined Rovers, no problems ever).  However, when Japanese cars do go wrong they cost a bomb to repair.  Fairly expensive to buy even for an old one.

I would go for something like a Ford Fiesta.  It's one of the most popular cars available and therefore parts are dirt cheap, they're pretty reliable and they hold their price pretty well.  Most common things that need replacing on older cars are: exhaust, tyres and brakes (excluding service items).  These are all cheap on a Fiesta (not quite on a Japanese car).

Don't get me wrong, I'm a Japanese car fan, but for that price it has to be a Fiesta.

[crgb14]

I'd say a Golf,

I just found a 1996 P-Reg 1.4 CL with power steering, Airbags with only 47k on the clock for 1800.

I reckon 1500 and it'd be yours and they'll run forever.