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mgrowcoot

mgrowcoot

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So i'm buying a car for work, gonna do a lot of miles on it and gonna need one for at least a few years.

Not got much money, do I buy a car of a random dude for a thousand quid?
Or do I buy a 3-4thousand pound car from a family friend, put a deposit down of say 750 and pay it of monthly....

Money is an issue but so many people buy cars for a thousand quid and they break within 6months
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Same can be said for cars at £5000 or £50,000, buying a car is a lucky bag.
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Couldn't agree more. My reasonably expensive 56 plate car (9k) that I have had 2 months has had 3 trips to garage and an ECU replaced so far and still not right. My wifes 51 plate clio, runaround, that cost 1500 quid 2 years ago, has never let us down and cost us nothing but a service and a couple of tyres.
 
if it's needed for work, then your work pays the car bills, try a second hand Kia or hyundai with 3-4 years warranty left could pick one up 4 around 3-4000. piece of mind.


Merc
 
yer cheers guys

first time buyer you see, so its a new world. I'm looking at a clio from a proper car dealer in manchester, looks not too bad, but I really dont like this bag of luck thing
 
My parents have just bought a 'new' car from our mechanic - A Ford Mavericl (basically Nissan Tourrano) 7 seats, manual, 2.7 for £1000 as a spare, although tbh its probably better than our old Defender 110. Its a 1996, but just had a new gearbox and isn't in bad condition, and done only 96k. Seems pretty good value.
 
if you're going to be doing plenty of miles, you could do a lot worse than one of the Citroen/Peugeot HDI engines.

I bought my 2001 Xsara estate a little over 5 years ago, with 33k on the clock, its now at 156k and still regularly getting me 57MPG!!! I keep an eye on the levels etc (never had any issues with them) and have the oil changed every 10k miles or so. The only parts that have been replaced have been wear and tear items, tyres exhausts, brakes etc. The drive shafts and clutch are still original and (touching wood) still going strong.
 
If you need the car FOR work, then be careful they often stick in age clauses etc
 
My Car that I had to buy for work had to be less than 3 years old, at least 4 seats have ABS. They then give me a mileage allowance, fine now I am into it but starting off was horrendous. Having to find deposit insurance etc
 
munch said:
My Car that I had to buy for work had to be less than 3 years old, at least 4 seats have ABS. They then give me a mileage allowance, fine now I am into it but starting off was horrendous. Having to find deposit insurance etc
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If I have parsed that properly, your employer required you to buy a car with your own money and placed a number of other requirements on the car that you bought?

Unless the mileage allowance is about £2/mile and you are doing 30,000 claimable miles a year I can't imagine doing that. Buying a car that I simply do not want with my own money.

I commute in a 10 year old car that I've owned for six years. In ten years time I anticipate I will be commuting in a 20 year old car that I've owned for 16 years ;). It will take a catastrophe to make me change it and my employer would know better than to ask ;).
 
You read my post correct in part. But I use my car for work. Commuting to and from my office is not business mileage. Nor is it for any one else.

The mileage allowance is 40p for the first 10,000 miles then 25p for the rest, for each tax year. As I said a struggle to begin with but OK now.
 
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Flash In The Pan said:
I knew you'd say that, but I stand by what I said, old Renault= money pit
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And I also stand by my statement. In 2 years it's cost me a set of tyres and servicing. Can't argue with that.
 
Rather than looking for a car i would spend your time finding a friend that you trust that really knows about cars.

For someone with real knowledge and experience its quite easy to see what kind of previous life a second hand car has had.
And buying from a dealer "can" be more hassle and money than good.

As an example i recently brought a 15 year old 100,000 mile honda that failed mot, cost £200 spent £200 on it. now does regular trips from Southampton to North Wales, so far trouble free :D
 
Mk3 Ford Mondeo 2.0l TDCi

Should be able to pick one up for £3-4k

Bombproof. Nuff said...
 
fezzr said:
Rather than looking for a car i would spend your time finding a friend that you trust that really knows about cars.

For someone with real knowledge and experience its quite easy to see what kind of previous life a second hand car has had.
And buying from a dealer "can" be more hassle and money than good.

As an example i recently brought a 15 year old 100,000 mile honda that failed mot, cost £200 spent £200 on it. now does regular trips from Southampton to North Wales, so far trouble free :D
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Can't agree strongly enough. Take along someone who knows what to look for. If you don't know anyone, the AA have such a service.
 
wisemen said:
And I also stand by my statement. In 2 years it's cost me a set of tyres and servicing. Can't argue with that.
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True, but I think you'll find you've been lucky. If you go to the Parker's Guide forums they have sections where people can post about faults with each different make/model...

Make/No. of posts about faults

Citroen/62

Ford/122

Peugeot/184

Vauxhall/207


and the number of posts regarding faults with Renaults?

















23000




yes, that really is twenty three THOUSAND :lol:
 
I've had a couple of Renaults. They've been rock solid...... as soon as anything electrical has stopped working :lol:
 
Flash In The Pan said:
True, but I think you'll find you've been lucky. If you go to the Parker's Guide forums they have sections where people can post about faults with each different make/model...

Make/No. of posts about faults

Citroen/62

Ford/122

Peugeot/184

Vauxhall/207


and the number of posts regarding faults with Renaults?

















23000




yes, that really is twenty three THOUSAND :lol:
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If I'm that lucky I really should start doing the lottery then!!!!

I don't doubt people have problems, I can only comment on my personal experience of said car, 2 years and 20 odd k of motoring with no faults on a 1500 quid car, ta very much. If I'd bought a dog, I'd be saying the same as you. First renault for me and no probs. Saying that I also owned an alfa for 3 years and 50k miles and nothing broke on that either. Just comes down to shear luck. As per another thread of mine, I also have a Pug 307 CC, had for 2 months and its been a right pain. Fortunately everything has been covered by warranty, but I will be getting rid as soon as possible and I won't have another of those.
 
