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Your support makes all the difference.Lance Peters is fed up paying fortunes to fix his complicated car and wants something simple and reliable for £2,000.
A car for the head
Lance is correct: modern cars might be safer and more environmentally friendly but that comes at a price – the more technology you have in a car, the more costly it is to repair.
The ideal is finding a car that is not only simple but reliable, too. I think that a basic Nissan Micra would suit. It is certainly easy to drive and live with. Insurance is low and economy good with the 1.0-litre engine. A 2004 example with service history and 30,000 miles in basic E specification is bang on budget.
A car for the heart
I don't think that Lance wants a car to fall in love with. However, when choosing a car that is cheap to buy and fix, sometimes it is best to look at the most popular and numerous models. For that reason, I would go for the Ford Fiesta.
Every garage knows how to service one and getting parts is never a problem. All that needs replacing is the wear-and-tear items. So the secret is buying the best that Lance can afford: a 2003 1.25 Finesse with 90,000 miles and full service history.
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Email James Ruppert at onefortheroad@independent. co.uk, giving your age, address and phone number, details of the type of vehicle in which you are interested, and your budget
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