I was thinking of buying a cheap (<2500?), low-consumption, small car, use it mainly for commuting and sell it after a while with probably little price drop. Is it viable? Or I will regret not leasing a new car?

Which cars do you suggest? What year/milage should I look at? I was thinking about <100k KM of milage. I don't need any fancy features (except low consumtpion); just flawlessly getting from A to B and not getting me into huge costs and a lot of wasted time.

Thanks

All of our current fleet was bought used and from 3500 (Maverick) to 12500 (Boxster), with the Panda at 4500 and the Fiesta at 8700 (but that only had 36k, and was three years old).

My daughter had a Opel Corsa that she got for 1600 for several years.

Tom

Opel Coursa is the best choice I have come across so far

My daughter's was quite reliable, though it did need a clutch at one point (changed the cam belt at the same time, 1600 for both as I recall, plus a full service included, quite a fair price)

Tom

I bought a hail damaged honda jazz for the wife for under 1k two years ago.. Not a bit of trouble with it.. (except for the extra dents she put there)

Hondas are one of the most reilable brands ever... Highly recommend them.

May I ask what is "hail damaged"?

If you want something mainly to commute, another option is a scooter.

You can buy a brand new Honda Vision for CHF 2300. You could even lease it for 50 bucks a month.

And, you won't have a problem getting a great price for it when you're done with it (especially in Geneva) if it's taken care of.

Until they hit 150k, then they fall to pieces.

Tom

I drive a 16 year old VW Lupo (bought new in Germany after I started my first job).

I have it maintained at a local VW dealership, which costs a lot - but I've had no problems with the car in the last 10 years. So insurance, tax, fuel and service is the only thing I pay. No deprecation anymore ;-)

But: these cheap, small cars offer a lot less protection in accidents than if you buy a new "big" car.

If some guy (or girl) in an SUV would rear-end me or ram me from the side - that would be really serious. Even fatal, if it would happen at a higher speed.

There's a price for everything.

why not go for a cult car, like this: www.autoscout24.ch/4753010

for driving to and from work I have an 800chf 2006 ford focus, and its been flawless

I did bangernomics in the uk as well for the daily work driver, by my calculations a sub 1000chf car has to last 3 months to have 'paid' for itself (rather then leasing) as my drive is 100km each way.

Tips

forget bodywork condition etc, as long as its got a new(ish) MFK you'll be fine

I wouldn't even worry too much about fuel economy, the small fuel efficient cars are going to cost more anyway.

get something mass produced and preferably from a car company that's still around! you will probably have to replace something on it at some point and rare stuff costs!

don't worry about KM, who cares how many the car has done, the car costs bugger all and whatever you get it will be worth bugger all when you've finished with it, I've never even given it a second thought if the car's done over 100k km, or 200, or 300.

check the service history! at this price range people get rid of cars when a big bill is coming eg cam belt change, which will cost more then the car is worth, its upto you if you want to risk not changing it, its also a good bargaining tool.

the 2 best bangernomic cars I've had where -
in the uk a Rover 400 auto - cost bugger all, used it for about a year even too and from switzerland, put starship mileage on it and sold it for what I paid for it

Here - 2006 focus - this thing just won't die! only had to replace an aircon hose

I call normal 'repairs' as tires, brakes etc which if you get a mass produced euro box costs are cheap

you may well see something wild like a huge old merc or bmw for bangernomic money, run, run away, quicker! they still have huge merc/bmw repair bills, even a really stupid little fault can leave you massively out of pocket on these old barges.

its nice not having to worry about someone hitting your door in the supermarket carpark, oh, a new dent, bummer

A 200k km BMW/Audi/Merc/Saab with a long and complete service history shouldn't cost the earth to run - and if the commute is long will be bloody comfy.

At the sub 3k point you do need to shop with knowledge

was thinking something daft like an 8 series

Is it worth it to buy a cheap car?

NO. Absolutely not. Not in Swtzerland. Clearly not for you as you appear to have little knowledge. Probably little or no contacts with local mechanics.


Any repair will end up to cost an arm and your "strategic investment" of a few hundreds/thousands chf can very quickly become a money pit.

Not even talking about the regular "expertises" and they are very picky with anything.

See:
https://translate.google.com/transla...php&edit-text=

Even spare parts are very pricey.

Cheap car better only in UK or some other countries.

Edit: and dont get fool by most of those who posted above, they are experienced old timers who seems to be very familiar with mechanic, cars. You don't play in the same league, me think.

You can't get them so cheap!
A 750i on the other hand would be interesting

a few years ago I saw some very cheap 8 series kicking around, always like the look of them, then saw the price of spares / repairs and the reasons became clear.

I don't agree.
The maximum loss on a 1000 CHF car is 1000 CHF. Just make sure you don't repair it.
If it breaks down, sell on Ricardo with a 1 CHF starting price and you will always make some money.

hence only buy one with a new MFK

unless you buy a brand new car your always going to have bills, brakes, tires, clutches etc all wear out.

if money is really that tight then I agree its probably wise not to even buy a car, but in my case at least buying a new / expensive car to drive to work makes no sense, literally throwing money down the drain.