help buying cheap first car for daughter.

salt_and_pepper

could anyone please help with any hints or tips to buying my daughters first car. she passed in November and is now wanting to look around and hopefully buy one pretty soon. She's 20 coming up to 21 and insurance is a concern. looking for a small car which is going to cost about 1k and insurance will be be around 1.5k provided me and her dad are down as second drivers and the policies which involve having black box fitted appear cheapest. I have seen on ebay a fiesta on a T plate at a local carsales. £795 with full service history. would that be the sort of thing to chance? cos it seems old to me, any clues?

Tilt

salt_and_pepper wrote: »

could anyone please help with any hints or tips to buying my daughters first car. she passed in November and is now wanting to look around and hopefully buy one pretty soon. She's 20 coming up to 21 and insurance is a concern. looking for a small car which is going to cost about 1k and insurance will be be around 1.5k provided me and her dad are down as second drivers and the policies which involve having black box fitted appear cheapest. I have seen on ebay a fiesta on a T plate at a local carsales. £795 with full service history. would that be the sort of thing to chance? cos it seems old to me, any clues?

Would have to be gold plated at that price. You can get something a lot later for that kind of money. Here is one example;

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201302145333046/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/1000/model/punto/make/fiat/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/quicksearch/true/radius/1500/postcode/wv11ab/page/10?logcode=p

salt_and_pepper

so a fiat punto s worth a chance on, just need to find one in my neck of the woods. she learnt in a Toyota yaris, are older ones of those not too bad?

Tilt

I have an W plate HGT which I have owned from new. Runs like a car half it's age and apart from tyres, bake pads, exhaust and a new battery the most expensive repair so far was a cam belt change.

Quite well equipped as well and she will like the 'city mode' electrically power assisted steering. Makes them a doddle to maneuver at slow speeds.

salt_and_pepper

well I'm searching fiat punto s on auto trader using my postcode and I have seen a 2001 y reg one with 44 000 with service history and bills for £890. is that milege a bit on the low side? I just don't want to land a clanger!

jaydeeuk1

Good luck if you're purchasing a 12 year old Fiat. Tilt has the only reliable fiat ever built. As an ex fiat owner, I can tell you no matter how well you maintain it, they can be complete money pits.

Tilt

salt_and_pepper wrote: »

well I'm searching fiat punto s on auto trader using my postcode and I have seen a 2001 y reg one with 44 000 with service history and bills for £890. is that milege a bit on the low side? I just don't want to land a clanger!

Well you should be able to verify the mileage through it's MOT history. If you go see it, ask to see the documents and pay particular notice to the mileages on the MOT certificates. Also check the V5C (reg document) to see if it is registered to the person selling it (assuming it's a private sale).

Look at the underside of the oil filler cap and also the condition of the coolant. Walk away is there is any sign of a white gunky sort of substance (which there shouldn't be if mileage is correct). Then ask to start it up, ideally should start with the first turn of the key. The engine cam may 'rattle' for a few seconds when cold, this is common on Punto's but it is important to keep an eye on the oil level. Take a look round the back to see if there is anything coming from the exhaust apart from a little white vapour.

Check that the only warning lights are illuminated once the engine has run for about 30 seconds is the handbrake and low fuel lights (unless there is about a quarter of a tank in). Ask to take it for at least a 15 minute run and include a route with some tight turns to make sure the steering is ok. Try the 'city mode' button when parking at low speed ('CITY' should illuminate in green on the dash) where you should find the steering significantly lighter.

If you like, post a link and I will take a look.

Tilt

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Good luck if you're purchasing a 12 year old Fiat. Tilt has the only reliable fiat ever built. As an ex fiat owner, I can tell you no matter how well you maintain it, they can be complete money pits.

Times that by 13... this is actually my 13th reliable Fiat. How many have you owned? What was it?

salt_and_pepper

£1299 for a 05 plate 68000 full service history to 2012 full mot with no advisories again a punto. does that sound better? I have done well putting my daughter off for so long, it's inevitable it's goner be sooner rather than later hence me trying to decipher the ads! now if I do go and look at one, what do I look for? rust? leaks.

Tilt

salt_and_pepper wrote: »

£1299 for a 05 plate 68000 full service history to 2012 full mot with no advisories again a punto. does that sound better? I have done well putting my daughter off for so long, it's inevitable it's goner be sooner rather than later hence me trying to decipher the ads! now if I do go and look at one, what do I look for? rust? leaks.

As above basically. Shouldn't be any bodywork rust as all the exterior panels are galavanised. If there is any, then that would be a sign of a repair so may have had a bump! Yes look for leaks which you would on any car.

Post a link to the ad and I will take a look.

Chopper_Read

Tilt wrote: »

Times that by 13... this is actually my 13th reliable Fiat. How many have you owned? What was it?

People are usually put off after buying a shed.