£8000 family car recommendation

Woden

Hi folks,

First time in the motoring forum. Looking to buy our first car. I don't drive myself it is my partner. We are London based with 2 kids under 5. Partner would like a crossover for the height and car seat ease. Mileage would be low. Some day trips from London and a couple of trips a year to Bristol or Cornwall type thing. I was thinking some 2-4 years old and petrol.

Only thing that has crossed our radar so far is a Peugeot 2008 as someone local was selling privately. This made me consider what other models would be recommended for our budget. I'm looking at car giant and autotrader and such.

Cheers,

Woden

bazz26

Are you living within a congestion charge zone? Is parking tight? If so then take that into account on the type of car your buying. A hybrid of some sort might do the job, something like a Toyota Rav4 hybrid or Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV if you have easy access to home or on street charging and space is not an issue? A Toyota Prius hybrid might do the job too if you go non SUV.

Woden

Cheers. We're out side the congestion charge but inside I guess the new ULEZ zone and I think they will be expanded to the north circular in the future. It's on street parking but it's not too crazy on our road and controlled by the council. With that in mind electric not really a goer don't want to be running cables across the path. Will check out those you mentioned

Belfast

Hybrid does sound like the way to go for where you live.

Woden

Hi folks,

So I had a look around in our budget and we are still considering the private sale of the peugeot 2008. The lady selling brought it around to our place today to take a look and then headed off for a few minutes so we can check it out. My partner didn't drive it. So on this particular car. Its basic spec. 2 years old (18 reg). 9000 miles on clock. Had some minor body damage.

If we where to proceed with this sale then i'm guess i'm looking for any gotcha's as I'm out of my depth. I've got the reg and the VIN now and can buy a hpi check and such. I'm expecting outstanding financing to turn up. How does that get resolved. The current owner must clear the finance and provide us proof?

What else. Get an updated logbook. Should that happen at point of sale or?

Any advice appreciated. Never bought a car in my life!

Thanks,

Woden

elbyrneo

Woden wrote: »

Hi folks,

So I had a look around in our budget and we are still considering the private sale of the peugeot 2008. The lady selling brought it around to our place today to take a look and then headed off for a few minutes so we can check it out. My partner didn't drive it. So on this particular car. Its basic spec. 2 years old (18 reg). 9000 miles on clock. Had some minor body damage.

If we where to proceed with this sale then i'm guess i'm looking for any gotcha's as I'm out of my depth. I've got the reg and the VIN now and can buy a hpi check and such. I'm expecting outstanding financing to turn up. How does that get resolved. The current owner must clear the finance and provide us proof?

What else. Get an updated logbook. Should that happen at point of sale or?

Any advice appreciated. Never bought a car in my life!

Thanks,

Woden

If you have never bought a car in your life, and you are considering a private sale in your non-local country where there car appears to have been in an accident, I think you need to pause and reconsider.

Either go to a reputable dealer or get a mechanic to inspect the car (AA do this for a fee) and you can run checks to see if accidents or finance outstanding etc.

bazz26

"Miner damage" can be seller speak for it was actually involved in a smash. Without getting the car inspected by an engineer you don't know how minor or major the damage was, it could be poorly repaired for all you know. Also you mention nothing about having the car inspected by a competent mechanic and jumped straight to how to pay for it which would worry me as it seems your not fully clued in on how to do relevant background checks or arrange an inspection to have the car checked out and are jumping without seeing where you will land. Buying a car is not like buying a pair of jeans where you can return them if they don't suit you.

Just buy a car that doesn't have such a colourful history from a proper and reputable garage.

Woden

Thanks folks just to clarify I meant it had a scratch on the door when I mentioned minor damage. I don't believe its been in an accident (although my understanding is the check should show that).

I hear your caution with regards to a private sale I was just having the conversation with my partner at lunch time e.g. we could get a car perhaps 6 months older or and 10k more miles on the clock with 12 month warranty. Basically trying to weight up what piece of mind is worth. So I was also considering something this directly - https://www.robinsandday.co.uk/used-vehicles/202003208624200/peugeot-2008-suv-12-puretech-active-5dr-lf17hrg as an example

Woden

Folks just to say my partner came home today with Peugeot 2008 from a Peugeot garage. We upped the budget to go up one trim level and get it from the garafe. Got a 2017 12k miles for 9.7k and will have a year warranty and such. One thing was a bit strange it still flagged on the hpi check as outstanding finance but the dealer could show her something on his system that should clear. Apparently it will come out in the post? Slightly worrying but it's a big national dealer here so I guess not expecting shenanigans?

Thanks all for your help. Time for me to book in some lessons

colm_mcm

Could just be stocking finance