Car shopping - I know nothing about cars!

comping_cat

At the moment I drive a petrol Vauxhall Zafira, I've loved it for 12 years (its 15 years old) but it's old, a tank that costs a lot to run and I need something smaller. I do less than 5000 miles a year and the majority of my driving are short journeys. It's MOT is due beginning of September and tax is up end of August, I didn't really want to tax or MOT it again.

Ok, I know nothing about cars - I can do the basics (check and top up oil, water etc) and all I need is something reliable, cheap to run and if it does have a problem, is not expensive to repair. I do need a descent sized boot (putting the back seats down is ok) as I am changing from child minding to dog walking, hence no need for the Zafira anymore and not needing the back seats. I don't want an estate, or a van as I feel if I need extra space putting the seats down should cover what I need.

So, I've been looking around, but let's face it, the sales people can say what they like and I can only believe them - only 1 has so far mentioned the fact when I have said to all of them I want cheap tax, that from 2017 all cars will be £140 a year!

What do you recommend? I have £7000 available, could go a little higher and want as new as I can afford. I can afford a brand new Dacia Ambience (slightly above balance but I would prefer electric windows, pathetic I know!) at the local dealers, there are no nearly new ones that I can find so far, but in the back of my mind I keep thinking, you don't want to buy new - but to be honest, I have no idea what I want!! Also, as the new plate is out soon, should I be looking asap or waiting til August?

Help and any advise gratefully received.

Hintza

Whatever you do not buy a Diesel your mileage is not sufficient and would end up with expensive repair costs over time.

From what you suggest in your post you keep cars for a long time so depreciation is not an issue.

VED rates will not be retrospective. So if it is VED zero rated today it will remain so.

Do not get hung up on VED rates (though than can be reasonable guide to mpg, it should not be your main deciding factor)

Why not an estate? The profile you have given suggests it would be the more suitable. How big will the dogs be how many will you carry at a time?

If you are changing to dog walking I suspect your mileage will be greater than 5,000 at the end of the day so double check you figures there.

Your budget and your requirement to have as new as possible suggest a small car but is that really suitable?

Read readers reviews on the likes of What Car (online) that will give you a true feel about the pros and cons of particular cars. More so than professional reviews. Buy a copy of what car and go through their tables at the back this will help build up a lost of possible cars.

bazster

I'd suggest you want something that is very, very mainstream such that any independent garage can maintain/fix it with cheap, readily-available parts.

A new Dacia is going to hit you in the pocket with the instant depreciation as you drive it off the forecourt (as with any new car) and is unlikely to hold its value as well as a commonplace mainstream model from Vauxhall or Ford.

You could get a good, late Corsa within your budget, with electric windows. That's the direction I'd be looking in.

jase1

A three year old, small car can be had for half your budget. Something Japanese would be my choice for longevity (Colts are cheap and well made) but a mainstream Fiesta/Corsa would do the job as well.

I've not checked, but if Dacia depreciation is bad, then they've been in the country now for a few years so the first cars should be available cheaply by now.

torbrex

I would suggest a Corsa as well, I have one and it is a nice car.
Go for the 1.2L petrol and you will be low road Tax and cheaper insurance as well as good mileage.
You should be able to get an ex-demonstrator for your budget so at least 2 years with no MOT and possibly free servicing if you can turn on the charm

bigjl

The number of used Dacias on the market makes me think they are bought by those who buy a car and keep it for several years.

It could also point at the fact they are generally reliable as lots of cars that are rejected end up being sold at Car Supermarkets.

The issue with Renaults is often electrical issues, Dacias are old model Renaults with most of the electrical bits removed so there is less to go wrong.

I would probably go for a Dacia.

If you keep it 10years then you will have paid just over £700 a year for the car and it will likely have a residual value of a few hundred maybe as much as £1000.

jase1

bigjl wrote: »

The number of used Dacias on the market makes me think they are bought by those who buy a car and keep it for several years.

It could also point at the fact they are generally reliable as lots of cars that are rejected end up being sold at Car Supermarkets.

They seem to be following the same pattern as the early Korean cars -- cheap to buy, bought by older, private drivers who keep them for a while. By the time they appear on the independent used market they're 6 or 7 years old and (I would suspect) essentially worthless.

This is no bad thing really, both for the first buyer (who will be looked after by the dealer) and the subsequent ones (who end up with cheap, reliable basic transport).

Certainly not a car to be bought as an 'investment', but not a bad shout for what they are. Aren't the Sandero and Duster as much based on old Nissan designs as Renault?

bigjl

I had a look round them.

Cheap no frills.

They are based on the last model Clio.

Nothing to do with Nissan, they were marketed in Ghana as Renaults for a few years but they seem to have stopped doing that now, or at least the dealer that sold them no longer lists Renault on their website