First time buying a car, any advice?

[Gooly]

Hey guys,

Gonna go view a privately sold car this weekend (Corsa C, yes yes I know, but I'm 17 and theres not much else I can insure). I've never gone to buy a car before, and my mum has only ever bought one car and that was from dealership, so I was just wondering if anyone can give me a little write up on how a private sale usually goes? Things like general etiquette, bargaining, test drives, payment methods, stuff like that.

[stuartmmcfc]

have you got a Dad, older brother even an older male friend to go with you and rein your enthusiasm in a bit?
They love this sort of thing.

[Kurtcobain]

Take a mechanic friend with you and let him drive it.

Offer £200 less

Don't show that you know nothing about cars

Check all paperwork

Hpi check it

Good luck.

[Johnboy Mac]

First and foremost. Take somebody with you that actually knows a good car from a bad one, not one of your mates but somebody that's a lot older.

[thinfourth2]

A corsa?

I thought that was the most popular car for 17year olds to crash hence stupid to insure

[Gooly]

Problem is I don't really know anyone I could bring along, don't have any car savvy friends, my dad won't be able to come along either. I have a mate with a Corsa C as well but that's about it really.

[Johnboy Mac]

Just to add. Why a Corsa, I'm presuming it will be a 1.0lt? If so I'd avoid big time and have a look at a Micra, Swift etc.

[veevee]

Don't buy a Corsa! There are plenty of other cars you can insure. I'd honestly rather have a KA.

[stuartmmcfc]

Gooly said:

Problem is I don't really know anyone I could bring along, don't have any car savvy friends, my dad won't be able to come along either. I have a mate with a Corsa C as well but that's about it really.

wait until you can take someone - there's plenty of Corsas about.

[Kurtcobain]

Where are you based?

[Gooly]

thinfourth2 said:

A corsa?

I thought that was the most popular car for 17year olds to crash hence stupid to insure

I wish. Cheapest out of everything I tried bar a daewoo matiz/nissan micra and I'm not willing to drive either of those. I've gone through countless cars and the Corsa C was my last option, when I was younger I used to dream of getting a beaten up E30 2dr as a first car... then I saw the £4,000 quote. I'm pretty sure I've ran plates on my quote for pretty much every car available in my budget and the Corsa C is by far the best option, got it quoted at £2,300 right now which for a 17yr old male policy holder in London really isn't too bad.

[Gooly]

Johnboy Mac said:

Just to add. Why a Corsa, I'm presuming it will be a 1.0lt? If so I'd avoid big time and have a look at a Micra, Swift etc.

1.4l. 1.0ls have massive problems hence why I'm avoiding them, 1.4s are the same as 1.2s to insure hence why I'm going for it.

stuartmmcfc said:

wait until you can take someone - there's plenty of Corsas about.

That opportunity won't come, and you'd be suprised as well; the reason why I'm going now is because I've found one which is pretty much the exact spec I wanted, and close by... a rare combination.

[Toaster Pilot]

What massive problems would those be?

[Somnophore]

Fork out for RAC inspection or ask a local mechanic if he will look it over for you for a few quid.

[thinfourth2]

Gooly said:

thinfourth2 said:

A corsa?

I thought that was the most popular car for 17year olds to crash hence stupid to insure

I wish. Cheapest out of everything I tried bar a daewoo matiz/nissan micra and I'm not willing to drive either of those. I've gone through countless cars and the Corsa C was my last option, when I was younger I used to dream of getting a beaten up E30 2dr as a first car... then I saw the £4,000 quote. I'm pretty sure I've ran plates on my quote for pretty much every car available in my budget and the Corsa C is by far the best option, got it quoted at £2,300 right now which for a 17yr old male policy holder in London really isn't too bad.

Well if you want to buy a corsa C then its your call but as some who owns a Micra and has driven a corsa as a hire car then you are making a mistake as quote frankly the while a Micra is st a corsa is worse

However if you are London then ask nicely and i am sure someone from here will have a look

Post up a postcode of where the car is


Or

Get the car booked in for an MOT at your expense and ask the mechanic to check out the car carefully

[Johnboy Mac]

Gooly said:

Johnboy Mac said:

Just to add. Why a Corsa, I'm presuming it will be a 1.0lt? If so I'd avoid big time and have a look at a Micra, Swift etc.

1.4l.

Well that's something positive. Still, there's better cars out there and since you can go up to 1.4 the choice is even greater. The likes of a Fiesta 1.25 would be a far better buy imo. Anyway, we're gone off on a tangent, no matter what car you are interested in buying get someone with experence to go with you, don't dismiss paying a mechanic to inspect it. Wishing you well.

[Gooly]

Johnboy Mac said:

Well that's something positive. Still, there's better car out there and since you can go up to 1.4 the choice is even greater. The likes of a Fiesta 1.25 would be a far better buy imo. Anyway, we're gone off on a tangent, no matter what car you are interested in buying get someone, don't dismiss paying a mechanic to inspect it. Wishing you well.

Fiesta 1.25 is £400 more to insure unfortunately. I'd love a Fiesta, I'm a huge Ford fan, but paying £400 more to insure one just isn't worth it. Thank you anyway though, I appreciate the advice.

I don't really need input on what car to buy though because to be honest I've been mulling over and researching it for the past three to four months, the Corsa C wasn't my first option (Not anywhere close) but having ridden in a few and driven one I really wouldn't mind owning one, and in my opinion it's certainly the best car I could buy for the combined purchase+insurance money.

[Gooly]

Toaster Pilot said:

What massive problems would those be?

Head warping, coil packs failing, plus they're very noisy, aren't actually that economical and apparently you can't change the head on it? I've also heard of them having problems with hunting at idle, rough running at lower revs, plus I know two people with 1.0l Corsa C's who have had nothing but problems with the lump. More trouble than it's worth, and to top it off, 60BHP amd that noise isn't worth the cheaper insurance.

[valiant1]

Are you able to post an advert of the car?

People on here can spot a lemon from a photo and description and may well be able to furnish you with info and tell you what questions to ask.

Also, if you've seen it advertised via an advert in the car's window - be extra cautious and deffo HPI it.

[manitou]

op go for the corsa but check it over with a fine tooth comb get an hpi check, check the service history, insist it has a new mot on it, & check if it has any adviseries, take it for a good test drive if the car doest seem right walk away there are loads of corsas to choose from so dont rush & buy the 1st car you see contary to what people are saying corsas are simple tough cars & if something goes wrong simple & cheap to fix. good luck!