The Student Room Group

Average price for a first car?

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Reply 20
Original post by Katie_p
Haha, no, it's 1.0l which is still a bit pathetic, but it can survive my commute next year with a couple of passengers!
I didn't see the point getting anything jazzier because I refuse to buy new, and at least buying off my parents I know it's been looked after well (parents replaced the ___ belt at about £800 a month ago too, so that I wouldn't have to).

My sister bought a brand new car (I thiiiink it's a Kia Rio, but as I haven't seen it yet, I might be wrong) and some idiot opened a door onto it and did £1k of damage 2 DAYS after she got it :O I was against the idea of a new car before that...but now, I will never buy a new car unless I can pretty much afford to buy it outright!


No need for a new car, but certainly pick up a decent 2nd hand car like a Polo, Golf, Fiesta, Focus, Ibiza, Leon, etc
Reply 21
Original post by Katie_p
Haha, no, it's 1.0l which is still a bit pathetic, but it can survive my commute next year with a couple of passengers!
I didn't see the point getting anything jazzier because I refuse to buy new, and at least buying off my parents I know it's been looked after well (parents replaced the ___ belt at about £800 a month ago too, so that I wouldn't have to).

My sister bought a brand new car (I thiiiink it's a Kia Rio, but as I haven't seen it yet, I might be wrong) and some idiot opened a door onto it and did £1k of damage 2 DAYS after she got it :O I was against the idea of a new car before that...but now, I will never buy a new car unless I can pretty much afford to buy it outright!


£800 for belt?? I'm guessing it must be a timing belt, that is really expensive especially on a fairly simple car like that.

I suppose it had other work done to it too?
Reply 22
Original post by Iqbal007
No need for a new car, but certainly pick up a decent 2nd hand car like a Polo, Golf, Fiesta, Focus, Ibiza, Leon, etc


I'll probably do that in a couple of years if I'm in the UK, but I'd have paid more than the "value" of such a car by going through a dealer, or have the risks of a direct sale (which of course still exist with any second-hand car) whilst buying off my parents I got the car at the rate a dealer would have paid, not charged.
Reply 23
Original post by Alfissti
£800 for belt?? I'm guessing it must be a timing belt, that is really expensive especially on a fairly simple car like that.

I suppose it had other work done to it too?


Timing belt sounds right! It miiight have been £600, but it was definitely somewhere between £600-800 and I don't think there was anything else done, unless the wheels were balanced again.

My (admittedly limited) experience is that repairs and replacements on cheap and second-hand cars are not significantly cheaper than those for new cars. Which is another reason why I'd rather spend £1-2k on a car and have the same amount in reserve for emergencies than get a new one at £8-10k and have absolutely nothing left in the bank!
Reply 24
Original post by Katie_p
Timing belt sounds right! It miiight have been £600, but it was definitely somewhere between £600-800 and I don't think there was anything else done, unless the wheels were balanced again.

My (admittedly limited) experience is that repairs and replacements on cheap and second-hand cars are not significantly cheaper than those for new cars. Which is another reason why I'd rather spend £1-2k on a car and have the same amount in reserve for emergencies than get a new one at £8-10k and have absolutely nothing left in the bank!


I never knew to replace the timing belt on a Matiz was so expensive.

The last 2 cars I had a timing belt replacement in UK was a Subaru Imprezza WRX, it cost £400 3 years ago at a specialist. The other was a Fiat Panda 1.2l which was done sometime before xmas, cost was around £200 inclusive of a waterpump.

I think your parents might need a new mechanic :smile:
Reply 25
Honestly, anything 3 years old or younger is a tad unrealistic for a first car, especially if you're a student. The insurance takes replacement costs in to consideration as they think we'll try and go on two wheels through the McDonald's drive through, to impress a girl.

The things you've got to look at are:

- Value
- Engine size
- Power
- Safety features
- Import or intended for the UK

plus I wouldn't by anything in an insurance group higher than 4 and nothing unusual..
Reply 26
Original post by Alfissti
I never knew to replace the timing belt on a Matiz was so expensive.

The last 2 cars I had a timing belt replacement in UK was a Subaru Imprezza WRX, it cost £400 3 years ago at a specialist. The other was a Fiat Panda 1.2l which was done sometime before xmas, cost was around £200 inclusive of a waterpump.

I think your parents might need a new mechanic :smile:


It will depend who went to get it sorted..:smile:
Reply 27
Original post by Katie_p
I'll probably do that in a couple of years if I'm in the UK, but I'd have paid more than the "value" of such a car by going through a dealer, or have the risks of a direct sale (which of course still exist with any second-hand car) whilst buying off my parents I got the car at the rate a dealer would have paid, not charged.


Dealers add that extra premium because they know people go to them for sake of knowing everything is good, however thats not always the case and depends on how reputable they are.
Same goes for a private sale, you need to have someone who knows about cars or yourself, I got a good bargain a 52 plate polo se with a sunroof.
Reply 28
Original post by S6991
Yes I understand, but I just wanted to know what is a realistic price to aim for when searching for a car?
I have a few cars in mind, but they're around £8000 <
and was wondering if that is too much considering the fact that it is a first car?


For that amount of money, you could consider a new car. Assuming you have to pay a few thousand £ for car insurance, it will push your total car ownership cost to over £10,000

Now a brand new Polo with free insurance starts from £10,770

https://www.insurewithvolkswagen.co.uk/Polo/

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