First Car Advice and Costs

Kehoejck

Hi guys, I wish to obtain some advice regarding buying my first car and also a rough estimate of the costs.

I am looking for a low powered diesal car preferably to cut fuel costs. Considering its my furst car 1-1.2 or so would be fine I'd imagine, just enough to get me to and from work everyday. I woulden't be doing too much more driving than this.

If anyone could possibly help and:
1. Suggest a suitable car and rough costs (willing to spend about 4k max if needed)
2. Insurance for such a car and for first time driver.
3. Tax for the car.

I was initially thinking a Ford Fiesta. Anyway, all suggestions welcome and appreciated!

colm_mcm

What would your weekly mileage be and what sort of driving will it be.

Wheres My ForkandKnife

Really dont get this obsession with diesel at the moment.Diesel does not automatically mean a fuel cost saving.If you are doing high mileage you will save.If you dont have a long commute and only potter to work and the shops any saving will be negligible.

Work out what you use the car for and then see if it makes sense to buy diesel.Buy a diesel if that's what you need.

People seem to spend an inordinate amount of time these days trying to save a fiver.Life is too short!

BTW I am not anti diesel.There are two cars outside my house, one diesel and one petrol.Horses for courses.

dar83

Wheres My ForkandKnife wrote: »

Really dont get this obsession with diesel at the moment.

But it's 10c!!! cheaper at the pumps!

Zubeneschamali

Kehoejck wrote: »

Considering its my furst car 1-1.2 or so would be fine I'd imagine, just enough to get me to and from work everyday. I woulden't be doing too much more driving than this.

€2K for a car like a 1.25 Fiesta Ghia. Insurance with no no-claims-bonus depends on your age/license, but let's guess €1.6K. Tax is nothing in comparison, €330. You'll be doing say 10K km at 7 l/100km, 700 l of petrol at say 1.65 a litre, €1155, add in €200 or so for a service and a few bits, you get a first year cost of:

€4205.

You might need a new set of tyres, too, for another, €300, depends what it comes with.

Any or all of those numbers may be off, but you can monkey with the details yourself. Don't forget to add finance costs if you borrow the €4K.

Wheres My ForkandKnife

In Aldi at the weekend and saw a multipack of lager which worked out at 0.75c per can.This represents a saving of €4, give or take, on pub prices.I'm sure if you drank enough of them you would stil be drunk and the hangover would feel the same:D.But there is a bit more to it, isn't there!!

Seriously though, if I were looking for a car tomorrow I would find a car I liked firstly.Then I would look into the costs to see if it was viable. At this point it's a balancing act between what you want and what you can afford.

C4Kid

dar83 wrote: »

But it's 10c!!! cheaper at the pumps!

But the problem is this, a diesel equivalent of petrol model will cost a fair few €€€'s more to start with and more to tax if on the old system.

Thus, why You need to do decent milage to recoup the initial saving!

Thats the diesel theorem

colm_mcm

We really need to introduce sarcasm tags

Kehoejck

Thanks for all the comments everyone, appreciated!

http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=730173&r=s.php%3Fm%3D72%26o%3D619%26e%3D4000%26nx%3D6%26g%3D0%26z%3D6

I was actually thinking of a 1.4 Megane like the above, something with low mileage that would last me a while. I like the style/look of the car as well as the interior.

So budgeted the following:
Car - €3,000
Insurance - €200
Tax - €358
Petrol - €2600 (€50 p/week max)
Maintenance/Service - €550

Total €8,508 in Year 1 and annual costs thereafter €5,508.

1. Does such a budget seem correct?
2. Would a 1.4 engine be a bit excessive for a first time driver?

Thanks a lot,
Jck

wandererz

If you buy that or any renault megane it will be a lessen hard learnt.

As a first car, stay away from all Renaults in fact.

It may look good but you will regret it later. And it will cost you far more than you've budgeted there.
Especially as an 11 year old vehicle - believe me, it's the beginning of a whole lot of heartache and grief you simply don't want to bother yourself with.

Probably start looking at a Ford Focus or something.

A-Trak

Kehoejck wrote: »

So budgeted the following:
Insurance - €200


Thanks a lot,
Jck

That insurance seems very optimistic. €1200 would more like it if your first car with zero no claims discount.

I'd ring around the insurance companies first to see what you're looking at.

leeomurchu

A-Trak wrote: »

That insurance seems very optimistic. €1200 would more like it if your first car with zero no claims discount.

I'd ring around the insurance companies first to see what you're looking at.

I reckon €1200 would be cheap for your first car I assume you've no claims and a provisional licence I'd be thinkin €2k at least possibly more.

As for buying a Renault for your first car I'd think again that post about the ford was a good one but if you know a bit about automotive electrics the Renault is alright and safe.

If the window motors aren't gone already i'd be prepared to replace them at some point although you could so this yourself if you're handy.

Get a low cc petrol car and you'll be right if you're gonna be eating up the mileage on the motor way then get a diesel.

wandererz

On second thoughts I didn't mean to sound negative without being constructive as well.

So, a quick scout around the net brings up this beauty.

I'm not a ford nut or anything but the Focus is one of the best selling cars in the Uk & Ireland (at least that's what i heard). So plenty of spare parts available and also known for its reliability.

So, fitting within the 1.4L size of the renault + low mileage, ford service history, electrics that won't give you grief etc.

Slightly more than 3K of course, but a bit of negotiation will get that down. And hopefully give you many moons of trouble free motoring.

leeomurchu

wandererz wrote: »

On second thoughts I didn't mean to sound negative without being constructive as well.

So, a quick scout around the net brings up this beauty.

I'm not a ford nut or anything but the Focus is one of the best selling cars in the Uk & Ireland (at least that's what i heard). So plenty of spare parts available and also known for its reliability.

So, fitting within the 1.4L size of the renault + low mileage, ford service history, electrics that won't give you grief etc.

Slightly more than 3K of course, but a bit negotiation will get that down.

tidy car but that sales mans not taking his tablets €3850 maybe for a diesel version but not for a petrol one.

What about a VW golf great little cars go mad and get a GTI you may need to take out a mortgage for the insurance though :eek:

dgt

1 Litre diesel???

Only one I can think of...

leeomurchu

dgt wrote: »

1 Litre diesel???

Only one I can think of...

she's a beauty alright

wandererz

That cars not going to take much servicing in year 1 - assuming everything checks out and tyres etc are in good condition and its been recently serviced.

So the OP walks in with 3k in one pocket plus another 200-300 in another and insists on 3K. He/she probably ends up settling on 3300.

Ends up with a low mileage car for it's age, which is probably going to be less grief than the megane.