First car? What car? Budget?

olivebob

Kilty wrote: »

Too big?

Wow. I drive one and big it is not:rotfl:

Well firstly it has four doors, which to me is bigger than I need. The mesurement's leave it 198mm longer and 87mm wider than the seicento but yes its not 'big' but its the 4 doors Plus way out of my budget anyway.

LandyAndy wrote: »

Smart for2?

On £2,500 cash budget, I wish. Although I would truely love one, or a new 500

Kilty_2

You realise you can buy a 2nd hand Picanto for about £2000, right?

The fact it has 4 doors doesn't mean it's any bigger than it'd be if it only had 2. Much more practical too.

LandyAndy

olivebob wrote: »

On £2,500 cash budget, I wish. Although I would truely love one, or a new 500

Well, I just meant a small Smart. There are loads within your budget on autotrader. They start at about £1400 but here is one at your budget limit.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201114384156240/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/3000/model/city-coupe/make/smart/postcode/sp61ej/radius/1501/page/6?logcode=p

Not recommending it just saying this sort of car is well within your budget.

olivebob

Kilty wrote: »

You realise you can buy a 2nd hand Picanto for about £2000, right?

The fact it has 4 doors doesn't mean it's any bigger than it'd be if it only had 2. Much more practical too.

No On ebay/trade i/auto trader they are starting at £2,995 in my neck of the woods (South West) unless its damaged/needs repairs.

True, but I would never need 4 doors, but if its better than a Seicento and around the same price I am willing to view one.

Kilty_2

There's 7 on AutoTrader for less than £2000 - one is Cat C but the rest are straight (as far as the adverts say anyway)

It's bound to be better than a Seicento. I love mine although it is a 2011 model, I don't know what the older ones are like.

funkycoldribena

Think you should pass on the Seicento....
http://www.euroncap.com/tests/fiat_seicento_2000/73.aspx

oldtoolie

If you want a 'classic car' and you know a bit about auto mechanics or want to learn, go for it. You will need a few tools and a place to work on it. Join the owners club. Drive it on the weekends, have a good time, build up your no claims bonus.

You sound sensible so don't assume you have to be a statistic. Stick to the speed limit (not so hard with an old Fiat), don't drink at all before driving, don't drive at night until you are confident, take PASS+ training, join the IAM, re-read the highway code, read advanced driver books or watch the DVDs. Take driving seriously as a potentially hazardous activity and you will be ok.

gonzo127

if you really must have a tiny car with safty being your top concern the hyundia atoz or the matiz might be worth looking into although they are not great cars they are both safer than the Seicento according to ncap (both score a 3 star rating) and if we are honest looking at a such a small car in your price range will probably mean a 3 star rating is possibly as good as you will get

i still think you are probably being a little to picky with the size car you are looking at most supermini's are not very big but just going up a whole 20cm longer and a extra 10cm wider can give you so much more choice and generally quite a bit safer car for your money. And really try and consider these sizes in real life my hand span is bigger than both these distances

olivebob

FCR, many thanks although that report is a little out of date as the seicento I am looking at is a 2002 and has driver airbags etc etc.

oldtoolie, thanks one day I will get a classic but sadly on classic insurance you can't build up NCD's (well the quotes I found for the 126). At the time however and all the confusion trying to find a modern car I am swaying back to the 126 :rotfl: I will be fine on the road, and I am already planning refresher lessons, its all confidence really.

gonzo, I am sure I am not being picky I just don't want a tank that I will find hard to drive. Plus the bigger the car, the bigger the engine (generally) and the higher the insurance. I know I said I didn't care about the insurance cost but if I get a bigger car insurance will cost more and I will have to pay monthly, something I have never wanted to do.

I have been having another gander on Auto trader and have found the following, but as you can see the insurace costs now jumps
2001 Daewoo matiz, cost £1,900, insurance £956
2004 Daewoo matiz, cost £2,000, insurance £991
2002 Hyundi amica, cost £2,000, insurnace £1139
2000 Citroen saxo, cost £1,800, insurance £1084
2002 Nissan micra, cost £1,700, insurance £1111

If I am to pay the insurance outright I will need to look for a cheaper car, approx £1,000. Which may increase its mileage and age, so may have higher repair costs?

Maybe I have to save a bit more and wait a few more years. Thanks for all you help guys.

funkycoldribena

What about a KA? Mate had one,was still going strong at 180k.