How do you buy a secondhand car nowadays?

[WomanInTheWindow]

My current car has various things going on that means I want some newer (it's a 2001 make). I probably want to spent a maximum of about 4000 as I want to pay for it outright as much as possible.

At the moment I have a diesel car - back from the days we were encouraged to buy them/ economical etc. Over the next few years I know various things are coming in like city centre charges for diesel, and campaigns about the impact they have on the environment.

So, at last, my question is - is it right or advisable to buy another secondhand diesel, or should I search out a petrol car? By new I mean from 2010 onwards really - not new new! I have been looking at petrol options recently and I want to test drive a Hyundai i30 as I had a good experience with one as a hire car.

TLDR: is it right that I should avoid buying a secondhand diesel car due to environment etc?

Depends where you do your driving.
My City has plans to introduce a "Clean Air Zone" next year and charge you every day you drive in to, or through the City's central zone, so I wouldn't buy a diesel but if you don't drive anywhere near my City, then that wouldn't come into your decision making.

I think we live near the same city - or a similar one. The one I live near and probably drive 2-3 times a week is bringing it in in next year or so. It has made me think.

Do you do high motorway mileage? if not then petrol might be a better bet for you. However if you’re looking at a 10-year-old car it’ll likely have quite high mileage & petrol cars don’t tend to be as long-lived as diesel.

But having said that, I just searched on autotrader & there are quite a few petrol i30s with c 50,000 miles for £4000 - that was a national search, not necessarily near you but they do exist

I have the same problem! My ds wrote my car off last week. It was a 2009 Kia with 36k miles on it, I'm gutted. I have about £4k for a new car. I'd really like another Kia but the price has gone up.

I love Hyundai, i drove an i20 and thought it handled very well and had great visibility.

Wondering about the Dacia Sandero too.

Electric if you can do it (ie you have the cash, can find a suitable one, and don't need regular 150 mile journeys). They're a revelation.

Thank you for some good points everyone - especially for doing the search GiantKitten. I will do searches and tailor them. ThighThigh, it is frustrating isn't it! Giving myself plenty of time to look.

SpoonBlender, I appreciate the point, but I've made it clear I am not anywhere in a position to be able to afford electric - a switch to petrol is where I'm at at the moment.

Woman yes, are you outside London? I think there are good deals on diesel cars but who knows what's going to happen re that.

What do you think of almost new Dacia Sandero? Or a Skoda?

if you do short trips, don't buy a diesel - you'll wreck the engine, expensively. Also most of the faults on cars of this age are either with the diesel engines or the automatic gearbox, so avoid both.

main dealers turn their noses up at this kind of budget, so go for the smaller forecourts or private sales if you can find them. cars of this age should do at least 150k.

the honestjohn pages are quite good. And if it is a Ford, don't buy an ecoboost as they blow up.

electric cars. 20 grand and up. No.

OP just bought one - Hyundai i20, 2014 £4,798 40,000 miles

How are you getting on?

Go for petrol,choose cars in low tax band for emissions.I went for 3 yr old Kia Picanto at £20 p.a. tax.Still under its 7 year warranty.Higher mileage will bring the price down into your range.Mine was v low,so higher price.Some models are zero tax.
Hyundai is a relative.Good reliable cars.
Truly,forget diesel.Europe has regulations to overcome diesel pollution on recent cars which requires a special additive added via a special tank "ad blue"Just a sign that diesel is a pollutant you don't need to add to.

Mine was a 2001 also
I think I looked on preloved or gumtree for a Toyota auris
Love Toyotas
Anyway I found a one almost 5 years old, 40k on clock, automatic, stones throw from me and in red
Perfect
Only wanted to pay £5k but it cost £8.5k
Still could buy it outright

Fabulous car
Love it

Oh it was in a Toyota dealership
Didn’t buy from a private seller

I’ve always driven automatic cars
Mostly toyotas. As have both husbands.
In over 45 years of driving. Automatics myself and over 20 years exh and about 10 years this husband ... not once has there been a fault with the automatic gearboxes in any of them

How many miles do you do? Do you regularly drive into city centres?

If the answers to these questions is ‘fewer than 200 miles a week’ and ‘yes’, then I definitely wouldn’t buy a diesel.

If the answers are ‘more than 300 miles a week’ and ‘no’, then I would seriously consider a modern Euro 6 compliant diesel.

All mine have been petrol
My dil has an electric car, Nissan Leaf
Only gets 80 miles per charge
I’d be a jittering wreck on a long trip
I fill mine up when a 100 miles is all i have left In the tank
She took hers from york to Southampton
Took about 7 hours

We’ve had diesel cars for years, mainly because DH used to have a horrible 120-mile round trip commute.

He’s retired now thank god, still got our last diesel (Kia Ceed, 220k miles) but are planning to change to a petrol hybrid because he does a lot of short local trips now.

Probably Toyota Auris, possibly Yaris, but it’ll be costing quite a bit more than £4000. I don’t think OP will be in the market for anything electric for quite a while, but a newish cleanish petrol car should do her well atm!

Watching with interest, as our 4x4 (bought when we were doing the Cote d'Azur every year and North Wales every fortnight) is getting on a bit.

Go to your Public Library & look at Which?'s latest info' on cars to help you decide. Helpful stuff includes unbiased info' especially on Satety, Running costs, & Insurance etc. Their other publications give info' on lnsurance providers too - think it was their campaign that resulted in renewal notices having to include cost of previous year's premium. They can also help to find competent Garages.

I've just bought myself a new car with a budget of £5k so a little more than you but I found a lot of smaller petrol cars between 4-5k with low mileage. I went for a Skoda citigo 36k Miles from 2015. I've always had older diesel cars as they go to higher mileages (the car I got rid of was a 2003 diesel with 200k miles) but I wouldn't do that again if I can afford not to.

I found that there were many 1.0 cars in the price range but it's just too small for kids, dogs, mother, shopping. I'm happier with a 1.4

Do you have an available car near you? They have a website as well. I got my beloved 13plate Toyota from one in May for 4K with low mileage and it's been really well looked after. I love that car!