Buying first used car advice

Unimaginativeusername

I'm looking for some car advice please. I'm looking to buy my first car (at the age of 29!) I'm looking for a cheap but reliable run around just for commuting to work, going shopping ect. I need an automatic gearbox and for a maximum of £1000, but I'd rather under £800.

People are giving me conflicting advice, small engine autos use more fuel than larger engines and vice versa, petrol v diesel ect and I'm so confused! I'll be doing around 30 miles a day, mainly on the motorway.

On Autotrader there are 294 autos within 50 miles for under £1000, for example:

2001 Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec - 69k miles. £575

2000 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 - 68k miles £689

1999 Toyato Corolla 1.3 - 61k miles £790

2003 BMW 320d - 139k miles £790

I know I should get the longest MOT I can but aside from that I'm not sure what's the best, can anyone help? Please! :mad:

wgl2014

With a limited budget I wouldn't get too concerned about the exact specifications of the car but would concentrate on service history and condition.
All things being equal the Ford or Toyota would be my pick from that list.

sevenhills

Why automatic, I dont know anything about automatics myself, good luck

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Almera-1-8-S-Auto-Red-Only-2-Keepers-Good-History-PX-to-Clear/142482679366?hash=item212ca12646%3Ag%3AqAwAAOSwrblZmyYq

walwyn1978

wgl2014 wrote: »

With a limited budget I wouldn't get too concerned about the exact specifications of the car but would concentrate on service history and condition.
All things being equal the Ford or Toyota would be my pick from that list.

That.

Since you're firmly in banger territory here it's all about minimising the risks of being a car of that age which is well past manufacturer expected life span. Things you should be looking for: full service history or at least plenty of history, shows the cars been looked after. Four decent tyres, not mismatched ditchfinders. Take someone mechanically minded with you to look at it if you're not that sort of person. At that age, avoid low mileage, it shouts elderly persons runabout or second car that's been sat for long periods so the engine may not often have warmed up fully increasing stress on the moving parts. Avoid high spec stuff - it's full of nice toys but that gets expensive if they break, and an old car which was 40k new will have 40k car levels of bill when it goes wrong or breaks. If it looks unloved, battered etc, it may not have been maintained properly, so avoid.

Hoof_Hearted

Look at the MoT history online. Lots of advisories each year may indicate neglect.

buglawton

I didn't know you could read your advisories online, brilliant!

LandyAndy

buglawton wrote: »

I didn't know you could read your advisories online, brilliant!

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

Hours of fun checking out your neighbours and colleagues cars.;)

And also cars you used to own.

Also, pick a few 911s off of autotrader and see how they vary.