Trying to buy a car - how do people have the nerve!
Discussion
Skip a 1.4, it isn't absolutely essential for a learner/new driver to have something totally underpowered. Moving up the range will probably cost the same or less to buy, will (possibly) have been owned by a slightly different demographic. Learner driver insurance is the same for any car, and the cost of insurance once they pass will only range from massive, to slightly more massive, by going a couple of models up the range.
blueg33 said:
Am now looking at ads for Fabia's - Junior is not going to thank me, can I refer him to you 
You can indeed lol.My daughter ended up with an about 10 year old, 1.4 comfort model, all the bells and whistles, aircon, seperate temp controlled glove box !, electric windows, remote central locking etc.
If yours is a lad, as I expect, by you refering to him a junior, he can always make it look like a VRS.
I was very pleased with the quality of the car, not exactly BMW/Merc quality, but very good all the same.
And, they actually drive very nicely.
They are also cheaper than the more popular/desirable Golf
Nigel Worc's said:
You can indeed lol.
My daughter ended up with an about 10 year old, 1.4 comfort model, all the bells and whistles, aircon, seperate temp controlled glove box !, electric windows, remote central locking etc.
If yours is a lad, as I expect, by you refering to him a junior, he can always make it look like a VRS.
I was very pleased with the quality of the car, not exactly BMW/Merc quality, but very good all the same.
And, they actually drive very nicely.
They are also cheaper than the more popular/desirable Golf
Looks like the insurance is 1 group higher than the Golf at 5 rather than 4. But I have already found a reasonable looking one near here, so I will have a look. It could be a good call - thanks. If he goes for it and I find a good one, then I owe you a beerMy daughter ended up with an about 10 year old, 1.4 comfort model, all the bells and whistles, aircon, seperate temp controlled glove box !, electric windows, remote central locking etc.
If yours is a lad, as I expect, by you refering to him a junior, he can always make it look like a VRS.
I was very pleased with the quality of the car, not exactly BMW/Merc quality, but very good all the same.
And, they actually drive very nicely.
They are also cheaper than the more popular/desirable Golf
Nigel Worc's said:
Actually, I wish to make it worse, just in case you show him the thread, this'll make him think he's lucky to perhaps get a fabia.
The other car that I found to have lots of "older" owners, you know, the ones that tend to look after them and service them etc.
Was
Nissan Micras
Just No...No...No...No not with my money, not ever!The other car that I found to have lots of "older" owners, you know, the ones that tend to look after them and service them etc.
Was
Nissan Micras
Mrs would divorce me (ok possibly a plus), but junior is 6ft 4" and the small hatchbacks are just too small
blueg33 said:
Nigel Worc's said:
Actually, I wish to make it worse, just in case you show him the thread, this'll make him think he's lucky to perhaps get a fabia.
The other car that I found to have lots of "older" owners, you know, the ones that tend to look after them and service them etc.
Was
Nissan Micras
Just No...No...No...No not with my money, not ever!The other car that I found to have lots of "older" owners, you know, the ones that tend to look after them and service them etc.
Was
Nissan Micras
Mrs would divorce me (ok possibly a plus), but junior is 6ft 4" and the small hatchbacks are just too small
surely worth doing to see a 6ft 4 17 year old in one?!?! sunshine1990 said:
blueg33 said:
Anyone honest got a decent 1.4 golf for sale?
I hear volkswagen have some for Around £18,000.You're buying a USED ten year old car and you're expecting no faults whatsoever
You sound like a knob, based off those two sentences.
Annoying that they are so far off the description...
But what does VW UK say about the cambelt on the 1.4 petrol? In .de, it is "visual inspection" from IIRC 60k miles but no mandatory age/mileage for when to replace it. Driving around for a few more years with one that has been changed 4 years ago would not bother me on a relatively cheap car.
Also not sure about the 1.4 as an engine choice. That thing in a car as heavy as a G4 would probably have taught me a lot about "keeping momentum" at all costs. Not sure if that is sooo safe
. The old 1.6 SR (8 valve) lump isn't bad, perhaps go for that?
But what does VW UK say about the cambelt on the 1.4 petrol? In .de, it is "visual inspection" from IIRC 60k miles but no mandatory age/mileage for when to replace it. Driving around for a few more years with one that has been changed 4 years ago would not bother me on a relatively cheap car.
