What early-mid 2000s shitbox do you recommend for a first time car buyer? I'm located in south-eastern Europe so my options are generally limited to EUROPEAN MARKET models of European, Japanese and American car brands.
>picrel 2003 Honda Civic 1.7 CDTI 100hp listed for 1200 euro
I just need something that won't use too much fuel and will get me to work and back without having to rely on p*blic transportation or walking. Currently driving the family car, 2001 Toyota Corolla Verso 2.0 D4D 90hp, but I want to own a car myself.
Anything with similar fuel consumption and power would be good enough for now. Diesel is prefered, because Petrol cars guzzle too much and I don't want to bother with an explosive LPG tank in the trunk. Budget is flexible, up to about 2500 euro by the end of the year, because I'm looking at overall recommendations and won't be buying it right away.
I'd obviously get a Mercedes or BMW if I could, but I'm afraid of the maintenance/parts costs and constant need of repairs compared to simpler Euro/Jap cars that basically have no moving parts (like our Corolla) so they just don't break.

Any Audi A3 1.9 TDIs on the market there?
Might be a bit on the expensive end of that budget, but the engine's damn near indestructible. The body's pretty well protected from rust, too. Or at least better than a 2000s jap car.

>>28505750
>Audi A3 1.9 TDIs
Would a VW Golf IV with the same engine not be the better choice? I've heard the Audi A3 is basically just a slightly fancier Golf that likes to break more often.
But yeah, plenty of these to go around even at sub-1500 euro. Most of them are 1.9 TDI in fact, either 90, 100 or 110 HP.

>>28505752
The A3 isn't particularly fancy despite being Audi, so it's likely made of the exact same parts, just with slightly better upholstery. I'd say it's about as likely to break as the Golf.
My dad's been driving one for 20 years and the only issue that didn't involve external factors (like a retarded pensioner rear-ending it) is that the tow ball's power socket sometimes stops working and requires a fuse pull to get the trailer's indicator lights working again. It's apparently a known issue and may be caused by a brownout in a chip somewhere if the car is started with a partially drained 12 V battery.

>>28505747 (OP)
NB miata with a hardtop

>south Eastern Europe
Octavia with the 1.9tdi in it. It is big enough that you can put other people in it, well made, comfortable and any backstreet garage can fix it with no dramas

>>28505747 (OP)
GD3 fit

>>28505750
>>28505752
Shitbox, not shitheap.

>>28505861
Honda Jazz 2001-2008? Which engine(s)?

Swift Sport

>>28505864
Your not gonna find anything under 2.5k that isn't a shitbox

>yuropoor thread
>its about buying an anemic shitheap
Fucking lol

Diesel or zetec powered mk1 focus

>>28505747 (OP) (me) (OP)
I found a guy in my neighborhood selling a first gen Opel Zafira 2.0 DTI 101hp for just 1000 euro. I'll be talking to the guy tomorrow and taking a proper look at the car, but today I looked at it parked on the street and it looked good.
Wish I could've gotten the Honda from the OP image, because it's smaller and lighter thus faster and uses less fuel, but the price seems great and the fact I'd be buying it from a local person (acquaintance of my granddad) makes it feel like a more "secure" option.

>>28505747 (OP)
>Toyota Matrix XRS
>Toyota celica GTS
>Toyota corolla XRS
>Honda civc Si / accord EXL V6
>VW golf GTI
>BMW 330xi
>Merc s class
>Ford focus
Any of these are cheap and perform like a dream.

Heaps.
SP20
Focus 2.0 Duratec + 4spd
Elantra
Astra
Early 2000s was a sweet spot for reliability and wrenchability but EFI had been completely sorted by then and it's before all the nanny shit, screens and dual clutch bullshit

>>28506544
He wanted something that doesn't use much fuel.

>>28505876
For 2.5k? In working order? Not happening.

>>28505870
I think it was the L15 or something. I know it was the memetech SOHC. Idk y the sport has a 115hp meme engine when the normal model gets 10 more with DOHC but no meme tech. The kick is hardly even noticable.

A 306 D Turbo with a Bosch pump of course