Buying a used car...suggestions/advice needed

[goddardo]

We're about to take the plunge & get another car & want to go for low insurance group & low road tax band.
If we go with cash available, we'll be looking at £1500 to £2000, but if we decide to go the 0% interest over 5 years option, we'll be looking at £4500-5000. We're aiming for a mid sized Ford Focus sized car.
This is a luxury we can only just afford, but fortunately with help from our parents & we want to make the right choice, so any suggestions & advice you good folks can put our way, we'd be very grateful.

 

[gregers]

make sure you get a good warranty if buying from a dealer,have it inspected?or take someone who knows about cars with you,
and if from a dealer make sure that any faults you find are reported to them within 28 days,iirc under the sale of goods act this is the time limit they have to carry out repairs,with using the warranty company .

 

[iwaters]

Main dealer warranties are usually quite good - although you'll pay more for the car, be carefull about that ones that second hand dealers sell. You can usual buy an aftermarket warranty yourself cheaper.

Make sure the car has been HPI checked, this ensures that it has never had a major insurance claim against it, isn't stolen, and doesn't have any outstanding finance secured against it. A lot of dealers will already do this to the car so if they say they have done ask to see the proof.

If you aren't that good with cars and don't know a mechianic who can take a look then consider an AA/RAC inspection, I know it seems like it will be eating into a tight budget but at least you will have piece of mind that it has been looked at by someone who knows what they are doing. If the inspection does find problems you can insit the dealer fixes it or you can use it to bargin the price down.

In terms of what car to buy check out www.parkers.co.uk. There is review from them and also owners reviews which should tell you all you need to know.

 

[Peter.N.]

'90s cars are generally better built,more reliable and cheaper to repair than 2000s so don't be afraid of an older one, this applies especially to diesels.

Peter

 

[goddardo]

I know it's going to the other extreme, but what about Vauxhall Cavaliers.
Always liked them. I've had 3 over the years. Been eye-balling a couple. L & M reg.

 

[nickso]

I know it's going to the other extreme, but what about Vauxhall Cavaliers.
Always liked them. I've had 3 over the years. Been eye-balling a couple. L & M reg.

can't be many cavaliers left now worth buying. for that kind of money i doubt you would go wrong with a good e36 bmw. not sure what your insurance would be though.

 

[JohnD]

I would never again buy a car that didn't have a zinc-plated body.

If looked after (scratches and chips repainted) they simply don't rust.

Unpopular cars (small family, or makes like Hyundai) are always cheaper than fashionable, fast or flashy cars

 

[nickso]

I would never again buy a car that didn't have a zinc-plated body.

If looked after (scratches and chips repainted) they simply don't rust.

Unpopular cars (small family, or makes like Hyundai) are always cheaper than fashionable, fast or flashy cars

pretty much everything before 2000 is out then as none of that was galvanised, even later for the cheap rubbish.

old cars can be made pretty much rust proof but no one wants to spend the time to do it.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I would never again buy a car that didn't have a zinc-plated body.

If looked after (scratches and chips repainted) they simply don't rust.

Unpopular cars (small family, or makes like Hyundai) are always cheaper than fashionable, fast or flashy cars

The trouble is if the bodywork does ever have problems the manufacturers just blame the paintwork and the warranties are useless.

 

[Peter.N.]

Most of the '90s Peugeot/Citroens don't rust, they are also reliable and relativly cheap to repair. The 405 is an excellent car, you very rarely see a rusty one, the 406 is also good but more complicated, the diesels are brilliant.

Peter

 

[JohnD]

my first zintect car was a G-reg Nissan 200. I was astonished at how well it lasted. I've previously had 5-year-old cars going into holes. One of my cars is now a P-reg Toyota (UK built in zinc-plated steel), I've done 170k miles on it. It's has proper maintenance, and touching-up, but is simply not rusty so I don't need to scrap it. At that age I have no interest in claiming on a warranty.

Tinworm is not viable to repair on ordinary cars.

 

[nickso]

Most of the '90s Peugeot/Citroens don't rust, they are also reliable and relativly cheap to repair. The 405 is an excellent car, you very rarely see a rusty one, the 406 is also good but more complicated, the diesels are brilliant.

Peter

might not rust where you are but they fall to pieces pretty quick round here.

 

[nickso]

Tinworm is not viable to repair on ordinary cars.

i disagree. its perfectly viable if you do it yourself. i've kept many a car out of the crusher with proper repairs and sold them on for profit after i've had my use. i'll wager most of them are still going.

 

[Peter.N.]

Most of the '90s Peugeot/Citroens don't rust, they are also reliable and relativly cheap to repair. The 405 is an excellent car, you very rarely see a rusty one, the 406 is also good but more complicated, the diesels are brilliant.

Peter

might not rust where you are but they fall to pieces pretty quick round here.

I am surprised at that, the only virtually rust free 20 year cars you see round here are 405s, they are also usually in pretty good condition.

Peter

 

[nickso]

Most of the '90s Peugeot/Citroens don't rust, they are also reliable and relativly cheap to repair. The 405 is an excellent car, you very rarely see a rusty one, the 406 is also good but more complicated, the diesels are brilliant.

Peter

might not rust where you are but they fall to pieces pretty quick round here.

I am surprised at that, the only virtually rust free 20 year cars you see round here are 405s, they are also usually in pretty good condition.

Peter

the last 405 i saw round here was an Mi16 at the side of the road, it was looking pretty sorry for itself and the driveway had a couple of 205's in it. i'm guessing another sad old Mi was losing its engine to the 205.
a high percentage of the cars in my local scrappy are french, 406's are in abundance. the french make throwaway cars and i've never found them that great for rust prevention other than the 205 which seems to be a freak.