buying a car

Bassmansam · 18 Sep 2011 at 15:08

Im looking to buy a new car but haven't driven for 3 years due to having a crash(my fault) and being at university, the premium rocketed. Anyway just started a new job and now have the money to afford to run a car.

A friend is selling his ford focus (1998,1.6). I've had some insurance quotes which came to around 1k for the year. I thought it would be more than that due to the crash and it being a big engine. Anyway i just wondered if you guys thought that was a good deal and a good car for someone getting back to driving after a few years?

Outcast · 18 Sep 2011 at 15:32

Depends on what your priorities are in a vehicle

That'll probably do about 40mpg-ish
VED probably be about £165-ish

Reliability at that age is debatable. (Clutch etc)
You have already stated you are ok with the insurance premium for that vehicle.

Style.. Do YOU like the look of it ?

Shimmy · 18 Sep 2011 at 15:36

Can't tell you it's a good deal unless you tell us how much.

Can lower your premium by adding your parents as named drivers on the policy.

Bassmansam · 18 Sep 2011 at 15:48

My bad forgot to mention its £1100.

Bassmansam · 18 Sep 2011 at 15:49

Shimmy said:
Can't tell you it's a good deal unless you tell us how much.

Can lower your premium by adding your parents as named drivers on the policy.

I guess so but on my first car(KA) i was paying 1500 so i dont think 1ks that bad considering the crash.

Shimmy · 18 Sep 2011 at 15:55

Bassmansam said:
I guess so but on my first car(KA) i was paying 1500 so i dont think 1ks that bad considering the crash.

My bad forgot to mention its £1100.

Not great value tbh, plenty of 1.6 focus' out there for less than that. What trim level is it?

I'm the same age as you and I'm insured on a 3.2 Omega for just under £900 with a claim and 3 points.

paradigm · 18 Sep 2011 at 20:14

Bassmansam said:
ford focus (1998,1.6... it being a big engine.

Nope, not a big engine at all.

Moeks · 19 Sep 2011 at 07:37

paradigm said:
Nope, not a big engine at all.

I was going to say something cutting about that too, but I really couldn't think of a way of doing it without sounding like an ass and I am really trying to be less of one these days

But yea it's not big at all, it's small, not even middle sized but small. You can say it's big when it's displacing more than 4 litres I think.

As said though, I do think you can do rather better than that for the same sort of money. However, I suppose it rather depends on how much he is selling the car for and what kind of condition it's in, you could certainly do worse than a well cared for Focus.