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to be honest ive had 4 cars,
1st car was a suzuki swift never let me down the entire time i had it, the only reason i changed it was it wasn't big enough size wise for me.

2nd was a ford escort LOVED it to death even though it was a rust bucket.

3rd car was a renault megane i had for a total of 2 months, it had ecu problems, the clutch felt like death and car generaly felt wrong.

4th car is a vauxhall vectra and i wouldnt swap it, it's done 99000 miles and hasnt let me down once.

as someone said earlier buying cars is all about luck
 
Thats a good point. My personal car list is as follows, with year of car.

1990 Vauxhall Nova 1.2 - Never any problems
1991 Rover Metro - No probs, bit of welding at one mot
1994 Vauxhall Corsa SRi - Headgasket went, tickover valve went
1996 Vauxhall Astra Sport - Never any problems
1998 LHD imported Smart Car - Starter motor went
2000 Landrover freelander - headgasket (x2) constant electrical and brake probs.
2002 Vauxall corsa 1.7d Sport - no probs
2005 Vauxhall Astra 1.7d sport - no probs
2004 Alfa 156 2.0JTS - no probs
2006 Peugeot 307cc - ECU repelaced, various hoses replaced, ongoing probs.

So basically, 6 cars, no problems, 1 with a little problem and 3 had major problems. Not too bad for 16 years of cars and motoring. Luck plays a huge part.
 
wisemen said:
Thats a good point. My personal car list is as follows, with year of car.

1990 Vauxhall Nova 1.2 - Never any problems
1991 Rover Metro - No probs, bit of welding at one mot
1994 Vauxhall Corsa SRi - Headgasket went, tickover valve went
1996 Vauxhall Astra Sport - Never any problems
1998 LHD imported Smart Car - Starter motor went
2000 Landrover freelander - headgasket (x2) constant electrical and brake probs.
2002 Vauxall corsa 1.7d Sport - no probs
2005 Vauxhall Astra 1.7d sport - no probs
2004 Alfa 156 2.0JTS - no probs
2006 Peugeot 307cc - ECU repelaced, various hoses replaced, ongoing probs.


So basically, 6 cars, no problems, 1 with a little problem and 3 had major problems. Not too bad for 16 years of cars and motoring. Luck plays a huge part.
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Perhaps your lack of problems is down to 10 cars in 16 years. I've only had 11 cars in 30 years two were old bangers resulting in one seized engine so scrapped the car and had a recon engine fitted to the other as the original engine was somewhat tired when I bought it. Those are the only major problems I've had everything else has been general wear and tear and all the cars were Fords.
 
My advice would be don't buy from a dealer, they don't have a magic supply of 5 year old cars, they take them in PX for buttons, put a huge markup on them, offer the minimum legal warranty hoping it won't pack up in the first couple of months then pocket the difference.

if you're taking out finance get a loan instead, if you get into financial difficulties you can sell the car instead of them just taking it off you.

Look for a privately owned second hand car, one they've had for a few years and are selling for a genuine reason
 
wack61 said:
if you're taking out finance get a loan instead, if you get into financial difficulties you can sell the car instead of them just taking it off you.
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I'd disagree - if you buy a car on finance and there are problems then the finance company are jointly liable with the garage, if you use a personal loan and it turns out to be a lemon then you're stuffed.....
 
thanks for all the advice

I got in touch with a family friends who knows his stuff and he's pointed towards a peugeot 206, well he's bought it for me.

One less thing I have to worry about!
 
better still but it on mastercard or visa then you are covered under section blardy blar of the blardy blar act ?

Merc this sun is hot:cool:
 
mercmanuk said:
better still but it on mastercard or visa then you are covered under section blardy blar of the blardy blar act ?
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I know a car dealer or two, expect to pay a 2-3% surcharge paying by plastic to cover the card fees.

There is specific legislation regarding dealers selling used cars to the public and what protection must be provided for buyers, don't expect consumer credit act protections to apply in this scenario as the requirements placed on dealers go beyond this AIUI.
 
munch said:
You read my post correct in part. But I use my car for work. Commuting to and from my office is not business mileage. Nor is it for any one else.

The mileage allowance is 40p for the first 10,000 miles then 25p for the rest, for each tax year. As I said a struggle to begin with but OK now.
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i am currently looking for a new car for work (do around 50k a year) and glad we dont do it that way as it would be a nightmare. we get a budget of £500 a month to get a car on longterm lease then just get taxed for having a car for personal use (with fuel card and insurance provided by work) had a VW touran for last 4 years and works out around £100 a month for everything. The only rule we have is it must have 4 doors but has now changed after 2 guys got rx8's.
 
Arkady said:
Mk3 Ford Mondeo 2.0l TDCi

Should be able to pick one up for £3-4k

Bombproof. Nuff said...
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This. Totally. And I don't even like fords... but that series mondeo is pretty reliable and the engine is rock solid.
 
mikeward said:
i am currently looking for a new car for work (do around 50k a year) and glad we dont do it that way as it would be a nightmare. we get a budget of £500 a month to get a car on longterm lease then just get taxed for having a car for personal use (with fuel card and insurance provided by work) had a VW touran for last 4 years and works out around £100 a month for everything. The only rule we have is it must have 4 doors but has now changed after 2 guys got rx8's.
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I didnt even get to choose mine.. I got what I was given. But I was reasonably happy with a Golf, even if it was the S model. Then again I only pay £35 for the benefit tax, and my own diesel.
 
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