First Car Advice

sarah3585

Hello,

I past my test about 6 weeks ago.

I'm looking to spend a max of 2.5k ideally nearer the 2k mark, so I'm looking at years of 2001-2003 1.1-1.3.

The choices that seem to pop up alot for that price are Peugeot 206, KA and Renault Cio.

I learnt in a Polo so I dont have any experience of any car, and I don't know anyone with one.

I won't be using it to travel far, mostly to and from work (4 miles.) I would like something that's reasonable to maintain and will last me 3/4 years.

Many thanks.

Wh05apk

My daughter was in a similar position, we looked at Peugeots/clios/festers etc and they mostly seemed a bit rattly and worn, we eventually found a 2003 1.3 Toyota Yaris for £2k, lovely condition, everything works, drives superbly and even driving around town giving her lessons it is returning nearly 50mpg.

I drive a 4x4 normally, but in 8 weeks we have put about 2500 miles on it as it is such fun to drive, no faults have appeared, and it feels like it will go on forever.

The insurance as a 1.3 is slightly higher than smaller engines, but it feels much more relaxed to drive, hopefully being so well made we will save money on repairs?

vax2002

Avoid the Renault, some are very good, most are absolute pigs.

ridethelightning

Remember to check insurance before buying or deciding on a car. As you past your test recently I assume you are young so premiums will be very high, could be looking at well over £1000 depending on car and where you live etc.

sarah3585

Thank you for the replies.

I am 25, so insurance will be high but it could be worse if i was a yr younger.

I had ruled out a Toyota due to it's affordability. Out of interest Wh05apk what milliage was it? Was it a trade or private sale? I've been advised to look under 60k miles and only buy from Trade as private is too risky which might be why I've not come across any Toyotas.

mark5

sarah3585 wrote: »

Thank you for the replies.

I am 25, so insurance will be high but it could be worse if i was a yr younger.

I had ruled out a Toyota due to it's affordability. Out of interest Wh05apk what milliage was it? Was it a trade or private sale? I've been advised to look under 60k miles and only buy from Trade as private is too risky which might be why I've not come across any Toyotas.

A car thats done 70k with all the major service work done could prove a lot better buy than one thats done 55k and is about to need a new cambelt, brakes etc.

Basically look at the service history/ receipts etc and see what work has been done recently and whats due to need doing in the near future.

Kilty_2

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201137415275582/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/3000/maximum-age/up_to_5_years_old/model/picanto/make/kia/radius/60/postcode/wa71ls/page/1?logcode=p

Granted, it's a bit too low on the mileage front. (my 11 plate one has done nearly 6k since March )

Very cheap to insure - I pay less than £500 at 20 with a bit of a chequered driving history.

sarah3585

Thanks, I'd never considered a Kia, what's their costing like on servicing/parts?

Seems like if you're luck enough to find one they are generally quite low milage and oldest being 2005.

Kilty_2

Servicing I hope is reasonable since my car will need servicing religiously for it's 7 year warranty.

Parts - I've had to buy a rear light cluster for £68 if that helps? :S



Of course at that age, you can get it serviced anywhere you like, and using genuine parts and such is a lot less of a worry.

Oldest is ~2005 because Picanto was released in UK in 2004.

Wh05apk

The Yaris had done 80,000, about right for an 8 yr old car, from a trader, who had just started trading from home. I found at that end of the market generally you are buying rubbish from traders- i.e £1000-£1500 cards tarted up with their margin on, decent well looked after cars are there, but need a bit of searching for, and if you can find a genuine older car, it will be much better than a 10 owner, tarted up heap which dealers tend to sell.

RedBern

my son had a kia for his first car - a mentor which is a 1600cc but it was cheap to insure as it wasn't a boy racer car. It was also very reliable and he sold it after 18 months for £50 more than he paid for it!!