First car - advice appreciated

Jim Gazebo

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been done a million times. I am soon going to be buying my first car. Few questions below as I know a bit but not enough about cars.

1) I would like to keep the cost in total between insurance, buying the car and tax etc under 10 grand. I guess this makes a budget of 7 for the car? I can pay cash if I keep it this low. 24 years old full licence first car. What type of car is best here? An old golf? A decent CORSA that is newer? Help please

2) How long am I looking at from day of buying , getting this thing bought, insured and on the road?

3) Final one, diesel or petrol? Petrol 1.2 is what I'd be thinking?

Thanks for your help in advance, mods if I've broken a rule just delete it ðŸ™႒

Thanks
JG

Renegade Mechanic

Seat Mii/Volkswagen Up/Skoda Citigo until yer insurance goes down.

biko

Go small and Japanese for your first car.

Buy first car from a dealer or a person you trust like family or a local trusted mechanic. Don't buy from someone who wants to meet up in a carpark and have a car with no nct but "it will fly through".

Don't buy the first car you view, drive at least 3 before making a decision.

Go with petrol or electric/hybrid unless you drive big miles every day.

DaveyDave

I wonder could you find a Prius for €7k? They seem to be pretty reliable so would be ideal due to low costs I reckon. Decent size too.

What about a Hyundai i20?

colm_mcm

I20s are good. Only thing is parts are pricey if you do need them.

Shefwedfan

What your driving requirements?

Electric could be option, they are cheap to run, cheap to maintain, cheap to tax and insurance seems to be cheap for most people

Could be outside option

Otherwise stick to 1ltr, moving up to 1.2 ain’t going to make a whole pile of difference apart from insurance going up

A Prius would be a big no no as it has a 1.6 engine in it afaik and insurance will kill you

Iodine1

Don't restrict yourself to Japanese, remember jap parts are usually pricey. Consider polo, fiesta, corsa, small peugeot too. Most important as others above say is keep it small but more important than make is the condition, in my view. Buy in good condition and you won't need parts. "Trusted local mechanics" are notorious for passing off unsalable "trade" cars on the unsuspecting poor sod who then goes on to pay them regularly to fix it. Beware.

DaveyDave

Shefwedfan wrote: »

What your driving requirements?

Electric could be option, they are cheap to run, cheap to maintain, cheap to tax and insurance seems to be cheap for most people

Could be outside option

Otherwise stick to 1ltr, moving up to 1.2 ain’t going to make a whole pile of difference apart from insurance going up

A Prius would be a big no no as it has a 1.6 engine in it afaik and insurance will kill you

I wouldn't rule out a Prius, when I was getting quotes as a first car it was more favourable than other equally boring and standard power cars.

Is engine size still relevant with insurance? I don't think it's an issue with anything under 2 litre anyway.

Jim Gazebo

Appreciate all the input. Will be small and will be prob 1 litre. I am not too sure on electric, I'll have to look up prices on that one.

As for buying from done deal etc, no chance, only from a dealer will do me. I want to at least have a guarantee if it kicks the bucket I'd have a fall back.

Driving requirements nothing out of the norm although I wouldn't be driving to work each day so prob less than the normal person. I'd have the occasional cork Dublin run, few times a month maybe.

Shefwedfan

Iodine1 wrote: »

Don't restrict yourself to Japanese, remember jap parts are usually pricey. Consider polo, fiesta, corsa, small peugeot too. Most important as others above say is keep it small but more important than make is the condition, in my view. Buy in good condition and you won't need parts. "Trusted local mechanics" are notorious for passing off unsalable "trade" cars on the unsuspecting poor sod who then goes on to pay them regularly to fix it. Beware.

Never in my life have I heard a local mechanic recommending a lemon so they can fix it.....where and who have you seen this notorious carry on?

Dravokivich

If you're planning on going small for insurance. Get registrations from a range of cars that interest you and ring around for quotes. Going smaller would have cost me more.

Iodine1

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Never in my life have I heard a local mechanic recommending a lemon so they can fix it.....where and who have you seen this notorious carry on?

