small cars, buying used advice please

purplecatlover

i saw a couple of cars that fit all my requirements, but im clueless about cars and am getting bogged down and more confused.

yesterday i saw two cars that i sort of liked (looks wise). i know nothing about cars, and googling has left me even more confused. i did come away yesterday to think about it and then phoned the dealer last night to say keep the punto for me and i will go pay a deposit this afternoon, but then i started thinking about the fact that the rio is 2 years newer and 400 quid cheaper and therefore would maybe be the better buy even with double the mileage and now i really dont knwo what to do.

is it better to have lower mileage or be a newer car id the main quandry i guess. car one is a 2002 fiat punto 1.2 with 22000 miles and only had one owner. car two i a 2004 rio kia 1.3 with 46000 miles and i can ask about service history etc again today but he didnt make a point of it being only one or two owners nor is it mentioned on the ad in autotrader.

i actually like the punto better but im going by looks and cosmetically as i know nothing about cars apart from how to drive and where my mechanic is. ive googled both a little and found people complaining about them being unreliable etc for both cars, but also found people saying both cars are great. the puntos tax is also in a lower band than the kia, insurance was round about the same for both on an aproximate quote.

now im going crazy trying to make up my mind and on the one hand am tempted to say ill leave it and go looking again next week, but on the other im fed up of looking up auto trader and trying garages and not finding anything and i want it done and sorted before my car dies completely.
and apart form what i do not want and what features i would like i really have no idea what sort of small car i want, some of the garages i have phoned/been to have been very unhelpful when i have asked what they ahve that fits my price range withough being able to say i want this do you have it.

and i have to go out in an hour and probably wont make it back online before this evening and i want more time to think but i dont want the car to sell to someone else over the weekend which is why i said id go pay deposit this afternoon.....

thanks for any help or advice.

Hintza

You haven't mentioned price here or age here?

Many on here will slag the Punto off but small cars is what Fiat are good at.

purplecatlover

oops, punto is 7 years old a 2002 model, and 2795, kia is 5 years old, 2004 (54 plate) and 2395.

kia is here actually, other one is not online

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_popup.jsp?did=88733&pageid=1&originalid=&gid=nogroup&tid=80&start=8&distance=0&adcategory=cars&channel=DEALERPAGE&id=200909329741810

terryya

My main advice would we be to take your time.

I wouldn't worry too much about 'missing out' on either car as IF they do sell whilst you're making your mind then you'll be able to find another one. You might regret it for a couple of hours/days but not as much as you'll regret spending money on a car and immediately wishing you hadn't.

There are much more technically minded people than me on here but a 7 year old car with only 21k on the clock suggests to me a car that has possibly done lots of short journeys with lots of cold starts.

Hintza

Both sound expensive. I think you should pull back and collect your thoughts and do more research.

The times I have bought cars in haste have usually ended up costing me a small fortune.

How much can you afford are you in secure employment? New or pre-reg cars are it probably all time low prices so might be worth considering if you can double your budget. Once old stock has cleared though car prices are going to rise substantially.

purplecatlover

Hintza wrote: »

Both sound expensive. I think you should pull back and collect your thoughts and do more research.

The times I have bought cars in haste have usually ended up costing me a small fortune.

How much can you afford are you in secure employment? New or pre-reg cars are it probably all time low prices so might be worth considering if you can double your budget. Once old stock has cleared though car prices are going to rise substantially.

ive seen older cars for the same/more money. a w reg clio at 1990, an x reg 206 at 2990, an x reg 106 at 2890. have also been told that due tot he credit crunch the small older cars prices are going up as people cant afford newer....

i cant afford new, or even nearly new i wish i could. cant do credit either so anythign that costs more than 3000 max is not a possibility.

i have been researching for longer, but i know nothing about cars, and every single car i look up finds complaints and praises from people, and good and bad reviews in differing car mags etc.

ideally i want a japanese car, but i havent seen any for sale anywhere except for more than my budget.

Hintza

I reckon you should (taking the Punto as an example) be able to get an 05 plate within your budget.