Advice needed for 1st time new car buyer

DaisyMoo

Hi guys,

I've been looking at buying a new car for a while and now I'm in a position where I need one pretty quickly. My budget is quite small and I am so overwhelmed by the whole process.
I have been looking at a Hyundai I10 and a fiat 500 twin air, I really dont want to get a finance deal, but I have been told that this is the best way to get a good deal.
I have a car to part ex, would probably get £2k at a push for it.
Initially the I10 seemed like a great deal (£7100 for comfort model) although I have read some reviews that seem to complain about the same problems over and over.
If I could arrange finance, it would have to be oer 3 years, with a maximum monthly payment of £140.
Ideally I would like to have the car by MOnday or Tuesday.
I would appreciate if anyone has any advice or suggestions to make the process as painless as possible!

misc46

As people say, you'll lose money buying a brand new car. Something about depreciation as soon as you drive it off the forecourt.

Also for that amount, you could get much more car for your money then the Hyundai I10 & i'm not a huge fan of Italian reliability (Alfa Romeo owner)

I know little about buying a brand new car but i'm sure you could pick up more car for less, even second hand you could pick up very nice motor like a VW Golf 1.4/1.6 for around £4,500-500.

dori2o

It seems you need the car in a hurry, but even buying brand new you're unlikely to be able to drive away the same day, more often than not they have to be imported with a lead time of anything from 1 week to 3 months.

You may be better off going to a dealer and having a look at what they have on the forecourt in a used model.

Almost all main dealers will have cars 12/18 months old on the forecourt, amy will have been demonstrators, some will have been courtesy cars, but all will have been fully serviced (especially the demonstrator, afterall which dealer would want the demonstrator to break down on a test drive) by the dealers garage, most will have low miles, and you may be able to bargain a little more than you could with a brand new car, i.e. change of stereo, full tank of fuel, road tax etc. You also avoid the initial depreciation a new car loses when it rolls out of the showroom.

As an example, my brother wanted a new van for work. Went down to peugeot, they shown him the brand new ones, £16000 for the van he wanted, too expensive.

They had one on the forecourt, 12 months old, demonstrator, £11000 with 4000 miles on the clock.

The other option if you really want a brand new one, is to go the week or 2 before the registration change. Most dealers are in a hurry to clear any cars they have pre registered, a great way to bag a bargain.

IMHO, I'd try and avoid a brand spanking new car. i've had one, my second car, and whilst it was nice the novelty wore off as soon as the new registrations came in and the new car smell had gone.

DaisyMoo

Thanks guys - I'm not adverse to a second hand car, I just liked the 5 year warrenty on the new one (my partner has had more than 1 bad experience with 2nd hand cars!)
Genius idea - going before the registration change, although I don't think my current wheelbarrow will last until then!

misc46

DaisyMoo wrote: »

Thanks guys - I'm not adverse to a second hand car, I just liked the 5 year warrenty on the new one (my partner has had more than 1 bad experience with 2nd hand cars!)
Genius idea - going before the registration change, although I don't think my current wheelbarrow will last until then!

You can get warranty's on 2nd hand cars, although people say they aren't worth much but i got my car fixed through a warranty. I think the T&Cs need to apply to you 100% which is why they always get out of paying.

i'm sure if you showed interest in a used car they could sort something out.

Also a used car that's been well maintained with ALL paperwork shouldn't give you much trouble. Especially a Jap car like Honda/Toyota/Nissan.

whatmichaelsays

Deals on the Fiat 500 Twin Air will be tough to come across, simply because Fiat dealers are having no trouble selling them.

If you want find a big saving, you'll need to look at something that isn't selling quite as much. There are deals out there, just not on the popular models and not if you're wanting something in a hurry.

NeverAgain_2

You will get the balance of the manufacturer's warranty on a nearly new car.

How about a Kia? They come with seven years from new, so you would still get six years or so.

Far easier to get a nearly new car on the hurry up.

But when you are looking, don't tell the garage you want the car quickly until after you've decided to buy it and the price has been agreed.

If the salesman sniffs a buyer in a rush at an earlier stage, he may well try to take advantage of the situation.

10JH

I'd definitely get the Fiat 500 TwinAir.

It's the newest model and the most desirable for most people, so will depreciate the least.

The reviews of the engine are really good too.

iolanthe07

If you get an i10 make sure it has the Kappa 1.2 engine (not the 1.1). The motoring press wax lyrical about the Kappa engine, which is said to be very advanced and cutting edge. I think it was Honest John in the Telegraph (a highly respected journalist in this field) who said that the Hyundai i10 is the best small car you can buy.

10JH

The i10 is a very good small car, and yes the 1.2 is decent. Links to reviews for it here - Hyundai i10

However, if you are about to buy one, make 100% sure it's the new one that comes out in March. It will make a huge difference to depreciation.

Details here on the new i10 - revised i10

There will also be a new engine in that revised i10, which will be road tax free and congestion charge free.

DaisyMoo

Thanks guys - really appreciate the advice.