Looking for some advice please!

Kell_ee001 · 10-04-2008, 19:22

Stay with me here because I know nothing about cars at all!

But! I both want and need a new (well, new to me) car in the next couple of months which is where I'd like some advice.

Ok, this much I know... I'm looking for a little car similar to my Corsa (so something along the lines of a Fiat Punto or Renault Clio?) but not another Corsa, a Ka or a Smart Car. I'm after used (obviously) and under £2K, but the further under that the better to be honest

Where you guys come in... what should I look for? Other than the colour (showing my n00bness there!) I have no idea what's important!

How do I know it's a good price? Are there particular things I should be looking out for? Are there makes / models I should avoid and are there any that will skyrocket my insurance? And on a related topic, how do I get rid of my current beat-up mess of a car?!

Give me real basic, don't worry about offending me because I'd rather you think you're pointing out something obvious than me not think of it if you didn't!

I'm very nervous about all this because there isn't really anyone who can come look at cars with me that know what they're doing and this is a lot of money for me to spend - but it needs doing now!

Thank you in advance!

Dr. Z · 10-04-2008, 19:29

£2k will probably get you a 1999/2000 Ford Focus, which is probably where I would be looking unless you thought they were too big for you or whatever

I personally wouldn't touch a Corsa with a bargepole, nor would I bother with something Italian like a Punto. Clio isnt a bad little car

My sister has a Polo, which will command a ridiculous premium for being a VW (the reliability stories are all a myth IMO) and thats not a bad little car at all.

EDIT: 30s on autotrader turned up examples like this:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...0&max_mileage=

One piece of advice I will give you is that at this sort of price, condition is vastly more important than (low) mileage and the two don't always go hand in hand!

Blackstar · 10-04-2008, 19:35

I loved my little fiesta, she was brilliant. My little sister has a punto wouldn't know anything about it yet, she hasn't even driven it as she naffed off to Italy the day after passing her test.
I would probably go for a fiesta in your position, cheap to run and insure.

Kell_ee001 · 10-04-2008, 19:36

Clio is probably my first choice as I think they're lovely little cars, but most I've seen advertised as around the £4K range

Hadn't considered a Focus though! Don't really want a Polo though for the simple reason my sister already has one as well

I'm not too fussed about insurance tbh as I've got 7 (8 come June) years NCB and I'm old enough to not be too much of a risk

Dr. Z · 10-04-2008, 19:40

Comparatively speaking, a Focus will be newer for the money and if you shop wisely will have full electric everything, air con and if you don't mind the bigger engined variants (depending on your view of fuel costs and insurance etc) you will get leather and stuff like that.

On the other hand, a Clio will probably be more girly and if you are crap at parking, it might be easier to park.

Beware of the middle-shape round clios if you are looking at them, check to make sure the bonnet catch at the front hasn't rusted away - fairly common / major issue on these.

Blackstar · 10-04-2008, 19:43

DRZ is probably right about the Focus really they are good and cheap.

Kell_ee001 · 10-04-2008, 19:45

Oi!

I can park like a pro thanks DRZ!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRZ

Beware of the middle-shape round clios if you are looking at them, check to make sure the bonnet catch at the front hasn't rusted away - fairly common / major issue on these.

That's good advice! It's the kind of thing I'd never know of looking for

Blackstar, it is one I'll look into

Justsomebloke · 10-04-2008, 19:48

Blimey what a Minefield

Sorting a car out for a women is a nightmare but seeings it's the Interweb I'll be brave & ask a few questions first.
What are you going to use the car for ? How many miles do you do a week ? Where will it be parked ? How many people do you usually carry ?
I know they seem irrelavant to a woman but just humour me & answer them

Burble · 10-04-2008, 19:57

DRZ is spot on, a Focus is well worth considering.

Also, speaking as a keen driver, they're a much nicer drive than just about anything Corsa sized that I can think of.

Kell_ee001 · 10-04-2008, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by malc30

What are you going to use the car for ? How many miles do you do a week ? Where will it be parked ? How many people do you usually carry ?

