No idea what to aim to buy?

njk2125

This year I aim to learn to drive and purchase a car. It is probably a stupid question to ask but I'm not sure what to buy when purchasing and how much to save.

My knowledge on cars pretty much accounts to which colour it is, thats it. I know I would like a small car for running costs petrol/deisel wise, so thinking 1.4 engine or lower, so would have to be compact.

The car will be used for work and for camping trips 2/3 times yearly so a compact would have to be able to pull a small trailer there and back (we already have the trailer, long story!)

What i'm looking for I think is a reliable compact 'ish' car, I'm not really bothered by the look of it but would prefer something that parts are plentiful or cheap, so if something goes wrong it's not overly expensive to repair (just in case!)

Was just looking for advice on makes and how much would be a reasonable amount to spend on a first car. Please bare in mind I am a mature student (mid 30's) soon to be proffessional mum of two, not the usual 17-18 yr old new driver.

rev_henry

Hmm, well what budget do you have in mind? You can get something decent for much less than £2000.

njk2125

No idea what amount to save thats the problem rev_henry. I think it would have to be a used car unless the insurance was a stupid amount. I have heard that a new car can sometimes cost less than the insurance costs if you can get free insurance, not sure it that only applies to very young new drivers though??
£2000 seems doable and reasanable enough.

kerby_crawler

njk2125 wrote: »

This year I aim to learn to drive and purchase a car. It is probably a stupid question to ask but I'm not sure what to buy when purchasing and how much to save.

My knowledge on cars pretty much accounts to which colour it is, thats it. I know I would like a small car for running costs petrol/deisel wise, so thinking 1.4 engine or lower, so would have to be compact.

The car will be used for work and for camping trips 2/3 times yearly so a compact would have to be able to pull a small trailer there and back (we already have the trailer, long story!)

What i'm looking for I think is a reliable compact 'ish' car, I'm not really bothered by the look of it but would prefer something that parts are plentiful or cheap, so if something goes wrong it's not overly expensive to repair (just in case!)

Was just looking for advice on makes and how much would be a reasonable amount to spend on a first car. Please bare in mind I am a mature student (mid 30's) soon to be proffessional mum of two, not the usual 17-18 yr old new driver.

Cheap and plentiful parts probably means Ford or Vauxhall.

I pulled a half-ton trailer with a Vauxhall Agila 3cylinder/900cc (original shape) very successfully for several thousand miles.

Buying from a major dealer is probably less of a gamble than buying privately, but don't be shy - do the rounds, and get your face known at all the dealerships. Tell them what you have seen at their competitors' showrooms, and haggle like mad.

A car can be a huge status symbol, or a motorised wheelbarrow - the choice is yours,,,

StrongWork

Ford Focus, petrol engine.

steve-L

1) Bank on scratching any car after you pass test. (It happens and if not well done)

2) Bank on replacing clutch if you use it to learn to drive and its an older car without a new one

3) Don't even consider towing a trailer for a while! (Honestly)

How old are the kids?
What sort of milage do you expect to do?

As per parts, I'd worry more about TOTAL part replacement cost than the cost of the actual parts (weird and wonderful cars aside).
For most major things that go wrong the labour is way more than the parts.

In other words cheaper parts usually doesn't translate to significantly lower total replacement cost with labour included!
So go for something less likely to break than something the pats are cheaper (and usually more likely to break).
(e.g. A refurb turbo can be purchased for £300 but will cost say £700 to fit!)

If you do significant milage then a 1.9D will get similar fuel economy to a 1.4 petrol... but tow much better and use less fuel on motorway or dual carriage ways... but less about town. Some cars have problems (as I said before) and this is especially true of certain turbo diesels...

That said my 'family car' is a Honda Accord 2.2 TDCI

Insurance for my partner is reasonable but with me as a named driver!
Its done nearly 180,000 and cost me little....
After 170k the turbo needed cleaning and approaching 180,000 its due for the first clutch replacement (500 or so) and it had a brake caliper replaced.

Meanwhile it fits bikes and camping stuff in the boot and gets 40mpg on average.

apesxx

I would have said a ford focus. I'm currently looking for my 3rd one. With 2 kids I think they are a really nice sized family car. The parts have always been easy and cheap to get hold of too when I've needed them.

steve-L

apesxx wrote: »

I would have said a ford focus. I'm currently looking for my 3rd one. With 2 kids I think they are a really nice sized family car. The parts have always been easy and cheap to get hold of too when I've needed them.

Except avoid the 1.6 TDCI.. (issues with that engine in both Pug-Cit and Ford) - better to get the 1.8

With 2 kids the estates are a good car... (other than Turbo failing 3 times at £1000+ a go)... the Focus we had (estate) was a great family car!

forgotmyname

Mondeo's are cheaper to buy, But similar running costs.

£2000 ish will buy you a high mileage BUT well cared for 2007 car. One of the last MK3's.

Paid just over £2000 for my 2004 car in 2009. Inc MOT's servicing upgrades around £600 in 3 years.

Cheap motoring.

rev_henry

Any ideas what your annual mileage will be? To give an idea as to how important mpg is. If you're only doing 1k a year then mpg really won't matter at all!

apesxx

steve-L wrote: »

Except avoid the 1.6 TDCI.. (issues with that engine in both Pug-Cit and Ford) - better to get the 1.8

With 2 kids the estates are a good car... (other than Turbo failing 3 times at £1000+ a go)... the Focus we had (estate) was a great family car!

Thanks, TBH I don't really do the miles to warrant a diesel. Prob about 7k a year ish. I want a c-max this time but the OH is being difficult as he says he doesn't like it