Buying a cheap (2k) car for first timer - tips?

Zascar

My girlfriend is buying her first car, she has just got a provisional license and now needs to think about what car to get. Taking a quick look on carzone there are actually hundreds of decent little cars for under 2k - quite surprising actually - I'm glad you don't have to spend big money to get a decent starter runaround.

I'm sure loads of people here have probably done the same so I'm looking for some advice. When you are only spending such a small amount of money you're options are limited but the risk can be high. She's just looking for a reliable little runaround that is cheap to insure (She's 27 but only just got her provisional). I'm looking for recommendations - any suggestions please?

I'd be inclined to buy from a dealer for that little bit of piece of mind, even a 3 month warranty would be handy. In terms of makes, I'm a fan of jap cars but searching on carzone etc there seems to be way more things like Dawoo etc - but plenty of Fiat Punto's etc too.

Where should I start? Are there are dealers who are good for a decent selection of cheap starter cars?

Fiesta 1.25 is a fine little bus.

Vertakill

I'd go with a Yaris. Allbeit only a 1.0litre but shouldn't cause any problems and should be handy enough for doing a driving test in.

Plug

Stay away from punto's and dawoo's, rubbish. A fiesta 1.25 as mentioned or a focus 1.4 hatch? Bullet proof cars.

Max Power1

Yeah i'll second the Fiesta nomination... I had a 96 fiesta until this week, great yoke it is too! Feels and drives like a car a class above itself but with all the handling and vision of a supermini

I had the 1.3 but they are each as good as each other when your'e a learner!

Zascar

Will there be much of a difference between a 1.0 to 1.3 etc with insurance? I think 1l cars are grossly underpowered, its almost unsafe to drive them. If it does not make that much of a difference I'd prefer if she had a slightly more able engine...

Plug why do you say stay away from Punto's? I thought they were pretty good little cars?

Cuddlesworth

Zascar wrote: »

Will there be much of a difference between a 1.0 to 1.3 etc with insurance? I think 1l cars are grossly underpowered, its almost unsafe to drive them. If it does not make that much of a difference I'd prefer if she had a slightly more able engine...

Plug why do you say stay away from Punto's? I thought they were pretty good little cars?

Power to weight. A 1 litre Yaris isn't much slower then a 1.4litre Focus.

And stay away from Punto's in that price range. The new ones are good, the old have engine and electrical problems.

amck1909

Zascar wrote: »

Will there be much of a difference between a 1.0 to 1.3 etc with insurance? I think 1l cars are grossly underpowered, its almost unsafe to drive them. If it does not make that much of a difference I'd prefer if she had a slightly more able engine...

Plug why do you say stay away from Punto's? I thought they were pretty good little cars?

With insurance, as a learner the smaller the engine the cheaper the insurance, smaller engine means smaller car. Anything up to a 1.2 should be ok. As a girl she will get it much cheaper as well, but i would look into putting a fully licensed driver on as a named driver, it brings the cost down as well. i got €250 back when I did it

Try zurich lady cover, or the likes. my 1st policy was €800 on a provisional 1.2 polo.

Good Luck

My sister's first car was a Ka, think she was 27/28 at time, provisional, no previous driving experience, the insurance on the 1.3 Ka was small money to be honest. Females over 25 are treated quite fairly by the insurance folks. I reckon the 1.25 Fiesta would be insurance friendly for a lady in your girlfriends agegroup.

unkel

RoverJames wrote: »

My sister's first car was a Ka, think she was 27/28 at time, provisional, no previous driving experience, the insurance on the 1.3 Ka was small money to be honest. Females over 25 are treated quite fairly by the insurance folks. I reckon the 1.25 Fiesta would be insurance friendly for a lady in your girlfriends agegroup.

+1

At the time my wife had her first car on a provisional, it didn't make any difference between various cars from 1l to 1.3l. All quotes were very reasonable.

alias no.9

RoverJames wrote: »

My sister's first car was a Ka, think she was 27/28 at time, provisional, no previous driving experience, the insurance on the 1.3 Ka was small money to be honest. Females over 25 are treated quite fairly by the insurance folks. I reckon the 1.25 Fiesta would be insurance friendly for a lady in your girlfriends agegroup.

I'll second the Ka, my wife had one as her first car and my sister currently has one. They're cheap, mechanically simple and very surefooted. The one thing to watch for is rust.

H8GHOTI

I'm actually in the exact same situation.
I think the best looking small car, you'd get for that price, is the Peugeot 206.
My gf likes the Yaris too. Either of them would be my pick.
Nothing wrong with Fiestas. My sister has a 00 one and it's grand. But I think it looks it's age. The 206 & Yaris look a bit more modern even though they are 10 years old.

langdang

Can I recommend that if the car is to be used regularly on country roads that you at least be aware if prospective purchases have ABS or not. Not knocking Ka's or Fiesta's, but depending on the vintage there's a chance they wouldn't have ABS.

Beware of shady car dealers advertising 1.3 (old engine) Fords as 1.25 models (new engine) then trying to convince you that the 1.3 engine is better "because there's no timing belt and if the power steering belt goes you can bodge it with a pair of tights"
Maybe that's just a north kerry thing to prefer pushrod engines

At this stage I'll make my usual plug for a Mazda 323 (the 1.3 would be very slow in these in fairness) but should be do-able to get a nice one with airbags and ABS for 2k.

Zascar

What do people think of the Fiat Stilo? She really likes the look of it - but any I've seen at the € low end don't look great

Max_Damage

Ford Escort.

They maybe a bit dated, but they're reliable (post 1995 ones anyway), easy on juice, and easy to maintain.

znv6i3h7kqf9ys

Have a look at this Ford Puma. It's within your budget and from a dealer.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Puma/new-nct-/201016197741053/advert?channel=CARS

langdang

Max_Damage wrote: »

Ford Escort.

They maybe a bit dated, but they're reliable (post 1995 ones anyway), easy on juice, and easy to maintain.

Ah lad, times are tough I know, but come on! A corolla xli or mazda 323 would be a way better buy then a similar vintage escort! There's a reason they dropped the name and started with a clean slate!
A good puma would be a handy buy alright tho..

Cuddlesworth

Careful of older cars, they carry increased loading with insurance company's.

langdang

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Careful of older cars, they carry increased loading with insurance company's.

Yes, you'd want to be getting a good deal on anything over 10 years old
a)because of insurance loading. Mine has 4 airbags and ABS but is subject to a loading for being a 2 years older than a poverty spec Focus with no ABS and 2 airbags.
b)99, 97 etc cars may only get a 1 year NCT, depending what part of 2011 they are due.
00 or 98 will be NCT'd this year and will get a full 2 years this time, and 1 years nct from 2012 on...

(Correct me if I'm wrong - the annual NCT will apply to all cars over 10 years old NCT after June 2011?)