First car advice

zerog

Main driver will be my wife, 25, passed test at 19 but only driven rental cars once a year. Automatic only. I will drive it occasionally and may have to provide a taxi service for her as she isn't confident with driving in the dark, and her winter shifts will be 11-11.

Budget about £7500, will pay in full. Don't have much time to spend looking.

There doesn't seem to be any MSE guide, any other short recommended reading?

forgotmyname

Why spend £7500 on something to be used occasionally?

Tons of threads on buying cars, But everyones needs are a little different so its impossible to have one sticky thread that suits every buyer.

Your doing low miles so buy something newer with lots of miles and lose less money. In 2 / 3 years all the other cars will have simialr mileages.

Depreciation will make the cost per mile seem excessive compared to something cheaper that actually costs more to run.

OldBeanz

Toyota, VW, Vauxhall and Renault are doing free insurance. I would search for models in that order although Aygo's are the same as Peugeot and Citoren models and VW cars have equivalent Seats and Skoda models.

forgotmyname

Check the terms of the free insurance.

eg.. Toyota terms, Subject to using Toyota Finance.

VW minimum £250 excess extra four younger and inexperienced drivers, 2 named drivers only.. Exclusions if you or the named driver have made certain types of claim.


FREE. Rarely is free. Your paying for it somewhere along the line.

oliverr

What sort of size car are you looking for? New or used? (you limit yourself to only very small cars in your budget, if buying new).

Since you can only drive auto then I would place more importance on the auto box than the car itself. Avoid anything that's an automated manual as I know a lot of manufacturers have them these days.