Which car to buy?

illusionek

Hello

I am looking for recommendation for a car to buy. I have just passed my driving licence (I'm mid 30s) and I have never owned a car before. I dont care much about the make but I am looking for a reliable and economical car. It has to be automatic due to my licence and I am based in London. Looking to spend upto £4k. It has to be bih enough for a growing family so Corsa or Yaris would be too small.

I am currently looking at below cars. Any recommendations?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201907039692169?atmobcid=soc3

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201907039694008?atmobcid=soc3

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201907039698386?atmobcid=soc3

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201907049710856?atmobcid=soc3

forgotmyname

£4k well that covers the insurance. What have you saved towards the car?

Chevrolet, well even though they had child seats they couldn't be bothered ti have working lights or wipers or legal tyres???

Astra, Oil mist under the gearbox... Thats going to be expensive. MOT'd October and again in May?

Focus serviced when it breaks rather before it breaks? Check that service history and sign of new parts or receipts?

Auris, UGLY!!!! Same Check that service record, has it had new brakes? It should have...

illusionek

I appreciate that in my budget I will not get anything exciting or in perfect condition. I had a look at the MOT history but not sure how to read it.

So between Cruze and Auris (as they appear to be best choices) which one is a better option?

scaredofdebt

You can check MOT history here:


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


As mentioned, the Focus history is worrying as whoever had it in 2014 got an advisory about low front brake pads but did nothing about it. Not looked at the others.



But all those cars look expensive to me, I know they're from garages but £4k for a 10 year old Focus?


Shop around some more is my advice, plenty of cars out there, if you buy from a garage get as long a warranty as you can.

scaredofdebt

illusionek wrote: »

I appreciate that in my budget I will not get anything exciting or in perfect condition. I had a look at the MOT history but not sure how to read it.

So between Cruze and Auris (as they appear to be best choices) which one is a better option?

Auris is likely to be more reliable.


https://www.reliabilityindex.com/


But depends on how the car has been looked after etc.

jimbo6977

As a newly qualified driver these cars will be extremely expensive to insure.
Maybe you need to think a bit outside the box.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201905097755342?advertising-location=at_cars&radius=20&postcode=ig74fp&make=TOYOTA&model=YARIS%20VERSO&sort=sponsored&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&page=1

scaredofdebt

The OP has stated a Yaris would be too small, the Astra they've picked shouldn't be too bad, could also look at Kia Rio as being cheap to insure and a little bit bigger. We've got one and you can get 5 in it with reasonable comfort.


Dacia Sandero and Ford Fiesta also worth considering, not sure if they do auto versions though.

RichardD1970

scaredofdebt wrote: »

The OP has stated a Yaris would be too small, the Astra they've picked shouldn't be too bad, could also look at Kia Rio as being cheap to insure and a little bit bigger. We've got one and you can get 5 in it with reasonable comfort.


Dacia Sandero and Ford Fiesta also worth considering, not sure if they do auto versions though.

We managed quite well with a MG Metro as our first car with a young family. But agree with the Sandero, my daughter is looking at them as a first car when she eventually get around to driving.

Goudy

No auto Sandero in the UK.

What about a Mazda 3?
They tend to be bought by the maturer, private owner, so usually end up on the used market will less miles on the clock and well serviced.
They also tend to be very well built and fairly reliable.

One thing to consider whatever you're thinking of buying, make sure it's a proper torque convertor auto.
A lot of automatic cars these days are automated manuals (a normal manual gearbox and clutch, just operated by computer/hydraulics rather than foot and hand).
They tend to be more problematic than old school torque convertors.

loskie

do you need a car often in London? What about a car club or renting. Not sure if the time you have held your licence for is an issue.

kmb500

retake your test and do it in a manual.