£1500 - £2000 to spend - Help Needed

Swordfish · 15 Apr 2009 at 17:53

I've come into a little bit of cash £2000 and am in the market to but myself a new car. Having not owned my own car for several years now and the cars I've had prior to that were company cars I am a little bit rusty in what to look for.

What would would suggest I go for or avoid?

Only conditions

+ 4 door
+ central locking
+ insurance friendly
+ economical on fuel (diesel or pertol ???)

Cheers

mjt · 15 Apr 2009 at 17:58

mord fondeo

Swordfish · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:06

mjt said:
mord fondeo

To go for or avoid ??

Peter Diffey · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:07

mjt said:
mord fondeo

Janesy B · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:11

mjt said:
mord fondeo

Gaygle · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:13

Firstly, what mileage are you doing?

Swordfish · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:13

I am seeing a pattern here....

So the best for value etc would be a Ford Mondeo. Any particualr models to go for / avoid?

Swordfish · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:17

Gaygle said:
Firstly, what mileage are you doing?

Mostly local to be honest.

Home -- Work (4 days a week approx 15 miles round trip)

Couple Days a week maybe around 30 - 40 miles for those days

So say around 200 - 240 per week allowing for trips at night/shopping/visitng etc. However it might increase a bit, so says around 12,000 per year. Pretty average. I spose.

Janesy B · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:19

MK3 1.8 Zetec would be ideal for your circumstances. Petrol of course.

iaind · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:19

Should be able to get a prefacelift mk3 for that money. a 1.8 petrol should be fine for you. Zetec or LX spec

iaind · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:20

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/945831.htm

Swordfish · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:29

Just a thought - does the years I drove company vehilces for count a ncd?

Janesy B · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:30

Nope, but some companies do give a discount on people who have company car/named driver experience.

Swordfish · 15 Apr 2009 at 18:32

Janesy B said:
Nope, but some companies do give a discount on people who have company car/named driver experience.

Cool. Right time for tea.

Will spend the next few days looking around and see what I can come up with and report back....

Cheers for advice all.

Swordfish · 22 Apr 2009 at 21:15

UPDATE

Finally bought new car today.

Ford Focus 16v Vetec LX (2000) 5 Door Petrol Manual.

45,000 on clock and one genuine owner from new with full service history. Immaculate inside and out. Year's MOT and 6 months tax.

Was £2395, got it for £2100.

Not bad deal I thought.

Pick it up next Wed cant wait.

Swordfish · 24 Apr 2009 at 22:37

UPDATE 2

Insurance for said car is £363 Fully comp from elephant - not to bad either.

How does that compare or can someone suggest anyone else?

[TW]Fox · 24 Apr 2009 at 22:39

mjt said:
mord fondeo

The Focus fails, its such bad value for money. You paid a few hundred quid less than I paid for a Mondeo of the same age with far, far higher specification...

...FIVE YEARS AGO!!

Ricochet J · 24 Apr 2009 at 22:40

Ford Focus if not, then the Mondeo.

Swordfish · 24 Apr 2009 at 22:46

Already bought the car. Have had the use of a friends focus for around 18 months prior to me buying this one and always found it fine. Could not find any Mondeo's in my area to be honest. The garage where I bought the car from is known to me as I use to work with the owners wife and feel I can trust his judgement.

If I went and bought privately knowing my luck the doors and wheels wouldm have fell off after 200 yards !

Lum · 24 Apr 2009 at 23:17

Swordfish said:
UPDATE 2

Insurance for said car is £363 Fully comp from elephant - not to bad either.

How does that compare or can someone suggest anyone else?

This is a decent guide to the optimal way to search for cheap insurance [Link]

It's mainly Step 2 you'll want to follow, though the advice in Step 1 about your occupation is useful too. Just follow the order listed in Step 2 until you get bored.