I'm not kidding. I honestly think they are. I recently returned from six months in Asia, got off the plane and bought a Peugeot 306 for £300 (though i admit it was probably a better than average price).

A month later it passed its MOT without anything needing doing except a tyre replacing.

We're talking about three / four years worth of motoring here before it gets scrapped. In my experience of quite a few countries, the same motor would probably cost more like £1000 anywhere else, even in developing countries.

Australia has pretty good value cars and especially camper Vans but still not as cheap as here.

And it seems to me that S. yorks prices are as low as anything in britain. A friend of mine originated from a farm in cornwall -
he buys cars here drives down there and markets them because they command higher prices.

Anybody ever seen a cheaper used car market here in the UK or anywhere else?

You're right about second-hand car prices being low. Check out my Nissan Sunny sale on Sheffield Forum's 'For Sale' section.

I already have a car pal.

I'm a man of several talents, but I havent yet mastered how to drive two cars at once. It's very difficult, especially when they're going in different directions.

I believe it's true about the car prices up north in general. Lots of traders come up from the south to purchase from autions up here in the north and then take the cars back down to sell on for more profit.

Originally posted by mrsb73
I believe it's true about the car prices up north in general.

Even across the Pennines, I recall second-hand car prices being more expensive in Liverpool than in Sheffield a few years back.

Originally posted by solero
I'm a man of several talents, but I havent yet mastered how to drive two cars at once.
It's easy, you just put them both on the back of a car transporter or recovery van. And drive that.

Originally posted by solero
I recently returned from six months in Asia, got off the plane and bought a Peugeot 306 for £300

I have a mental image of one of the baggage handlers parking his car complete with "For Sale" sign at the end of the runway. :P

-PK-

i find that the cars are cheaper but i have also been told not to buy a usesd car in sheffield! aparently the roads are that bad that it causes unseen damage!

Originally posted by savbaby
i find that the cars are cheaper but i have also been told not to buy a usesd car in sheffield! aparently the roads are that bad that it causes unseen damage!

I buy my cars using the theory of 'bangernomics'. Buy a cheap car, and when it needs repairs costing more than the value of the car, sell it for spares (hardly ever scrap 'em). Sometimes you get a turkey (I've never had any luck with cheap Fords) but others are great.

The best are Skoda Favorits (they're built of tractor bits and mechano) and old Volkswagens. I'm driving a 1986 Polo at the moment that cost £180 to buy and £140 to put through the test (welding) 10 months later. Mid-90's Cavaliers are good too, but are popular amongst the car-thieving-git population.

Originally posted by savbaby
i find that the cars are cheaper but i have also been told not to buy a usesd car in sheffield! aparently the roads are that bad that it causes unseen damage!

It ain't the roads (you'll find most big cities in this country are similar), it's all the hills - clutch and brakes of cars that have been driven around in Sheffield take a lot more hammer than in any other city.

theyre generally about 10% cheaper if you buy them in rotherham, compared to sheffield

Old VWs (not Beetles) can't be beaten. I had one which is apparently still going in its 23rd year. Not a bit of rust, but it didn't like the hills here, as VWs have notoriously poor brakes requiring lots of gentle 'pumping' and cautious driving.

Ex-Motability (motorbility??) cars are a good buy as they seem to have low mileage and are usually nicely cared for.

Second hand cars are dirt cheap everywhere, as the price of new cars is so low, but it's worth paying a bit more to get something you know you will get cheap parts for - and then find a reliable garage to do you a new clutch every few years! :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Mathom
Old VWs (not Beetles) can't be beaten. I had one which is apparently still going in its 23rd year. Not a bit of rust, but it didn't like the hills here, as VWs have notoriously poor brakes requiring lots of gentle 'pumping' and cautious driving.

Mine's just turned 18 (now it's all grown up :)) and doing fine, but I agree... the lack of servos in the brakes mean it can be hair raising for those not used to it (AFAIK the Golf had servos from the MkII, and they can be fitted to Polos, too, which is handy). Now I've had it a while I'm fine with it, though. Just had to remember that just jamming your foot down will NOT cause the vehicle to come to a shuddering halt. More a gentle drift :)