Wanting to buy a used car: advice needed

WellKnownSid

dini wrote: »

Can I ask why diesel for the bigger mileage?
I was under the impression that diesel was worse from an emissions point of view and that cost-wise its no longer any more economical than petrol.

A diesel vs a petrol could be 20+mpg difference for the same car. If you're going for a smaller car, the difference is smaller. At 15,000 miles - say the petrol gave 40mpg and the diesel 50 - just 10mpg difference could be around £500 a year difference in fuel costs for the equivalent diesel. You may also pay less car tax per year for the diesel.

The problem with diesels at your budget is you could be buying into a world of hurt and unexpected expenses which may then negate that fuel saving. The car may have been chopped in for a reason which is less than genuine...

Petrol cars, on the other hand, seem to be quite unfashionable and can often be purchased without the over-inflated prices that the big 'DIESEL' sticker on the windscreen appears to attract.

dini_2

Ok. That makes sense. Thank you.

So if I end up changing jobs, how much more will I have to save. (If I end up doing 15k miles yearly, presumably a £1000 car wont be a realistic option?)
(Although I was meant to hear today. and haven't heard anything, so presume didn't get the position anyway!)

dini_2

Right, not changing jobs, so looking at weekend driving only.

So.......... how many owners is good? How many is too many?
How many miles is safe?
What does full service history look like? (How often does a car need to be serviced?)

jimjames

I've been very impressed with the Ford Puma. Cheap as chips to buy and parts based on Fiesta so cheap to run as well.


Mine cost £500 with FSH and only 3 owners. Lower number of owners the better. Mileage isn't so relevant as long as servicing done - generally be every 10,000 miles or every year. If very low mileage you still need to have oil changes every year in my view. I'd want to see a pile of receipts for servicing not just a stamped service book that could be faked.


This is what I bought:
http://ford-puma.blogspot.co.uk/

WellKnownSid

I had a Puma from new back in '97, covered 70k in just under four years.

Highlights - it was a steal, even built to order with goodies nothing could come close in terms of price, performance, and appeal. Really used to p*ss off the sales guys I worked with who had A4s, 325's and Golfs - people would literally walk in off the street to ask about it, no-one ever asked about my mate's VR6...

Reality check... The 1.7 engine is nikasil lined, and needs a special oil viscosity with regular changes. Ford dealers know this but independents treating it like a Fiesta will come unstuck. If the tracking isn't checked, it'll scrub the front tyres in a few thousand miles - easily put out by the wrong type of pothole. I had no other major problems with it other than routine work - a couple of window regulators replaced under warranty. Only gripe was if you opened the boot in the rain you ended up with a boot full of water!!

dini_2

WellKnownSid wrote: »

Reality check... The 1.7 engine is nikasil lined, and needs a special oil viscosity with regular changes.

I have no idea what that means!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-ford-focus-estate-1-8-petrol-96-000-miles-/291542275552?hash=item43e14615e0

what do you think of this one? Overpriced?