Getting my first car- need advice

[petal]

What do you think of an (old) ford fiesta On a £1000 budget max!! are they any good for short trips here and there?

[burnie]

If you buy German or Japaneese , you pay more and the parts are dearer,but they are better made and more reliable,just look at all the awards for reliability.Ford are better than they used to be,but buying a secondhand car is always a bit of a lottery.If you know nothing about cars get it inspected by the AA or RAC,it costs but could save you money in the long run.

[MrsC]

What year are you looking for. I have a 1998 S reg Clio selling for £300, mot 'til Jan 2009, tax 'til Oct '08 if you are interested. Probably needs approx, £150 to £200 for new heater unit and bits the kids have pulled off inside, bits on seat to flip them forward.

[lynda66]

i like fiestas,I've had a few ..... but they can be rust buckets, take someone experienced with you, and check everywhere for rust. if you get one in good condition, they are great, and cheap parts.

[di]

My mum had several fiestas~they were fine when the weather was~but anything more than a puddle then they really struggled!~That may just've been her bad luck but it happened with 3 cars!?
Before you take my advice however I must confess to being even more ignorant about cars than I am computers!!
What colour!?

[squashysu]

i had a fiesta and my mum and dad had loads, but they now have corsa's, thats what all the kids drive around here, wont be seen in anything else other than a corsa, for some strange reason!!

i wish you lots of luck with it x

[nomadyane]

You should get a really good car for £1000 - second-hand car prices now are so low. But condition and, especially, a record of proper maintenance throughout its life are more important than age or even make. Get good advice, don't buy on first impressions, resist any pushy salesmen, pay cash if you can, don't be afraid to haggle, be prepared to walk away, always ask to see all relevant paperwork before agreeing anything. Several magazines available on the bookstalls give guide prices - suspect anyone asking significantly more or less. Private sales can be good, but need just as careful checking as dealers. And try to get a car you'll enjoy and feel happy with! Good hunting!

David

[Stacey Steve]

You would do as well to get a car price guide not only to get a feel for the average prices but it will give an insurance group rating and the mile per gallon (or should I now be metric?)

[HeyWayne]

Have a quick gander at Parkers (it's free): Ford Fiesta (95-99) Car Review - Parker's

I'd then have a nose around Autotrader to see what's available. There should be loads of them to choose from, but it would be sensible to take someone with you who knows a bit about cars.

Don't buy the first one you see - especially if it's your first car. Go to a few garages, take a few for a test drive to get a feel for what suits you/what feels right.

Good luck.

[Two_Sheds]

I was advised to buy German (VW) for reliability ... and it was a lemon (admittedly I knew nothing about cars, so chose on the criteria of "VW" and "nice colour" )

You have to consider long-term running costs, not just the cost of the basic motor. Check out things like Tax, Insurance, likely repair bills, cost of spare parts.

Another thing: make sure you have a good local garage. Mr Sheds' Saab dealer is 30 miles away, and it's a right pain in the arris getting the car there when it needs work (which is every other week).

My brother's had a Ford Focus forever, and he wouldn't change it. Cheap, reliable, roomy.

[tootles]

I would suggest that you take someone with a bit of mechanical knowhow with you when you are looking. A friend saved me loads with his advice when I was buying my second car. I sold my Citroen ZX a couple of years ago for £500 and there was nothing wrong with it. I would advise a diesel though, they last longer.

[Matt.]

For a £1000 budget you'll get loads more second hand private than from a garage. The overheads they have to put on just doesn't make it worthwhile. Just shop around because there will be a lot of poor examples. Parkers and other website have lots of guides on what to ask about and look for.

Fiestas are fine - I just sold my 51 plate for £1800 a couple of months ago and I got a really good price. If you shop around you never know. Fords are a decent make and spares are one of the cheapest. I'd also look at escorts as although these are bigger they are less popular because of the newer focus model. You can get an X reg (year 2000/01) for sub £1000.

Finally I'd look at what mileage you'll be doing before decidng petrol or diesel. You'll normally pay a lot more for diesel and they can cost more to service. If its low mileage stick to petrol in my opinion.

[petal]

Wow, fantastic advice from all. I have my heart set on a Fiesta. I have been doing driving lessons 'on and off' for years and will be taking my test in the Spring, if not before, so this cheap car is going to be my practice car so I can get some proper hours in as lessons are so expensive. my husband says I am a good driver just a bit too hesitant. I don't think he is keen on letting me drive our new car so this old banger should do the trick and 'psychologically' it forces me to go for the test!

[HeyWayne]

Wow, fantastic advice from all. I have my heart set on a Fiesta. I have been doing driving lessons 'on and off' for years and will be taking my test in the Spring, if not before, so this cheap car is going to be my practice car so I can get some proper hours in as lessons are so expensive. my husband says I am a good driver just a bit too hesitant. I don't think he is keen on letting me drive our new car so this old banger should do the trick and 'psychologically' it forces me to go for the test!

I'll be sure to keep my eye out for you on Bedfordshire's roads then!

Good luck with the car hunt, I'm sure you'll find just the car.

[squashysu]

good luck with the test petal, something i wouldnt like to do again! 21 years ago it was very different to now! god now i feel really old ha ha ha !!