Good car for a first time driver

[mauvais]

Why specifically no lacquer on the red ones?

Lots of colours had no lacquer but presumably the pigment or whatever in red was more susceptible to UV. My point was that it's not all reds, just certain paint types. And you notice it more anyway.

Contemporary reds like the Honda Civic's paint don't seem to do it except the problem seems to have been replaced by increased vulnerability to stone chips instead.

As someone said, it can be machine polished out:

but you're losing a layer of paint in doing it, so it has its limits.

 

[peterkro]

You should be able to pickup a 2005/6/7 Hyundai Getz 1.5 diesel for under two grand with milage under 70,000.I don't want to get into the diesel/petrol debate but that engine is very long lasting.
Interestingly advertised on Motor Trader is one with the strap line in big letters "Cam belt changed at 77k" which is very interesting as the have a timing chain not a belt.

 

[sim667]

Get something German or Japanese would be my advice and I'd bring the budget down to £1k. It'll do you fine for a few years

German stuff just isn't very good anymore though, they seem to have lost the plot a bit.

I'd go jap.... an aygo or something?

 

[mauvais]

An Aygo is half-French and built in the Czech Republic. This is what I mean about national stereotypes.

 

[nogojones]

German stuff just isn't very good anymore though, they seem to have lost the plot a bit.

I'd go jap.... an aygo or something?

The cars I buy tend to be over 12 years old. Maybe I've been lucky not to buy any of the new breed

 

[sim667]

The cars I buy tend to be over 12 years old. Maybe I've been lucky not to buy any of the new breed

Oh yeah older ones are much better…… My mum and dad were dedicated VW buyers for as long as I can remember, and then they just had a succession of new ones that were hopeless, so started buying honda (I've had hondas for a good while, and they liked my car at the time)…

I know a few people who have been critical of the modern german cars.

 

[Looby]

Getting a banger isn't always better for new drivers.

I know nothing about cars, nor does my husband or anyone else I'm close to.
I was spending a fortune on buying and repairing shitboxes.

I had 4 cars in 2 years and spent at least 3k.

I then got finance for a 6 month old display car. I paid 200 quid a month (just paid it off) but have spent very little beyond basic maintenance like tyres and wipers.

It was well worth every penny.

 

[mauvais]

Oh yeah older ones are much better…… My mum and dad were dedicated VW buyers for as long as I can remember, and then they just had a succession of new ones that were hopeless, so started buying honda (I've had hondas for a good while, and they liked my car at the time)…

I know a few people who have been critical of the modern german cars.

What's a modern German car? It doesn't mean anything.

For example is it a 2000-era Mercedes, who tried to make their cars on the cheap such that they all rusted away? Or is one now that are highly thought of again?

Is it a mid-2000s BMW, who made some of their best ever regarded cars?

Is it an Audi now, who typically make overpriced lookalike cars with harsh suspension?

Or is it a Vauxhall Insignia that you probably didn't even know was German?

Which?

 

[sim667]

What's a modern German car? It doesn't mean anything.

For example is it a 2000-era Mercedes, who tried to make their cars on the cheap such that they all rusted away? Or is one now that are highly thought of again?

Is it a mid-2000s BMW, who made some of their best ever regarded cars?

Is it an Audi now, who typically make overpriced lookalike cars with harsh suspension?

Or is it a Vauxhall Insignia that you probably didn't even know was German?

Which?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3129581.stm - its a well covered bit of knowledge.

 

[mauvais]

It's a load of arse.

 

[sim667]

You're a load of arse

 

[girasol]

Congrats ! My first car was a Fiesta that my sister gave me I'd say anything hatchbacky would be good for a new driver

So was mine. It cost £500 and it lasted about 8 months - then I bought a Micra. First car should be cheap and bashable...

We have a Peugeot 206 Diesel now, very manouverable, good for London. Also, with Diesel, road tax is £30 a year. And it's actually cheaper than petrol because you get more mileage per litre.

We bought it from husband's brother, it's 12 years old

Think it's time for a new car, tired of burning cds, needs something with mp3 port...

 

[sim667]

I had a nissan sunny…..

Everyones first car should be a shitheap and drive like a tank. Its tradition.

 

[girasol]

I had a nissan sunny…..

Everyones first car should be a shitheap and drive like a tank. Its tradition.

Yeah, no power steering or even heating on my Fiesta, had to drive with windows down in winter or the windows would fog up Any car after that seemed like a blessing.

 

[sim667]

My heating still worked…. but I did have to have every rubber hose in the engine replaced

 

[marty21]

Yeah, no power steering or even heating on my Fiesta, had to drive with windows down in winter or the windows would fog up Any car after that seemed like a blessing.

I didn't have a radio/cassette in mine - could never be bothered getting it fitted - so i had a transister radio in the side pocket , which seemed to be able to pick up radio 4 and 5live, but only under 30mph had it for about 4 years, gave it away myself to an 18 year old son of a workmate (it was the same age as him!) he gave me a bottle of jack daniels for it - it lasted him his first year at uni

 

[trashpony]

Yeah, no power steering or even heating on my Fiesta, had to drive with windows down in winter or the windows would fog up Any car after that seemed like a blessing.

