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Buying a car - help
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in General Chat
Right here's the deal. I've got up to a grand to spend on a car, and I'm looking at getting either a Fiat Bravo 1.4 or 1.6, or a Nissan Almera 1.4 (VW Polo as a backup, but the others are a bit bigger). Mainly because they both get excellent reviews as second hand cars and they're much cheaper than their bigger name equivalents.
Anyway, here's the problem. I'm searching on the Autotrader website, and if I select a national search, I get quite a few cars that I'd be interested in having a look at. But they're all 100-200 miles away, which is a bit far to go to look for a car. As soon as I select within 40 or 60 miles, I get bugger all I'm interested in (or they're twice the price). So does anyone know any good places or websites to look for cars in the North West? Oh and any other tips while you're at it, since this is my first car.
Anyway, here's the problem. I'm searching on the Autotrader website, and if I select a national search, I get quite a few cars that I'd be interested in having a look at. But they're all 100-200 miles away, which is a bit far to go to look for a car. As soon as I select within 40 or 60 miles, I get bugger all I'm interested in (or they're twice the price). So does anyone know any good places or websites to look for cars in the North West? Oh and any other tips while you're at it, since this is my first car.
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Comments
Seeing as they're only ever driven at 20 mph, how do you know they handle well?
almera's aint too shoddy, could have picked worse...
Fiat = not good
The Almera may be rather ugly, but it's a well made car that is easy to live with and surprisingly good fun to drive. Many are owned by sensible people, which tends to mean you get decent workmanship on any repairs, and a heap of receipts. The Fiat isn't so well made - it looks nicer, but I'd not touch one.
Yeah i wouldn't get a Fiat, i've had two and they've both been shit.
don't go to Carcraft :thumb:
I don't think any of them are particularly amazing looking tbh, but I couldn't give a shit.
Anyway, I coulden't be happier with my polo, it's very solidly built, the doors are nice and heavy, the trim is of a very good standard (i went to a citroen dealer the other day and the cars were literally falling apart in the show room cos the plastic and carpet etc was so cheap) the engine has a nice deep roar when you punch it and it's quiet when you're just cruising. It's nice and nippy around the town, however if you are planning on doing lots and lots of motorway driving you may want to get something a bit bigger. :-)
Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiats are a bit unrelieable btw.
Oh and if it makes any difference, my best mate went to london to get his car (off ebay) which is about 300ish miles from here.
I've had two as well .. ya such a copy cat ..
Except I like my MK2 Sporting .. but can be a bugger to get spares, Halfords don't even sell Sparkplugs for it.
Very expensive. Watch out for failing head gaskets - they make a 'putt putt' sound, generally from the rear bank IIRC. The standard water pump impellors are made of plastic, and crack/die with age. Automatic gearboxes can go bang at 80k or so - not a routine problem, but it happens enough to be an issue.
Lovely cars though - good to drive, nicely specced, and loads of them around. My stepmother has had one for donkeys years now, and it's given them minimal trouble.
Google for Ford Mondeo and you'll find everything you need on the Mondeo enthusiast group forums
It really depends on what you are looking for from your wheels. i can understand trying to avoid the obvious chavmobiles but you could do a whole lot better than a nissan.
From what I hear they handle well, are really reliable (plus cheap to repair if anything does go wrong), are much cheaper to buy than similar cars, and because they're so cheap, they won't lose too much of their value.
Incidentally, if anyone has done the Pass Plus, how much did you save on your insurance?
I had a Primera 2.0 and it was hugely underrated. Went quite well, handled very nicely, and was extremely well made. Nissan make cracking - if somewhat bland, typical Japanese plastic-fantastic, rather soulless cars.
Comments such as "no shape" and "really, really shit power" aren't the most useful in the world. Do you mean the engine lacked low-down grunt? Or the power trailed-off after 5000rpm? Maybe you mean the gearing was such that the engine was constantly being over-worked, and never really felt very brisk? Or maybe your father is 200kg, and was transporting samples of lead-lining for nuclear reactors?
One can do a damned sight worse than a Nissan. Many other cars are better in specific areas, but as an all-round package you'll get something well made, rather reliable, generally with a rather tight and nimble chassis, an engine that is at least as good as most other mainstream cars, and a well-specified and nicely made interior. They are bland, have no soul, can feel unrewarding to drive in comparison to a Peugeot, and may lack the outright economy of a Polo diesel - but they represent a very nicely made and well designed car that'll do pretty much anything you care to throw at it.
Might I also suggest the Honda Civic as an alternative to the Almera. Its certainly better looking although newer ones are a bit chav-ish.
If you can't find a car near you in Auto-trader, how about trying one of your local newspapers, or even ebay?
......which isn't particularly amazing looking anyway.
Nope. I didn't have any insurance at all when I test drove my car. I think you are covered by the company's insurance.
Get a Yaris :yes:
Common misconception.
Some insurance policies will let you drive any other car with the owners consent - but many policies do not. A garage will have the required insurance to let you test drive cars.
To be honest, if you've never owned a car, or have little experience in driving, you'd be well advised to take someone with experience. They are likely to notice a lot more than a new driver
Do you have insurance that'll let you drive any vehicle, whether owned by you or not? If not, then you won't be able to get a test drive. Simple as.