Hi all
I am a great believer in bangernomics. I travel approx 20K per annum. The last 3 cars have all been on the bangernomics principle
Cavalier Mk 3 1.6 Cost £400 Did 20K. No costs other than servicing. Lasted 12 months. Traded for £250 for a nissan sunny 1.4LX. Cost £550. Lasted 7 months. Sold for £300. My last vehicle has been the best so far. A Cavalier 1.8i Mk 3. Purchasd for £725 with 40K on the clock 3 years ago. Now 103K miles.
Parts so far:
New head gasket
Rear shocks and springs
New Fuel Tank
New Discs and Pads together with Rear Brake Cylinders
1 set tyres
Total cost including purchase price approx £1300.
Runs like a train, returns 38 - 40 MPG. Comfortable. No more depreciation.
I used to be a driving instructor and had 5 nissan Micras (K10 series). I did over 500K in these cars and only had 1 breakdown due to a snapped cambelt which I should have changed when I bought it.
Good to hear all of your recommendations.

A work colleague has been trying to sell his 1994 Cavalier 1.8 with 6 months MoT and 1 months tax for just £250. It was greeted with total apathy and as a result it has gone to the crusher. I think most people would prefer to be seen in a Vectra, and there's a 1995 one on the grass verge up the road from me for sale at £325. At least it's seen as a bit more modern and it proves that people can be snobby even at this level. And why not?

Kev.

Hi all
Just to keep you up to date I have part exchanged the cavalier for a Honda Civic 1.5 VTEC. Got £500 for it. Only cost me £725 over 3 years ago. Hope the Honda is as good as the cavalier was.
Cheers
Ian

I drove some modern Hondas the other day and actually had it confirmed by Honda people that there had never been a failure of a Honda engine ever, I find that very reassuring...

Know somebody who ran a 1.6 cav for 120k miles and spent sod all on it. The thing just kept going. he then sold it so a silly twat who wrote it off a mile after buying it.