I didn't say "recommended". If bringing a trusted mechanic with you to look at cars fine, actually great move, as he has no vested interest and will be on your side. I meant buying off a local trusted guy, you with little knowledge and without any other person having a look. I have seen cases of cars being off loaded on vulnerable people and the "trusted" guy couldn't care less once your out the door. Sorry if I was unclear in my post.

Shefwedfan

Iodine1 wrote: »

I didn't say "recommended". If bringing a trusted mechanic with you to look at cars fine, actually great move, as he has no vested interest and will be on your side. I meant buying off a local trusted guy, you with little knowledge and without any other person having a look. I have seen cases of cars being off loaded on vulnerable people and the "trusted" guy couldn't care less once your out the door. Sorry if I was unclear in my post.

Your still very unclear



You said in original post "trusted local mechanics" nothing about dealers.



Now are you saying "trusted local dealer"? if so I know very few people who would trust a dealer. Never even heard of a "trusted" guy, they are in the job to make money, not friends......to be fair it is the same as all sales men


If you want to see cars getting loaded onto vulnerable people then just head over to long mile road

colm_mcm

OP you’d be safest buying off a main (ie Toyota, Renault, Skoda) dealer where you’ll usually get a distributor backed bumper to bumper warranty. Examples being Nissan Gold Standard or Toyota Dealer Cover.
It’s entirely possible to get a car within budget this way. It won’t be as cheap as a portakabin Naas Road job, but you’ll usually have a much more pleasant buying experience, a car prepped to a standard, and an actual warranty that covers things.

Iodine1

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Your still very unclear



You said in original post "trusted local mechanics" nothing about dealers.



Now are you saying "trusted local dealer"? if so I know very few people who would trust a dealer. Never even heard of a "trusted" guy, they are in the job to make money, not friends......to be fair it is the same as all sales men


If you want to see cars getting loaded onto vulnerable people then just head over to long mile road

Yes I suppose "dealer" is really what I have in mind so we're on the same track there. I was trying to highlight the small time guy selling only occasional cars so might not be seen as a dealer as such. He has a couple of cars for sale but is always ready with the line "I'll get you one". Look out and buyer beware. It is much easier and better to go around yourself (with friend) and see whats on offer.

SmartinMartin

Anyway, back to the Ops question. I'd say Cork - Dublin a couple of times a month would get old very quickly in a 1 litre. Something like a corolla would suit much better.

colm_mcm

OP, buy this
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/suzuki/swift/used-2012-suzuki-swift-1-2-gl-dublin-fpa-201809250861457

92bhp, which is plenty for a small hatchback. 1.2 so not hard on insurance, plus it’s not mumsy.

Shefwedfan

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Anyway, back to the Ops question. I'd say Cork - Dublin a couple of times a month would get old very quickly in a 1 litre. Something like a corolla would suit much better.

No point buying a large engine and paying over the odds for occasional drive on Dubin-Cork road....


Electric would automatic be an issue as you are in Leaf 24kWh/Zoe 22kWh price range and you would need to charge maybe once to twice on route. But it could be an option 99% of the time if doing under 100km per day for other driving


Apart from that a 1ltr. Keep for a year or 2 and then swap up, you wont lose big money on a 1ltr anyway because in 2 years someone else will want for exact same job

colm_mcm

Is the 1.0 thing even a factor nowadays, sure the old cc based system favours 1.0 massively even compared to 1.1 for example, but in the era of co2 tax, it’s not an issue. Is insurance significantly cheaper or even cheaper at all on say a Yaris 1.0 versus a Hyundai i20 or Renault Clio 1.2?

Shefwedfan

colm_mcm wrote: »

Is the 1.0 thing even a factor nowadays, sure the old cc based system favours 1.0 massively even compared to 1.1 for example, but in the era of co2 tax, it’s not an issue. Is insurance significantly cheaper or even cheaper at all on say a Yaris 1.0 versus a Hyundai i20 or Renault Clio 1.2?

Yes.....

Based on the conversation I had earlier with someone who works in insurance. The size of engine has and always will have an affect on insurance.

Also based on earlier this year when I wanted to add someone onto my insurance policies.....Galaxy 2ltr- 900 quid.....eGolf electric - 200 quid....eGolf was newer and both cars have similar value....

colm_mcm

I think they’re doing with electrics what they did with diesels 15-20 years ago and not charging (sic) them enough. I’m guessing because they don’t have enough stats/claims on legacy electric cars.

