Right guys, looking to pick up a cheap £500ish hack soon. Recent job change (to a lower paid job) has meant money is tight and I still have other things to spend money on etc.

Anyway, have decided that I can save money on car insurance and petrol costs by getting rid of the BMW and picking up a cheap motor for a few months until I sort my financial situation out and get something else

Anyway, i've been looking at a few Escorts etc (circa N/P reg) few of them in the local rag for about £500, few Astras in there etc. Anybody any experience with either of these and any comments?

Anybody any ideas of other motors to look at? Bearing in mind its for about 6 months max. Also, anybody any experience of the 1.8 TD Ford engine or 1.7TD Vauxhall engine? Are they reliable? And what's economy like?

Cheers folks

John