I had a little stash of spare fuses in the glove box as the fuses would blow on the windscreen wipers if you had them and the lights on at the same time

 

[strung out]

I've changed my mind a million times so far. My current thinking is this. I bet someone posts something to make me change my mind in a minute

http://www.rodbournemotorcompany.co.uk/used-cars/hyundai-getz-1-1-gsi-3dr-bristol-201409037090929

 

[mauvais]

It's horrible!

Apart from that, 74,000 miles is a lot for what's probably a fairly stressed little engine, and quite a lot for a shopping car, but cars don't magically blow up at 100k or whatever, so it's not terminal. Also whilst this one was built in 2008, the design is from 2002 so it was fairly outdated by that point. That's true of a lot of cars including mine though.

I think you can do a fair bit better for that money. By way of example, a very brief search:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201409107291500/sort/pricedesc/postcode/so155ng/page/1/make/fiat/onesearchad/used,nearlynew,new/usedcars/price-to/2500/price-from/2000/radius/1500?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201402061593641/sort/pricedesc/postcode/so155ng/page/1/make/alfa_romeo/onesearchad/used,nearlynew,new/maximum-mileage/up_to_70000_miles/usedcars/price-from/2000/price-to/2500/radius/1500?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...from/2000/price-to/2500/radius/1500?logcode=p

 

[T & P]

 

[strung out]

It's horrible!

Haha, the looks don't really bother me too much. Your first one is worse though. Yuk!

Now I'm thinking about this one. Don't know why http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif.../bs161fb/advert-type/dealer-stock?logcode=dsp

 

[mauvais]

Haha, the looks don't really bother me too much. Your first one is worse though. Yuk!

Pandas are cool, and good cars. A Getz is probably about as far as you can get from cool short of a Citroen Picasso, although it's supposed to be alright to drive.

Your 206 is probably OK but it has a fair chance of having been abused, especially in that trim.

 

[Mapped]

My clio is also for sale (we've got a bongo now), but it's an auto so you're probably not interested.

I need an auto. Do us a deal mate

I'm in the same boat as the OP, passed my test in Feb, never been named on an insurance policy, in need of a car in the next month or so.

I'm currently ragging my cheapo Mitsubishi Magna 3 litre V6 beast on a 3000km road trip down under. I'm going to miss the speed and grunt of this car I think, but it's designed for long journeys and not East London. I currently pay £300 a year in insurance on this fairly powerful car.

I'm coming back to UK next month and I've to get a car. I was also looking at around the £5k mark, but insurance is crazily expensive, most models I looked at were about £900 a year. I was wondering if getting a cheapo car like FM's clio for a year might be a better move.

 

[fractionMan]

I need an auto. Do us a deal mate

I'm in the same boat as the OP, passed my test in Feb, never been named on an insurance policy, in need of a car in the next month or so.

I'm currently ragging my cheapo Mitsubishi Magna 3 litre V6 beast on a 3000km road trip down under. I'm going to miss the speed and grunt of this car I think, but it's designed for long journeys and not East London. I currently pay £300 a year in insurance on this fairly powerful car.

I'm coming back to UK next month and I've to get a car. I was also looking at around the £5k mark, but insurance is crazily expensive, most models I looked at were about £900 a year. I was wondering if getting a cheapo car like FM's clio for a year might be a better move.

Yours for 1.4k. 11 months MOT. 58k miles, new cambelt. Small dent in the back, otherwise in good condition. Not been a single ounce of bother since we bought it. I paid 1.5k in feb I think but we can't afford two cars so this one has to go. If you come for a visit when you're back you could try it out then Perfect for east london imo.

 

[Chilli.s]

A Focus would be a great first car.

 

[Yelkcub]

oh, oh... and never buy a vauxhall

Corrected.

If you insist on buying English get a Ford. You'll still be mad though. Just get a Golf.

 

[Looby]

Corrected.

If you insist on buying English get a Ford. You'll still be mad though. Just get a Golf.

Nah, my vauxhall has been a great car.

VWs are expensive, get a Skoda.

 

[peterkro]

I've changed my mind a million times so far. My current thinking is this. I bet someone posts something to make me change my mind in a minute

http://www.rodbournemotorcompany.co.uk/used-cars/hyundai-getz-1-1-gsi-3dr-bristol-201409037090929

I posted above about the Getz 1.5 diesel but generally they are fairly basic but well equipped and solidly built.I've driven a lot of miles in one and aside from a tendency to go through tires a bit quick and for the tracking to go out easily (probably not a problem if you live in a city) it's been absolutely fine,will sit at 80 or over on the motorway from Bristol to London all the way (barring road works,crashes etc obnov).
I would however be a bit worried about the petrol engine,small and strained at 74,000 I'd be a bit wary.

 

[8ball]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3129581.stm - its a well covered bit of knowledge.

Two cars have blown up while I was driving along - one went up behind me and I thought it was my car for a second. Both largeish BMWs. Also see a lot at the side of the road with their hazards blinking - I know it's not going to be representative but it's put me off them.

 

[Mapped]

Yours for 1.4k. 11 months MOT. 58k miles, new cambelt. Small dent in the back, otherwise in good condition. Not been a single ounce of bother since we bought it. I paid 1.5k in feb I think but we can't afford two cars so this one has to go. If you come for a visit when you're back you could try it out then Perfect for east london imo.

It does sound good. I'll have to run the numbers by our family car specialist and have a look/drive obviously. Don't wait for me though, if you can sell it beforehand then do.