Want to buy your first car? Help is here!

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Your dad doesn't have to give you permission. :wink2:

As for a first car, personally I'd go for something Japanese - Starlet, Micra, Swift - you may get a Yaris. All should be low insurance as they're not 'hip' cars.

Will have a look in to those cars :beard:

Where is the best place to look for cars? I've been having a general browse through auto trader.

Reply 2641

Kevmeister

Original post by Mess.

Will have a look in to those cars :beard:

Where is the best place to look for cars? I've been having a general browse through auto trader.

Given you live in Liverpool, you should be able to get a good car at a used dealership. Then you may get some sort of warranty/more likely to come with a full MOT and so forth. Just check similar cars on auto trader for price comparison reasons, but do expect to pay a tad more at a dealership.

Reply 2642

Sockhead

Thoughts on a citroen saxo 1.1i forte as a first car anyone? :smile:

2002 btw

Reply 2643

Chris Nicole

I'm trying to buy a car when I get my license; how much is your insurance?

Reply 2644

Pony Jack

Original post by Chris Nicole

I'm trying to buy a car when I get my license; how much is your insurance?

Mine's £600 or there about. :dry:

Reply 2645

Camoxide

Bought my first car today. Red Nissan Micra. Picking it up on Monday :biggrin:

Reply 2646

Sockhead

Thoughts on 2003-2004 1.4 Peugeot 206 guys?
Checking these out in upcoming weeks for my first car :smile:

Any tips appreciated

Reply 2647

Herr

Original post by Sockhead

Thoughts on 2003-2004 1.4 Peugeot 206 guys?
Checking these out in upcoming weeks for my first car :smile:

Any tips appreciated

My gf had one until very recently, hers' was very reliable just regular maintenance work only for 180k km, no real issues till then when it needed a new steering rack, balljoints, engine mounts and shocks all round. Other than that everything else worked well with it.

My family had an 04 206 CC 2.0l , it was nothing but pure troublesome french crap. 3 days after the car arrived the passenger side airbag deployed for no reason, the car would just shutoff for no reason, warning lights would go on for no reason especially the ABS lamp, power windows 3 of the 4 motors had to be replaced before the car had it's first tax renewal which it never had because the last straw came when the roof wouldn't close, there we were trying to close the roof with an approaching storm the system blew a fuse and we replaced the fuse and it blew the fuse again, we didn't bother closing the roof drove it straight to a Peugeot garage and told them to sort it out and we wanted the car returned clean and dry. After that we traded it in.

Kinda of a lottery whether you get a good one, but having said that most parts for it are quite cheap in UK since it was once produced in UK.

Reply 2648

AndersonsBentFoot

Thoughts on a Smart City/For2?

All I need it for is to drive to the gym and maybe shopping

Reply 2649

Herr

Original post by AndersonsBentFoot

Thoughts on a Smart City/For2?

All I need it for is to drive to the gym and maybe shopping

If it is a couple of years old, then I won't buy one. The gearbox might very suddenly require lots of expensive repairs. Many of it fails with zero warning or symptoms. The main parts that go are the clutch solenoid and the actuator that changes the gears. Sometimes the module that communicates between the engine and gearbox will also fail... none of these parts are readily available from a hellfrauds or the usual under-shed mechanic, if it fails you will need to go back to Smart garage to have it diagnosed and then fixed at franchised dealer prices.

Since you are going to drive so little, you're better off buying something else.

Reply 2650

wibletg

Fiat Punto MK2 (~2000 reg)

Anyone got any stark warnings about these cars? :tongue:

Reply 2651

Herr

Original post by wibletg

Fiat Punto MK2 (~2000 reg)

Anyone got any stark warnings about these cars? :tongue:

Mileage and engine?

Reply 2652

wibletg

Original post by Herr

Mileage and engine?

1.2 litre engine, 75k on the clock :smile:

Reply 2653

Camoxide

Whoop whoop first car.

Reply 2654

TheBritishBloke

Original post by wibletg

1.2 litre engine, 75k on the clock :smile:

Just make sure you always ask if the cambelt's been replaced with it having done over 60k miles.

Reply 2655

Herr

Original post by wibletg

1.2 litre engine, 75k on the clock :smile:

Most things on that car is fine, except the electric power steering which is prone to failure at that type of mileage, would definitely cost more than the car to replace.

The other thing with that car is the wiring loom is prone to faults and while it is easy to rectify or just live with it does get annoying... but as a cheap first car then it is fine.... though I'd probably get something else as the last time I drove one in 2003 I found it too bouncy on UK roads.

Reply 2656

Saif95

ddd

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 2657

pinky_pwincess

Hi everyone :smile:

Soo i passed my driving test last month *yayy* and am looking for a 5 door manual car, only problem is my budget is £600. Any reccomendations?

Thanks :smile:

P.S quote me when you reply please

Reply 2658

Hanvyj

Original post by pinky_pwincess

Hi everyone :smile:

Soo i passed my driving test last month *yayy* and am looking for a 5 door manual car, only problem is my budget is £600. Any reccomendations?

Thanks :smile:

P.S quote me when you reply please

How much do you have for insurance? Whack a few random cars from autotrader in and see what you get quoted

Reply 2659

Noble.

Original post by pinky_pwincess

Hi everyone :smile:

Soo i passed my driving test last month *yayy* and am looking for a 5 door manual car, only problem is my budget is £600. Any reccomendations?

Thanks :smile:

P.S quote me when you reply please

1.6L petrol Focus would be a good bet.