Search for a reliable runabout - questions for Bangernomics Experts.

Granariesgirl

Hello,
I have just passed my test at the age of 21 and a lot.

I'm looking for a first car at sub £1000 with low running & insurance costs.
I haven't a clue about what to look for & the number & variety of vehicles out there is bewildering so I would appreciate your help! :huh:

I need a small runabout hatchback, 5 seats, reliable, which should work fine for the next 2 years at least (note the "should" as I am a realist) - anything else is a bonus.

I have read all the stuff about what to look out for when buying a car so hope I know the basic theory of that. I've also read the great "Bangernomics Successes" thread in the hope of gleaning some useful info.

My questions are:

What makes/ models should I look for & which should I avoid like the plague?

What size engine would be good but keep insurance low?

What's more important, lowish age or lowish mileage?

What "extras" are really useful?

What would be your single best piece of advice for this?

My thanks in advance for any help posted by the MSE Bangernomists.

gilbert_and_sullivan

''What makes/ models should I look for & which should I avoid like the plague?''

To find the bargains avoid the popular cars that either have kudos or the name, consider Korean and Japanese cars often favoured by older careful drivers who tend to look after their cars properly and don't abuse them.
You won't go far wrong with Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla/Starlet, but will get better bargain with a good Hyundai Accent.

'''What size engine would be good but keep insurance low?'''

Doesn't always work as you think it would, with reason, put a car you are interested in into the search tools and see.

''What's more important, lowish age or lowish mileage?''

In this market buy on condition and history.

''What "extras" are really useful?''

Power steering, rear wiper, central locking, the rest of must haves of the gameboy generation usually end up going wrong and costing dosh to put right..KISS keep it simple.

''What would be your single best piece of advice for this?''

As you approach a prospective purchase, look at the tyres and the visble brakes through the wheels, cheap rubbish tyres and scored worn out brakes?, assume the rest of the car has seen no maintenance if the most important parts are rubbish or neglected.

Judge the seller as much as the car if a private sale, if it waddles and quacks its most likely a duck, so use your own judgement.

worried_jim

Hi Granariesgirl, welcome to bangernomics! As G & S has already mentioned-go Asian! Make sure that you buy something with a full years MOT, you should be spoiled for choice with a budget of £1k.

jaydeeuk1

If it was me, I'd be looking at something like a daewoo lanos. Loads about, all worthless, lots of vauxhall parts. 1.6sx the one to go for, has some toys like aircon, which might still work, and electric windows, lots of 5 door models. Rust should never be a problem, just check gearbox in particular changes in to reverse, and that cambelt has been changed within last 50k/5 years. I gave mine several years of abuse and only got rid when heater matrix split just before winter, no problems otherwise.

Plus as no one will want to steal a daewoo (plus it looks like a rover 25, another security measure ), insurance is next to nothing (also a 1.4 model if it is a fair bit). Kalos another possibilty but probably dearer to buy/insure and repair. Don't go for the matiz though, its sh*te.

forgotmyname

I looked at some quotes for Kia's and Hyundai's and the insurance came out dearer than things like Fiat Panda's and Ford KA's.

Smallest engine possible is the way to look. But again there are some 2L petrol engined cars that maybe cheaper to insure as the insurers have had no claims from owners with that model.

Its a mine field, What works for one may not work for another, I have a claim free record. Add a driver thats had 3 or 4 accidents in under 5 years and my premium reduces. Work that one out.

Avoid a KA they rust.. Except if you find a non rusty one they are so cheap to run your shoes may cost more to repair.

Avoid French cars, Again unless you find a bargain thats been cherished by its owner. Taken out of the garage every week washed and waxed the proper way. Never taken out when the gritters have been out.

4 non flat tyres with legal tread, brakes that work and a steering wheel and some seats are the essentials.
Everything else depends if paying more insurance is worth it.

Rolandtheroadie

I wouldnt worry too much about make/model just now, get onto ebay and start your search by limiting cost to £1000 and distance near to far.

