Sub £2k first car... where?
Sub £2k first car... where?
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Discussion

POIDH

Original Poster:

3,356 posts

91 months

Tuesday 8th April 2025
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It seems the quality of older cars has dropped again.

Is the only option to wade through the scammers, the filthy biohazard cars, the write off cars, the 'will pass MOT with a few wee things', the 'no idea, it is a car', the smokers for 20 years in it cars, the 'jump pack on the front seat in the pictures' cars, the clearly clocked cars on Facebook and Gumtree?

I cannot understand how people think that someone will pay them £££ for a car that is filthy, uncared for or broken.

So where to look - or just remain patient?

(For the record, in the last 3 years I have bought a Transit and a Combo for other sons, as well as my own car. It took time, there was a lot of dross and scammers, but this just feels like a step down in the cesspit of cheap second hand cars?).
(and if anyone is in central Scotland/Stirling/Perth with a petrol, cheap to insure, reasonably solid car with enough room for a bike inside - get in contact...)

paul_c123

2,194 posts

19 months

Tuesday 8th April 2025
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For £2000 I'd still use Auto Trader to look. Its just a case of managing your expectations and knowing a bit about cars, to be able to spot the lemons (at this age) from reasonable ones. Also, if you really do go for the cheapest/smallest cars, you can still get decent age and mileage which should mean it has plenty of life left in it.

Under £2000 I'd recommend Gumtree.

Facebook Marketplace is such a "wild west" of car buying I'd not recommend it at all for retail, unless you really do want a car for under £500. There's an awful lot of scammers to wade through and the search function is pretty terrible.

alfabeat

1,460 posts

138 months

Tuesday 8th April 2025
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I recently bought a £1500 mini on Autotrader. Lovely, honest private sellers and lovely car. I would still be looking there for the private sellers.

Ankh87

1,145 posts

128 months

Tuesday 8th April 2025
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Go to AutoTrader. Search Toyota. By a Yaris or Corolla. Job done.

blue_haddock

4,965 posts

93 months

Tuesday 8th April 2025
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Get over to the shed thread and see if anyone has anything coming up.

I recently picked up a pampered toyota starlet and am loving it!

nobrakes

3,782 posts

224 months

Wednesday 9th April 2025
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Keep an open mind wrt what car, and colour.

For example, you’ll get a better value putrid brown car than a mainstream more common/attractive one.