Help needed for first time car buyer

forgotmyname

Its an old cheap car but does the seller still service it?

Or is it replace anything that falls off or fails the MOT.

Buy something they have owned for at least 3 years. Run away from anyone
selling a car they bought recently.

Sometimes a cheap car costs more to insure. Sometimes adding another driver lowers the premium but not always.

arcon5

Where are you based?

Adding somebody as an additional driver can make insurance cheaper... So worth using a comparison site to check

Alexwild

If you spend £500 on a car, there's likely no comeback if it goes wrong, even if you buy it from a dealer as although they have to give a basic warranty for used cars they sell, for cars that age and value, it's seen as not reasonable to expect the car to be completely fault free. For that money just go in with your eyes open, accept the car may be a little battle scarred and not perfect and go by condition not by make/model. You'll not get the latest safety equipment for that money and it may need some work at the next MOT. Don't be tempted by big cars (you may be able to buy an old BMW for £500 but it will still cost the same as new BMW to run and will bankrupt you if something goes wrong!) But on the plus side it only cost you £500 and as some people pay that and more per Month to finance a new car, if you get lucky and it last a year or two you're laughing.

arcon5

Alexwild wrote: »

If you spend £500 on a car, there's likely no comeback if it goes wrong, even if you buy it from a dealer as although they have to give a basic warranty for used cars they sell, for cars that age and value, it's seen as not reasonable to expect the car to be completely fault free. For that money just go in with your eyes open, accept the car may be a little battle scarred and not perfect and go by condition not by make/model. You'll not get the latest safety equipment for that money and it may need some work at the next MOT. Don't be tempted by big cars (you may be able to buy an old BMW for £500 but it will still cost the same as new BMW to run and will bankrupt you if something goes wrong!) But on the plus side it only cost you £500 and as some people pay that and more per Month to finance a new car, if you get lucky and it last a year or two you're laughing.

No they dont

atrixblue.-MFR-.

s_b wrote: »

an mot is £35 a tyre is £25 and a wiper blade is a £5 so if you consider all this you will realise that a £500 car can only be a deathtrap and you really need to up your ante
i suggest a reasonable car with at least 7 months mot needed you would need to spend £800
think old but bullet proof cars like fiesta corsa
look at the seller as much as the car kick the tyres look at the tread have a little drive make sure major things all work
dont get sidetracked by needing cd players 4 doors a boot for your golf clubs etc
the basic car is more important
one final thing i mention fiesta and corsa for a reason ,if you buy correctly then the engines parts are old school and as such within reason cheap and easy to fix
someone will be along in a minute to suggest some wild base lump of mediocre rubbish because their aunt nellie had one during the war and it ran on chicken poo remember aunt nellie was senile and was actually locked up in their attic as they plundered her savings accounts this is why her car was reliable,it never went anywhere:D

fiesta ok corsa no not the timing chain ones anyway.

mattyprice4004

You don't have to spend a fortune to get a decent car, my latest is an 02 Rover 45 diesel for £500. Just checked it over this morning, all brakes and tyres good, just a bit of bodywork to paint up as it looks like a kid coloured it in with a crayon.

It's handy to know someone 'in the trade' as they get part exchange vehicles all the time, and this can save you a packet. This one was a PX.

Do you have any mechanically-minded friends or family? They usually know someone.

s_b

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

fiesta ok corsa no not the timing chain ones anyway.

i was thinking old corsa b with unbreakable belts
or even the 1.2 16 valvers with chain
there are still some 1.o liters with quiet chains- i always bought these on mileage first though- no more than 60,000

nimbo

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

Do you have any mechanically-minded friends or family? They usually know someone.

my brother is but he works away, and he only gets to come home about every 8 weeks or so for the weekend, and he's always really busy. I kind of don't want to take up all his time (whereas I apparently have no compunction doing that for total strangers on the internet)... haha.

Sorry he's just got married and already his wife is going on that she never gets to see him so I'd feel really bad...

red_eye

s_b wrote: »

an mot is £35 a tyre is £25 and a wiper blade is a £5 so if you consider all this you will realise that a £500 car can only be a deathtrap and you really need to up your ante
i suggest a reasonable car with at least 7 months mot needed you would need to spend £800
think old but bullet proof cars like fiesta corsa
look at the seller as much as the car kick the tyres look at the tread have a little drive make sure major things all work
dont get sidetracked by needing cd players 4 doors a boot for your golf clubs etc
the basic car is more important
one final thing i mention fiesta and corsa for a reason ,if you buy correctly then the engines parts are old school and as such within reason cheap and easy to fix
someone will be along in a minute to suggest some wild base lump of mediocre rubbish because their aunt nellie had one during the war and it ran on chicken poo remember aunt nellie was senile and was actually locked up in their attic as they plundered her savings accounts this is why her car was reliable,it never went anywhere:D

I would suggest the same, get an old car prefably one without stupid electronic dumbass aids like abs, traction control etc drive a car with out these aids and you will become a better driver plus parts are cheap and with out the electronics its cheap and easy to fix.

Shame really I just sold my F reg polo for £150 took all the abuse I threw at it, brake pads £12 front valance £6:eek: grill £7.50, head light £20 rear bumper £16 two rear shacs shocks £24.

just take some one who knows about cars with you, never go buy a car by your self. service the car at the stated intervals, not just oil the filters and plugs too a proper service will include checks like braking, suspension and exuahste system also change the brake fluid and anti freeze every two years and what ever car you go for have the timing belt changed.