Also not sure about the 1.4 as an engine choice. That thing in a car as heavy as a G4 would probably have taught me a lot about "keeping momentum" at all costs. Not sure if that is sooo safe
. The old 1.6 SR (8 valve) lump isn't bad, perhaps go for that? I recently sold my 1.4 Fiesta. It wasn't perfect and I was completely honest in the description, and the price reflected the facts. This indluded an almost non existent history and cracked windscreen. It was so honest I even had a couple of emails from people asking me why it was so honest and was I mad? Quite amusing. But the car sold within three weeks. Lesson is, people appreciate honesty, as I'm sure you would have. Just a shame not everyonce can be straight like me. Makes life a lot easier to deal with.
matthias73 said:
sunshine1990 said:
blueg33 said:
Anyone honest got a decent 1.4 golf for sale?
I hear volkswagen have some for Around £18,000.You're buying a USED ten year old car and you're expecting no faults whatsoever
You sound like a knob, based off those two sentences.
danjama said:
I recently sold my 1.4 Fiesta. It wasn't perfect and I was completely honest in the description, and the price reflected the facts. This indluded an almost non existent history and cracked windscreen. It was so honest I even had a couple of emails from people asking me why it was so honest and was I mad? Quite amusing. But the car sold within three weeks. Lesson is, people appreciate honesty, as I'm sure you would have. Just a shame not everyonce can be straight like me. Makes life a lot easier to deal with.
I'd agree with this, in the last couple of years I've sold three cars, everytime I've written warts and all descriptions being honest about the good and bad bits. Each one sold to the first person who viewed, and interestingly none of the email enquiries came to anything and each buyer first enquired by phone.
PhillipM said:
Buy him a complete shed at 200 quid, a box of spanners, and a haynes manual.
He'll thank you, one day, eventually.
Hmmmm, MrsBlue wouldn't like that, but principally I need him to focus on A levels not making his car go, he has enough other distractions at the moment without car repair adding to themHe'll thank you, one day, eventually.
Kolbenkopp said:
Annoying that they are so far off the description...
But what does VW UK say about the cambelt on the 1.4 petrol? In .de, it is "visual inspection" from IIRC 60k miles but no mandatory age/mileage for when to replace it. Driving around for a few more years with one that has been changed 4 years ago would not bother me on a relatively cheap car.
Also not sure about the 1.4 as an engine choice. That thing in a car as heavy as a G4 would probably have taught me a lot about "keeping momentum" at all costs. Not sure if that is sooo safe. The old 1.6 SR (8 valve) lump isn't bad, perhaps go for that?
1.6 costs 10% more of an already substantial premium to insure whilst he is learning, and 20% more of an even bigger premium once he has passedBut what does VW UK say about the cambelt on the 1.4 petrol? In .de, it is "visual inspection" from IIRC 60k miles but no mandatory age/mileage for when to replace it. Driving around for a few more years with one that has been changed 4 years ago would not bother me on a relatively cheap car.
Also not sure about the 1.4 as an engine choice. That thing in a car as heavy as a G4 would probably have taught me a lot about "keeping momentum" at all costs. Not sure if that is sooo safe
. The old 1.6 SR (8 valve) lump isn't bad, perhaps go for that? Actually, the 1.4 is not as painfully slow as I was expecting although my A6 felt scary fast after driving the golf
Edited by blueg33 on Monday 8th October 06:58
ajb85 said:
OP, is a 53 plate Clio 1.2 Dynamique any good to you (or your son) at £1600?
Possibly, but i need to double check insurance, the French cars were inexplicably more expensive to insure, also it may be too small. (Think 6ft 4" driver, 2 guitar amps, bass amp, guitars and bass etc)Thanks for the offer, I will come back to you once I have researched it a bit.
blueg33 said:
Possibly, but i need to double check insurance, the French cars were inexplicably more expensive to insure, also it may be too small. (Think 6ft 4" driver, 2 guitar amps, bass amp, guitars and bass etc)
Thanks for the offer, I will come back to you once I have researched it a bit.
I had one of those. Good car until the engine mount pulled a lump out of the gearbox. But I then stripped of the box with the youngest, got it welded up and refitted. Very good experience for him.Thanks for the offer, I will come back to you once I have researched it a bit.
Part of the right of passage. All new drivers should have unreliable sheds
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