First Car (auto trader)

[Josh93]

If anyone saw my last thread it was with a specific car in mind but unfortunately it appears to have sold, I have a short list of possible alternatives and was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on which one is looking the best bet.

They're all either a mk1 focus or a mk4 golf and under 1500.

Thanks to anyone who can be bothered to look through, very helpful to hear more opinions other than my own.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Decent looking cars here if anybody would like to take a look. All 1.6 focus/Golf and all under 1500.

[Josh93]

Worth noting that the first link is to a very similar mk4 to the one I was originally interested in so naturally I'm slightly leaning towards that one.

[Josh93]

Bump

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd pick the Focus they're a better drive & as well built as a golf & easier to maintain

[Josh93]

I don't really feel that fussed between the 2 I've just narrowed it down to 2 and basing it on condition I think.

[johnnyBv8]

hard to tell from the pics, but:

Golfs: first two look better than the last one.

Focus: first one looks rough - damage to sill, passenger door different shade, shouty advert. Second one no longer available. Third one looks quite clean.

All at dealers/traders though - you might get more for your money buying privately at this budget. The reality is you wont get much dealer protection at his price anyway.

[Josh93]

I would rather buy private so I'm still looking for a private one popping up. Agree particularly with the rough focus, it is pretty messy haha.

[Triumph Man]

Mk1 Focus - watch out for rust! Ghia spec is nice, my mum had a 2004 1.6 ghia and it was a lovely car. Felt flimsy compared to an equivalent Golf, but drove so well.

[C.A.R.]

My mate still has his MK1 Focus. I didn't get on with my "Mk1.5" (facelift) because the seating position felt wrong, but they're brilliant cars.

You'll get a lot more car for your money if you go for a Focus. A mk4 is an older, more tired design which isn't the least bit enjoyable to drive (unless you go mad and get an R32...which you're not).

[MrAverage]

if you have decided on a car you can look at other sites selling them, i find a lot more cars pop up on gumtree and ebay than autotrader. many ads on autotrader are dealers too.

as for the cars in question i'd be leaning towards the focus, never had one myself but know a few people who never say a bad word about them. as for the golf my personal experience hasn't been great with them but maybe its bad luck!

[Josh93]

I would have thought that both these cars would be decent and that it would come down to condition?

I haven't completely ruled out all other cars but I'm finding it really hard to find anything I'm that interested in. Probbaly being too picky.

[UK345]

Consider a Fiesta mk6 excellent wee cars and a complete bargain now that prices have dropped. Could get a nice low mileage model within you're budget or the mk6.5 with higher mileage (

[Josh93]

Yeah the mk6 fiesta is definitely one I'm considering if I find a good one, plenty of pros over the bigger cars mentioned above; cheaper tax, insurance and petrol, newer, better got short journeys (which is what I'll be doing) etc and smaller so easier to park for my first car! Think I would want the 1.4 though (which is a lot more rare) as I would expect the 1.25 to be really sluggish.

[Josh93]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

This is one I spotted today, I guess it's another decent option? Very close to home too.

[Josh93]

Turns out it doesn't have a can change which takes it out of my desired budget really

[UK345]

Josh93 said:

Yeah the mk6 fiesta is definitely one I'm considering if I find a good one, plenty of pros over the bigger cars mentioned above; cheaper tax, insurance and petrol, newer, better got short journeys (which is what I'll be doing) etc and smaller so easier to park for my first car! Think I would want the 1.4 though (which is a lot more rare) as I would expect the 1.25 to be really sluggish.

I have owned both the 1.25 and the 1.4 models. They feel the exact same. The 1.25 has 74bhp and the 1.4 has 79bhp. The 1.25 is £30 cheaper to tax too. It is about the same on fuel too.

[Josh93]

Wow that's ridiculously narrow margins, is that because the 1.25 is a newer engine? I remember seeing something about a 1.3. Fiesta being replaced by the 1.25