I need a cheapie for a Ukrainian family

[eltax91]

Right, I currently have a Ukrainian family stayng with me, for about 6 weeks now. Everything is settling in ok, 2 kids are in school, mum has a job at the local golf club (which she cycles to). Compared to what's happened to them in the early part of the year, things are looking up.

Her work have offered her better money, more hours and a promotion already because she works so hard. However, this is at another site which is about 12 minutes away by car, but based on where i live, is some 90 minutes each way by public transport.

I know insurance will be expensive and i'm going to do my best to work around this. I HATE the idea of Facebook trawling for this level of car, although i will if i have to. However, i figured this is where the might of PH can swing into action, it would be so much easier/ better to find one from a like-minded forum member.

I can't take on a massive project due to time reasons, but i don't mind twiddling a spanner or two and would be happy to take on minor work. I do have some very basic requirements:-

1. Auto only (license restriction)
2. A modicum of reliability - she won't be able to afford massive repairs every few months
3. She has 2 kids so can't be a 2 seater

So PH, sell me your cheapie, or show me a cheapie you've seen.

I'm Just off J22 of the M1 if that matters. Happy to travel if i need to.

Moderator edit: you'll get just as much exposure in the Car Buying forum as elsewhere. This is where it belongs.

[eltax91]

ChevronB19 said:

Raino144 said:

If you want to set up a GoFundMe I’m sure you’ll get a fair few donations. Happy to chip in a few quid.

Ditto. And what you are doing is admirable.

Thanks folks. I might consider it. But to me it just seems a bit ‘needy’ if that makes sense? So so many people like me helping out where they can, what makes my family special over the next one?

If insurance seems hideously expensive I might do it if it becomes the only way I can afford to get them on the road

[eltax91]

MODS: I saw the edit, thanks for throwing this thread into the doldrums despite my plea. There significantly less footfall here and you also deleted my original, which had an offer in it for a focus at scrap money, but I can’t find the poster now to follow up.

[eltax91]

imck said:

1.3 Auto Yaris with free Delivery

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313702202371

Mrs imck had one of these until last Year on about 75K I think.
Very reliable and quite good to Drive. A few age related repairs. Exhaust, Brake Pipes but nothing serious.
Back Seat slides to give Boot or Passenger space.

Avoid post 2005 Yaris as they have an Automated Manual Box (MMT) which can have problems.
Pre has a TC Box

In my watch list, thanks.

[eltax91]

cjs racing. said:

eltax91 said:

MODS: I saw the edit, thanks for throwing this thread into the doldrums despite my plea. There significantly less footfall here and you also deleted my original, which had an offer in it for a focus at scrap money, but I can’t find the poster now to follow up.

That was me with the Focus. I wondered where the thread went, just been pointed in this direction by another member.

Sadly the Focus needed to go before Wednesday, and has now gone to be turned into fridge freezers.

Hope you find something.

Thanks for the reply. As I pointed out to the mods, nobody visits here as you’ve proven.

No matter on the focus. Onwards and upwards, something else will turn up.

In positive news, the government had a rare bout of common sense recently and added Ukraine to the ‘exchange’ list for licenses which means no test and many more companies will insure her.

Edited by eltax91 on Monday 20th June 08:06

[eltax91]

Hello all

A bit of an update from my side. Thankfully the UK have added Ukraine to the list of "license exchange" countries and so mum's license is now being exchanged for a UK one. The UK doesn't accept the Ukrainian test as being suitable for a manual license (even though she has a manual one back home) and so she will receive an auto only license.

I said previously that I was investigating ways to fund a car for Maryna, someone had promised me they would be able to fund it through funds they were collecting to help assist refugee's to establish new lives in Europe. However that has fallen through as the funds are needed elsewhere.

I did get 2 or 3 PM's on the back of this thread offering to help and a few posts over and above that. As much as it pains me to do it (I feel like i should be able to sort this myself but i'm not a PBCD sadly) i've decided to set up a GoFundMe page and see if the generosity of PH's can get me more somewhere towards my goal.

My aim is set at £3000, i think this gets her into a decent i20/C1/Aygo that's got a year or two left in it. For my part, i will be buying her the first years insurance. In reality whatever i get is better than I have now and I will be extremely grateful.

Moderator edit: no recruitment for charitable donations please

[eltax91]

JeremyH5 said:

An alternative would be to rent a cheap reliable car from Bearman68 on here. Cheap rent and you cover tax and insurance. He does the maintenance.

