Recommend me- A Cheap Hatchback

If you want cheaper insurance, stay away from the cars you're typical ned/racer/chav owns..

Corsa's especially.

But plus side theres lots of crashed ones in the breakers...

[rowdy]

Originally Posted by ophic

VW? reliable? lol. If you want reliability, buy Japanese, or the Koreans are a close second and cheaper.

I would second that.

Don't get me wrong, I like Vee dubs, still got one sat on the drive, but, of all the cars I've owned only the three Volkswagens have cost me serious money to repair, and the work on them was done on the cheap by myself or my mates.
I've had a mk3 Golf Driver 1.8, and it was a nice car. It drove really well and went ok, until the head gasket failed. And the coil pack went (and they were really expensive coil packs on those at the time), amongst a few, less serious problems.
The mk2 Jetta that I had about 17 years ago went through an engine, and a gearbox, and my parents mk2 Jetta (that was an ex demo so not very old at that time) lunched the gear synchromesh, and that cost the best part of a grand to replace.
Bought the wife a mk1 clipper cabrio about 18 months ago that we've still got. So far I've replaced the fuel pump, fuel vapour seperator, carburettor, fuel filler tank neck, stripped the distributor and replaced the hall sender unit in that, and a few other bits and pieces.

Having said all that though, buying a car is a lottery and you may buy a Volkswagen and have no trouble whatsoever.

[Richie]

Escort as you say, Mk 7...
please please please if you do .
check for rust on the sills, fuel pipes and brake pipes.
Copper grease is your friend at MOT time,

but your worst enemy when buying... If it had copper grease over said items then walk away.

[rowdy]

Originally Posted by Richie

Escort as you say, Mk 7...
please please please if you do .
check for rust on the sills, fuel pipes and brake pipes.
Copper grease is your friend at MOT time,

but your worst enemy when buying... If it had copper grease over said items then walk away.

Pedant mode, they stopped at the mk6 .
Another Very important area to check for rot on those are the battery tray.

Volkswagen Lupo

[dirtydog]

Also you could easily pick yourself up a focus for your budget.

Focus or Fiesta, FORD FORD FORD, fairly reliable but if anything does go wrong they are cheap as chips to get parts and easy to fix yaself with a (i say this to often you will soon notice) Haynes manual

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Also you could easily pick yourself up a focus for your budget.

IMHO thats a better car to drive than a Fiesta...

I had a fiesta for a little while it was OK, just IMHO the Golf is a nicer place to sit and a more refined drive. Doesnt really matter on short journeys, but on long ones it definately makes a difference.

Again- Fiesta just a tad small for what I want.

Focus was a very considered option- but again very, very high mileage at that price.

[Gazza77]

With a budget like that, I'd not worry too much about what you buy. Condition is probably the most important factor, along with good evidence of being well looked after. A well maintained car of any type is likely to be more reliable than something that has led a hard & unloved life.