Struggling without a car

[P4D]

I've been car-less for three weeks and we're really struggling to find anything, and life without a car is proving challenging due to where we live.

I have been relying on people to take us to view cars but we cannot keep asking every weekend for this favour.

I have been to see:

Focus ST-Line X Edition - Car was in a poor state for a 70 plate. NSF tyre was completely perished. Whole left side was battered in deep scratches.
Another Focus ST-Line X - This was also in a poor state. The sill had a large dent in it, as well as most of the rear quarter being battered.
2x Seat Leons. One had a broken boot latch, odd colour door handle (I think someone had attempted to steal it prior), smashed centre console and damaged tyres. The other looked fine, until I noticed at least 20 dents on the roof (presume from a hail storm).

All these cars were circa £18k.

I don't think it's a smart move for me to spend £18k on a car for it to sit on the drive most of the week. I've been looking at Astra's, 2018 onwards. Seem to be able to get a decent-ish one for £10k or so.

I would purchase from a dealer online and get it delivered, but given we had to reject our Volvo last month I'm kind of put off by this.

I don't know if my expectations are unrealistic for a second hand car?

I don't know if it's worth renting a car for a week and spend all week looking?

Has anyone else been in this situation?

[exelero]

Why don’t you buy a banger for a grand or under? Since it’s sitting on the drive anyway, it shouldn’t matter? I’d say get a Focus or smth but the cheap ones and save the rest of the money for a holiday or smth

[sunnyb13]

Maybe buy from main dealer rather than driveway traders

[Blue_star]

Hello,

I was in similar position - but had to figure out a car in a day. Visited trade centre and some independent seller - bought the latter. (Luckily) I had far less money to spend than you so with less choice then. Also I actually needed a car urgently so I aligned my price expectations for the car with the cars I could see in the day.

I dont rent cars due to sickening experience with Eurocar Cardiff but if I was spending as much as you I might consider taxis. Or get small banger and then keep/sell/scrap. Or borrow from friend.

To be honest it does not sound to me that you actually need it life/death, otherwise you would have bought by now. Therefore, I would keep doing what you are doing now. You will end up paying more if you give yourself a day.

For the Astras - I loved my astra K, it was amazing car. Big spacious and more extras than I wanted/needed. If pre 2018 - avoid 1.4 petrol due to piston ring issues.

Kind regards

[samoht]

I wouldn't buy a car with the sort of bodywork damage you're describing, or think it normal for £18k ish.

Are you looking at cars at the bottom of the price range for the model and age? Otherwise it would be unlucky to find a succession of cars in such poor repair.


One option would be to go to a car supermarket, that way you can inspect a large number of suitable cars in a single visit. Out of 50 or so cars, you're likely to find one that is of satisfactory quality to be basic transport.

Another option would be to buy online from somewhere like Cazoo which do "no-hassle" 7 day returns. In principle this would be a win-win compared to hiring a car for a week - if the car that comes is in decent condition you can keep it, and if not you can do 250 miles in a week touring car dealerships and then send it back, without paying to hire a car for a week.


On price point, used cars generally are still more expensive than they used to be, but I think if you're flexible about model and don't mind driving something unfashionable then you can probably find something satisfactory for £5k or £10k.

[soad]

Definitely worth renting as it’ll get you out and about during the week. Just make sure to pay extra to cover the excess. Mine had all the latest digital gadgets/driving aids.

[Mr Whippy]

I can only assume all the good cars are being kept, and alot of the trash is traded at silly prices to desperate traders?

I’ll agree plenty of cars in that 18-21 reg period look like crap.
A house a few doors down has a black Astra 3dr thing. It looks quite smart. Till I got close. Jeez what do people do, run around their cars all day holding rakes, hammers, bags of nails, etc?

[ZX10R NIN]

If it's not going to get used much why not halve the budget, you'll get a decent Astra Elite Nav or sensible money:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301032...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307039...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306138...

