Boys! I have (max) £2k on a car. What type should I buy???

Question

I am a girl so I need the smallest engine and the smallest car which is very trustable and does not go wrong within 3 years (so I don't have to spend any money on it). I live at the North East (if it does matter becouse of the service) and dont know anthing about cars at all.
HELP!!

Answer 1

If you want small, cheap and reasonably reliable look at either an old model fiesta, a micra (but they are as dull as captain dull on dull day), a clio - millions around so cheap bits if it goes wonky or a Peugeot 106.

If your budget is 2 grand you'll be far better off going to a car auction and buying one there, if you go to a dealer and buy one he'll have only done exactly the same then stuck 5 or 6 hundred quid on the price, 2 grand at an auction will buy you a lot more than 2 grand at a garage.

If you do go to an auction heres a small tip, watch the dealers browsing the cars before the auction starts, if they do spot a car with decent profit to be made they'll follow it into the auction hall, wait for them to bid and at the last minute bid yourself, they have a profit margin to make and they wont spend more on a car if that profit starts to dissapear, they dont like the car they just want to make money out of it, they'll have a maximum price they wont go beyond. If you're unsure or nervous of an auction, get someone to go with you that kow the score, yes you can get stung at auctions, but done right it can save you a fortune.

But if you do decide to go to a car dealer, ask for a decent amount off, a car dealer will work on a minimum of a grand markup on any secondhand car, despite what they might tell you they have room to move, if you go armed with your 2 grand, offer it for a car at say 2,600-2,700, plus if its cash wave it under his nose, car dealers are like drug addicts - show them a large bundle of cash and they cant resist, take it in 10's and 20's and physically wave it at him. If they wont play ball walk away, remember - he needs to sell you a car, you can buy one anywhere - its weighted in your favour if you can be cheeky enough :)

Answer 2

Buy a Ford KA I would say they are cheeky and reliable and funky and modern and cheap to run, cheap to maintain, easy to repair and there are loads of low milage (50k) cars out there. Try and find a car hat has travelled around 6,000 miles a year and with a documented history of reciepts and stamped service history booklet.

Fiestas are boring, and don't forget that automatics use more fuel and auto gearboxes are expensive to repair.

Micra's are awful that is why they are so cheap, especially green ones.

Go for a 1997 R reg, spend around £1000 upwards or get a later model, try to find a KA2 or a KA luxury, they will have electric windows and extra toys.

The KA luxury will have leather trim leather steering wheel, and Air con and a glove box and a CD player and will have colour painted door handles and look smarter. They are more money and will be harder to find, but you never know one might be found.

Have a look at the crash test results for any model of car you are interested in, it will give you an idea of the quality and design and build of the vehicle.

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=1&id2=77

Try the Autotrader website, get the AA to inspect any car you want to buy they charge £50 and it is money well spent.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_search.asp?page=2&searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=none&sort=3&hassearched=Y&make=FORD&min_pr=1000&source=0&model=KA&max_pr=&agerange=&mileage=&miles=200&trim=&keywords=&postcode=cv7+7nr&ukcarsearch_full.x=0&ukcarsearch_full.y=0

Of course there are loads of other cars and you need to look around.

Have you considered a modern classic such as a 20 year old Citroen 2CV, they are great fun to drive and such a laugh, the roof comes off, they fit 5 adults easily, and use hardly any fuel, cheapest thing to run on the planet and you will get every penny of your money back, even after 3 years if you take care of it and keep it clean! The insurance would also be cheap and classic insurers offer even better deals. Try to get one which has had a new chassis fitted, If you buy one for £2000 it may even go up in value in the 3 years.

You could also consider a Citroen SAXO, or a VW POLO, or a Peugeot 106 diesel or a Corsa diesel.

Just a few ideas.

Good luck x x

Answer 3

Look in your local paper, & get an Auto Trader. Go & look at some cars you like & can afford. Most importantly phone up some insurance companies & get some prices for insurance. It is no good buying a car you like, if you can't afford to insure it.
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Take someone with you that knows something about cars. If your unsure, get it professionally inspected (AA, RAC,etc). It may cost you a couple of hundred pounds, but it could save you a fortune in repairs down the road. If the current owner tries to steer you away from that course of action, then he/she is probably trying to hide something.

Take any prospective car that you may like out for a test drive, & make sure when you arrive the car is cold (ie the owner hasn't started it, warming the engine before you arrive). That is because a warm engine can hide some faults.

If you find a car that is too good to be true (price, condition, mileage), it probably is, so walk away!

Take your time, & don't buy the first car you see.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Top Buy? It's got to be a ford Ka! 1.3 Endura engine may be as old as the hills, but in the real world that means rock solid reliability and even if it does go wrong, it's ridiculously cheap to fix. Consumables (tyres, exhast and brakes) are so cheap it's comical (£20 for a back box, £25 for tyres!). It's also the funkiest looking supermini going even after ten years in service!
Does 45mpg without a problem, and will outhandle every other supermini despite it's dinky tyres.

Specification is fairly basic (keep fit windows etc) but all that means is that there's nothing to go wrong. Plenty of room up front even for 6 foot, broad shouldered guys like me, but it's only really a 4 seater, so if you carry 5 people (or regularly use the back seats), you may want to look at a Clio for the added practicality.

Answer 5

Lady go get yourself a Toyota Corolla. You wont regret it. Best reliability you can buy and £2000 will get you a good one. Get some one to help you buy privatly, dont go to a garage as you will only get £1000 worth of car. Look up auto trader to get idea of price. Dont go for the smallest engine and car body you can find as this is the unsafest combination! And we need you girls to be safe. Trust me i'm a doctor :)

Answer 6

Citroen Saxo- good wee car but lacks oommpph. Very feminine,
car cheap insurance good runner.

Ford Fiesta -better performance and fun to drive. A solid car if you ever have an accident. Cheap insurance and cheaper parts.

Ford Ka - Avoid. When in an accident you will get crushed.

Answer 7

You could if you want use that £2 K as a deposit on a brand new car and then pay £80 a month for three years
VW POLO is a good , realiable good. a new one or even 2/3 years old.

use that £2 K as a deposit and get a newer car.

Answer 8

Micra or polo for you I think, young lady.

You can buy a second hand micra with confidence because you just KNOW it has never been thrashed by some young guy. They wouldn't be seen dead in one!

Micra would be my first choice, but the polos are lovely if you can find a decent one in that price range.

Avoid ford Ka- something weird happens with the back windows, they get all rusty!

Answer 9

im a women and i dont need a small car my first was a vauxhall cavallier with a boot don't be so silly go and find out which ones you like in your local car show room and go for a simular on if you dont know any thing about cars you may get ripped off ask a friend, parent or aa rac for help with getting a car not ripped off women today have been to space and dont need men to tell them what to do. you could get WHAT CAR as well and see the one you think is pretty and go and find one ok

Answer 10

For a small car and small engine and most importantly reliability I would look at an older Toyota Corolla or Echo.

The Corolla holds the record as the most reliable car in the world.