First car

Kemik

Kemik

Kemik

Soldato
Joined
7 Nov 2005
Posts
4,961
Location
Widnes
Hey,

Over 180 people are viewing this forum! You realise it's a computer hardware forum right? I apologise it's my first visit to this corner of OcUK :p

Anyways, I'm starting my first full time job soon and have been given a £7,000 interest free loan so I decided to buy my first car.

My budget is £12,000 or £13,000 at a push. What do you guys suggest? I'm mainly looking for a car with good MPG (so probably a Diesel), 3 doors, decent performance, and it needs to have some balls. No Ford Ka's thanks.

I've been looking at the Ford Fiesta (I get 20% off thanks to my Grandad being a Ford retiree) or the VW Polo but definitely open to suggestions.

Thanks guys.
 
Don't go diesel unless you do at least 15-20k miles a year, petrol will be more economical. I'd spend much less than 12k (i.e. 2-3k) on a cheap little car until you get the experience and ncb for something faster.

Not wise to spend so much on your first car, as it's best you get used to driving in something that doesn't matter so much if you knock it or scrape the wheels.

Look at fiestas, clios, focus, civics etc.
 
ganesh said:
Don't go diesel unless you do at least 15-20k miles a year, petrol will be more economical. I'd spend much less than 12k (i.e. 2-3k) on a cheap little car until you get the experience and ncb for something faster.

Not wise to spend so much on your first car, as it's best you get used to driving in something that doesn't matter so much if you knock it or scrape the wheels.

Look at fiestas, clios, focus, civics etc.
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I've been driving for two years but under my mum's insurance so I have some experience. I've drove a Corsa, Fiesta, Polo and Focus.

Only just getting my own car because the sheer cost of moving out for Uni. My dad thinks I should definitely get a much cheaper used car but I want something that will go up a hill. A 1.2 or 1.3 Corsa is just too slow. I'm not against a used cars in any way, just as long as they're not sheds on wheels.

Defcon5 said:
Do you get 20% off all the ford range?
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Think so. It's not exactly 20%. I just always knock VAT (17.5%) off and it's around that mark.
 
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Ok, if you're going to uni the last thing you are going to want to do is spend 12k on a car!

I would have a budget of around 3-4k and look at something like a 2.0 Focus
 
Don't buy a new car; it's a waste of money. You'll be able to insure something fun for a decent amount of money, look above Fiestas.

Buying on finance is never a good idea, but interest free can change that a bit.
 
Gaygle said:
Ok, if you're going to uni the last thing you are going to want to do is spend 12k on a car!

I would have a budget of around 3-4k and look at something like a 2.0 Focus
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I've just finished University. This car is to get around and to my new job.
 
you would be an absolute fool to buy a new car in the current climate.

The second hand market is full of low mileage bargains.

3k would get you a nice set of wheels and give you 4 grand left over to keep aside for ya insurance, petrol, taxes etc. then with a couple of no claims.. get another second hand bigger better car :)
 
Defcon5 said:
Is the loan from a family member then or off your employer? Id look at Fez STs personally
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It's from my employer with monthly payments over four years. If I only take £5,000 of that I won't get taxed. Otherwise the whole amount gets taxed at 6.25%. Luckily that £7,00 should fall to below £5,000 within 14 months. It would be useful if I could keep the loan below £5,000 though.

Hedge said:
you would be an absolute fool to buy a new car in the current climate.

The second hand market is full of low mileage bargains.

3k would get you a nice set of wheels and give you 4 grand left over to keep aside for ya insurance, petrol, taxes etc. then with a couple of no claims.. get another second hand bigger better car :)
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Sounds like everyone is suggesting this is a better idea. I'll take the £5k and take a look at what I can get. What kind of cars would give the cheapest insurance with a decent MPG and some performance?
 
Kemik said:
I've been looking at the Ford Fiesta (I get 20% off thanks to my Grandad being a Ford retiree)
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Not anymore i'm afraid, it USED to be like that about 2 years ago, now its changed, what happens is you get a fixed price off a car, ON TOP of whatever consumer deals and negotiation. Sometimes that comes down close to 20% (On mondeo's etc) but on on Fiesta/Focus its more like 10-15%.

Fiesta is £1000 (however dont expect much else off as its the new model, albeit, a FANTASTIC car, i urge you to go have a look), Focus is £1500 off, and a Focus ST/Titanium is £2000.

For that price range I'd be looking at compact exec saloons with big petrol engines, like IS250's or 3 series saloons etc. These have taken an absolute TONKING recently and are pure bargains, many less than 3 years old.

Just to throw another spanner your way, if you fancied a Volvo new, you'd get 20% fixed off of a C30/S40
 
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO do not spend £12,000 on your first car.

Spend £2-3k, buy something like a Fiesta, enjoy it for a year or two, then pop along to the bank, withdraw the £9-10k you've got left over and buy something nice.
 
[TW]Fox;12822345 said:
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO do not spend £12,000 on your first car.

Spend £2-3k, buy something like a Fiesta, enjoy it for a year or two, then pop along to the bank, withdraw the £9-10k you've got left over and buy something nice.
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This :)
 
I would cry if I spent £5k and looked out the window and saw a Mk1 Focus. Good cars, great cars infact but there is absolutely no point spending £5k on one these days when a tidy 2003 is £3k.
 
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