First car (used) - budget €1300

JimmyPetrille

Hi I know there are many threads like this but I'm looking for a more specific recommendation for what i need

I have a learner permit and haven't had my own insurance (I believe a few years ago i was a named driver for a couple of months on a family members car but i have no record of this so don't think i can say it without knowing the dates)

Basically i am looking to spend no more than €1300 on the car itself, preferably less if possible. I'm 27 so not overly young and i have done around 28 hours of driving over the years, mainly during lessons. I'm in Dublin and doubt i will be making many long journeys.

basically i want

• a cheap car to run and maintain
• reliable
• 4 doors preferably as it will need a child seat in the back
• compact in size

I drove an instructors Clio and liked driving it a lot but i hear lots of bad stuff about them so I'm having second thoughts. Looks are pretty low on my list unless its absolutely hideous i don't really mind.



Any help would be great, thanks

Silane

Cheap to maintain and reliable for less than E1300 is a bit of an ask.

Maybe a micra?
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-micra/15034237

I've had a couple of Ford Focus's and I found them reasonably cheap to maintain and reliable, but they're not exactly compact

_Brian

Silane wrote: »

Cheap to maintain and reliable for less than E1300 is a bit of an ask.

Maybe a micra?
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-micra/15034237

I've had a couple of Ford Focus's and I found them reasonably cheap to maintain and reliable, but they're not exactly compact

Be hard to do much better..

Cee-Jay-Cee

I would go for something like this >> https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/kia-rio-2006-nct-amptax/14679860

Cheap, very reliable, easy to run and shouldn't give too much problems if serviced every year.

Silane

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I would go for something like this >> https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/kia-rio-2006-nct-amptax/14679860

Cheap, very reliable, easy to run and shouldn't give too much problems if serviced every year.

Yeah tax is nearly E400 though

colm_mcm

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/daihatsu-siron-1-0-like-toyota-yaris-fresh-nct/14591837

[/THREAD]

D0NNELLY

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-yaris/15031323

JimmyPetrille

Hi OP again here, didn't want to start a new thread. I took the advice from this thread and did some more research and have narrowed it down to the following options. Wondering what people think is the best option out of these?

1. TOYOTA YARIS
2. RENAULT CLIO
3. SKODA FABIA
4. HYUNDAI GETZ
5. SEAT IBIZA
6. CITROEN C1/ TOYOTA AYGO / PEUGEOT 107 (Practically same cars)

It would need to have 4 passenger doors as I'd be putting a car seat in the back. I read on another thread that a Yaris under a grand could well be dodgy so would it be worth going a bit over budget for the extra reliability? They seem to be by far the most recommended car on boards.

I have a bit of a soft spot for the Clio as it's the only one i have drove so far as my old instructor had one and i really liked the whole driving experience, although i think his was a 2005 model, probably be over my budget.

From getting a few quotes the C1 was probably the only car that i could get insurance for under 3 grand for (learner permit, no previous insurance, no named driving). €2.730 to be exact. All the other options seem to be in and around the same price to insure.

I don't know much about the Getz but it seems to have an ok rep. I like the look of the Ibiza's although looks aren't really a priority.

Basically i'm looking for something to learn in until i pass the test and to go on short 10km journeys (accompanied of course) nothing too major. I'd want something with the NCT until 2018. Doesn't seem to be many NCT'ed Fabia's about so may have to rule that out.

colm_mcm

Rule out the Fabia and Ibiza in my opinion. Too risky.

bazz26

Kia Picanto with long NCT:


https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/07-kia-picanto/15217944

Dannymole22

If you can fit it in your budget go for the Yaris all day.

Recently sold mine, had been in the family since new and never had any issues with it at all (asides from servicing, tyre changes etc.)

Never even got a recommendation from the NCT in all the years being tested.

grogi

Silane wrote: »

I've had a couple of Ford Focus's and I found them reasonably cheap to maintain and reliable, but they're not exactly compact

Actually Golf and Focus are what defines a compact car.

kerten

JimmyPetrille wrote: »

From getting a few quotes the C1 was probably the only car that i could get insurance for under 3 grand for (learner permit, no previous insurance, no named driving). €2.730 to be exact. All the other options seem to be in and around the same price to insure.

I had many friends in your situation and insurance difference between 1.0 lt car vs 1.4 lt is around 200-300 euro unless model you pick is a boyracer favourite.

Reason I say that, there is a demand for small engine cars for tax/insurance purposes but you can have better value with a relatively larger car with 1.4 lt engine(Focus, mazda 3, lancer for example) and pay %10 more insurance. At the end you will have a car that will satisfy your needs longer than a small car with a kid.

Also try to add someone with full license as named driver to your policy for potential discount. A friend got 600 euro discount by adding me as named driver to the policy in your situation.

And buy japanese at that budget for less headache.

colm_mcm

grogi wrote: »

Actually Golf and Focus are what defines a compact car.

In the context of this thread where the seller is focussing on small cars like Yaris and Fabia and these are what we are comparing a Golf and Focus to.....

bmwguy

First car, very budget conscious? Micra would be top.of my list for either of them. When it's both, definitely can't look past a Micra. Not mad about them but it's a first car, you can buy something else in a year or two.

JimmyPetrille

cheers for the advice everyone, one more thing i know it depends on the person and location and many variables but if anyone knows of a company that will insure someone with the following credentials as cheap as possible, could they send me a PM and hopefully i can try and get a decent enough deal

-27 year old male
-learner permit (completed 12 EDTs)
-5 years learner driving experience (if it matters)
-no named driver experience
-no previous insurance
-living in Dublin D11

and also if there is more specific things i can do to bring the quote down, thanks

Sexual Chocolate

Nobody can really answer that tbh. Quotes vary between individual people. Theres so many factors to take into account. Car, year, engine, address, occupation, driver age and more.

Ringing around is the only way to find out.

Hal1

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2005-peugeot-206-nct01-18-tax-09-17/15528130

Grand 206 (1.1l) here. Nct 1/18. If you don't mind the 'barney' purple interior it would be a cheap runabout. €500

Another here but with an extra 2 months test and an '06. €1250