Then use the side options to whittle down your options (4 and 5 door, fuel type ect).

Now click on some, and look for ones with a good story. Someone that lists the negatives as well as the positives, have had the car a while and give a plausable reason for selling. Get a feel for the seller.

Email a couple of cars with some questions about the car. I normally just go for starts and stops fine, temp gauge works as it should, no overheating issues or oil in water/water on oil. Get out clauses if you win the car and theres problems.

Look for 100% feedback and have used ebay a lot. Someone thats not selling cars regular.

Long MOT is a must, tax is an advantage. The story will hopefully mention when consumables have been changed.

Just to say, obviously from the above, I buy mines from ebay.

I'd avoid gumtree normally, I get the impression theres a lot of doorstep dealers and people trying to shift lemons without affecting their ebay feedback (with some good cars inbetween).

After all of the above, get insurance quotes for the ones you like the look of.

Horizon81

You want to look at the basic models of car - using the mantra of 'if it doesn't have it then it can't go wrong!' Cars with no air con, no electric windows, no central locking, no sunroof (potential leaks). The more basic the better.

I agree Japanese brands (not necessarily where they're built) are the way to go.
Yaris 1.0
Suzuki Alto/Ignis/old Swift
Nissan Micra 1.0 (the old bubble car shape)

At under a grand, you can still expect rust in these cars - things like sills, brake pipes, exhausts don't last forever so these are things to check, but as said above look for one with a recent MOT and indications that those parts above have some life left in them.

Granariesgirl

Hi,

Thank you all so much for the advice, it has all been noted!

At least now I can narrow the search down & then it's just a question of finding the right banger...

Thanks again, people. :T

richard734

dont be tempted by ones that have 'Nice' after market rear lights (Corsa's especially) or non standard alloy wheels - probably owned by a teenager previously and razzed to hell and back, try and get something as stock as possible.
And please get someone who knows cars to come with you for an independant opinion.

Tigerprint

Try & keep the engine size to below 1.4 for lower insurance & cheaper tax.

Maybe Peugeot 106 or 206 which has been a very popular car & there are many still around. Granted there will be many advising against French cars, but, I have found them okay as a basic all rounder. Generally galvanised so don't rot out like some Fords do. (However, am not a lover of Citroen)

The others with cheaper insurance tend to be Nissan Micra (bug shape, 05 ish shape) & also Skoda. Watch any dampness in the older Skodas though.

Possibly a VW Polo, possibly 2000 Y, or above (just nice driving cars in my opinion)

Ford Ka, ok but do tend to rot over the arces etc & Fiestas are ok but some models, freestyle & Zetec included tend to be in a higer insurance grouping.

Happy car hunt

Granariesgirl

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick update to say the deed is done!
:eek:

I printed out the list of things to do, gleaned off this thread, & toddled off to our 2 local garages. I went down the list checking stuff for each car I saw, like a good buyer should!

Ended up with a Renault Megane Scenic Expression 1.6l, Y reg, no rust, no leaks, tyres OK, no probs signalled on MOT, engine runs fine, steering fine (tested by OH on winding roads & bay parking), electric bits work fine (tested by me),119k on the clock. Taxed & MOT'd till end of July (not ideal, but hey!).

It does feel a hell of a lot safer & more comfortable than the really little runabouts I'd tried before.

A few parking scratches & a metallic blue colour which in an ideal world I'd dislike... but beggars can't be choosers & it did help me concentrate on the machine & not the "pretty colour"!

Good local garage & dealer, long established.

Not what I was looking for but at £900 (reduced from £1k with a wee haggle), we thought it wasn't too bad.

Thanks so much for your help, it was great knowing what to look at/for & what questions to ask.
:T

ps. Used MSE's Insurance comparison guide just now. Found fully comp insurance with Aviva for £430,cheaper than the small cars I was looking at before, so all in all, not a bad day!
:beer: