How to choose a car and how to pay for it?

first78

I'm currently driving a Honda Jazz, I've had it 8 years (bought it when it was 2 years old), and it's now starting to cost me a fair bit in repairs.

I want a car that's maybe a bit bigger than the Jazz (boot space really) and want something that drives well and is economical in terms of fuel, insurance, tax etc. Can anyone recommend a particular make and model of car or tell me how to best go about researching?

Also what is the best way to buy? I'm thinking secondhand will be the better option but would really appreciate advice on different finance options that are out there. I don't have any money for a deposit and couldn't afford much more than £100 per month. Ideally I just want to get another decent car and keep it until it starts to fall apart. Many thanks in advance.

Ebe_Scrooge

Without more details it's very difficult to give sensible advice.

But, to give broad generalisations ...

What sort of driving do you do ? Pottering around town, you want a small petrol car - Polo, Fiesta, Toyota Aygo, that sort of thing. 100 miles a day of motorway - Mondeo, Skoda Octavia, probably diesel engined. Do you regularly carry a lot of luggage ? If so, an estate may be worth looking at.

Price-wise - if you can't afford a deposit, and £100 a month is your budget - I'd definitely be looking for a decent second-hand car. Personally I'd never buy a brand new car anyway, but that's just me. You can get a very good used car from a main dealer for, say, £3000 - £4000. Not too old, serviced, with a warranty. Even less than that if you buy privately - slightly more risky, you have no come-back on the seller, but I've bought some cracking motors privately over the years. If you know your way around a car, and know what to look for, a private sale can be an absolute bargain.

But you really need to establish what you need from the car - e.g. economical around town, good for motorway-munching, good for towing, massive luggage space, whatever it may be. Have a look on WhatCar.com, HonestJohn or similar to see some reviews. Have a look on AutoTrader to get an idea of prices and what's available. Or go the old-fashioned route, and spend a weekend wandering around the forecourts of local dealers to see what grabs your attention :-)

Sorry I can't give any more concrete advice, but it really is difficult to suggest a car to someone else - like I say, the really important question is "what do you need it to do". But I hope this helps somewhat.

<edit> Forgot to mention - remember servicing and repair costs. Something common like a Ford for instance - there are so many around, parts are cheap and any half-decent mechanic can repair them for peanuts. Go for something a bit more exotic, and parts become a lot more expensive. WhatCar, or any other number of websites, will give you a rough idea of maintenance costs.

Mobeer

How to choose a car:
- work out how much you can afford
- work out what you want
- study websites and car magazines
- make a shortlist
- view shortlist in dealership
- compare costs
- test drive shorter list
- make highly rational decision about what to get

Wander into shopping centre, see car never before even considered, think "oooohhhhhh it's pretty", buy it regardless of everything above.

Well that's my approach anyway.

forgotmyname

How fast is it and here is the cash?