Buying a first car on a low budget and getting a safe vehicle

NS1

I'm looking to get my first car, I learned and passed in an SUV so ideally I'd like to stick to the same size car. I've got 2k max and I can certainly find cars in this range but I'm worried about the overall reliability as it's going to be a older car and even though I see a number with full MOT and either full or part service history, a lot of places don't do inspections so I don't want to end up having a large bill or an unsafe car a month after buying it. 

From research I'm guessing at the price I'm paying I'm going to be taking a gamble on whether it's going to be great or be an expensive investment in the short term.

I was also thinking about buying online as I could at least 2wks of making sure the car is fit for purpose in that time.

born_again

NS1 said:

I'm looking to get my first car, I learned and passed in an SUV so ideally I'd like to stick to the same size car. I've got 2k max and I can certainly find cars in this range but I'm worried about the overall reliability as it's going to be a older car and even though I see a number with full MOT and either full or part service history, a lot of places don't do inspections so I don't want to end up having a large bill or an unsafe car a month after buying it. 

From research I'm guessing at the price I'm paying I'm going to be taking a gamble on whether it's going to be great or be an expensive investment in the short term.

I was also thinking about buying online as I could at least 2wks of making sure the car is fit for purpose in that time.

Don't..
In the price range you are looking at you need to physically view & test the car.

Mildly_Miffed

With a budget of only £2k, you need to simply focus on buying a car that's not actively knackered. Doing that online would be an almost guaranteed fail. You NEED to go and view and test-drive, and take somebody who knows what they're looking at.

Your best chances are with the type of car that you don't want to own, that nobody wants to own - because they're much cheaper for the same condition; or to turn it round, much better condition for the same price.

Have you looked into insurance quotes?

Brie

I like to thing that people are honest but frankly I would avoid buying any car privately unless you are a mechanic or are taking one with you to view the car.  Even if the person is honest there may be hidden issues that only a mechanic might spot.  

So I would suggest you go to one of those little second hand places.  Look for one that has been there for a few years, preferably run by the same people.  Businesses that last usually have to have some integrity.  And they are likely to take credit cards so even if you just use it for deposit it will give you some protection (I believe).  You might check at a dealership where they recommend as obviously nothing they have will be in your price range.  And check for online reviews (local one to us had a complaint on it's feedback and the response from the business was "it was a cheap car, what did you expect?" which says a lot about them.)

And you say you want an SUV - have you checked what the insurance and tax will be on one and can you afford that?  My tiddly VW up is much cheaper to run in all senses than the OH's honking big Volvo.  And first car - the insurance is bound to be high so do look for the sort of vehicle not normally attractive to young drivers (of course you might be 50 for all I know).  

HillStreetBlues

NS1 said:

I'm looking to get my first car, I learned and passed in an SUV so ideally I'd like to stick to the same size car. I've got 2k max and I can certainly find cars in this range but I'm worried about the overall reliability as it's going to be a older car and even though I see a number with full MOT and either full or part service history, a lot of places don't do inspections so I don't want to end up having a large bill or an unsafe car a month after buying it. 

From research I'm guessing at the price I'm paying I'm going to be taking a gamble on whether it's going to be great or be an expensive investment in the short term.

I was also thinking about buying online as I could at least 2wks of making sure the car is fit for purpose in that time.

Have you links to cars that you think meet your needs?

twopenny

I look locally at second hand car dealers.

I can view the MOT history which gives me a fair idea if the asking price is good and to ask for any smaller items to be fixed prior to sale.

There's also one one here that operates from his driveway, prices and number plates clear so I can check.

I dismissed it as a chancer until one desperate day I stopped to look and met the guy. Turns out he's an ex mechanic and mate who take older cars and make them good to suplement early retirement.

Both cases I can check online, ask questions and go back if there is a problem.

I've had some decent cars for the price but I'm looking at sedans rather than SUVs which is a slightly greater risk.

facade

twopenny said:

There's also one one here that operates from his driveway, prices and number plates clear so I can check.

I dismissed it as a chancer until one desperate day I stopped to look and met the guy. Turns out he's an ex mechanic and mate who take older cars and make them good to suplement early retirement.

Don't make the mistake of thinking his cars are any "better" than any other private sale that passes a testdrive.

He will buy cars cheap that are "easy fixes" and fix just the immediate problem. 

Do you know anyone that bought a car from him and successfully took it back for repair under his "warranty"?

The test is whether he will sort out any problems that appear in a few weeks or fob you off.

Bear in mind  that you are buying a car that is 90% off the new price because it is 90% worn out, things are expected to wear out/fail sooner rather than later.

Car_54

twopenny said:

There's also one one here that operates from his driveway, prices and number plates clear so I can check.

I dismissed it as a chancer until one desperate day I stopped to look and met the guy. Turns out he's an ex mechanic and mate who take older cars and make them good to suplement early retirement.

Of course he is. Otherwise he’d be wearing a striped jersey to let you know he’s a crook.

WellKnownSid

My son is a tech so some of his time is spent preparing second hand cars for the different dealers in the group - from the big prestige brand, the related less-posh brand, the off-brand cars that also end up on the forecourts of these dealers, plus the cars going to the group sites and even to traders and auction.  He also repairs cars that have been bought online from the likes of Cinch, the big car supermarkets and other dealer groups where they need specialist work.

As others have said, a £2k budget for an SUV is going to get you something from the bottom of the pile - end-of-life, probably many previous owners and one significant fault away from being scrapped.

That said - unless you are buying approved used from that brand's franchised dealer network - where dealer standards will apply - then EVERY other type of second hand car on the market - whether you go online to a big company, car supermarket, or bodge-it Barry working from his driveway - is basically just enough repairs done to get it sold.

Martin_the_Unjust

Buy a car with good service history and full MOT for under £1k

Go to a recommended local garage and give it a full service, £300 ish

Buy decent breakdown cover, £100 ish

Bank the rest for vehicle emergency repairs and use it to kick start saving for your next vehicle.

As close to worry free motoring as you are going to get for your budget.

WellKnownSid

Martin_the_Unjust said:

Buy a car with good service history and full MOT for under £1k

Go to a recommended local garage and give it a full service, £300 ish

Buy decent breakdown cover, £100 ish

Bank the rest for vehicle emergency repairs and use it to kick start saving for your next vehicle.

As close to worry free motoring as you are going to get for your budget.

Only thing I would add is to slip the tame mechanic from the recommended local garage £20 to do a once-over before you buy.  That £300 service could quite easily be £150 if it just needs the basics or £800+ if there is a lot to do.

Just not having to replace tyres or fiddle with the brakes for a year can make a big difference in budget.