Car for short commte - new vs nearly new vs old can't decide

AdrianC

rexmedorum wrote: »

how do I recognize a good one? I quite like this idea but the other half wants me to be sure it's not going to fall apart immediately.

I've read practical advice and I'm generally reasonable at technical 'stuff' though never worked on a car (beyond wipers, screen wash bulps etc.)

What I'm wondering is: how practical is looking at usually suggested things at a dealer?

Take a competent, clueful friend.

Also, don't EVER buy from a dealer at that end of the market. Think about the costs of their business - including the cost of covering faults under SOGA - and subtract that from the purchase price of the car. Every car they sell for a grand, they MUST have bought for peanuts to be able to sell for a profit. So either you're buying from somebody who's cutting corners with their business (tax, SOGA compliance?) or you're buying a £300 car for a grand.

At the cheap end of the market, ALWAYS buy privately. Not only do you get much more car for the money, but you get a "feel" for the seller. That will tell you as much about the car itself as a good going-over of it.

AdrianC

getmore4less wrote: »

8 x 6v 200AH batteries 9.6kwh.

You are correct. My 'pologies.

knightstyle

DD bought a Daewoo Matiz for a similar daily journey, loves it and no problems in nearly 3 years ownership. Lots of cheap ones around.

jimjames

rexmedorum wrote: »

how do I recognize a good one? I quite like this idea but the other half wants me to be sure it's not going to fall apart immediately.

I've read practical advice and I'm generally reasonable at technical 'stuff' though never worked on a car (beyond wipers, screen wash bulps etc.)


What I'm wondering is: how practical is looking at usually suggested things at a dealer?

As above from AdrianC, buy privately and don't worry about mileage as long as it has been properly serviced.

Recently bought a 1 owner MK4 VW Golf for £750. 240,000 miles but full service history and new cambelt just done. Did a full service myself when I bought it. Now done nearly 3000 miles in it and no problems at all. With your mileage at 50 per week that would be 18 months motoring.

There is also a bangernomics thread, check that out for tips but you certainly don't need to buy a new car and older cars are not automatically less reliable than newer ones.

property.advert

jimjames wrote: »

... you certainly don't need to buy a new car and older cars are not automatically less reliable than newer ones.

True, but if the OP is anything like me, with little technical knowledge and no desire to get greasy under a car (those days are long gone) then fixing up and maintaining a banger will necessitate a trip to the garage.

Nebulous2

Do you work shifts?

If not you are just coming into 6 months or so where it isn't going to be dark on a bicycle. If you don't like it being too wet you would still be considerably cheaper cycling on dry days and taking a taxi if it is peeing down.

Some of the hard-core cyclists claim you only have 17 wet commutes in a year, though I'm sure they don't live here! I'm fortunate in that my wife will drop me off or pick me up when I need it, which is very rarely.

rexmedorum

Nebulous2 wrote: »

Do you work shifts?

If not you are just coming into 6 months or so where it isn't going to be dark on a bicycle. If you don't like it being too wet you would still be considerably cheaper cycling on dry days and taking a taxi if it is peeing down.

Some of the hard-core cyclists claim you only have 17 wet commutes in a year, though I'm sure they don't live here! I'm fortunate in that my wife will drop me off or pick me up when I need it, which is very rarely.

You don't have to commute me of the virtues of cycling, but it's not me who is doing this particular commute

Also not shifts exactly but like the freedom to come and go more or less as it pleases. This includes occasional late stays to finish off some work.

rexmedorum

thanks everyone for your suggestions

OH didn't want a banger so we ended up going for a 2007 Yaris

fatbelly

rexmedorum wrote: »

thanks everyone for your suggestions

OH didn't want a banger so we ended up going for a 2007 Yaris

Excellent choice. Sis has one and uses it most days in preference to their other, bigger, car.

arcon5

The guy will obviously know he's got a good setup here - but since ops never mentioned it being a problem or mentioned money I do think its a bit harsh to say he's taking to !!!!, if he is it's probably not deliberate!