Opportunities: 3 reliable used cars for 1000 euros
The range of possibilities is enormous. You can find used cars everywhere at a dealer, via Gaspedal.nl, a specialized website, and on Facebook. What reliable used car can you buy for less than 1000 euros? Autovisie works with the ANWB to select the best used cars every week.
A thousand euros: Do you still buy a reliable used car today? Yes of course! And then also one that is easy to park and offers easy entry with four doors. Just look at these three examples.
Used car selection
- Daewoo Matiz (1998 – 2010)
- Fiat Panda (2003 – 2012)
- Suzuki Alto (2002 – 2006)
Daewoo Matiz (1998 – 2010)
This Matiz was also sold as a Chevrolet. In 2004, the then Daewoo was incorporated by the Americans. Even if there are some differences on the outside, it is actually the same City Mini. The Korean Chevrolets are no longer sold here. The prices of models from a car brand that no longer exist quickly plummet.
But that says nothing about the car in question! For city use, the limited seating comfort and the loud engine noise are nothing to object to. Four people just fit in and the consumption is around 1 to 15. There are still a number of matizzes available under both brand names, such as the dark blue Daewoo (2003, 103,000 km), which we can find at a car dealership in Culemborg for € 999. Including air conditioning and power steering!
Judgment of the way watch on the occasions
It happens that the Matiz does not recognize its key after disconnecting the battery. The ignition key must then be read in again. If an injector sticks, the engine runs on one cylinder less. For the Waywatch, that’s a small thing. The same applies to worn cable insulation. Firm piece of tape around it: done!
Fiat Panda (2003 – 2012)
We still encounter this panda generation on the street. Logically, because the Fiat rolled off the assembly line for eleven years and still has some good qualities. For a city car, the Panda is also nice and quiet and comfortable on the motorway.
The electric power steering feels a bit dead, but you get used to it. Four people can be comfortably accommodated in it and of these three, the Panda also offers the largest luggage space (more than 200 liters). The 1.1 liter engine is powerful enough for everyday use and averages 1 in 15. The 1.2 is just a little smoother, averaging 1 in 17! A blue 1.2 “Dynamic” (2005, 161,000 km) is available from a dealership in Ermelo for €999.
Judgment of the way watch on the occasions
This generation of pandas is very reliable. The Waywatch knows only a few harmless electronic defects. These guys will fix a loose ground wire or main relay for you. The connector of the engine management computer sometimes becomes loose: in the worst case, a new connector has to be installed. That’s all!
Suzuki Alto (2002 – 2006)
The Suzuki Alto as a type has long since ceased to exist. This generation made a significant contribution to the Alto’s excellent reputation to this day. As we often see, such a good name translates into higher used car prices. For our budget, buy an older car with more miles. However, the quality is so high that higher mileage need not be a problem.
The Suzuki also drives easily and is nice and manoeuvrable. However, the five-speed gearbox shifts sluggishly and the City-Mini seems to be sensitive to crosswinds. A consumption of 1 to 17 is very economical! For €999 we find a silver-grey “GL” at a car dealership in Emmen (2003, 173,000 km).
Judgment of the way watch on the occasions
Fun fact: Suzuki is a Japanese brand, but this Alto was built in India. This has no influence on the processing quality. The Wegwacht are still hardly aware of any defects in the car. The Suzuki sometimes does not recognize the ignition key and when buying it is good to take a look at the rear wheel bearings: they wear out relatively quickly. The rear suspension is also brittle. Precisely because little breaks, parts are relatively expensive!
Our tips for the occasions
“Forgotten” models can be very interesting as used cars. Still, we would pick the Fiat Panda first for its space and handling. In addition, the processing quality is in no way inferior to the Asian brands!