Another spec! £1000 - £1750.

Ahleckz

Ahleckz

Ahleckz

Soldato
Joined
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Location
Glasgow
Need a car, got to be quite cheap to insure. Live in a good postcode though, so not too many issues with that.

21 year old male.
Good post code.
License for 13 months.
Will be used for short commute, and hour jouneys every other week or so.
Budget £1000-£1750.
Insurance needs to be sub £900.
Good fuel economy, no work needed.
Glasgow area.

Thinking Fiesta/Clio... Something like that but not sure what age I should be looking at. Would appreciate help, never bought a car before!
Apparently a focus/mondeo/other saloons are out because they are too expensive to run...
 
My view echos that, but I'm not in charge of the purse strings and the boss (read the Mother) reckons that a Focus/Mondeo will cost a fortune to run... I've no idea how to convince her otherwise.

What about an Audi A4?
 
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I Only asked about the Audi as there is one for sale locally, I didn't think it would be a great choice...

Excuse my ignorance. :(

I'm going to push for a Focus, bit of luck I can find one locally... Was just seeing other options that are out there as I don't want to be going down the 1.2litre route. Will be in the country in the North East of Scotland so think something a bit bigger would be better.
 
Lagunas, worth looking at?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...l/radius/20/page/15/postcode/g630bd?logcode=p

There are some Focus's about too:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...l/page/16/radius/20/postcode/g630bd?logcode=p
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...l/radius/20/page/15/postcode/g630bd?logcode=p
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...l/radius/20/page/14/postcode/g630bd?logcode=p

Or a Mondeo.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...al/radius/20/page/6/postcode/g630bd?logcode=p

Sorry for the uncertainness, I just know next to nothing about cars and don't have much time to make a decision! I know that buying a car at this end of the market is always going to be a gamble but want to make an informed choice as much as possible!
 
paradigm said:
Restricting yourself to local postcodes is daft, always be prepared to travel to find a car, it gives you more options.
Click to expand...

In an ideal World, but I'm scuppered at the moment as I don't have a car to get there and nor am I able to get a lift from anyone. So it would have to be a taxi or public transport job. I don't mind travelling around Glasgow, but it can't really be much further than a 20 mile radius from my post code.
 
There are probably 4 Mondeos which all look fine to me that I could go and see tomorrow. I'm just not sure if it's going to be too big of a car.
I'm moving up to the North East of Scotland for a month (but hopefully permanently) and will need a car. It's only going to be used for 5-10 mile trips daily and the odd two hour journey every other week or so.
Won't be earning a lot, so trying to find an economical car that will work and carry on without any work needing done.
Thus, I thought Ford and it looks as though I can afford an '02 Mondeo. Though as I don't know much about cars I don't want to buy a total shed.

This seems like a good buy though:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...rd/postcode/g312rx/page/2/radius/20?logcode=p
I think a 1.8 would be the best bet for me and the mileage on that one is quite low so I think a phone call and a trip to see them tomorrow is in order! And the insurance is only £700 pa fully comp.
 
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Just wasn't sure if a 1.8 is overkill, but like you said it's quite negligible with low mileage. And, the insurance on that isn't much more expensive than a small engined car.
Going to phone up in the morning, and see if I can go and see it.

What should I be looking for? (First time buying a car, and got no one to help!)
 
Quickly narrowed it down to a Focus or Mondeo. Cheap enough to run, but should still be fun enough to drive. Cheap to fix if something goes wrong. Fairly reliable and what not...
These are my four finalists, going to ring up tomorrow and see what's what.

