Are we at peak banger yet? I really don’t think we have ever had it so good when it comes to cheap, practical and mostly fixable motors. Then reader Bob asked: “Do you think that in the next 10 years we are going to have cars with next to no rust but knackered electronics that are too expensive to fix?”
We have been here many times before. I did think that an old BMW 7 Series was pushing the reliability envelope until I bought Shed 7. It could be done, but not so sure whether any modern motors make sense as bangers. They don’t build them any more, do they?
A Dacia is supposed to be the contemporary value-for-money new car that converts into a cheap and cheerful used buy, but I think it may be a case of diminishing returns when a vehicle that is built down to a price enters its second life. Anyway, how about one of those 2013 Dacia Sanderos, in posh Laureate trim and powered by a sub-one-litre petrol engine that attracts a reasonable £30 road tax and should return over 50mpg? All this for just £1995, which is pretty good value and reflects the above-average 87,000 miles it’s wearing. Being just a Renault, it should be cheap to fix, and they have become much more reliable anyway over the years. That’s banger enough for me.
South Korea was very much the go-to nation for cars that were affordable but which offered Japanese levels of reliability, mainly because the models had started out as Japanese before being rebadged and reborn. They make quite outstanding cars for themselves that can take incredible mileages under their wheels. How about a 2014 Hyundai i20 1.2 Active with one careful owner who has racked up a quite overwhelming 143,000 miles over the past five years? Sold by a dealer with a year’s MOT and a warranty, it could be driven away for £2295.
When it comes to the Japanese themselves, everything they make is pretty good from the future banger perspective. The feedback readers give is that Honda Civics go on forever. The weird space-shuttle-shaped one is just as good as the legacy (pun intended) ’90s models. I found a 2011 1.4 i-VTEC SE with a fresh MOT and service with 123k miles that is just £1995. It will deliver high-40s economy and, although parts can be expensive, there are a lot around, so I’d source most things from scrapyards and off the internet.
When in doubt, though, and to avoid the increasing ULEZ issues, go back in time and future-proof yourself with a classic, which we love doing at Autocar. Otherwise, get yourself a ’90s legend that is all about quality and character. Exhibit A: this week's Reader’s Ride.
What we almost bought this week