[ChrisH72]

I don't get it either. Here is my 2017 ST with 80k miles on it. Given how bad Ford paint is in general.



There's no need for cars to look that bad especially if they're being presented for sale by dealers.

I was looking around Hilton car supermarket in Derby yesterday. Same story there, cars under 5 years old and costing £20k and yet they have scuffs, scrapes, knackered alloys and shabby interiors. No thanks.

If you need a car ASAP I'd just look round local garages and buy the cheapest, most presentable car you can find.

[P4D]

ZX10R NIN said:

If it's not going to get used much why not halve the budget, you'll get a decent Astra Elite Nav or sensible money:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301032...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307039...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306138...

What are these like reliability wise? I've read some posts online that suggest avoiding the 1.4 <2018? Also mileage puts me off, I've always been curious of mileage when buying cars.

[P4D]

Update:

We went to a car supermarket today and found a Kia we both liked. It was in good condition given it was 3 years old and the MOT history was clean, never any advisories or fails. Sat down with the salesman, and surprise surprise, it had missing services so we dodged it.

I seem to be having absolutely zero luck.

[P4D]

Mr Whippy said:

I can only assume all the good cars are being kept, and alot of the trash is traded at silly prices to desperate traders?

I’ll agree plenty of cars in that 18-21 reg period look like crap.
A house a few doors down has a black Astra 3dr thing. It looks quite smart. Till I got close. Jeez what do people do, run around their cars all day holding rakes, hammers, bags of nails, etc?

It's shocking. It's like no one has any respect for their cars haha.

[R6tty]

Three years old with no advisories? OK
You need to go banger or go new.
I think you sound like the sort to pick holes in a banger. So maybe best go new. Oh... maybe not

[DanL]

P4D said:

Update:

We went to a car supermarket today and found a Kia we both liked. It was in good condition given it was 3 years old and the MOT history was clean, never any advisories or fails. Sat down with the salesman, and surprise surprise, it had missing services so we dodged it.

I seem to be having absolutely zero luck.

Buy from a main dealer - should have a reasonable warranty and they’ll have prep standards to hit.

[sunnyb13]

Buy an approved used car from the manufacturer. In general and on average it would be serviced to schedule

[ZX10R NIN]

P4D said:

What are these like reliability wise? I've read some posts online that suggest avoiding the 1.4 <2018? Also mileage puts me off, I've always been curious of mileage when buying cars.

They're pretty robust some have had issues but not anywhere near as many as the internet would suggest, also if you're doing so few miles why spend so much just to have a depreciating asset on the driveway.

Regarding mileage if you're doing so few miles when you go to sell the car it'll be well below the average annual mileage so you won't lose as much come resale time.

Also the first one is a 1.6T 200 model

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 16th September 19:55

[South tdf]

Had something similar when helping a friend look for a BMW a few months back as he kept finding the cheapest and wondered why they were not very nice.

Told him to do the Autotrader search then to scroll down 10 cars before looking any further. It worked and he got a decent car.

[ChrisH72]

What Kia was it?

My wife has had a couple of Hyundais and has been very happy. If you don't need much space you can get a brand new facelift i10 N line in budget which looks quite smart.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023071094...

Or a little bit bigger and still fairly fresh an i20.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023090415...

[P4D]

R6tty said:

Three years old with no advisories? OK
You need to go banger or go new.
I think you sound like the sort to pick holes in a banger. So maybe best go new. Oh... maybe not

I think you’re completely misunderstanding what I’m saying. I was saying the Kia appeared as perfect as it could be for a second hand car, until the salesman declared it was missing service history.

[P4D]

ChrisH72 said:

What Kia was it?

My wife has had a couple of Hyundais and has been very happy. If you don't need much space you can get a brand new facelift i10 N line in budget which looks quite smart.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023071094...

Or a little bit bigger and still fairly fresh an i20.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023090415...

We looked at a Proceed and a Sportage.