Advice for buying a car when clueless!

jocstoke

My 16-year-old Hyundai i10 is on its last legs and I need to replace it asap. I know nothing about cars and don't know where to start (other than checking service history and MOT record online). As a single mum of two teenagers I need something reliable for the constant ferrying around I do, with a bit more space as it was very tight in my little i10 with sports kits etc, although I did appreciate the low running costs and how easy it was to park. How do I even know where to start? I don't have anyone I can ask so I'm doing this solo. My boyfriend is equally clueless about cars and recently had a very stressful experience with a large second hand car retailer which I'm keen to avoid. I have a budget of around £6000 and do mostly city driving with a longer motorway trip of 60 miles each way maybe once every month or two. I like the look of the Nissan Juke but have seen quite a few negative reviews online so not sure if it's just the looks I'm attracted to rather than being more practical. Any suggestions on how to start or what to go for? Feeling overwhelmed!

dojuls

With your budget, I’d stick to something simple and reliable like a Toyota Yaris, Honda Jazz, or maybe a Kia/Hyundai hatchback, a few years old. They’re cheap to run, easy to park, and usually very dependable. Avoid the flashy stuff like the Juke if reviews put you off - practicality and reliability will make life much easier.

fatbelly

An i10 is a city car. Maybe go up a class.

As you have been happy with a Hyundai/Kia that's what I would suggest you look at. They both have long warranties from new and tend to be bought by people who look after them. They are generally reliable yet don't have great street cred so you get more for your money

6k should get you a Kia Rio or Venga or Hyundai i20 or even i30 ( a bit bigger again) that is <10 years old and <50k miles. Should last even longer than your i10

An example (link probably won't work for long as this one will sell)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506123439933


I had a look at the mot history and the only things ever mentioned have been tyre related

Goudy

My advise is don't buy one until you are more clued up.
It's only knowledge and confidence you need.

There are plenty of general used car buying guides that will help avoid the common pitfalls.
Buying a used car - the ultimate checklist | RAC Drive
Used car buying checklist | What Car?

Workout the type of car you need (not necessarily the same thing as want).
Generally cars are in classes.
A class would be like your i10
B would be like a Fiesta and so on.

Some manufacturers jack up various models to produce a Crossover, like a jacked up Nissan Mirca is a Nissan Juke.
They usually come at a premium over the car it's based on and not really offer much more for the money bar a bit of styling.

Work out your engine.
If you doing lots of miles and not going anywhere near a low emission zone, a diesel might suit.
If not stick to petrol.

Some manufacturers down sized engines a few years ago and stuck turbos on little petrol engines for some models while still selling non turbo, slightly bigger engines in lesser spec models. 
These non turbos are generally better value overall and tend to be more reliable as there have dozens of few parts, most of which wear.

Next research the models you are interested in.
A simple search of the internet for things like "common problems for ......" or "how reliable is a ......"
You can always come back here and ask for advise or join manufacturer specific forums.

I know this might not make much sense to start with, but learn how a car should look and drive.
You've lived with yours for so long now and you'll be used to any foible it has, so you might get blinded by something shinier and smoother driving but has a load of other problems you wouldn't normally be aware of.

Best thing to do is poke, prod and hopefully drive some of your family or friends, hopefully newer cars of the same sort of style you plan on buying before test driving potential purchases.

As already mentioned by others, I think something like a normal hatchback in the B class would suit most.
Perhaps a Toyota Yaris with the 1.33 engine.
Steer clear of any gimicky semi automatic gearboxes.

Something like 2015 Red Toyota Yaris for sale for £5,990 in Southall, Middlesex

Bigphil1474

Some good advice above. Only other suggestion is make sure you let friends and family know you are looking. Someone might be selling their car which at least gives you an idea what you are getting, and should mean nobody selling you a lemon.

MouldyOldDough

You can't go far wrong - with a Suzuki Swift 

£5k will buy you a 2018 1.0 Boosterjet engined one

SZ4 being the highest spec

daveyjp

MouldyOldDough said:

You can't go far wrong - with a Suzuki Swift 

£5k will buy you a 2018 1.0 Boosterjet engined one

SZ4 being the highest spec

Agree with Swift - daughter has one - but £5k for a 2018 Boosterjet needs to include a link to what is being offered.

Goudy

The Swift from 2016 onwards is a nice car.
It's light and agile and comes with a range of engines, including one with a very mild hybrid system and even one with a 4 wheel drive system.
But your budget is only going to put you in cars with higher mileage no matter which option you go for.


Oddly, your budget would put you in a Suzuki Baleno with much lower miles on the clock.

