Advice needed for newcomer!

Jack O Diamonds

I am thinking of learning to drive,buying a car etc. and would appreciate your thoughts on these questions.Thanks in advance for any help I get!
1. I am on the lowest rung of the income ladder so the car will be quite a few years old.I am thinking 1 litre to keep tax and insurance down.What would be the most reliable car to buy and cheapest to repair? I`m open to suggestion,but I have taken a fancy to a peugeot 106!
2.Should I be thinking of buying a car at all or waiting and try to get the test done etc?
Sorry if this all sounds a bit dumb,but I`m new to all this.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.Thanks.

DriveSkill

Jack O Diamonds wrote: »

1. I am on the lowest rung of the income ladder so the car will be quite a few years old.I am thinking 1 litre to keep tax and insurance down.What would be the most reliable car to buy and cheapest to repair? I`m open to suggestion,but I have taken a fancy to a peugeot 106!

There is no single reliable car and no matter what car you pick you will find someone who has had a horror story with the make/model and would 'never buy again' Its sensible to be looking at the small 1 litre cars so Micra, Yaris, 106 that you mentioned etc. Obviously the newer you get the more likely it will be to need little repair in the immediate future. Best option is to look at a few within your budget, see what you like, see you feel comfortable in the drivers seat (if you're over 6' things will be tight in some of them). Get some insurance quotes and then compare overall cost.
All that being said, read my answer to question 2 before you do anything!

Jack O Diamonds wrote: »

2.Should I be thinking of buying a car at all or waiting and try to get the test done etc?
Sorry if this all sounds a bit dumb,but I`m new to all this.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.Thanks.

The main point to be made here is the current legislation - you cannot drive alone on a Learner Permit. Therefore the logic in buying your own car while still learning to drive is generally flawed. The better option is to spend some money on driving lessons and pass the test and then go shopping for your own car. There is little point in spending a few grand on a car which will sit in a driveway depreciating for at least 6 months (you cant do the test for at least 6 months from the date of your first Learner Permit). Now there are some exceptions, for example if you are sure you will have an accompanying driver at all times then buying a car may be an option but I'd still highly recommend doing a few (say 5-10) driving lessons before even considering it.

Best of luck with the driving!

Alanstrainor

Well said DriveSkill, and i have to agree.
I would get 5-10 lessons before even thinking of buying a car, at least then you'll get a chance to see how you're progressing. As DriveSkill mentioned, there's not much point in buying a car just to have it sitting unused for the most part.
And as for types of cars to be looking for, i'd be looking at a ford fiesta 1.25 litre, don't be put off my the extra .25 of a litre, it's nothing to be worried about, and the additional cost will be negligible. There are plenty about, they're cheap, and parts are cheap for them, and they are reliable.
Do you have any budget in mind?

Jack O Diamonds

DriveSkill wrote: »

There is no single reliable car and no matter what car you pick you will find someone who has had a horror story with the make/model and would 'never buy again' Its sensible to be looking at the small 1 litre cars so Micra, Yaris, 106 that you mentioned etc. Obviously the newer you get the more likely it will be to need little repair in the immediate future. Best option is to look at a few within your budget, see what you like, see you feel comfortable in the drivers seat (if you're over 6' things will be tight in some of them). Get some insurance quotes and then compare overall cost.
All that being said, read my answer to question 2 before you do anything!



The main point to be made here is the current legislation - you cannot drive alone on a Learner Permit. Therefore the logic in buying your own car while still learning to drive is generally flawed. The better option is to spend some money on driving lessons and pass the test and then go shopping for your own car. There is little point in spending a few grand on a car which will sit in a driveway depreciating for at least 6 months (you cant do the test for at least 6 months from the date of your first Learner Permit). Now there are some exceptions, for example if you are sure you will have an accompanying driver at all times then buying a car may be an option but I'd still highly recommend doing a few (say 5-10) driving lessons before even considering it.

Best of luck with the driving!

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions,very grateful to you.It certainly gave me more things to think about! I`m not in any great hurry with this,pretty much determined to take my time and look at all the options, it is nice to be able to come on here and ask people like yourself for help and tips. Again,thanks for your advice.Hope you have yourself a good week. Thanks,Jack.

Jack O Diamonds

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Well said DriveSkill, and i have to agree.
I would get 5-10 lessons before even thinking of buying a car, at least then you'll get a chance to see how you're progressing. As DriveSkill mentioned, there's not much point in buying a car just to have it sitting unused for the most part.
And as for types of cars to be looking for, i'd be looking at a ford fiesta 1.25 litre, don't be put off my the extra .25 of a litre, it's nothing to be worried about, and the additional cost will be negligible. There are plenty about, they're cheap, and parts are cheap for them, and they are reliable.
Do you have any budget in mind?

No definite budget in mind, I am hoping that it won`t go too far above 3000euro or so. I have been looking at the fiestas and they do seem to be in and around my price range,although to be honest I definitely felt more comfortable in the peugeot 106.Still,I have heard a lot of good things said about the fiesta. It had been putting me off buying with the thought of it sitting idle in the yard and still needing tax and insurance. Would going up above the 1 litre have any effect on insurance costs or just on the tax?
At least I don`t have to rush into any of this,so for now I`ll try and get as much advice as possible,and do a LOT of thinking!!! Thanks a million for your help,God knows I need it!!! Thanks again.Jack.