Y Plate Focus.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...rd/radius/20/page/2/postcode/g312rx?logcode=p

51 Plate Focus.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...rd/radius/20/page/2/postcode/g312rx?logcode=p

Y Plate Mondeo.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...rd/page/1/postcode/g312rx/radius/20?logcode=p

52 Plate Mondeo
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...rd/page/1/postcode/g312rx/radius/20?logcode=p

If I'm honest, the 52 plate Mondeo would be my most wanted but I'm not sure what the MOT life is like and the low mileage and low price concerns me. Seems out of place though I think it's a private seller which may explain that?
Not sure if anyone is reading this, kinda using it to keep all my thoughts together! Though I welcome (and need!) advice.
Insurance is sub £800 on them all.
 
Ghia is the top level is it not (now Titanium)? That's beyond my budget, unless I drop down to an older car and more mileage I reckon. I'm from Scotland, I can handle the cold in the winter!

Ah, cheers iaind. I wasn't sure about the Accord. I have no issues with image. I just need a car that'll serve the purpose that I need! I will have a look and see if it's another option.
Will search for a 1.6. I thought that a 2.0 would just be too expensive to keep going really, and insurance would be more. Will keep looking though!
 
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Two Accords:
HONDA ACCORD 2.0i VTEC SE 5dr Hatchback, £1100. W Reg. 103,000 miles.
HONDA ACCORD 1.8I VTEC S 5DR, £1295, X Reg. 95,742 miles.

I was trying to keep it below 100,000 miles but I understand Hondas pretty much keep going on and on? So maybe the 2.0 is worth a shout because of the price? (Private Seller too). MOTed until July too... Insurance is £997 though.
 
Right, will add it (W Reg Accord) to the list!
Dropping down to a 1.6 Focus, T Reg plate returns quotes at £834. A 51 plate 1.8 is £735...

There aren't actually any Ghia's within my available radius and my budget though. There are 8 available Mondeos, 3 1.8s and 5 2.0s. Two Zetecs, rest LX.

iaind said:
The 52 plate Zetec looks good to me - Zetec is a nicer spec than LX although its mostly cosmetic improvements. It is a trade seller though, according to the advert?
Click to expand...

It says that yes, but I can't seem to find anything about the Trade Seller through Google. Nor does he have other cars listed, which seems odd. I think it was just an error.
 
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2.0 litre Mondeos are out. Insurance is over a grand. So I think the list still stands as before, but with the addition of that Honda Accord... Going to phone them all tomorrow morning and get a better idea of the cars and their history and then hopefully I can go and buy one!

Exciting week for me so far, got a new job on Friday, new car this week, moving in the weekend, got nowhere to live when I move!
 
[TW]Fox;17408227 said:
The Accord is only 3 quid under a grand to insure, why let a few hundred on insurance affect the decision?
Click to expand...

Because the Accord is £1100 but the 2.0 litre Mondeos (LX) are £1500 and Zetecs are £1700. At my budget, a few hundred is quite a lot unfortunately. Though, there is a 2001 Mondeo Zetec at £1700 with insurance coming in at £809.24. Argh! The original quote was for a 2000 LX which was £1049!

Plus, I have to come to a decision so something needs to go. I think a 2.0 will just be overkill and the extra few hundred that it'll cost could be better spent on other things (breakdown cover, for starters! :p And there's tax to be paid on top as well)
 
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So, decided on a car. Pick it up tomorrow.

It's far from the sensible choice, but it ticks the boxes and I'm happy with the price and what not...

I bought (well, paying for tomorrow morning...)... ... a 2.0 W Reg Accord VTEC SE...
 
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...da/postcode/g312rx/page/1/radius/20?logcode=p

I'm not looking forward to going to the petrol pump, but if I don't drive it like an idiot I should be alright! :D
I got it for a bit cheaper than the price, so happy days./20?logcode=p[/url]
I'm thinking 'Henry'....

I also took a 1.6 Civic Estate out for a drive, but didn't feel nearly as good to drive. And, they worked out at exactly the same price!
 
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The Mondeo I linked to earlier? Had sold unfortunately. Went and looked at some Focus's too but they weren't great...
At this end of the market, it's all a bit of a gamble but it's my first car so I'm just happy to have some wheels!
 
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