Buying first car - where to start?

Abatement

I'm thinking of buying a first car, but have no idea where to start? There doesn't seem to be a handy MSE guide either (or at least I can't find it...)

Have no real interest in cars, so basically just want a cheap (probably second hand) thing that my wife and I can use for occasional trips visiting family/friends around the country. Live in central-ish london so wouldn't use it for getting to work, or for many short local journeys.
Don't have kids so something small would do the job (and that's probably better for things like congestion charge etc).
Would like to spend as little as possible really, without buying a complete banger (as I wouldn't have a clue about fixing problems etc).

Where should I start?!

forgotmyname

Start by whats your budget? How old are you?

I presume you have not had insurance before? And have zero no claims
that are less than 2 years old if you did.

If thats the case. Isurance maybe £2000 - £3000 for the 1st year.
How does that play with the budget?

Lot of money to pay/waste for it to sit there 99% of the time.

Modern low emission cars maybe charge exempt. But these will be fairly new vehicles or not the sort of vehicle you need or want.

I buy a 5 year old mondeo for £2000 ish.. High miles but lots of paperwork to show its been well maintained. Oil changes every 6000 - 8000 instead of the manufacturers figures of 12,000 etc.

I keep it for around 5 years and sell it for approx half what i paid.

But anything newer than 1999/2001 can have parts that cost as much as the car to replace.
Clutches with dual mass flywheels and common rail injectors can be costly to replace.
And not as simple as chuck a 2nd hand on in and sorted. Some require the dealer to code them to the ECU or engine.

Foxy-Stoat_3

Whats your budget?
How many miles do you think you will do?

Why not try one of them pay and go car schemes that are available in London or just hire a car if its a few long trips a year or maybe the train?

I wouldn't want to the expense to buy, up-keep, insure, tax and keep legal a old car if your only going to use it once or twice a month and only drive a few thousand miles in a year.

I would give a petrol Toyota Yaris 1000cc, group 2 insurance car and reliable if you must have a small car, maybe budget £1000-£1500 for the car and the same again for insurance.

Abatement

Thanks for the replies

Budget is probably anything up to 6-7,000, but I don't feel the need to spend all of that, and if I can get better value by spending less then so much the better.

Yes, never had insurance before, but i am slightly older than the typical first time owner (at 28), so maybe insurance not too bad? I did a couple of quotes online (obviously making up the model of car) and they seemed to come back around the £800-900 mark.

Mileage - difficult to say. Probably somewhere around 5,000pa. I know it's not much, but I've tried car hire/zipcar etc and although they are probably better value, it's quite inconvenient having to book in advance, pick up and drop off etc, rather than just get in and go.

forgotmyname

800-900 in central London with zero no claims.

Thats sounds like a bargain.

gord115

What about a Skoda citigo?
£7600 brand new,should be able to get a near new one for your budget and get a very reliable,cheap to run car,with the remaining of the 3 year warranty.

Abatement

Thanks, but where do I actually start? Best to buy online? Or do I need to go to car showrooms? I really haven't a clue what I'm doing!!