It's basically the same thing as a Swift. Same platform, same range of engines but are slightly bigger with much more room in them.

They weren't a big seller as the UK market were far more familiar with the Swift, which out sold it. But for the sake of reliably etc, there not much between them.

This is the Boosterjet one in top spec.
2016 White Suzuki Baleno for sale for £5,995 in SHEERNESS, KENT
So it has a small turbo charged petrol engine.


This is the non turbo Dualjet engine one in lower spec.
2017 Red Suzuki Baleno for sale for £5,595 in Wigan, Lancashire


 

jocstoke

Goudy said:

The Swift from 2016 onwards is a nice car.
It's light and agile and comes with a range of engines, including one with a very mild hybrid system and even one with a 4 wheel drive system.
But your budget is only going to put you in cars with higher mileage no matter which option you go for.


Oddly, your budget would put you in a Suzuki Baleno with much lower miles on the clock.

It's basically the same thing as a Swift. Same platform, same range of engines but are slightly bigger with much more room in them.

They weren't a big seller as the UK market were far more familiar with the Swift, which out sold it. But for the sake of reliably etc, there not much between them.

This is the Boosterjet one in top spec.
2016 White Suzuki Baleno for sale for £5,995 in SHEERNESS, KENT
So it has a small turbo charged petrol engine.


This is the non turbo Dualjet engine one in lower spec.
2017 Red Suzuki Baleno for sale for £5,595 in Wigan, Lancashire


 

Thanks so much, the second one you posted looks great and is near me (I'm in Manchester) so may go and have a look at it this weekend. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to reply and posting cars for me to consider. I have considered a Honda Jazz also but they seem to be much more expensive for comparable age/mileage, I've never heard of this Suzuki but it seems to get reasonable reviews etc. 

Goudy

You will find some car badges come at a premium.

Honda and Toyota are two but they tend to be noted for screwing their cars together better but it's hard to know for sure. The European Jazz and Yaris are built in the UK and France respectively, so it's hardly all down to Japanese assemble.

I tend to think their cars are a little bit better engineered to start with, but like all cars they have their faults.

Suzuki haven't really had a large slice of the UK market, worldwide is a different matter.
Their little 4x4's did well years ago and the Swift and Vitara sell well enough in the UK.

This version of the Baleno was a right hand drive model from another market that filled a gap for them in our market.
They aren't going to set the world on fire, but they tend to have some good solid Japanese engineering in the engine and gearbox but can feel cheap (hard wearing) inside compared to some European specific cars.
The Aussies love them and they sold well in Asia and South Africa.

The older model Baleno was called an Esteem in the USA and you might recognise a yellow one with a red door from the TV show Better Call Saul.  

I'm not saying buy one, but maybe one should be on your radar to consider.
If it was my money, I would first look at the Yaris with the 1.33 engine even if it was a bit older but with lowish miles.
They don't have many faults, one of the common ones is rear wheel bearings can wear and groan, but they are super cheap to replace as they are bolt off and on sealed units.

MouldyOldDough

Goudy said:

You will find some car badges come at a premium.

Honda and Toyota are two but they tend to be noted for screwing their cars together better but it's hard to know for sure. The European Jazz and Yaris are built in the UK and France respectively, so it's hardly all down to Japanese assemble.

I tend to think their cars are a little bit better engineered to start with, but like all cars they have their faults.

Suzuki haven't really had a large slice of the UK market, worldwide is a different matter.
Their little 4x4's did well years ago and the Swift and Vitara sell well enough in the UK.

This version of the Baleno was a right hand drive model from another market that filled a gap for them in our market.
They aren't going to set the world on fire, but they tend to have some good solid Japanese engineering in the engine and gearbox but can feel cheap (hard wearing) inside compared to some European specific cars.
The Aussies love them and they sold well in Asia and South Africa.

The older model Baleno was called an Esteem in the USA and you might recognise a yellow one with a red door from the TV show Better Call Saul.  

I'm not saying buy one, but maybe one should be on your radar to consider.
If it was my money, I would first look at the Yaris with the 1.33 engine even if it was a bit older but with lowish miles.
They don't have many faults, one of the common ones is rear wheel bearings can wear and groan, but they are super cheap to replace as they are bolt off and on sealed units.

I actually have a Baleno SZ5 with the 1.0 turbo boosterjet engine - it IS a good little car - averages 55 mpg for an 6 speed torque convertor auto - its comfortable and reliable as well as being well equiped

https://www.wheelworldreviews.co.uk/road-tests/suzuki-baleno-1-0-boosterjet-sz5-road-test-report-review/

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/suzuki/baleno/