I need a car. Help please.

Halcyon · 14-08-2010, 11:32

Hello everyone,

Up until now I've somehow managed without a car but now with wanting to go a little further afield and see people in other towns I find train fares and waiting around is all adding up. And with autumn coming I hate getting competly soaked waiting for busses.
So.... I think it is time to get a car.

What would you reccomend me?
It will be used mostly to go to work and back, a few trips to see friends on the East Coast, and if it can make it, a few trips abroad but that bit isnt too much of a problem as I normally fly.

I'd like to spend about £2000 if possible.

For size, I was looking for something the size of a peugeot 206 so not too big.

Can anyone give me and ideas as to what I can get for that price or what the miinimum mileage I should be looking at.
Any pointers or things to avoid.
I know nothing about cars.

Thanks for your help in advance. Much appreciated.

halcyon.

**Rob** · 14-08-2010, 11:40

Of greater significance to you will be the running costs and especially insurance. If you haven't a car before you'l have no no calims bonus and this could be crippling. Keep the car small and especially the engine size so you are in the lowest insurance groups. Perhaps get a couple of online quotations for basic cars so you can see what is what and frighten yourself.

**Kymmy** · 14-08-2010, 11:42

Firstly avoid the websites like carshop.con.uk as they're ex-rental/ex-rep cars that have had many owners and been driven to death (even though some are low milage it's a case of not your car so will over-rev/speed/brake)

Private sales will always get you the best car for the money but please do a full inspection/hpi check and be sure to always meet the person at their own home and check photographic ID of the person selling (most will fully understand)

Wayfair · 14-08-2010, 11:43

Everyone has their own favourites halcyon, mine is Honda for the build quality and after-sales service.

£2000 will get you a nice little 1st car, Ford Ka is a good start, 50,000 miles on a 02 /52 plate, full service history.

Insurance is a big thing so I would have a look around just to see what you like, then get over to autotrader and view the type you like, take a reg number and stick it in moneysupermarket.co.uk just to view exactly how much you will be looking at paying.

You will find good adivce on type, problems, what to look for for over at http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/

Always, always take a friend along to view, make sure the address of the car matches up to the address your and above all trust your instinct.

Edit: as the fast fingered buggers said above..

Halcyon · 14-08-2010, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

Of greater significance to you will be the running costs and especially insurance. If you haven't a car before you'l have no no calims bonus and this could be crippling.

Hi Rob,
I'm over 25 so that is one good thing.
Just looking quickly on church hill I got an insurance quote of £1,554 third party on a 2005 Peugeot 206.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmy

Private sales will always get you the best car for the money but please do a full inspection/hpi check and be sure to always meet the person at their own home and check photographic ID of the person selling (most will fully understand)

Thanks kymmy. Im sure you can get some good deals privately, but I was thinking about if anything goes wrong, with a garage they normally will let you bring it back won't they?.

Wayfair, I will check out that website. Thanks for your help.

**Kymmy** · 14-08-2010, 12:18

Yes a garage will do that, but on a £2000 car you might be paying as much as £500 over a private seller.. It's where a good test drive and inspection is worth it's weight in gold..

**Rob** · 14-08-2010, 13:03

The price guides such as Parkers are often a good source of information. They'll give you cluse on average mileage and stuff. But high mileage isn't necesarily bad, especially on a diesel (whcih can be mnore economic, but sluggish and unresponsive on smaller vehciles where the added engine weight is also a factor. Equally low mileage can be an issue as it might imply a lot of stop and start short journeys which didn't even get the car to temperature whilst causing lots of wear on the brakes.

Make sure any car you buy has an HPI check (confirms it isn't subject to HP, theft, outstanding finance). Dealers will oftern show they have done that, but otherwise you can do it yourself for a small fee via various websites. Check the number plate matches the chassis number and engine number on the V5 (Registered keeper form). Registered keeper form is not proof of ownership. Similarly a long MOT is good, but only indicates the vehicle was roadworthy at the time of the MOT, not since. A service history is good, but not always available on older vehicles. It doesn't need to be an dealer service. If buying privately, always meet at the seller's address (which should match the V5), never a car park somewhere.

By having a friend with you when you buy it will stop you being hurried into a decision, but it is your responsibility to buy, not theirs.

You want a test drive, but are you insured to drive on the roads. Few people are unless they have their own comprehensive cover that allows them to drive another car third party. Frequently the sellers insurance won't cover you. On any test drive find a straight piece of road will the car freely go in a straight line, or is it pulling to one side. Does it brake without pulling to one side. Are you hearing any odd noises or squeals? Go to a car park or other big space. At very slow speeds go to full steering lock and drive in slow circles checking for odd noises. Get your friend to follow you. Are they seeing any smoke from the exhaust. Does the car look like it is travelling in a straight line, or is it perhaps crabbing along?

