posted
I get the feeling that there are a number of car bitches here, so I would like to ask your advice. Here's the problem:
I would like to buy my first car. I want something that doesn't cost too much to buy (0-8k, but it better be spectacular for 8k. I'd be happier around the 3k mark), is cheapish to run (35+ mpg urban), isn't going to screw me on insurance, and is reliable and well built. I'd also like it to not look too girly.
Since that range encompasses a whole slew of second hand cars, and a bunch of new cars too, I'm not sure which is more appropriate for that price range. I don't want to bother modding my car, except maybe with a decent sound system - I just want it to go from place to place without exploding.
Any ideas or suggestions would be gratefully received!
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posted
I know of a Puma going... Probably pretty cheap too considering all the accidents it's been in!
-------------------- Evil isn't what you've done, it's feeling bad about it afterwards... Yield to temptation. It may not pass your way again. Posts: 3793
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posted
New car, whatever it is, is going to lose so much on depreciation that it really isn't worth it. If your budget is potentially as healthy as you indicate, then you can probably buy happily into the nearly new market - much better value and you'll enjoy most of the benefits of a vehicle that hasn't been thrashed around.
If buying second-hand, don't be suckered in by the "one lady owner only done 2000 miles in two years" spiel. I'd much rather drive something that's been up and down the motorway (and consequently clocked up some significant miles) rather than flogged around town and on the school-run - low mileage but lots of wear and tear on the engine and gears.
I've had a couple of very good experiences at Bramhall Quicks in Altrincham (Washway Road - dead easy to get there on the Metrolink). It's a authorised used Ford dealership; I'm a bit of a convert to Fords, particularly the Focus. It has some exciting variants if you want to do the Ringo thing and get something with a bit of oomph, but even the bog-standard models are comfortable, affordable (running costs, insurance, spares and servicing) handle nicely (even if they don't exactly set the world on fire. I'd probably go for a 1.6 engine (though I'd get some insurance quotes first).
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posted
I wouldn't say that my budget is healthy exactly, but I'm willing to finance up to that amount if there's something decent going.
Fords - I hadn't considered them much, as I understood their reliability wasn't up to Toyota or Honda standards - correct me if I'm wrong?
Also - thinking of Fords - the Ka looks vile, but is it any good, specifically the SportKa, which looks marginally better?
I did mean 35mpg urban, as I don't imagine I'll be caning it on the motorway much. Flicking through the What Car shows me a good few models that can do it, but they are brand new cars. I could live with 30mpg.
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posted
Obviously, I can't speak with too much authority on cars in the UK... But... Here's is my experience.
Fords are nice and cheap to fix, though do break down 'easily'. Down side was the ride just didn't feel 'good'.
Jap cars, (Honda, Toyota) run like tanks, but are expensive as shit to fix. As opposed to the Fords, the ride in a Honda or Toyota felt like you floating on air in comparison...
My granddad had a Ford and it ran for about 7 years with minor 'fixes' like timing belts and brake lines, stuff that goes with time anyway and had it fixed for $$'s almost every time.
My mate had a Honda and it ran for 6 years with only servicing/brake pads/tyres in that time. Then, the timing belt went and it cost the same to fix it as it did to buy another car.
My advice since I can't give a definiative. Find a few models you like. Pick random bits like brake pads, timing belts, pistons, head gaskets and get a price check for each of the models by calling your local part suppliers. This won't give you any real indication of what's the better car, but it will give you a rough idea as to the kind of money you are looking at should something go wrong.
Another thing to try is to go to a couple local garages and just ask the mechanics what they feel is the best car for your requirements. Obviously, they'd know what comes into the shop the most and may be able to steer you away from money traps.
-------------------- Evil isn't what you've done, it's feeling bad about it afterwards... Yield to temptation. It may not pass your way again. Posts: 3793
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posted
I wouldn't say that reliability has been an issue with either of my Fords and several close friends and family members drive them without problems.
Hondas are pretty decent, as are Toyotas, but you will end up paying at the higher end of the spares and service range and the insurance may be quite a bit higher.
I'd endorse what Crater said about fuel consumption - 35 mpg urban seems a bit pie in the sky tbh, unless you get a motor with a teeny, teeny engine. Even then, you'd be struggling.
Don't get a Ka! It's like being inside a baked bean can - they were built as budget cars and it will remind you of this fact every time you drive it. Don't know much about the StreetKa - I think it's built to a higher spec, but it's not a practical vehicle by any stretch.
