What car to buy? £3k limit!

Goksly · 18 Jun 2006 at 23:39

well... £2k->£3.5kish
Looking for a Fiesta/Clio/206 kinda car (3 door... nice and nippy, but as its my first car, want to keep the engine size down etc).
So er yeah, what Ive been looking at are 4 to 5 year old fiestas with about 30k/40k miles on the clock.

Zero car buying experience... this sound like the typical deal i will get for that kinda cash?

Much0s thanks in advance!

Morba · 18 Jun 2006 at 23:46

fiesta zetec s
saxo vtr

get some quotes on various cars, see how you feel about paying for them.

could look at a fiesta rs or similar im sure :]

[TW]Fox · 18 Jun 2006 at 23:47

Focus 1.6 Zetec with 60-90k miles on it.

Better than a Fiesta in every way.

Nimzicki · 18 Jun 2006 at 23:53

Morba said:
fiesta zetec s
saxo vtr

get some quotes on various cars, see how you feel about paying for them.

could look at a fiesta rs or similar im sure :]

Fiesta rs??

As fox said, 1.6 focus would probably be your best bet..

Goksly · 18 Jun 2006 at 23:54

would prefer a smaller car tbh - im not a family man yet

also... 1.6 etc - surely thats going to hit my pocket pretty hard in both the insurance and petrol departments?

[TW]Fox · 18 Jun 2006 at 23:56

Goksly said:
would prefer a smaller car tbh - im not a family man yet

It is a small car. Good luck using that as a family car. Bizarre way to write off a car for consideration though, I take it you wont be buying a Fiesta as you are not a girl or an old person yet?

also... 1.6 etc - surely thats going to hit my pocket pretty hard in both the insurance and petrol departments?

It's a 1.6 not a 4.4 V8. It's a small engine with cheap insurance.

MrMatteh · 19 Jun 2006 at 00:00

Going by your profile age, a 1.6 should be easy to insure

Cyanide · 19 Jun 2006 at 00:03

Goksly said:
1.6 etc - surely thats going to hit my pocket pretty hard in both the insurance and petrol departments?

I've just got a 1.6 coupe and I'll be paying £700 with a full licence held for 7 months and 0NCB

cymatty · 19 Jun 2006 at 00:04

Saxo VTR, i got insurance at 22 with 0ncd in a crappy insurance area for 1k, also 40mpg for the win.

Nimzicki · 19 Jun 2006 at 00:04

Mitsubishi Colt then, have a look at the 1.6 mirages...

Goksly · 19 Jun 2006 at 00:05

lol..... maybe i generalised too much

i do like the focus though.

ok new counter argument - hmmmm ok so as the focus is more expencive than the fiesta i need to reduce the cost by having greater miles on the clock. surely that increases the chances of needing to do repairs / failing MOT etc?

As i said - zero car buying experience - just making sure i have all bases covered like. I dont have the money to have a 2nd go if i mess it up

@Cyanide: who with? ive held my licence for almost 4 years, but 0ncb etc.

Cyanide · 19 Jun 2006 at 00:08

Goksly said:
@Cyanide: who with? ive held my licence for almost 4 years, but 0ncb etc.

Admiral, I'm gonna be using the multi-car and stealing my parent's no claims for me though. It'll still be insured in my name with me as the main driver though

[TW]Fox · 19 Jun 2006 at 00:10

Goksly said:
ok new counter argument - hmmmm ok so as the focus is more expencive than the fiesta i need to reduce the cost by having greater miles on the clock. surely that increases the chances of needing to do repairs / failing MOT etc?

The Focus is a very reliable car - infact, more so than the Fiesta. It is unlikely anything seriously expensive will go wrong with it. Parts are cheap, mostly easy repairs for garages, etc.

Morba · 19 Jun 2006 at 00:14

[TW]Fox said:
Focus 1.6 Zetec with 60-90k miles on it.

Better than a Fiesta in every way.

if he wouldnt of specified the size range then i would have suggested a focus myself.

however as size range means nothing why not offer a barge as a suggestion?

nimziki - why the ? to fiesta rs?

Goksly · 19 Jun 2006 at 00:20

hmmmm got me thinking. i do like the focus - especially the 3 door.

im looking on autotrader for cars. there any other good car sites?
also what checks should be made before purchasing a car? i mean along the lines of, i know AA do a service where you give the reg and they say if its a cut and shunt etc

erm yeah... sorry if this post is a bit "wipe my bum" - just a lot of money for me

[TW]Fox · 19 Jun 2006 at 00:22

Morba said:
however as size range means nothing why not offer a barge as a suggestion?

He is a typical car buyer - wants a 'nippy small car' and feels anything larger than a Fiesta means you automatically must have a family.

The force is not strong with this one, I will not be able to turn him to the dark side.

Nimzicki · 19 Jun 2006 at 01:17

Morba said:
if he wouldnt of specified the size range then i would have suggested a focus myself.

however as size range means nothing why not offer a barge as a suggestion?

nimziki - why the ? to fiesta rs?

A turbo-charged fiesta as a first car? Or an rs 1800...130bhp is it? He's already said insurance is an issue...