Need advice buying first car please. No idea what I am doing

JP2019

AdrianC wrote: »

Not that simple. It's worth whatever the market deems it worth. You may well get better VFM from a private seller, but that doesn't mean the trade car isn't "worth" that.

Can you or anybody tell me if these are good deals?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201911184489874?advertising-location=at_cars&transmission=Manual&postcode=n87bt&sort=price-asc&page=12&radius=20&fuel-type=Petrol&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201911074128558?advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=n87bt&seller-type=private&sort=distance&page=56&radius=20&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201911264766609?advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=n87bt&seller-type=private&sort=price-asc&page=15&radius=20&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&atcidi=ilc-mobi-link

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201911204579679?fromSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201907019587777?fromSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201911134343491?fromSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars

Thank you so much guys

AdrianC

In no particular order...

The black Clio Campus, the blue newer-shape Clio (more complex than the old-shape, but "more modern"), black 06 Corsa, silver Polo - all similar. Look tidy enough. MOT history looks decent enough. Go see them, and decide which you prefer.

Silver Corsa - nah. Only a week's MOT.
Black 03 Corsa - not uninteresting, but not that tempting against the others.

mollycat

Just to add, (personal opinion that others may disagree with, fair doos )

I prefer Gumtree to Autotrader.

Just something to think about.

JP2019

AdrianC wrote: »

In no particular order...

The black Clio Campus, the blue newer-shape Clio (more complex than the old-shape, but "more modern"), black 06 Corsa, silver Polo - all similar. Look tidy enough. MOT history looks decent enough. Go see them, and decide which you prefer.

Silver Corsa - nah. Only a week's MOT.
Black 03 Corsa - not uninteresting, but not that tempting against the others.

Thanks Buddy, much appreciated

mollycat

Don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, so.....

Use the reg number to search for previous MOT's on the DVLa site.

Check what car has failed on previously, any advisories, yearly mileage, (has it been parked up for a year), etc etc.

Really useful tool.

It's daunting to buy a car for the first time and a steep learning curve, but do your research and you'll have a better chance.

Good luck.

Ectophile

Bear in mind that buying privately, if anything goes wrong with the car, it's your problem. So if you have £1000, then think carefully before spending all of it on the car. If you can keep a bit back, then that's money you can put towards anything that needs fixing. (And if nothing needs fixing, you've got money in the bank.)


In theory, you have consumer rights against a trader. But enforcing them against the sort of trader who sells £1000 cars is going to be tricky.

k6chris

mollycat wrote: »

Don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, so.....

Use the reg number to search for previous MOT's on the DVLa site.

Check what car has failed on previously, any advisories, yearly mileage, (has it been parked up for a year), etc etc.

Really useful tool.


Good luck.

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


+1 for this tool, just enter the reg of the car you are looking at and check the past MOT histories. Pretty much better than Netflix.

mollycat

OP, notice nothing Japanese in your list of cars; I like the reliability of Jap cars at your/my budget.

This, https://www.gumtree.com/p/toyota/toyota-yaris-1.0l-2-owners-83000-miles-mot-till13-9-2020-18-services/1359734639

came up as one of the first search results in (what I think is) your neck of the woods.

Maybe a bit older than you want and to me seems a wee bit overpriced, (altough cars may be dearer down your way), but clean, well serviced and advert looks decent.

Disclaimer, don't have tome to look at previous MOTs so may be a bucket

Just an idea. If you dont need a supermini type car think also of older Avensis or Corolla.

JP2019

Thanks for this everybody! So nerve wracking buying a first car, feel so out of my comfort zone here.

I am viewing a car on Friday. Can I get some advice on exactly what to ask for from the current owner if I choose to buy and anything to ‘look out for’ ?

Thank you

AdrianC

Use your eyes, not your mouth. Look at the car. Listen to the car. If you don't know what you're looking at/for, do you have a friend who does?

If not, then £50 on an MOT might not be a bad investment...