the cheapest economical car

[jjaammeess]

hi I want to buy the cheapest economical reliable safe car (possibly a diesel).I had a carina (14 years old) and it is crippling in petrol costs.Has anybody any ideas.

[boxtops]

We'll need more info - how many doors do you need, for example, what will you be using it for?

[ladybirder]

To justify buying a diesel you need to be doing a high annual mileage. How many miles a year do you expect to do?

[ladybirder]

Have a look at this.

http://cars.uk.msn.co...-documentid=156018885

[jjaammeess]

thanks for that. Four doors.I would use it for general use.I am retired now and like to have days out,going for meals etc.Two doors would do but 4 doors can be very useful.

[puternut]

Excuse the ignorance ladybirder but can you explain please -

''To justify buying a diesel you need to be doing a high annual mileage''

Surely if you are doing 1,000 or 30,000 the cost of fuel and car fuel economy are the major contributory facts.

[jjaammeess]

Is a diesel not always the best.I would do about 10000-15000 miles.That Skoda seems good but is probably quite dear.Thanks for your answers

[AlBags]

The cheapest will be (to run) new Fiesta (eco model) or Polo (less A/C) zero tax too.

[AlBags]

.... (and the new Suzuki Swift mini diesel)

[TWR]

The most economical car to run depends on how you drive it jj, the heavier the car the more fuel you use, depends on your driving habit ( Gear changing) proper use of braking, approaching traffic light at the right speed to forward think, if the lights are on red/amber I have no need to stop thus the car is still in motion, check out which car magazine, make sure when you decide on how many doors as 2 can be awkward if you take out friends, also the service condition of the car will certainly help with the cars fuel consumption.

[ladybirder]

puternut the AA can explain it better than me.

Scroll down to "Comparisons"

http://www.theaa.com/...s-guide/cbg_fuel.html

[carlton23]

Have a look at these

http://www.fiat.co.uk...d=PPC21#showroom/home

[ladybirder]

Do you mean the 500 Twin Air Carlton?

[Catapa]

There are a lot of cars so frugal that they don't even have to pay car tax (VED band zero): http://www.roadtaxpri...d_Tax_Band_A_Cars.htm

I would recommend to have look at for example the Seat Leon 1.6 TDI 105PS Ecomotive, Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI 105PS Bluemotion, Volvo V50 1.6D DRIVe and the
Skoda Fabia Estate 1.2 TDI Greenline II, which is very reliable, keeps its value, cheap to ensure etc...

[thundercrack]

Hi,
A diesel mondeo, 2003 0nwards will do 50 plus to the gallon. don't worry about all the people that go on about servising on diesels, just have one oil change with semi synthetic oil ( and a new filter) and drive forever. Mine had done 190.000 with no oil changes since 110,000, and was still going well when i sold it.( told the man it had recently had an oil change, because it seemed like yesterday cos as you get older time flys by, so they say) diesel may be more expensive than petrol, but the benefits outweigh any costs. no spark plugs/injectors with leads etc.no electical problems in damp weather, drive it through a lake and it still keeps going, and, the power of my latest 2004 mondeo tdci is outstanding, real speed when needed, beats all the silly little boy racers in their souped up astra's and worn out bmw's. the diesel fuel lubricates the pistons/valves etc. so the engines go on for ever, unlike petrol engines that get ropey at 100,000 miles.
Thats my opinion, and, if you get a really old diesel car you can run it on a mix of boiler fuel, about half the price of diesel, but if you get caught you will go to jail, so don't get caught.
good luck,

(Can't leave my name in case the customs come round and dip my tank.)

Also, just to answer the qustion about the cheapest car, my mondeo looks lioke new and cost less than £2000. it also now drives like new after i spent £56 on new front brake discs and pads, so very cheap on parts!!!!

Alf.

[AlBags]

^ You're funny ... Mondeo? Really small car : )
They are cheap runarounds tho .. but there are many others.

[fiesata]

Mondeo's are quite big but you get a lot of car for your money my old 2004 had done 88000 miles without a hitch when I sold it