Help me buy a car!

[Bee Have]

Hello

I am looking to buy my first ever car at the age of ..quite old, and I have several daft questions, which I am hoping someone could help me with?
I have about £1200 (I know, it's not a lot) and after trawling auto trader, I have established what I can get for that with miles under 60 ish K.

In a small car, it's a Ford Ka, a Corsa, a Micra, a Hyundai Getz, or possibly a Panda.

I think I can rule out the Ka, as it looks like an actual toy, and I once had a long car journey in a Corsa-very uncomfortable seats.

Ideally, I want a Micra, or Panda. Which is better?

I have seen a couple of local Micras in my pr1ce range. One is on budget (or a little under)2003, 50k, but it has a few small dents. Does this mean it's been in a proper accident, and had the dents sort of hammered out, but not quite?
My favourite is a baby blue Micra 2005, 53k, but they want 2k for it, which seems a lot for a nearly ten year old small car. It's a nice colour though.
There was a good deal from a private seller (private or trade???) but it was a 1.0.
Would I be able to drive up hills in this or would it be like driving my hairdryer?

There are not so many Pandas, but have found a 1.2 Dynamic , 2005, 36k on the clock for £1990. How much could I expect get the price down to?

Sorry to invade your forum with novice questions, but any answers to my questions would be greatly appreciated !

[Patch888]

I think you'll struggle to get a decent motor with less than 60k on it for £1200.

There is plenty of choice if your not fussed on mileage.

At that price range I would go on condition and history rather than focusing at how many miles it's done.

However if your heart it set on either micra or panda I'd get a panda.

[ben5732]

Buy on condition not mileage... I bought a car with 150k on it and it's not let me down once. On the other side of the coin I've bought cars with 70k odd on them and they've cost me a fortune.

[Bee Have]

Thing is, there is a lot of choice at that price range, but I have to get a small car because of insurance.
A Panda, eh? Thanks. Any reasons?

Ok, so, condition, not mileage. There is a function on Autotrader where you can check a car's history for a fee. Is this the same as HPI check?
Not sure what to look for, in terms of condition tbh. Will I have to ask them pop the bonnet so I can pretend to look at the engine?

<wibble>

[wibblebrain]

There's not a lot wrong with something like this:

VW Polo 53,000 miles

[ben5732]

You'd be surprised mate... Other half just passed her test the cheapest car for insurance was a 2.1TD 406... Second cheapest was a s40 1.9d. All the small things like micras or polos etc we looked at first cost twice as much insurance wise.

[andy-xr]

You can have my g/f's KA for less than that, it's a silver 54 plate 1300 with 49k on it and 12 months MOT as of today. Recent service inc heater valve replacement and we're in Lancs.

[ben5732]

Also the 406 cost us 400 quid with FSH one owner and 86k on the clock. Done 30/40k in it already since January it owes us 108 quid for its MOT no other advisorys. Just my two pence anyway, think outside the box. I started driving almost 10 years ago my first car was a 1L polo, after six months I changed to a 1.8 golf and it turned out it was cheaper to insure than the polo.

[Bill]

Bee Have said:

Thing is, there is a lot of choice at that price range, but I have to get a small car because of insurance.

This is a common misconception. Insurance is more expensive for cars that get crashed a lot, which is often small cars because that's what new drivers get.

[Bee Have]

That is interesting Ben. I guess I just assumed about the insurance because everybody says that!it does need to be reasonably cheap to run though. I will scope out more powerful cars. That vw looks good! V.low miles for such an old car.
Good to know about the Ford Ka poster upthread in Lancs ( sorry can't check name-on phone)but I just hate them! What is an easy to drive bigger car? Given that im not too confident yet!
im in Leeds, so Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield area is where im looking.

[nunpuncher]

Lots of cars need a cam belt done around 60k - 70k so I'd be more inclined to buy a car at 70k that had had that done than one at 53k where I was going to have to pay to get it done in the next year.

[egor110]

Have a look at nissan almera/primeras.

Dull cars but no cam belt and cheap to insure.

[ben5732]

Average of 50 mpg in the pug? That's pretty cheap to run :P Your choice anyway just wish I'd of known I could of had a much bigger car when I was younger could of done with it. I think it was generally slower 90s saloon cars than were the cheapest option when we were looking through the cars for her anyway. Just to put it in perspective she's paying 600 quid fully comp as the main driver with me as a named driver on her first year.

[Bee Have]

Ive seen a few Almeras. I think Nissans must be very long lasting, as I see loads of geriatric ones around!
So...Almeras have no Cam belt then?
I have looked up Cam Belt now so I can nod knowledgeably!
Megane? Fiesta Zetec? Automatic X type Jag for £1300, 70k, leather seats?

[Bee Have]

although this might be promising[ http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[Bee Have]

Volvo? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[andy118run]

Bee Have said:

What is an easy to drive bigger car? Given that im not too confident yet!
im in Leeds, so Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield area is where im looking.

I used to have a 1.8 Mondeo. That was pretty easy drive.there would probably be a decent selection of 1.8 and 2.0 mondeos in your range.

I frequently browse the classifieds/get insurance quotes for the other half depending on whether she is thinking of resuming her quest to learn to drive. As mentioned before, it's not a bad idea to steer clear popular first cars such as Micras - I've had quotes for Volvos, Saabs, Mercs and similar come out the same (or less in some cases). Assuming you are upper 20yrs+ (like my other half), then that makes quite a difference too.

[Bee Have]

Thanks Andy. I am 20 +19 years, so safely in the older age bracket!
I did a quote for the volvo and it came out about £950, whereas the micra/panda option is more like £600.
I am getting the feeling that better deals can be had for old school estate cars, like the Mondeo. I don't know if I can visualise myself driving a Mondeo though
What about a Megane? Lots of those about. A few Ford Fiestas around too?
Getting more conflicted the more I look!

[Bee Have]

Safety an issue too, as have child.