Buying my first car...

[nnkuk]

Hi all, I passed my test a week ago, my licence actually came today, and Im looking for first car. Ive found four in a local dealership but having never done this before I don't know what Im looking for/what I should be looking for.
The cars are as follows:

A 2001 ford fiesta for £2k having done 66k miles
A 2000 Fiat Punto for 2k having done 32k miles
A 2000 renault clio (my personal favourite) for 1.7k having done 90k miles.
A P reg Vauxhaul Corsa for 1.5k having done 70k miles

But I really dont know which of the four I should be looking at , if anyone of them at all, and what I need to be looking at in terms of service history and engine. Any advice here is appreciated.

[Nugget]

Well, technically, low mileage is quite good, but it depends on the reason for it being low - if, for example, it's the classic 'one old lady owner' who only ever drove it round town, you may find that the clutch is a little dodgy...

Ford aren't bad from a repair point of view (cheap for parts) but you'd probably never find it in the car park - I suppose you have to go with personal preference, and how much money you have to spend. If you favour the Clio, there's no reason not to go for it

[Matthew]

How much do you want to spend? I would recommend going getting something 2000 or newer if you can.

I've had 2 Clio's and they have been spot on cars, never had a problem with either. Like Nugget says watch the classic "one lady owner", my Gran had my first Clio and is was very poorly because it hadn't done any long distance but one I had put a few miles on the clock it was fine.

Go to a reputable garage, take a friend who had bought a car, don't go to some dodgy garage because you are likely to be scammed and sold a crap one like my friend was, try to get a local garage if you can, if it means paying a little more its worth it.

Secondly get something with a small engine 1.2 because insurance will be cheap, check out Endsleigh, they do a good deal.

Lastly good look, you will enjoy it having your own car, just take it steady.

[haydnwalker]

Firstly, steer clear of the clio...too many miles for the price. The punto, though a fiat isnt a bad car with the low miles (but take it for a 30min or more test drive and check the clutches biting point (make sure you don't have to bring the pedal all the way up before it moves) along with everything else in the car - fan, radio etc).

The fiesta - as mentioned previously is a good car to go for and not bad for the price and parts are cheap etc.

Corsa - not bad, but look for rust on the sills and wheelarches because of its age.

I suppose - personally I'd go for none and spend a little bit more on something newer if you can.

Also one tip... don't let the dealers push you into anything!! And always be prepared to walk away if you don't feel comfortable. If anything you have to be politely cheeky and ask for that little bit more sometimes.

Above all test drive everything you've looked at and compare them to other's of the same model/year/condition, that way you'll get an idea of general condition and funny noises etc. make sure the radio's off on the test drive (apart from when your testing it of course).

---------- Post added at 00:01 ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 23:57 ----------

Originally Posted by Matthew

Secondly get something with a small engine 1.2 because insurance will be cheap, check out Endsleigh, they do a good deal..

Small engines are good but - don't look at just one insurer. Even if you get a good quote online its worth phoning them up too as they generally can knock a bit more off the price...

Insurance Hint: Add an older driver to the policy as a named driver (preferably parent with good driving record) as this can knock as much as £400 off the price (My bro recently bought his 1st car - an astra 1.6 and without my mum on insurance was £1800 but with it was only £1400).

Also...enjoy your freedom

[Matthew]

I just recommend Endsleigh as no one that I tried could do a better deal and they have knocked quite a bit of money off in my second and third years.

[Mikey845]

There are still alot of cheap rovers out there after it went belly up, the 25 is a great car and I'm pretty sure it has the k series engine which honda still use so they could service it for you.

[Vlad_Dracul]

Theres nothing to tell between them. they are all cheap runarounds.

[ZrByte]

The corsa seems a bit too pricey to me. And while the clio seems good if I was you I would go for the 2001 model rather than the 2000 as that was when they did the facelift (Makes a much nicer car).

[Graham M]

Originally Posted by Vlad_Dracul

Theres nothing to tell between them. they are all cheap runarounds.

What an odd statement, they are all very different to drive

[Hom3r]

Get a insurance quote for them all that may help decide if you can afford the insurance, on any particular car.

Steer clear of the Corsa, £1,500 for a P reg? It's £1,000 to much IMO. Look around for a cheap diesel it will be slightly cheaper on the insurance front plus it will be cheaper on road tax and you'll get 40-50MPG depending on how you drive it.

[Graham M]

Originally Posted by Nidge

Steer clear of the Corsa, £1,500 for a P reg? It's £1,000 to much IMO. Look around for a cheap diesel it will be slightly cheaper on the insurance front plus it will be cheaper on road tax and you'll get 40-50MPG depending on how you drive it.

Deffo, my mate bought one before Christmas, W-reg with 50k on the clock for 1400

[Taf]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

Get a insurance quote for them all that may help decide if you can afford the insurance, on any particular car.

I agree, your first few years of driving are going to expensive insurance-wise until you notch up some No Claims Bonus, so an older car of a low insurance group would probably be wisest. Plus many new drivers get the odd minor prang so you don't want want to start driving in anything too flash.

Cheap to run, cheap to insure, reliable and definately an MOT test passer is my suggestion.

And no go faster stripes!!!!

[CycoSymz]

I'd buy a cheap BMW...Great build quality and very reliable.

[Hom3r]

Originally Posted by Flange

I'd buy a cheap BMW...Great build quality and very reliable.

Your joking right?

Insurance company's will rub there hands together when they see a new driver with a BMW.

IMHO BMWs drivers are the worst, driving in poor conditions with no lights, failure to use inducators.

I've lost count the number of times BMW drivers have nearly run me of the road.