Urgent help please with first second hand car purchase!

redmandarin

I've just passed my driving test, (I'm 'mature') and looking to buy a first car. I have arthritis, walking causes hip pain, so I need to buy a car asap! I have a budget of up to £1600 (less preferably) and I need an automatic, something reliable, low tax & insurance and comfy to ride in. I don't have my own insurance yet and have to rely on a relative to take me to look at cars. My choices are further limited as I need to buy from a dealer and fairly close to home because I don't want to impose upon my relative (she works long hours) and as a newbie driver, I don't want to drive the car a long way back. So I'll have to settle for what I can get, to a degree.

I've found a 2000 reg Astra 1.6l auto petrol hatchback, 12 month MOT, very clean body and interior, 70,000 miles, asking price £1600. It starts every time, drives well, no funny noises. NetworkQ prices it at excel £1180, average £1045. But I need to make up my mind quick before it sells.

So my questions are:

1) Upon start up the ignition makes a kind of tinny noise (hard to describe) - I'm used to the smooth starting sound that you get with nearly new cars (I learned in a micra, and a peugoet). Is this sound normal for a 9 year old car or Astra?

2) The oil was low (but a golden colour) - is this a bad sign it's not been looked after?

3) What do you think a fair price would be?

4) I'm prepared to settle for an Astra. It's a clean, respectable looking car, but a bit dull, I've seen a couple of 10 year old Tigras - that I adore! But are they too impractical for a new driver - poor visibility? And I expect I'm likely to get scrapes and bumps, so would it be expensive to fix? And would it be too low for me to get in and out of and to drive comfortably?

Thanks a lot guys! I'd appreciate any help!

Batchy

you dont need to make a decision quick, low oil could account for a noisy start up, thats not good as there is a lack of lubricant for moving parts.

Golden colour suggests new oil... if it hasnt had a oil change recently could indicate an oil leak, possibly.

i think you should consider what your getting for your money, and 1600 sounds steep. But I guess these cars are rare and you get good mileage on this one.


Pics?

Do you want it or are you just settling for this?

redmandarin

Thanks for your help. I suppose if I choose the Astra, I'm settling! :sad:

The sensible side of me says that because my options are very limited - in searches there are not many auto's within my price range, local area, clean, long MOT etc. As a result, it may take quite a while to find something suitable and it's not fair to take up all my relative's free time, looking for cars each evening and weekend, so really I need to to settle for something that will do!

But, the reckless side of me wants a car that looks great too, so that every time I look at it, my heart skips a beat (as it does with a Tigra)! I want to love my first car! Do you think a Tigra would be a daft choice for a newbie driver (and one of a certain age)?

I'm very excited about owning my first car and have waited a long time for this! And, like any new driver, I want a car now! But I have the arthritis to consider and my bones can't take any more walking to and from bus stops and having my spine rattled by bone-shaking old buses (ie., the old rubbish that Stagecoach put on the road around here)!

I can't decide what's best, really! I need advice!

Premier_2

I wouldn't advise a Tigra to a newly qualified driver.

Rearward visability is a nightmare (unless it's a convertable that has it's own problems) and so a newly qualified driver is likely to prang it when manoevering/parking/reversing.

You'd be far better off with the Astra, but £1600 for the one you are looking at seems high based on the other figures you've quoted. Negotiate the price down, or else look elsewhere for a more competitive deal.

redmandarin

Thanks Premier - that's what the sensible side of me thinks! I suppose I'll have to stick with the dull option!

Still no idea whether to go with the Astra and hope that it'll be ok mechanically, (but haggle over the price) or wait for something better to show up! I quite fancy a Focus, but I haven't seen any that fit my criteria (as you can see, I'm still after an attractive car)! But I imagine lots of people think that Astra's are lovely!

NickWarren_2

May i just weigh in about the Tigra.

A friend of mine bought one 8 months after passing ( First car was a Corsa ) And he has hated every minute of it. Rear visibility is a nightmare, And although it is for all intense and purposes a corsa still feels a totally different drive. He struggles to park it sometimes, Get 200 quid off the astra and you'll be better off.

foreign_correspondent

that astra sounds dear to me... I just bought a similar car, a daewoo lanos, same year, full sevice history, 26,000 miles on the clock for £800, it runs very nicely. Yes, its boring, but it is in good nick, comfortable, air con etc etc.

Also, a 1.6 engine will not be low tax, it will be £190 per year, and I dont know what the insurance will be like for a new driver with no NCB - get a quote or two before you decide on the car!

If its well above book price, I would keep looking - there are some deals to be had.

snowmaid

If you are serious about the car, then do yourself a favour and get it AA tested. They do a comprehensive test, under frame the works. We did one and we weren't sorry. It is worthwhile.

goldspanners

NickWarren wrote: »

And he has hated every minute of it.

thats because its a girls car.

emmell

Have you tried searching on autotrader, you can put the maximum price (£2000 as there is always room to negotiate), distance, engine size, automatic etc. You don't have to put in make or model it will search them all for you, then search nearest first and hey presto!
pick out any you like and if they are still available you can get your relative to take you.
Make sure you take someone with you who knows what to look for, if not I agree with above poster, get it checked out or you could be throwing £1600 down the drain.
And don't forget to negotiate, cash with no PX should warrant a discount from a dealer.
How long before all the best sub £2000 cars are lost forever in the scrappage scheme.
ML.

goldspanners

emmell wrote: »

How long before all the best sub £2000 cars are lost forever in the scrappage scheme.

dont worry, next year you will be able to buy the kia picantos and hyundai i10's off of them for less than £2000