Could be worth getting in touch. Although i expect them to be here for a couple of years potentially. They went this morning for thei visa interview and have been given the full 3 years from April.

I'll go look an Bearmans website and see where he's located.

[eltax91]

ChevronB19 said:

Would a Citigo/Up/Mii also be an option?

Potentially. Basically anything in a low insurance group, because next year, once she’s got 1 year ncb, she’s going to have to afford to insure it.

On the used market I find a lot of those were bought in manual though and very few auto’s.

[eltax91]

I see a mod has helpfully pulled my link. If you were so inclined, you could PM me.

[eltax91]

colin79666 said:

Honda Jazz? A little over budget but they might negotiate given the cause.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207077...

Definitely on the list of contenders. There are also quite a few auto-only which helps. Let’s hope the fundraising goes well.

[eltax91]

egomeister said:

eltax91 said:

I see a mod has helpfully pulled my link. If you were so inclined, you could PM me.

Maybe put it in your profile? If that's allowed...

Done.

[eltax91]

vanman1936 said:

OP, you sir are a better man than me. £500 donated.

It’s a bit dusty in here today, init. Overwhelmed, thank you.

[eltax91]

colin79666 said:

Well on the way now. Should the Euromillions syndicate win I’ll add an extra zero to the budget.

Yes. I did have a nice thread in the lounge which pushed it up a bit. But sadly some of the mods has binned the topic, so not sure how I’m going to get there now. Will have to hit my socials

[eltax91]

egomeister said:

Just thinking about this, it may be worth considering bigger cars too. The insurance might not necessarily be more as it is down to how many people claim rather than just insurance group. Bigger cars will get you a much better pool of autos to pick from.

Yes good point. Although she’s a tad nervous about switching sides of the road too so there’s that to consider. She refused to drive my disco 4, for example.

Once her U.K. license comes through we will get her on wife’s insurance (Ioniq) and see how that goes.

[eltax91]

mattrosersv said:

Hi Eltax.

I am in very similar position as you with a lovely lady and her daughter staying with us. Have got them both jobs, but we are in middle of nowhere, so transport is a challenge.

Curious about the license situation so to save me some time trying to actually speak to a human at my insurer did you need to get her a Uk license/ hand in her Ukrainian license b4 I you could insure her?

Also looking for el cheapo local to me (Andover)…

Hi there

My insurer (marshmallow) was founded by a Ukrainian and so offered to cover her on her international license (valid without paperwork up to 2 years from landing). Maryna doesn’t like the idea of driving my Disco4. Too big.

Wife’s insurer (QMH) only insures U.K. license holders. So, we’ve done the D1 form and sent off her U.K. visa permit thingy and a photo and are awaiting the return of a U.K. license. Whereby we will immediately add her to wife’s car and then once funds are available start the search for a cheapy.

Remember the U.K. has added Ukraine to its license exchange scheme but it does not recognise the manual entitlement as it cannot asses the test out there. So, you’ll receive back an auto only license in the U.K.

[eltax91]

Thanks so much!

Maryna’s license came back yesterday and we’ve been out for a drive in my wife’s car to help her acclimatise. From what I learnt today of her driving, I need to go as robust as possible, because in her efforts to remember to keep left she spent rather a while in the verge.

I’ve bookmarked a few aygo’s and jazz’s to keep an eye on, will put your link on my list! Thanks again

[eltax91]

egomeister said:

eltax91 said:

Thanks so much!

Maryna’s license came back yesterday and we’ve been out for a drive in my wife’s car to help her acclimatise. From what I learnt today of her driving, I need to go as robust as possible, because in her efforts to remember to keep left she spent rather a while in the verge.

I’ve bookmarked a few aygo’s and jazz’s to keep an eye on, will put your link on my list! Thanks again

I'm sure she'll pick it up soon enough based in my experiences the other side of the channel. The hardest thing I found was making sure to look the right way on roundabouts, so I'd practice that one a bit! It soon becomes second nature though.

I guess she'll also have the added complication of learning to drive RHD, which probably doesn't help with the positioning.

We went to a quiet industrial area and drove around roundabout after roundabout. She naturally looked in the right direction etc. lane choice was erratic, signalling mostly ok. I think she was mainly concentrating on remembering to drive on the left.

We will practice a lot more over the coming weeks. Being RHD isn’t that much of an issue I don’t think with an autobox at least. Just road positioning will take some work