Lady buyer needing advice please!

amberbean123

I am looking to buy a new car. through a garage only, as i have no idea on cars.
I am trying to keep my budget low.and it needs to be a 5 door with a baby! also lower than 1.4 too.

Anyone have any ideas?


I currently have a 00 Honda Civic, not modified and only 78000 miles, full honda service history and in great nic, apart from the odd scratch! Garages have offered me 1500-2000 as a trade in, however i cant find anything to trade it in. I am willing to put 3-3500 towards a car alongside my own.
so far i have found two POSSIBLE options.

A) seat ibiza, 1.2, 68000 miles. 3300 alongside my car. Nice car but quite dirty as was owned by an elderly farmer.
opel astra, 1.4, 14800 km? but 4000 alongside my car. a bit out of my price range but it is a better sized car. I much prefer the space in this car, bootwise and driving wise.

I found the ibiza felt quite cramped when driving, like the handle to move your seat was digging into my leg, and it was a very tight squeeze for my buggy.

I know NOTHING on cars and I am at my wits end as baby is ready for booster seat but it doesn't fit in my car so i am in a hurry!

Help!!

keithclancy

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Skoda/Fabia/COMBI-AM/29213446262176850/advert?channel=CARS

Skoda Fabia Estate ?

Ticks the boxes for luggage anyway.
Also its a 1.2 so smaller as you need.

amberbean123

keithclancy wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Skoda/Fabia/COMBI-AM/29213446262176850/advert?channel=CARS

Skoda Fabia Estate ?

Ticks the boxes for luggage anyway.
Also its a 1.2 so smaller as you need.

Possibly a little too big?
ive never driven anything bigger than a civic so it would be alot bigger to park! and a small bit out of my price range.. location wise its great though, very close to me so i might take a look. Thank you!

mark renton

keithclancy wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Skoda/Fabia/COMBI-AM/29213446262176850/advert?channel=CARS

Skoda Fabia Estate ?

Ticks the boxes for luggage anyway.
Also its a 1.2 so smaller as you need.

Good lord, ye have to be asking for trouble puttin a 1.2 engine into a car that size

Tea 1000

amberbean123 wrote: »

Possibly a little too big?
ive never driven anything bigger than a civic so it would be alot bigger to park! and a small bit out of my price range.. location wise its great though, very close to me so i might take a look. Thank you!

Is your Civic a 3dr or saloon? Surely it'll take a booster seat? They just sit on top of the existing seat and the belt goes through them?
In any case, why not look for another Civic? Something like this:
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Civic/201230209303566/advert?channel=CARS
You could sell yours privately handy enough.

Tea 1000

john47832 wrote: »

Good lord, ye have to be asking for trouble puttin a 1.2 engine into a car that size

It's not that big, it's basically a Polo with a different shell on it.

Francie Barrett

john47832 wrote: »

Good lord, ye have to be asking for trouble puttin a 1.2 engine into a car that size

The Fabia estate is actually lighter than the hatchback.

Chuck Stone

Honda Jazz would be perfect for you imo.

keithclancy

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Honda Jazz would be perfect for you imo.

Actually the Jazz sounds perfect if the Fabia is too big

Very useful space in it and a bit higher up than the civic for getting the kids in and out.

mark renton

Francie Barrett wrote: »

The Fabia estate is actually lighter than the hatchback.

I'd imagine to skoda that makes sense

bazz26

If you are used to the Civic reliability then stick with something like the Jazz.

keithclancy

bazz26 wrote: »

If you are used to the Civic reliability then stick with something like the Jazz.

I used to believe that, but I don't think you can generalise anymore, basically if you look after your car it will be reliable.

For some reason people think that if you have X marque you can just abuse it and it will never break down.

amberbean123

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Astra/CLUB-1.4/23713418443912280/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/SEAT/Ibiza/1.2-5DR-/27313428864370780/advert?channel=CARS

these are the two cars i have been looking at...

amberbean123

OSI wrote: »

Both the Fabia and Ibiza are based on the Polo so would be of similar enough size, with the Fabia being marginally longer.

I think you need to be a little more realistic in your expectations, you say it has to be a 5 door, and has to have room for a buggy, but the Ibiza is too small for a buggy, and the Fabia is too big. You're going to struggle to find a car bigger than the Ibiza with a 1.2 engine, especially for your kind of money.

Fabias in generall wouldn't be too big, however an estate version would be very long I think...

Del2005

amberbean123 wrote: »

I am looking to buy a new car. through a garage only, as i have no idea on cars.

Buying from a garage doesn't mean you won't get a dodgy motor. You need to get someone who knows cars to check it out for you regardless of where/who you buy off.

Francie Barrett

amberbean123 wrote: »

Fabias in generall wouldn't be too big, however an estate version would be very long I think...

Not really, it's shorter than my Passat.

bazz26

It's longer than the Civic that the OP is used to though.