MoneySaving Advice for a Newly Passed Driver

cyclonebri1

Diamond78 wrote: »

When you go to view a car and test drive it, always take someone with you that understands and knows about cars.

I was unlucky and ended up buying a £700 car and the car dealer assured me the car needed no work and was in great condition. Had I not got the car checked soon after buying, the engine would of gone and I would of been without a car.

I ended up having to pay for a new timing belt and new front brake pads.

But it didn't??? and you cannot prove that it would have, sorry

Welcome to the world of paying for your motoring, we all have to do it

Diamond78

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

But it didn't??? and you cannot prove that it would have, sorry

Welcome to the world of paying for your motoring, we all have to do it

Im not sure what your trying to say. I am simply telling the other person to take someone along.

jd82

You need to play about with quotes. You might find that if you are a young driver it is actually cheaper to buy a brand new or nearly new car. In some cases the insurance on a brand new city car can be £1k a year cheaper than the banger, so you get the new car for free (as the loan payments will be what you saved on insurance).

My new Panda 1.1 is about £200 a year cheaper than the 10 year old Corsa was but that is because I am older and I have been driving 2 years now.

cyclonebri1

Diamond78 wrote: »

Im not sure what your trying to say. I am simply telling the other person to take someone along.

Simple really, it didn't go so you simply changed the belt as you were suposed to. All good:T:T

And the brakes, quite simply to be expected and to be factored in a maintenance cost.

All I'm saying is these are expected and should not come as a suprise to anybody;);).

And yes, taking someone else is imperative, if only from a physycological point of view.

Diamond78

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Simple really, it didn't go so you simply changed the belt as you were suposed to. All good:T:T

And the brakes, quite simply to be expected and to be factored in a maintenance cost.

All I'm saying is these are expected and should not come as a suprise to anybody;);).

And yes, taking someone else is imperative, if only from a physycological point of view.

Yes I know what you mean but in my case, unfortunatly I knew very little in cars despite being a huge topgear fan lol.

What I am saying is, I trusted the dealer when he said the car is all up to scratch and needs nothing. Yet the same day I took it to a garage just to make sure as I have a child and I was told the car would need a new timing belt and front brake pads. After getting a few opinions to make sure from 2 more garages, I had it done. The car dealer told me, they do not have to tell customers, yet my point was had I known I would have had to get them done and if the car dealer had been honest and told me, maybe I would of gone for a car a bit more expensive.

As a new driver myself, I really didn't know exactly what I needed to ask and check. Now I know a bit more :rotfl:

I am now hoping to get another second hand car as mine needs to be repaired and also by getting a smaller engine car, i am hoping my insurance will be slightly lower as well as road tax too.

Any tips for a woman when going to view a car:rotfl:

Also I have no one to come with me so I want to go there looking like I am quite clued up.

I now know to check the service history, how many miles the car has done ( if lots, ask about the timing belt), anythng else?

Are all cars at dealers HP clear?

Thanks.

rev_henry

bigjl wrote: »

How about a classic car, some cars are considered classic for insurance purposes sooner than some may think. Classic policies are seriuosly cheap.

Think along the lines of Mercs, BMW's and such, they are well up to modern driving conditions . If you can find an old 190 (or any other Merc for that matter) with the diesel engine in it then you can use veg oil, for that chipshop smell.

You also have a choice of Golf's, Jettas and all kinds of uber cool german machinery. Imagine cruising around in an old Scirocco. It won't mean you are a skinflint, you are an automotive connossier (Ok, yes I can't remember how to spell that)

If you do any of the above OP, you will immediately be far superior to anyone else on the road, especially with an old BMW/merc. Old mercs are usually autos as well which either makes it easy to drive or is a problem if you don't like autos. In fact, the manual versions are widely known to not be as reliable.

rev_henry

Diamond78 wrote: »

Yes I know what you mean but in my case, unfortunatly I knew very little in cars despite being a huge topgear fan lol.

What I am saying is, I trusted the dealer when he said the car is all up to scratch and needs nothing. Yet the same day I took it to a garage just to make sure as I have a child and I was told the car would need a new timing belt and front brake pads. After getting a few opinions to make sure from 2 more garages, I had it done. The car dealer told me, they do not have to tell customers, yet my point was had I known I would have had to get them done and if the car dealer had been honest and told me, maybe I would of gone for a car a bit more expensive.

As a new driver myself, I really didn't know exactly what I needed to ask and check. Now I know a bit more :rotfl:

I am now hoping to get another second hand car as mine needs to be repaired and also by getting a smaller engine car, i am hoping my insurance will be slightly lower as well as road tax too.

Any tips for a woman when going to view a car:rotfl:

Take a man with you lol. The AA will send out a mechanic to give any car the once over and give you an independent report into whether its kosher or not, and anything that's dodgy on it. Think it costs about £200 though, so not really worth it if you're only buying an £800 car.

Also I have no one to come with me so I want to go there looking like I am quite clued up.

I now know to check the service history, how many miles the car has done ( if lots, ask about the timing belt), anythng else?

Check service history/MOTs to make sure its not clocked. Piles of receipts are far more valuable than stamps in the book, which can easily be forged. Go on the MOTinfo website to check MOT history for the last 5 years (approx, since computerised MOTs came in).

Read through this:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/buy_sell/

for the basics of what to look out for. HJ also has a page for each and every different car which you should also consider printing out and taking with you. The Parkers and whatcar websites are also good.

Are all cars at dealers HP clear?

NO! I presume you mean HPI. Any dealer worth his salt will HPI every car he buys, but that doesn't mean he won't still try and pull a fast one by not telling you its been written off or whatever. You need to HPi ANY car you're seriously thinking about.

Thanks.

See above. Hope that helps...

cyclonebri1

rev_henry wrote: »

See above. Hope that helps...

Ok shoot me down if I'm wrong, but no trade dealer can "knowingly"sell a vehicle that has in fact been wriiten off, or is the subject of a finance arrangement.

This is what hpi or similar attempts to detect.

But a mistake can be made. The point is that you have a claim against the trade supplier if this turns out to be the case,

rev_henry

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Ok shoot me down if I'm wrong, but no trade dealer can "knowingly"sell a vehicle that has in fact been wriiten off, or is the subject of a finance arrangement.

This is what hpi or similar attempts to detect.

But a mistake can be made. The point is that you have a claim against the trade supplier if this turns out to be the case,

Yeah I think you're right. Doesn't mean they don't try it on though. I've had it happen to me, luckily I HPI'd it before I went any further with buying it.

Diamond78

I have found a car on gumtree but my friend reckons I should not go for a car with high mileage. Would it be possible for some advice on what you think of this car as I am hoping to go and view it tomorrow but I have no one to come with me.

I know I should take someone alone but friends work shift hours so impossible to get anyone to come until next week but the car may be sold by then. Any advice would be great, thanks. I am going to have a good read on honestjohn's website.

http://www.gumtree.com/london/86/72921086.html