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posted
I'll have youknow my Puma has been bloody well looked after, and it's got below average mileage. The only reason for it being 5k is because it doesn't have the electric seats and it's a '98.
You would be very hard pressed to find anything that properly fits all your criteria but if economy is your bag then you should try and find a second hand Smart Brabus. Relatively masculine for a Smart, faster than most and extremely economical. For that, you'll also get stuff like heated leather seats...
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The Escort had a couple of problems starting on a cold morning but I was in the AA so it wasn't an expensive problem. The rest I owned from new, and had minimal problems with - the P reg Fiesta's battery went 13 months after I bought it (about 2 weeks out of warranty which was 12 months at the time) but that's all really. Have had to replace tyres on the Puma but no mechanical issues at all.
Servicing of Fords is generally cheap. Spares are cheap, unless you like fancy tyres like I do. Fiestas are generally fairly uninspiring to look at and drive but practical, reliable and cheap. Controversially I really like the look of the Ka with its 60s dashboard - don't know what the Sportka spec is, but the Streetka is out of your price range and not at all practical as a 2-seater.
For your money and generally urban requirements I would suggest getting a used compact car which is either 18 months old with probably 18 months left to run on the original warranty, or a car from an approved used car dealer which should give you a year's warranty. If you're really bothered about mpg you need to get a diesel as has already been stated, which is likely to be slightly more expensive. As I'm not familiar with diesels I can't offer any suggestions I'm afraid.
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H1ppychick
We all prisoners, chickee-baby. We all locked in.
posted
I think you'll find that that website states about the Puma "it's the finest small coupe* ever made".
I'm only selling mine because I want a new car and they don't make them any more, having freed up their production line space a couple of years ago for churning out more Kas.
*Mind you, small coupe = hairdresser's car. I don't know what Ringo was thinking. I can get away with it cos I'm a chick.
posted
It's simply part of the chassis and running gear from the Fiesta, virtually everything else is bespoke, such as the suspension, the brakes, the gearbox, the shell, the windows, and of course the masterpiece 1.7vct zetec s engine which was part developed by Yamaha.
Described by virtually every reviewer as being the best small coupe money can buy.
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posted
This is a long term plan, but your advice has been very helpful. In summary then, I shall:
- Take Fords seriously - Keep in mind servicing costs of japanese cars - Visit Bramhall Quicks - Focus on slightly second hand cars - Examine the Golf (just don't like the leons) - Avoid the Ka - Continue to poke fun at the Fies ... Puma
posted
I'd love to have a hybrid like the Toyota Prius or that altered Civic for dodging tax purposes, but they're just too goddamn expensive.
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posted
There's a Toyota Prius hybrid car on Gran Turismo 4: Prologue signature edition and it's shit
Why can't they make hybrid cars and electric cars look like normal cars? I've never been able to work out the reasoning behind making them look like a smoothed over prop from Total Recall
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turbo
Gold..... What is it good for? You can't eat it, you can't smoke it, yet everybody wants it.
posted
I've been driving Peugeots for many years now, after taking driving lessons in a Peugeot 205, and I've always been very happy with them. They keep going for years and I've rarely had any expensive repairs. In fact, my 306 is 11 years old now and the most expensive thing I've had to do was replace the brake pads recently. Before this, I had a 309 which reached the grand old age of 15, surviving 3 return journeys to the UK before it died a graceful death 3 years ago. My first car was a 106 which was completely trouble-free all the time I had it. They've always passed the MOT with flying colours and they do many, many mpg.
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Dave Allen shows remarkable prescience in a joke from his TV programme - Lots of Irish people complain that by calling our currency 'the Punt' we're just kow-towing to the English, that it's just a thinly-veiled version of 'the Pound'. Wrong. We call it the Punt because we wanted it to rhyme with 'Bank Manager'.
Sadly, this joke doesn't work now that the Irish use the Euro.
-------------------- i wrote for luck - they sent me you Posts: 3505
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posted
Ringo what are you thinking? Why would you want a stupid smart car? They look totally shit and only complete TWATS drive them. Please don’t buy one, I wouldn’t like to think of you as a twat.
Note – If you don’t send my f**king ears back I’m gunner scoop your eyes out with a spoon! *kiss
-------------------- New for 2005 - STD FREE!!
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