Advice on Buying a new Car

sweet1

If posted in the wrong place or there are alternative threads i can look at please let me know.

Anyway i am looking to purchase a new car my current fiesta 1993 1.3 is starting to look shabby and from my last MOT i think it is going to start costing me money (corrosion etc). And anyway i think i deserve a new car and i am financially able to do so.

My problem is, is that i know nothing about cars, i simply know how to get in and drive. I have know no experts to go with me to look on cars and advise. Do you think my best bet is buying a used car from a dealer (main). I understand that this would be more expensive but i don't want to buy private then get ripped off.

My budget is around £4000 although i would like to spend less. I am looking at a car no more than 7 years old. And wouldn't be doing much mileage in it as it would only be driven at weekends really doing shopping and visiting friends and the occasional school run if necessary.

At the moment i am looking at, VW Polos, Puntos, Peugeots or a Yaris and not forgetting another Fiesta.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Wig

If I were you I would

1 choose 1 or 2 cars to narrow down your search
2 check autotrader.co.uk and other adverts for private cars that fit your budget
3.check dealers for similar models
4 compare the price differences between private/trade
5 also use wisebuyers.co.uk to confirm what the car is worth
6.I think you're likely to find private are cheaper (but you never know) and if they are significantly cheaper, go to view a few cars test drive them, buy from someone who sounds honest and has a car in good condition.

I think the money you will save will pay for any problems you might encounter.

moonrakerz

Good tip.

If you 'phone someone about a car ad, say you are phoning about "the car in the paper"; don't mention the make/model. If they say "which car ?", steer clear, they probably aren't a genuine private seller, more likely a part-time dealer operating from home.

jeannieblue

Personally - and I emphasize that, personally, I'd avoid french and italian. tricky being a female cos one tends to lean towards what looks nice and is a nice colour!

Ford/VW/Vauxhall - parts are reasonably priced - nothing wrong with a Yaris.

Handy if you can give a vague idea of what area you are in - no prob if you'd rather not x

sweet1

I'm in london

vansboy

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk loads help there - clik The Backroom - Discussion + ask there.

Also the how to buy/sell page on there.

VB

sweet1

I have just had a look at the new Grande punto and am considering purchasing that now, on there latest promotion... any advice on this would be helpful. Just something to throw in the mix as an alternative. I have a couple of viewings on VW Polos tomorrow,

anewman

What about a Skoda Fabia? they're based around the VW Polo - but being Skoda will be cheaper to buy, but also more prone to depreciation after purchase.

If it is surface corrosion you could go out with wire brushes, methylated spirits, rust converter and some hammerite close to the colour of the car. A wire brush on a drill or a dremel type tool could also be useful. If the underside of the car is starting to corrode you could paint on underbody seal, a big can is only £10 from Halfords - but you would also need some ramps to comfortably get underneath. Unfortunately the main resource needed to do all that sort of stuff is time.

sweet1

Thanks for everyones advice, i purchased my car last weekend and am very happy and satisfied.:T