Learning Some Key Car Facts

Max_Limit

Hi all,

Our current family car will need to be replaced in about 6 months time... the next car we buy will be another 2nd hand family car, up to a maximum of £5k in value. To be honest I know little or nothing about cars and I'd like to get myself a bit more clued up about what makes and models are good in terms of value for money, reliability, comfort etc... is there a good book, website, or other resource that you could recommend to give a complete novice a start in knowing what 2nd hand makes and models are good and which are turkeys?

Many thanks for any help you can give.

Cheers,
ML.

MX5huggy

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/

Is generally rated as a good site.

Generally anything from VAG (that's you 1st bit of research) is good. Japanese also good. Avoid French or Italian. Ford or vauxhall benefit from being common so cheaper to fix.

Keith

Remember,

The salesman is not your friend or mate, he hates you. He is looking to pay his mortgage. Don't believe a word he tells you.

Save yourself all the hassle, buy a Ford Focus.

marlot

The readers reviews on whatcar can be helpful.

Once you've narrowed down on a car you think is suitable, try to find an owners forum on the net, and ask them what commonly goes wrong and what to check.

Lithian

MX5huggy wrote: »

Generally anything from VAG (that's you 1st bit of research) is good. Japanese also good. Avoid French or Italian. Ford or vauxhall benefit from being common so cheaper to fix.

and also good to avoid sweeping generalisations

(although for the most part I'd agree to avoid French with a very few exceptions)

parkers.co.uk is good for getting facts and figures (though don't trust it 100% as mistakes are made)

autocar.co.uk as another source of reviews (they'll include family kinda stuff)

pistonheads.com read their forums, don't be put off by the petrol stains on the carpets and their tendencies for mx-5s, there is a lot of sense talked there (and plenty of nonsense for sure)

A note about owners forums is for the most part people will tell you the car they bought is the best car ever, even if its not.

and yeh, never trust a car salesman (or pay the price he's asking )

Max_Limit

Thanks for the advice all, some good starters for 10.

Basically I'd love an exciting car but I can't afford surprises - so it has to work(!) and not be too dear to service/fix... basically a good value car.

I'd best get reading!

Cheers,
ML.