When you look at the vehcile, do the tyres have plenty of tread. Are there bulges or lots of scuffs on the tyre walls or wheels (has it been kerbed a lot). Look for past accident damage: Do the doors and bonnet open and close evenly. Always view in daylight, standing at various alngles do the panels appear even or are there any ripples / creases. Check for signs of rust especially along bottom edges of doors and wheel arches. If you look underneath is their any signs of oil leaks? Always get the engine started from cold. You don't want to have a car that has previously been warmed up. Before starting look under the bonnet. Is the oild topped up. Under the oil filler car are there any nasty colour deposits? Is the coolant water a nice green colour (indicates antifreeze), or perhaps it is a murky brown (might indicate corrosion somehere). Push down on all for corners of the car. Does it bounce up just once or a few times suggesting shock absorber failure? If the wheel styles allow it, can you see the brake discs and if so are they showing signs of bad scoring.

Simple things? Do the windscreen wipers work. Do windows open and close? If centralised locking are there two keys. Some cars have a master key to enable others to be cut. Does the radio work, especially any CD player. If there is aircon, after a minute or so is it pushing out cold air? Is the interior clean and intact including any parcel shelf, spare tyre, jack and security socket for locking wheel nuts?

Scrubbs · 14-08-2010, 13:07

I would recommend you look at the old micra's or a polo both fairly reliable and not too expensive to fix

haydnwalker · 14-08-2010, 22:21

I would also go with VWs (golfs or polos) for that kind of price range. The Peugeot 206 1.4 HDi (Diesel) is a nice little car, very cheap to insure, about 65mpg.

I've just had a look on AutoTrader and seems theres some fiat puntos etc in that price range with lowish mileage.

Halcyon · 14-08-2010, 22:38

Thanks for all your comments so far. Some great information, Thankyou.

I used to drive my ex's Pegeot 206 so was used to driving that but friends told me that for parts they can be quite expensive and have more problems.

One friend of mine has a Ford Fiesta and it looks good.
I found this and thought it looked ok. What do you think.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ck?logcode=dsp

Gary L · 14-08-2010, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

One friend of mine has a Ford Fiesta and it looks good.
I found this and thought it looked ok. What do you think.

I personally wouldn't be seen dead in it. but everyone's different, and that's what life's about

haydnwalker · 14-08-2010, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Thanks for all your comments so far. Some great information, Thankyou.

I used to drive my ex's Pegeot 206 so was used to driving that but friends told me that for parts they can be quite expensive and have more problems.

One friend of mine has a Ford Fiesta and it looks good.
I found this and thought it looked ok. What do you think.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ck?logcode=dsp

Looks like a nice little car IMO. Its mileage is about average. Looks in good nick cosmetically. Go have a look if your interested - but don't buy the first one you see

---------- Post added at 23:14 ---------- Previous post was at 23:03 ----------

How about this... at the same dealer as the Fiesta

Vauxhall Astra 1.6

To be honest, I'd rather have the Astra than the Fiesta, it would be far more comfortable at motorway speeds if you are visiting places further afield than your local town.

superbiatch · 14-08-2010, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

One friend of mine has a Ford Fiesta and it looks good.
I found this and thought it looked ok. What do you think.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ck?logcode=dsp

I've just got rid of an 07 1.25 Zetec petrol because of the juice it used on the motorway - if you have much in the way of motorway driving, i'd seriously consider a diesel over one of these.

Performance wise you wont get much more than the 1.25, but it will get you from A to B and practicality wise, boot space is good and it will happily seat 4/5 grown adults for a decent journey.

I've just invested in a 1.6 Fiesta Tdci and its great economically, i get almost 60mpg on motorways and i've really noticed how many fewer times i fill up each month. Hope that helps

AbyssUnderground · 17-08-2010, 12:23

For insurance check out Admiral, they just got me the best deal of them all. Also try putting someone else down (Mum, Dad, Partner) as a named driver as that can also bring the cost down a few hundred (£175 less for me).

However I am paying £1250/year (paying monthly) but only because of my location (Merseyside, ignore my profile as I didn't change it, it would have been £550 in Middlesbrough!). It would have been £960 paying yearly, so bare in mind you do pay a lot more when you pay monthly. My aim was £100/month or less, and I settled with £103/month.

TL;DR Version:
Try admiral, put another experienced named driver on the policy, don't pay monthly if you can avoid it. Oh and make sure you select "12 month" not "10 month bonus" as 10 month is default.

Taf · 17-08-2010, 12:40

Used cars are at the lowest prices I've seen for years, but before you buy check out the insurance cost... it may be well over what you pay for the car! If you get a little runabout with a few years under its belt, then Third Party insurance only will save quite a bit.

Road Tax cost is another thing to watch... many chavs around here have bought 4x4's that are flooding the market because road tax for them is very high so previous owners are dumping them onto the market.