Advice on cheap small automatic for learner - £2k to spend

daveyjp

rob7475 said:

daveyjp said:

Autotrader search  time.

In my local area I was drawn to an 03 1.6 Corolla Auto.  Just over 100,000 miles, nothing major on any of the MOTs.  Yours for £1,000.

I’ve been busy trawling autotrader and doing MOT checks on stuff. There’s loads of traders on there fronting as private sellers though. They give the game away when you call them and ask about the car for sale - as soon as they say which one, you know they’re probably a trader

I’m leaning towards something japanese I think

What suggests to me this is a private sale is the photos are all taken in portrait mode, but AT uses landscape, so you need to turn your head to see them!

[Deleted User]

Cheap automatic

 

rob7475

tacpot12 said:

Many learners are drawn to small cars, but bigger cars are safer, and the extra space can be quite useful at times. Looking at the next class up opens up a wider choice of cars and engines, and the prices can be very similar. A friend has a Golf 1.4 FSI with a DSG gearbox that has been completely reliable for the last 12 years or so. The Golf would be a similar size to the Corolla mentioned by daveyjp, so perhaps talk to her about whether she might prefer a car from the next class up to the Jazz/Yaris/Polo.

I did suggest the next class up but she’d rather have something small to start with. She initially wanted a smart car which i’ve managed to talk her out of.

I found an 06 plate Jazz on autotrader last night. It’s up at a trader for £2.3k and all the old MOT’s look good. I’ve asked the dealer when the ATF was last changed so just waiting on them
to come back to me. 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105303260595

facade

rob7475 said:

 I’ve asked the dealer when the ATF was last changed so just waiting on them
to come back to me. 

Just been done mate

Sandtree

rob7475 said:

[Deleted User] said:

OP, is there any reason she can't use yor 'main' car for practice?

Yeah - it’s a nearly new merc e class 🤣. 

Have to say our Merc got a lot of comments when it had the L plates on it. Surprisingly she only added £40 or so to the insurance for a 4.7L engine.

rob7475

Just to add something else into the mix. Any thoughts on a Mini auto? I'd be looking at something between 05 and 07 within budget I think

rob7475

facade said:

rob7475 said:

 I’ve asked the dealer when the ATF was last changed so just waiting on them
to come back to me. 

Just been done mate

To be fair to the dealer they were honest and told me they can’t confirm when the gearbox fluid was last changed as it hasn’t been stamped in the service book. There’s lots of honda dealer stamps in there so i’d hope it’s been done at some point. 

Hoe much should I budget for a fluid change if I decide to go for it?

knightstyle

If the servicing was done at a local dealer they may have details on the system, worth a phone call IMO.

rob7475

knightstyle said:

If the servicing was done at a local dealer they may have details on the system, worth a phone call IMO.

The dealer has been taken over so although they have records of the car being taken to them, they’ve no access to old invoices so can’t confirm what work has been carried out

FindMyWayBack

rob7475 said:

[Deleted User] said:

OP, is there any reason she can't use yor 'main' car for practice?

Yeah - it’s a nearly new merc e class 🤣. 

I did say she could practice in it but she doesn’t fancy it - it’s too big apparently

This sort of thing sends me into orbit, you did SAY she could practice in it, it's TOO BIG, what tosh, tell her to get her backside into it and drive the thing, she is an equal, stop the condescension.