Buying my first car- could use some help

ontheroadsoon

Hello.
I'm 20/female and I have had 6 lessons so far. The problem is my parents don't drive so I can't practise and I could do with it! I also have been let go at work and offered another job that's 30 miles away so it's time to stop procrastinating and get on the road.

As I say my parents dont drive and I don't have anyone in the family who is willing to help me out with buying my first car. I've done some research online and I'm thinking a 1L would be cheapest for me to insure and run and a Yaris would be most reliable.

I have a budget of 2,000 max. And am open to any advice or recommendations on makes/models that you think would be suitable.

I also want to ask about test driving cars. As I don't have insurance yet would I need to get someone to come with me to test drive the car and drive it home for me?

Thank you all!

Micra, get an insurance quote in advance, decide what quote you want, then ring up at the dealer/etc to get the insurance there and then

As you are on a provisional, you need someone with you anyway, don't drive on your own

ADIDriving

Toyota gives you a better car for more money. Kia Picanto gives you a nice car for less money. You do get what you pay for. But haggle like several hundred euro depends on it, because several hundred euro depends on it.
The test drives are done on the garages insurance. You don't have to take the car home there and then. You can get the insurance done, then take it home. When you have definately decided on the car, get loads of insurance quotes because ( again ) several hundred euro depends on it.
PS Congrats on the new job.

LookBehindYou

Bring someone with you who knows a bit about cars to check the car out.
Get insurance quotes on different small cars before you decide on any car.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

softmee

I am in simililar situation as OP, i am only just a bit older . What you think about opel corsa or vw polo? Is that true that corsa with 1.0 engine is not good for some reason?
-and i dont know if i want to bother with getting car mechanic to check the car -isnt new nct good enough to make sure car is fine?

Compton

If you're older an value youself in any way dont get a small underpowered uncomfortable hatchback.get a mazda 6 or something.

softmee

But my budget for car is also about 2000 -max 2500, so there is not much choice. What you exactly mean by "something" ?

softmee

shblob wrote: »

If you're older an value youself in any way dont get a small underpowered uncomfortable hatchback.get a mazda 6 or something.

Mazda6?

http://carsireland.ie/search-results.php?make_id=51&model_id=410&reg_year=&search-used-submit=Search+Used+Cars

With 1.8 engine? :eek: I dont need that big -seriously. I am driving like a granny so far. :pac:

Alanstrainor

softmee wrote: »

But my budget for car is also about 2000 -max 2500, so there is not much choice. What you exactly mean by "something" ?

There's a tonne of choice in that price range.
Yaris.
Micra.
Fiesta.
Ka.
Clio.
Focus.
They're just a few i could think of off the top of my head. All of the above can be bought for that kind of money.
I wouldn't be too afraid of a 1.8, a mazda 6 is a large car so in reality it's not going to be that much quicker than any of the above. It will take a few hours to get used to the size of it, but people always blow the idea of slightly larger cars way out of proportion.

softmee

Thanks alanstrainor -I know all those cars, but the quastion is -which one! what you think about something like :

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1855543

-and do i need mechanic if car has a new nct?

Compton

Get a fiesta 1.25 zetec if you're going for a small hatchback

Alanstrainor

An NCT is meaningless. You most definitely need to get a mechanic to check out any car you want to buy. Although a car having a long NCT is obviously better than a car having none.

If it was my money, i'd find the best fiesta 1.25 you can find. You should be able to find one with AC and a cd player. They're a nice nippy car, and they are quite reliable too.

That being said, a yaris or a micra would also be good buys, both are incredibly reliable. Take each car as they come, because at your price point, it's more down to the individual car than a particular type.

Compton

A micra would also be good, as said above you'll be able to get a newer micra or fiesta than yaris as they seem to hold their value far too well.

softmee

Fiesta like that one :

http://carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=420770&r=s.php%3Fm%3D26%26o%3D252%26g%3D1 ?

Its horrible. I much prefer corsa or nissan like this one :

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1899822

but its hard to find new body shape for less then 2000.

Alanstrainor

softmee wrote: »

Fiesta like that one :

http://carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=420770&r=s.php%3Fm%3D26%26o%3D252%26g%3D1 ?

Its horrible. I much prefer corsa or nissan like this one :

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1899822

but its hard to find new body shape for less then 2000.

Blerghhhhh. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that i suppose!

I'm not a huge fan of that gen corsa. Stay away from the 1.0 litre and all cost though, it's a disaster. If you're going to even look at one look at the 1.2. But even then i'm not a huge fan.

Compton

corsas are a heap of crap, go ahead buy one if you want, and make sure you don't get a mechanic to look over it. good luck

softmee

shblob wrote: »

corsas are a heap of crap, go ahead buy one if you want, and make sure you don't get a mechanic to look over it. good luck

Oh jesus, i was only asking. I know nothing about cars and i want it not only not to die after a month but also look ok. I dont expect to get a porshe for 2000, but there must one that will be good inside and i wont hate the way it looks!

Is Volkswagen Polo heap of crap too? Or lupo? http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1951346

Alanstrainor

softmee wrote: »

Oh jesus, i was only asking. I know nothing about cars and i want it not only not to die after a month but also look ok. I dont expect to get a porshe for 2000, but there must one that will be good inside and i wont hate the way it looks!

Is Volkswagen Polo heap of crap too? Or lupo? http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1951346

I have an 03 Polo. I don't rate them tbh. They're simply not worth the cash. And despite the reputation they have, i wouldn't describe it as nice to drive, and the interior isn't all that nice either.

For the money, i'd look elsewhere.

softmee

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I have an 03 Polo. I don't rate them tbh. They're simply not worth the cash. And despite the reputation they have, i wouldn't describe it as nice to drive, and the interior isn't all that nice either.

