New car on credit vs second hand banger

Lum

Have to agree on going for an older car as a new driver. It's highly likely it will get dented, scratched or crashed.

I also wouldn't buy a French car without a good manufacturers warranty, even then I probably wouldn't buy a French car.

What to get depends on your expected mileage and the type of use you'll put it to, for example if you're mainly going to be using it around town and for short distance commuting then avoid the temptation to buy a diesel as the initial purchase price will be higher than equivalent petrol and short trips are not kind to various expensive parts such as particulate filters and dual mass flywheels and having to replace these will more than wipe out any savings you have made in fuel.

It's also worth considering a larger car (Mondeo sized) if you feel confident enough about the size increase, again nobody wants these any more as they cost a little bit more on fuel, but it means you can get a newer better condition car for the same money. I'm going to assume you're in your early 20s from the insurance prices quoted so now would be a good time to learn to drive a larger car, it will only get harder as you get older and you don't want to end up being one of those people who are too scared to drive anything bigger than a Micra.

The insurance quotes for a larger car may surprise you too. Larger cars tend not to be bought by boy racers (who usually prefer Clios, Saxos, Fiestas, Corsas etc.) and thus don't have as many crashes logged in the insurance databases. Youngsters tend to be a bit more careful when driving their dad's car

gibbiem

Lum wrote: »

Have to agree on going for an older car as a new driver. It's highly likely it will get dented, scratched or crashed.

I also wouldn't buy a French car without a good manufacturers warranty, even then I probably wouldn't buy a French car.

What to get depends on your expected mileage and the type of use you'll put it to, for example if you're mainly going to be using it around town and for short distance commuting then avoid the temptation to buy a diesel as the initial purchase price will be higher than equivalent petrol and short trips are not kind to various expensive parts such as particulate filters and dual mass flywheels and having to replace these will more than wipe out any savings you have made in fuel.

It's also worth considering a larger car (Mondeo sized) if you feel confident enough about the size increase, again nobody wants these any more as they cost a little bit more on fuel, but it means you can get a newer better condition car for the same money. I'm going to assume you're in your early 20s from the insurance prices quoted so now would be a good time to learn to drive a larger car, it will only get harder as you get older and you don't want to end up being one of those people who are too scared to drive anything bigger than a Micra.

The insurance quotes for a larger car may surprise you too. Larger cars tend not to be bought by boy racers (who usually prefer Clios, Saxos, Fiestas, Corsas etc.) and thus don't have as many crashes logged in the insurance databases. Youngsters tend to be a bit more careful when driving their dad's car

I'm actually 27 but I'll take early 20's haha. Yeah we'll be using it around town mainly but also our familes live a fair distance away so there will be a few long drives now and then. I would be happy with a bigger car but my partner wouldnt at first so best to get a smaller one.

My mate has a Corsa for sale, its 2002 and got 105k on the clock but he said its had a new gaskett and valves and a full new engine around 8k miles ago and a new cam chain 15k miles ago. I know the lads dad fixes up cars so think its a safe bet, insurance is decent too.

Where else is good to look for a decent second hand run around? Is Autotrader a safe bet or could you still get ripped off?

vax2002

Avoid the Corsa once the head gasket has been off, they never last long as it has to be skimmed and a thicker gasket fitted which is much weaker and prone to failure than the first one.
Plus it sounds like a snapped cam chain car, very worth avoiding.
For a first car the Micras are very reliable and quite quick as well.

Strider590

Lum wrote: »

The insurance quotes for a larger car may surprise you too. Larger cars tend not to be bought by boy racers (who usually prefer Clios, Saxos, Fiestas, Corsas etc.) and thus don't have as many crashes logged in the insurance databases. Youngsters tend to be a bit more careful when driving their dad's car

This would absolutely be my suggestion for a more experienced driver..... A new driver will need to spend some time getting used to parking/manoeuvring a larger car, BUT doing so would set them up with those skills for life, because once you master a larger vehicle you won't have that fear that most small car owners have when it comes to parking and fitting through gaps wide enough for a Russian T90.

gibbiem

vax2002 wrote: »

Avoid the Corsa once the head gasket has been off, they never last long as it has to be skimmed and a thicker gasket fitted which is much weaker and prone to failure than the first one.
Plus it sounds like a snapped cam chain car, very worth avoiding.
For a first car the Micras are very reliable and quite quick as well.

Thanks for the advice. To be fair, I'm not really that kean on Corsa's, just thought it might be a good buy.

Also not kean on Micras haha. Think they're a bit ugly. Whats your opinion on Clios? the 1.2 16v circa 2001?

Ghostrider

Personally I would also advise against a bigger car.

A Mondeo compared to say a Fiesta will have bigger wheels meaning larger tyres which cost more, it will have larger break discs and pads, which cost more to replace, the tax bracket will likely be higher dependant on engine size, the servicing costs will likely be higher dependant on engine size, it will use more fuel which will cost you more, replacing a clutch will be much more expensive compared to a small car etc etc.

A bigger car may be small car money on the secinhand market, but it still costs big car money to run one.

Try having a look at Fiestas? Clios are horrible to drive IMO, a very detached feeling from the road I find.

Hammyman

Ghostrider wrote: »

Personally I would also advise against a bigger car.

A Mondeo compared to say a Fiesta will have bigger wheels meaning larger tyres which cost more, it will have larger break discs and pads, which cost more to replace, the tax bracket will likely be higher dependant on engine size, the servicing costs will likely be higher dependant on engine size, it will use more fuel which will cost you more, replacing a clutch will be much more expensive compared to a small car etc etc.

Wrong on pretty much most counts.

Lum

Hammyman wrote: »

Wrong on pretty much most counts.

Indeed, the only correct points are the fuel and possibly the tax and the tax is so minor (unless you're buying a band G 4.0 V8 or something) compared to all the other costs of running a car it really isn't worth bothering with a car solely because it's a band or two lower.

Wheels on a Mondeo are 16" or less unless you get a bling bling model and it's only once you go above 16" that tyres start to get pricey. Older Nissan Primeras come with 15" wheels, just two examples.

Brake pads are often shared across the range, as are clutches, if anything the larger car will be cheaper as the biggest expense in doing a clutch is the labour as they are such a pain in the backside to get at in today's tiny cramped engine bays. Plus if you are able to get a newer car, ideally an ex motorway cruiser, by going larger then hopefully you wont have to do the clutch.

It's posts like that one which are why smaller cars and diesels are currently so overpriced.

vaio

Lum wrote: »

......It's posts like that one which are why smaller cars and diesels are currently so overpriced.

Yep, but it also means that I can buy a proper car for not much money so please don’t go explaining too much lest the position changes

Strider590

vaio wrote: »

Yep, but it also means that I can buy a proper car for not much money so please don’t go explaining too much lest the position changes

It's a good point :rotfl: