Job / Car catch-22! Best way out?

HelenYorkshire

Hello,
Without wanting to jinx myself, I will *hopefully* pass driving test next week. I am currenty unemployed and looking nationwide. The line of work I'm in will almost certainly need a car - ideally 4wd - unless I'm lucky enough to have a vehicle provided.

Catch being, I need a wage to buy the car, and a car to get the wage :rolleyes:

Obvious strategy would be to get a loan although I am very very reluctant to take on debt and unsure if I'd even be accepted?

Are there any other ways around it? Hire/purchase seems risky to me but then again you see these "0% for so many months" adverts.

Would 2nd hand be better, or if I'm stuck with a debt in any case would a new / warrantied car be a safer bet? Any particular makes to consider / avoid? Regarding it being 4wd I did see an oldish suzuki vitara parked up the other day and it seemed sturdy enough without being a complete tank (small 4wds don't seem to exist ) but I've no idea on prices / reliability.

Any help, advice, tips, tricks, warnings, good places to look will be gratefully received! :beer:

goldspanners

regarding a small 4x4 they do exsist, look for suzuki jimnys, they are a pretty good off roader if thats what you need,not the best for long journeys but are capable of them,especially if you will be on your own, there isnt much space inside them, but they will go places bigger land rovers cant.

kiddy_guy

Why do you need a 4WD?

HelenYorkshire

I'm seeking work in conservation / land management areas, so I'd be carrying tools to and from remote / rural sites - in mud, snow, ice etc. Farm tracks. Actual minor off-roading as opposed to urban posing
Also depends how far north I end up :rolleyes:

Emmisions- and cost-wise I'd go for a dinky little car (smart? mini?? fiesta?) but an old colleague has never lived down having to call out another co-worker to pull him out of a few inches of mud bearing in mind lone working etc, help could be hours away :eek:

Other option being, I suppose, get hold of a dinky little car for now and pray for mild winters...:rotfl:

goldspanners

this is what you need then, goes anywhere. ( with the right tyres)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/

i used to have the older version (sj410) used it for off roading and it was great fun watching the 4x4 club look on in disgust as we went past places they got stuck.
my sister now has a jimny and its very similar to the old sj410,nothing too fancy just does what it says on the tin.

almillar

Daihatsu Terios is another small real off-roader, that's your only choice as far as I can see apart from the Suzuki. Otherwise we get up to Rav4 (the old 3 doors are still smallish).
Or we could go to 'rugged normal cars' like that Polo off-road type thing, there was a Skoda Octavia, and a Subaru Forrester etc, but most of these don't have actual 4 wheel drive, just higher and a bit tougher. How about an old Freelander for £2-3,000?

Volcano

As regards finance: Check out Martin's advice re. 0% credit cards. I used one to drum up £3500 worth of credit by: applying for the card, getting confirmation I'd been accepted at which they gave me a few days to make a balance transfer. Bought the car on my other CC, then phoned up my new CC company to transfer the balance to them at 0% for 12 months. I'm currently budgeting to pay it off before the 12 months, so in effect a zero-interest loan!

Personally, I'd be happier with the small car. If my company wanted me to attend work in snow drifts, deep mud, rough terrain etc then they can supply me with a vehicle that can manage it!

(Who's car are we going in today lads? Helen's 4x4! Don't want to risk getting our small cars stuck do we?!)

emmell

I have a Suzuki Vitara 4u2 soft top as a second car/toy, it's great for bobbing about in but I wouldn't want to travel long distances on motorways in it. Wouldn't recommend a soft top for keeping tools and valuables in though. I think they are cheaper to maintain and run than a Freelander would be. Mines a 1999 on a T reg and cost £750 last august, I share it with my brother and his kids love it in the sun with the top off or in the bad snow we had (they went to the north yorkshire moors in it).
ML.

ailuro2

apply for jobs where the vehicle is provided till you get on your feet and can afford to buy yourself an old pick-up.

Hintza

OP I think you just need to get the cheapest set of wheels you can at this stage just to get the practice in. I'm not convinced going from driving test to 4x4 is the most sensible move. If I were you I would be looking for a cheap banger (£500) to get you started and a few miles under your belt.

I'm sure in most instances you can get by. When I was young I worked in the quarries throughout the country with a Renault 20 or a small Bedford van (the one that was replaced by the Astra van). It's amazing where you can get a car to go. If the going got really tough it was normally in reverse!

If possible you want to look for a car with high ground clearance (which rules out most VW, seat etc). Most employers can hardly expect you to have an all singing all dancing 4x4 but once you are in a job and have a wage you can get some more suitable.


My main concern is you spend too much money on a piece of junk which you might not need coupled with inexperience in driving a 4x4 in such a short space of time.

Insurance could also be a killer have you looked into that?

Lemonade_Pockets

I'd do as others have suggested, just get some cheap wheels untill you have a job, then once your settled in get yourself a 4x4 if you still think you need it.

Suzuki's would get my vote as a cheap but capabable 4x4.....they are actually quite well respected within the off road fraternity.