For the money, i'd look elsewhere.

But where? Nobody told me yet and i am not buying Fiesta. :pac:

softmee

Maybe i should wait a while and buy nice MICRA for up to 3000?

Compton

you can't get a car that doesn't ever breakdown and looks like a ferrari and is a 1l for 2000.

Compton

softmee wrote: »

Maybe i should wait a while and buy nice MICRA for up to 3000?

no such thing as a nice micra since the k10's they look like a frog.

softmee

shblob wrote: »

you can't get a car that doesn't ever breakdown and looks like a ferrari and is a 1l for 2000.

Thanks for enlightening me and beeing helpfull.

Compton

at the end of the day it's your choice, they're all gonna need to be in the garage from time to time don't forget you need to service them too

softmee

shblob wrote: »

they're all gonna need to be in the garage from time to time don't forget you need to service them too

I suppose wome more often then other and thats why i am asking.. or maybe its just a matter of luck.

Raskolnikov

A Mazda 6 for a beginner is a ridiculous suggestion. Even for a lady, you're looking at ridiculous money just for the tax and insurance. Someone with 6 lessons is going to appreciate a small hatchback much more than a large saloon, especially when it comes to basics such as parallel parking, reversing around a corner, nipping in and out of traffic, etc. Once you've passed your test and you're comfortable on the road then by all means get something with a little more oomph (which will be at least a year in your case, given you need a few months on the road after a test to become truly proficient). Remember, you're still learning, so you want to make things as easy as possible for yourself.

For the record, my wife has recently passed her test in a Peugeot 106. Great car for a learner. It handles great, has a lovely clean biting point on the clutch and is nippy enough on take off. If you don't drive it like you stole it, you can easily get 50 mpg out of it. You wouldn't even need to spend €2000 on one of these. I bet you can get a perfectly good example of one with at least 1 year NCT and a recently service history for less than €1k on donedeal. Assuming you took care of it, you could probably flog it for the same price you paid for it even after a year. Personally, I would buy something like this to keep my costs down, drive the wheels off it for a year and then save like mad and get something substantial that you'll really appreciate when you've passed your test.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1953904
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1933706
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1961143

etc.

softmee

Looks like there is as many opinions as people... I was told many times to avoid french cars, but i do like them. But still, i would rather buy 206 :

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1953773

They have much nicer interiors and look better all together then micra, fiat and ford.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

softmee

Ok, but i can spend 2000 on it, so i dont want a car from 1998! :pac: I think i can find one from 2002/3 and still small -no?

Raskolnikov

softmee wrote: »

Looks like there is as many opinions as people... I was told many times to avoid french cars, but i do like them. But still, i would rather buy 206

You hear an awful lot of nonsense when it comes to cars at times (i.e. all French cars are rubbish, all German cars are brilliant, etc). The reality is always more complicated than that. First thing, small French cars are generally pretty decent. If you look around, you will see lots of ancient Renault Clio's/Peugeot 106/206's/Citroen Saxo's. Secondly, an awful lot of problems with cars are caused because their owners don't take care of them. Small problems that are ignored usually become bigger problems. Unless you buy a complete lemon (of which there aren't too many in the small car market), then you should be fine.

softmee

Raskolnikov wrote: »

You hear an awful lot of nonsense when it comes to cars at times (i.e. all French cars are rubbish, all German cars are brilliant, etc). The reality is always more complicated than that. First thing, small French cars are generally pretty decent. If you look around, you will see lots of ancient Renault Clio's/Peugeot 106/206's/Citroen Saxo's. Secondly, an awful lot of problems with cars are caused because their owners don't take care of them. Small problems that are ignored usually become bigger problems. Unless you buy a complete lemon (of which there aren't too many in the small car market), then you should be fine.

So what you think about 206. I was also told, that gas and clatch pedals are more delicate in french cars -i dont want this as its more difficult for me to feel the biting point and to start -is that true?

Raskolnikov

A 206 is ok, have you looked at the Renault Clio though? Here's a 2003 one that you could get for 2000 - http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1963655 Assuming all the electrics are fine, the clutch and gear changes are snappy, and the engine runs smooth, then you could do a heck of a lot worse.

You really have to have someone that knows cars with you though. There are a lot of people out there selling lemons, the problem with French cars is that if they aren't taken care of, then they become a complete nightmare.

softmee

I will definitely ask somebody for help with buying as i also dont know which car should cost what - i am following pages like done deal and other for a while and some prices are from the moon.

softmee

shblob wrote: »

If you're older an value youself in any way dont get a small underpowered uncomfortable hatchback.get a mazda 6 or something.

I value myself in many ways .. but it has nothing to do with how big my car is gonna be. This is the way some man try to add some value to themselfs.. :pac:

softmee

Does anybody know something about Rover Streetwise :

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1924519

Is it a good car? How much would be the tax? I dont know why, but i just love it.

ha-ya-said-what

softmee wrote: »

Does anybody know something about Rover Streetwise :

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1924519

Is it a good car? How much would be the tax? I dont know why, but i just love it.

with regards to the 206 they are p*** poor to build up speed in! I took one out for a few spins last year, couldn't cope with how slow it was to pick up!

As for tax you can check all the rates on motortax.ie Rover I know loads started out with them and had them for years, once you get one that have gotten the nod of approval from a mechanic ya should be ok.

Also you can go for anything 1lt to 1.4lt on the same price range for insurace if your clever enough about your ways.

Raskolnikov

softmee wrote: »

Does anybody know something about Rover Streetwise :

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1924519

Is it a good car? How much would be the tax? I dont know why, but i just love it.

Nothing wrong with a Rover 25. The only thing is that that's a 2.0l turbo diesel. You might want to check your insurance quote on that. Motor tax would be €600 a year as well.