Shefwedfan

colm_mcm wrote: »

I think they’re doing with electrics what they did with diesels 15-20 years ago and not charging (sic) them enough. I’m guessing because they don’t have enough stats/claims on legacy electric cars.

They are rating the engines too low on them I have to admit. It looks like they have they in the 1-1.4ltr range if compared to a combustion engine.



I had a significant drop when I swapped from 2ltr diesel to electric even when the car value almost doubled

colm_mcm

Ah sure years ago I went from an 89bhp Avensis to a 240bhp S Type and my insurance went down.

Shefwedfan

colm_mcm wrote: »

Ah sure years ago I went from an 89bhp Avensis to a 240bhp S Type and my insurance went down.

Ok I'm lost, you mention about engines not been rated anymore with insurance, it clearly has a factor so the OP is better for a time taking a low engine car and building up no claims....with most of those low engine cars you wontlose a fortune as people are always looking to buy

colm_mcm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Ok I'm lost, you mention about engines not been rated anymore with insurance, it clearly has a factor so the OP is better for a time taking a low engine car and building up no claims....with most of those low engine cars you wontlose a fortune as people are always looking to buy

I suppose where I’m tangentially going is that insurers seem to just make it up as they go along and that the OP should get some quotes before confining themselves to a 3 cylinder misery box.

sheesh

I would go with a smaller sized engine so you can't drive fast for your first car you will probably want to go off for a weekend away so and you will end up gunning it down the motor way. not getting killed is good too.

kerten

sheesh wrote: »

I would go with a smaller sized engine so you can't drive fast for your first car you will probably want to go off for a weekend away so and you will end up gunning it down the motor way. not getting killed is good too.

Once I was driving 1.0 lt automatic yaris with 60 bhp due to wife learning to drive.

That thing was always averaging faster speed than my next car with 2.5lt v6 on motorway. Should be the short man syndrome bhp wise or me trying to get out of it as soon as possible

H3llR4iser

It really depends on what you need and want OP - obviously, the advice about keeping the engine size the smallest possible to keep insurance costs down is a very sound one; Also, as someone coming with no NCB most insurers will flat out refuse to cover anything about 1.2/1.4 liters.

The rest depends on you - if your goal is to just get a runaround in order to mature that first important year of NCB, with no particular needs in terms of driving (e.g. just work commute daily), then it might even be worth considering something on the cheap side to just keep for the first year. Look for something with a fresh NCT and have a car-savvy friend/family member or a mechanic check the car for you before buying.

kerten wrote: »

Once I was driving 1.0 lt automatic yaris with 60 bhp due to wife learning to drive.

That thing was always averaging faster speed than my next car with 2.5lt v6 on motorway. Should be the short man syndrome bhp wise or me trying to get out of it as soon as possible

I will say - some of the most ragged and fun drives I had were in a 40hp Renault 5...you just had to keep the thing up to speed, because getting there would, how to say, take a while!

Jim Gazebo

Okay, I am going small regardless. That should surely be clear by now. Any Toyota that are not a yaris. I am a 23 year old male, I'm not driving fiat 500's etc etc

metricspaces

Jim Gazebo wrote: »

Okay, I am going small regardless. That should surely be clear by now. Any Toyota that are not a yaris. I am a 23 year old male, I'm not driving fiat 500's etc etc

The UK market is your friend right now. You'll get the most bang for your buck there. Take a look at https://www.autotrader.co.uk

You can get a 2015 or 2016 car in UK now for under 7k euro from a dealer. As it's under 3 years old it will still have the original warranty.

You just need to factor in the VRT and cost of flights\ferry (lots of threads on boards.ie detailing the whole process.)

harr

As mentioned by another poster the Suzuki Swift is decent motor for a first car a friend drives one and for a small car it’s nippy and comfortable.
Adverts have a few decent looking ones for around the 7 grand mark.
I think a 1.2 engine.
We have traveled from Dublin to cork and Donegal a few times with no comfort issues.

Jim Gazebo

Hyundai I20. See someone mention it above, a good option?