Work, food shopping and close-ish meets!
Average week, not many. 75 miles max if I'm not going to a meet maybe?
Out front of the flat in the street.
2 people a lot of the time, 3 most usually when I take my parents out and about

10-04-2008, 19:22	#1
Kell_ee001 Wants Big Meat Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newcastle Posts: 6,478	Looking for some advice please! Stay with me here because I know nothing about cars at all! But! I both want and need a new (well, new to me) car in the next couple of months which is where I'd like some advice. Ok, this much I know... I'm looking for a little car similar to my Corsa (so something along the lines of a Fiat Punto or Renault Clio?) but not another Corsa, a Ka or a Smart Car. I'm after used (obviously) and under £2K, but the further under that the better to be honest Where you guys come in... what should I look for? Other than the colour (showing my n00bness there!) I have no idea what's important! How do I know it's a good price? Are there particular things I should be looking out for? Are there makes / models I should avoid and are there any that will skyrocket my insurance? And on a related topic, how do I get rid of my current beat-up mess of a car?! Give me real basic, don't worry about offending me because I'd rather you think you're pointing out something obvious than me not think of it if you didn't! I'm very nervous about all this because there isn't really anyone who can come look at cars with me that know what they're doing and this is a lot of money for me to spend - but it needs doing now! Thank you in advance! __________________

10-04-2008, 19:29	#2
Dr. Z I'm going for a scuttle... Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,021	£2k will probably get you a 1999/2000 Ford Focus, which is probably where I would be looking unless you thought they were too big for you or whatever I personally wouldn't touch a Corsa with a bargepole, nor would I bother with something Italian like a Punto. Clio isnt a bad little car My sister has a Polo, which will command a ridiculous premium for being a VW (the reliability stories are all a myth IMO) and thats not a bad little car at all. EDIT: 30s on autotrader turned up examples like this: http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...0&max_mileage= One piece of advice I will give you is that at this sort of price, condition is vastly more important than (low) mileage and the two don't always go hand in hand! __________________ Last edited by Dr. Z; 10-04-2008 at 19:32.

10-04-2008, 19:35	#3
Blackstar Ambassador of Awesome Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edinburger Posts: 3,676	I loved my little fiesta, she was brilliant. My little sister has a punto wouldn't know anything about it yet, she hasn't even driven it as she naffed off to Italy the day after passing her test. I would probably go for a fiesta in your position, cheap to run and insure. __________________ Jim Garrahy's Fudge Kitchen

10-04-2008, 19:36	#4
Kell_ee001 Wants Big Meat Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newcastle Posts: 6,478	Clio is probably my first choice as I think they're lovely little cars, but most I've seen advertised as around the £4K range Hadn't considered a Focus though! Don't really want a Polo though for the simple reason my sister already has one as well I'm not too fussed about insurance tbh as I've got 7 (8 come June) years NCB and I'm old enough to not be too much of a risk __________________

10-04-2008, 19:40	#5
Dr. Z I'm going for a scuttle... Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,021	Comparatively speaking, a Focus will be newer for the money and if you shop wisely will have full electric everything, air con and if you don't mind the bigger engined variants (depending on your view of fuel costs and insurance etc) you will get leather and stuff like that. On the other hand, a Clio will probably be more girly and if you are crap at parking, it might be easier to park. Beware of the middle-shape round clios if you are looking at them, check to make sure the bonnet catch at the front hasn't rusted away - fairly common / major issue on these. __________________

10-04-2008, 19:43	#6
Blackstar Ambassador of Awesome Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edinburger Posts: 3,676	DRZ is probably right about the Focus really they are good and cheap. __________________ Jim Garrahy's Fudge Kitchen

10-04-2008, 19:48	#8
Justsomebloke The Night Worker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,228	Blimey what a Minefield Sorting a car out for a women is a nightmare but seeings it's the Interweb I'll be brave & ask a few questions first. What are you going to use the car for ? How many miles do you do a week ? Where will it be parked ? How many people do you usually carry ? I know they seem irrelavant to a woman but just humour me & answer them __________________

10-04-2008, 19:57	#9
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	DRZ is spot on, a Focus is well worth considering. Also, speaking as a keen driver, they're a much nicer drive than just about anything Corsa sized that I can think of.