Newbie first car advice

[myfirstcar1]

Hi guys newbie to motoring, fell in love with fixing cars since my ex girlfriend started to break down and of course being the man ..... No one likes to not be able to fix things ( that man job lol)

Wanted to ask your recommendations for a first car
Sub 3k
Going to local trips mostly short drives, occasional long one eg 200 miles

Doesn't need to be fancy , 5 door

Location is London, willing to travel 35 miles radius

Thanks guys

P.s open to any other tips too

[trevalvole]

What about a 2009 or later Ford Fiesta, which is considered to be the best-driving supermini? Perhaps a non-turbo 1.4 or 1.6 petrol, rather than the later and more expensive Ecoboost, as you hear more about issues with them.

If insurance is going to be a major expense, then may be something like the Toyota Aygo/Citroen C1/Peugeot 107 (which are all the same car).

Edited by trevalvole on Sunday 5th September 15:22

[Eyersey1234]

I second the Fiesta, either a 1.25 or 1.4 petrol, alternatively a 2004 on shape Fiat Panda. Is the 3k including insurance?

[myfirstcar1]

The 3k is excluding insurance as I am a newbie driver so although I've been driving for years hire cars I have zero no claims bonus so it's quite a lot but hopefully it will go down over time

[trevalvole]

If buying from a trader, you get some protection against faults, as in the first six months they have to prove that the fault wasn't there when the car was sold to you. For this reason, unless you are confident in your ability to check a car and it is a real bargain, then walk away if they want you to buy anything "sold as seen".

If buying privately, you have little protection, so unless you and the people with you are confident in checking a car, then get it checked out by somebody like https://www.clickmechanic.com/ . I know it sounds boring and can look like you are wasting money, but it could save you thousands. Anything they find can be used to get a lower price, or to get them to fix it.

Edited by trevalvole on Sunday 5th September 16:36

[ZX10R NIN]

If you've been driving for a while insurance won't be as big a hit, I'd say look at something like the following:

1.6 C30 R Design

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008142...

Alfa Mito Veloce 155

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107315...

95

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108276...

Grande Punto Sporting T Jet 120

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108055...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104251...

1.8 Civic Type S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109016...

[myfirstcar1]

thanks mate this is really helpful but just to narrow it down

1.4L max
5 door
budget £3k max
ULEZ
30 miles from London

not fussed about name / shape / colour (although ideally a man colour)

Edited by myfirstcar1 on Sunday 5th September 17:04

[myfirstcar1]

thanks mate this is really helpful but just to narrow it down

1.4L max
5 door
budget £3k max
ULEZ
30 miles from London

not fussed about name / shape / colour (although ideally a man colour)

mazda 2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...

Polo
https://go.skimresources.com/?id=36724X955535

Toyota Aygo 2010 reg



https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108296...

Polo silver
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107305...

COrsa
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109026...

Mazda 2 at dealer

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109016...



ford fiesta z tec

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108146...

Edited by myfirstcar1 on Sunday 5th September 17:13

Edited by myfirstcar1 on Sunday 5th September 17:25

[HustleRussell]

Insurance is the governing factor, hammer the comparison websites.

[trevalvole]

myfirstcar1 said:

thanks mate this is really helpful but just to narrow it down

1.4L max
5 door
budget £3k max
ULEZ
30 miles from London

not fussed about name / shape / colour (although ideally a man colour)

mazda 2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...

Polo
https://go.skimresources.com/?id=36724X955535

Toyota Aygo 2010 reg



https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108296...

Polo silver
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107305...

COrsa
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109026...

Mazda 2 at dealer

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109016...



ford fiesta z tec

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108146...

Edited by myfirstcar1 on Sunday 5th September 17:13

Edited by myfirstcar1 on Sunday 5th September 17:25

I had a '12 Mazda 2 with the 15" wheels like the private one. Rolled a bit round corners and the paint was a bit thin, but generally ok and reliable. They did a facelift in, I think, 2011 when they softened the suspension, so the '09 with 16" wheels will have a harder ride, but probably handle a bit better.

I hated the 1.4 Polos I've driven - whiney engine with little low speed pull, not much feedback from the steering. Also my impression is that they aren't as reliable as VW would like you to think - certainly not as reliable as the Mazda 2.

[msportpanda]

Very biased recommendation incoming.

Panda 100HP!

1.4 engine, 5 door, little bit sporty, whole lot of fun & very easy to work on.

Had one as my first car, learnt to work on cars with it and it's a very simple & easy car to do jobs on. They're also just generally very reliable so aside from consumables, not much else needs doing.

[georgeyboy12345]

I know you said 1.4, but have a look at this Alfa 147, it's nearby and is really cheap. They are great cars, I had a diesel one years ago
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...


This has already been mentioned - Fiat Panda 100HP from a private seller - if you get a bad feeling about the seller, i.e. he seems a bit scummy, walk away. Remember - nice people sell nice cars. Fantastic cars these.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108246...


Other stuff I think is worth a look

Honda Civic 1.4 i-VTEC Si
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109057...


Peugeot 208 1.4 VTi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109026...


Renault Clio 1.4 16v
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107245...


Seat Ibiza 1.4 16v SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109046...


Suzuki Swift 1.5 GLX
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...


Wildcard - Audi A2 - really quirky interesting cars, a modern classic if you will, and well under budget. Quite old though. Just be careful not to bump it as bodywork repairs can be expensive!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108316...

[samoht]

trevalvole said:

If buying privately, you have little protection, so unless you and the people with you are confident in checking a car, then get it checked out by somebody like https://www.clickmechanic.com/ . I know it sounds boring and can look like you are wasting money, but it could save you thousands. Anything they find can be used to get a lower price, or to get them to fix it.

My experience of clickmechanic was meh, they missed rusty brake discs that were a somewhat pricey replacement. My general impression is that the AA or RAC are a bit better - they have (& thus train) their own staff, rather than clickmechanic which are just a middleman between you and a jobbing local garage.

Also for a car at a dealer, if you can get the dealer to take the car to a nearby garage for inspection, that's often cheaper and more thorough than the inspector doing it on-site. I wouldn't expect a private buyer to necessarily agree to that though.

On a £3k car I'm not convinced it's worth paying £100+ for an inspection, although it could be if you're otherwise sure you want the car and the seller will hold it. Especially as it's a sellers' market right now, if you do an inspection and ask for a discount accordingly, they may refuse as they expect they can sell it to someone else for nearer the asking price. It only takes paying for an inspection on two or three possible purchases and you've spent 10% of your budget.

[flying-banana]

Here are a couple of suggestions...

Honda Civic (these really are great cars at this price)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2020080420...

Toyota Corolla (you don't need to spend all your budget)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2020080420...

...or a Yaris, if you prefer something a bit smaller
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021052129...

[myfirstcar1]

Thanks guys that's some brilliant suggestions

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109057...

[dan98]

myfirstcar1 said:

Thanks guys that's some brilliant suggestions

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109057...

I'd steer well clear of these - one of the first turbo charged + super charged + chain driven = huge potential for expense.
Also this one looks suspiciously like an import so may be harder to insure.
The 2008 120hp 1.4TSI is a safer bet, although far from bombproof.

[HustleRussell]

OP if you want something which is fun to drive(?) you will need to disregard a few of these suggestions.

[myfirstcar1]

Ok thanks re golf chain driven etc

I don't really mind about fun to drive, the mazda 2 , civic seem to be good ones from the list and my research

Although have been some very helpful suggestions in this thread so it's been really helpful

Also Ford fiesta 1.25 (not eco boost) has been another good recommendation

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008042...

Edited by myfirstcar1 on Monday 6th September 11:35